Sit Down, Shut Up and Hold On, The Council Is In Session

As I watched Andy Ruff fumble around the legalities of running a public meeting I must admit the entire process was quite amusing. Not only are seven of our City Council Members oblivious to their fiscal responsibilities under law, they are also unaware of time. Several of them took the opportunity to make “brief” statements about their support for the LWO, condemnation of our nations leadership and a host of other non-related city issues. As they rambled on and on all I could think of was I’m glad we didn’t get the long version. I would liken the whole experience to sitting through a bad movie, constantly hoping the plot would change and the movie would somehow get better. Everyone knew how this movie was going to end but for some, that didn’t stop them from watching.

The coverage in the HT Thursday included a description of one individual that spoke up; “Would all of the people that support the living wage ordinance please raise your hand”. I kept waiting for someone to promptly follow that request with; those of you with your hand up, I have some great land in Florida that I would like to sell. I’m quite sure if the announcement were to have been made, the person would have definitely had several takers that evening because as I listened to the supporters of the LWO, the best word I can use to describe them is, naïve. They are truly under the delusion that the LWO is the beginning to the end of all social ills that befall our fair community. They have bought in to the fairy tale that the LWO is not really going to cost anything. One after the other the supporters made their passionate pleas and painted a picture of compassion, benevolence and moral righteousness. All they while, cognitive and clearer thinking individuals were asking pointed questions about who is covered, who is exempt, how many people will it help and how much it’s going to cost? The amazing thing, no one knows the answer to any of these questions. The deputy Mayor admitted he doesn’t know and it’s obvious the Mayor doesn’t have a clue with his enlightened statement, “if the LWO is passed we will just find the funding somewhere, we always have”. Of course they have, they have found it in the pockets of the hard working, taxpaying citizens of this community.

The Council has empowered themselves with the ultimate authority over the LWO by deciding who gets exemptions and who doesn’t. One can only imagine how politically biased and discriminatory those future decisions will be with the partisan politics that was played out Wednesday evening. Without a price tag attached the ordinance should have never been up for a vote. Fundamentally speaking, when was the last time you were able to go car shopping and not be concerned about the cost of your purchase? Ironically the supporters for this ordinance are the very same people that are constantly clamoring about un-funded State and Federal mandates. You and I can’t live that way and yet the City is getting away with it and furthermore, this type of leadership is being encouraged by a few, vocal zealots. In other words, sit down, shut up and hold on.