The Common Council, after hearing 90 minutes of impassioned pleas, voted to sustain funding for the Arts Coordinator, Environmental and Planning Specialist, and a librarian, along with several other minor programs.The majority on the Council was clearly swayed by the large crowd of people who came out to support the arts, the environment, and the library. Thirty people spoke, most of them testifying to the importance of the arts for the community.
After the public spoke, Councilman Daley defended the Council's support for the arts, the environment, and the library, by pointing to the overall size of the appropriation that was given. He conceded, however, that for the sake of continuity, he would be supporting the funding of the three positions.
Councilman Pessina spoke at length about how important the arts were to him to the city, and especially to the children, "Arts play a pivotable role ... I, for one, have always supported the arts ... I have always advocated for children since the day I put the badge on my chest."
Councilman Blanchard said, "Arts ... are the cornerstone of the community."
Sebastian Giuliano seemed to acknowledge that the Council had made a mistake in not funding the three positions, "Stuff falls through the cracks all the time." He nevertheless voted against the mayor's budget veto, claiming that the budget as vetoed was not balanced. He was corrected by Gerry Daley, who said that the result of the mayor's veto would be a budget that was budgeted to the nearest rounding of the tax rate.
The 7 to 3 vote was a reversal of position for most of the council members who were present. The two who voted AGAINST the council's proposed budget on May 14, voted to protect that same budget from the mayor's veto on May 29th. And 7 of the 10 who had been FOR the council's proposed budget on May 14, voted to agree with the mayor's veto on May 29th.
Wow, I had wanted to be there but couldn't, so am very grateful for everyone who showed up and to the Common Council for listening to the people.
ReplyDeleteNice going ! Congratulations and thanks to all who took part. What a great day for the democratic process.
ReplyDeleteJust out of curiosity: which council member(s) voted consistently on the 14th and 29th? That is, which council member(s) voted against the budget on the 14th and for the veto on the 29th, or for the budget on the 14th and against the veto on the 29th?
ReplyDeleteMight we conclude that that individual or those individuals is/are the only council member(s) that don’t play politics?
Yes, may we know which council members voted which way each time? (Minutes of 2nd mtg have yet to be posted.)
DeleteCouncilman Giuliano voted for the Council budget and against the Mayor's veto of it.
ReplyDeleteYou are free to interpret that to mean that he does not play politics.
Well, Mr Giuliano may or may not play politics, and his vituperation over the behavior of the “mob” may be misguided, but at least he has the courage of his convictions. That’s more than can be said for the rest of the council.
ReplyDeleteI don't consider 50 people an overwelming representation of a city with a population if almost 50,000.
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