Campaign Rhetoric Versus Reality
It’s amazing what can be accomplished in 10 months. Major League Baseball can hold an entire season, playoffs included. The average reader can finish War and Peace almost 10 times. A team of astronauts could fly to the moon and back approximately 43 times. And Carson Palmer can have multi-interception games for two different teams sandwiched around a retirement and NFL lockout.
So what has Mike Martin done in his first 10 months in office? Let’s take a look at the progress he has made toward some of his stated goals and objectives while campaigning for Mayor.
Update City’s Website, Increase Communication With Residents
“We are currently working on updating the site and appreciate your patience as we work to provide a more useful tool for you” – on the city’s site as of Oct. 26, or exactly the 299th day after Martin took office.
Improve Government Transparency
Not a single, accurate monthly finance report. Not filling open records requests. No explanations on hiring (and non-hiring) decisions, outside of “it’s my decision, and there’s no point in discussing it further.” Other than that, transparency has been terrific.
Stop Unnecessary Spending/Taxes/Fees
Hello proposed 150% property tax increase. Hello increase in billable hours for the city attorney. Hello three computer companies to build one city website. Hello new city parking lot. Hello 100% increase in clerical personnel. Goodbye dollars.
Work Cooperatively With Police Department
Let’s see – not filling an existing police officer position with varying “explanations” as to why. Ignore advice of law enforcement veterans on hiring decisions. Take charge of scheduling for police department. Make working conditions so deplorable that some officers begin seeking employment elsewhere. Allow personal grudges toward department members to affect city business.
Keep Best Interests of Residents in Mind
Fewer police officers. Proposed property tax increase. No current fiscal year budget. Refusal to cooperate with Code Enforcement Board. Refusing to work with Civil Service Commission. Part-time accountant, and political ally, making $47.50 per hour. City attorney costs skyrocketing. Poorly functioning and incomplete city website. Have tensions so high at council meetings that audience members need to be gaveled. Need we go on?
Return Honesty and Integrity To The City Building
We wonder what dictionary Martin used to find his meaning for those words?
Bring Change to the City
Less police protection due to Mayor’s refusal to fully staff department. Longer and more contentious council meetings. Several Ethics complaints filed against Mayor. Lawsuit against Mayor/City by employee. Investigation of Mayor. Computers being removed from City Building by Mayor during the course of the investigation. More city clerks. Destruction of city safe. Inaction regarding sexual harassment allegations by a city employee against a council member. Yes, things certainly have changed.
Many people running for office invoke the words of President Ronald Reagan, “Are you better off than you were “x” years ago?” Many of you may remember that President Reagan first used that line during a debate. Of course, Mayor Martin refused to debate while running for Mayor, saying that a debate was “not in his best interest”. Unfortunately, the City is beginning to understand what he meant by that.
Now let us ask ourselves, “Is the City of Villa Hills better off than it was a year ago?”
