Thank you for the privilege of
representing you in city government.
As I am sure you know by now, I took advantage of an unexpected
opportunity to run for Alderman because I,
like you, wanted to see what was
going on at city hall. As an average
Berwyn resident, I could see that the
politicians were doing quite well
for themselves but we, as Berwyn residents,
were always left paying the bill.
I have been asking the same questions you
would be asking if you were Alderman.
The things that have made me angry
are the same things that would make you
angry.
I've been at it now for almost three years during which I have given
you numerous reports in one form or
another.
This "Case Studies" format is a new approach to reporting to you.
The mayor and I have had a number of lively disputes over the last
few years, but those disputes have
been based on specific events. There
have been instances (in my opinion)
when the mayor has fallen short of
my expectations of how we should
govern.
I grew up in a family of 9. I shared a two bunk-bed bedroom with 3
of my
brothers. Under those
conditions, you learn to say what is on your mind. The
arguments I've had with my brothers
make any disagreements I've had with
the mayor look like sissy stuff.
This, however, is a topic for another discussion.
We all make mistakes and, hopefully,
we learn from those mistakes and we
grow in office.
It may come as a surprise to people to learn that the mayor has
virtually nothing to do with spending
the taxpayers' money. In Berwyn,
8 Aldermen have
the exclusive power to tax and spend. (The mayor may veto
a spending "bill",
but his veto can be over-ruled by a 2/3rds vote of the City
Council. Furthermore, the mayor
only votes in the event of a tie vote).
The "Case Studies" presented here over the next several months will
describe for you why 8 transient
politicians cannot be trusted to act in your
best interests when it comes to
spending your money. This doesn't necessarily
make them "bad people". They
are simply unqualified (and sometimes
thoroughly incompetent) to manage the
$60 Million business known as the City
of Berwyn. Of course, in some
instances their actions are suspicious and, one
may suspect, self-interested.
What qualifies a retired 4th grade school teacher who now has time
on
his hands to do charitable
work, an airline customer service representative
with a famous last name, a
seamstress, a personal injury or real estate
attorney or real estate broker
to manage a $60 million business? I know I'm
not and
I probably have more education and professional credentials than
most
elected Berwyn officials.
What makes matters even more desperate is that frequently people are
drawn into politics for the
wrong reasons. Have you ever wondered why a
person runs for alderman?
As you examine the case studies over the next
several months, you will be
able to arrive at your own conclusions.
The government preceding the current administration was the
political
poster child for incompetence,
financial negligence, unprofessionalism and self
interest for about a decade.
I understand why this description angers certain politicians,
but the truth
is that the city under the
"management" of the Marzullo-Lovero-Stillo
political tag-team managed Berwyn
into the ground inflicting long term damage
from which recovery is not an easy
challenge. They were not part of the
problem.
They were the problem.
Now the same crowd is back, the same slick suspects with a different
name but all the same faces
pretending that they didn't see anything, didn't
hear anything and didn't know
anything as they were sucking this city dry.
The truth is that they saw,
heard and knew everything. They just didn't have
the moral authority to step
forward to DO THE RIGHT THING.
The facts are troubling. The truth will anger you.
These "Case Studies" will examine the decisions these "transient
elected
officials", namely your
aldermen,
have made on your behalf over the last few
years and decade.
The Battle For Berwyn is a struggle between the strangle hold
"Political
Management" has had on this
city and Berwyn's need for Independent
Professional Management.
Berwyn is at a pivotal moment in its history. It is time that
Berwyn
residents take seriously the
idea of changing the city's management structure
from a Political format to a
Professional format by adopting the most popular
form of local government in the
United States. Council-Manager Government
is Berwyn's
LAST BEST HOPE
for turning things around.
