My rebuttal to the Mayor’s State of the City Address
In the State of the Union, the opposition party gives its rebuttal within 10 minutes of the president’s address. In the City of Lawrence, I believe the City Council has no idea that they can also rebut the Mayor’s Address in regards to the State of the City, and because they have not, Rumbo will do it for them. After all, the people of Lawrence deserve to hear the other side of the state of the city.
We know the mayor is looking for a job and wanted to look good in his statement but a State of the City Address is supposed to inform residents of everything that has gone on: Good and Bad.
I noticed that his report was brief and missing many things. Some of them came to mind and there are probably more.
- One good thing he forgot to mention was the acquisition of new voting machines.
- The loss of millions of dollars for lead removal and rehabilitation efforts disappeared due to the incompetence of management at Community Development.
- The actual streets and sidewalks have never been worse. All the digging and breaking of sidewalks has disabled, children and even normal walking adults tripping, getting hurt and/or unable to move themselves through most streets and sidewalks in Lawrence.
- Increase in homelessness mostly from individuals from other cities that have made Lawrence their homeless location. What is the Homeless Coordinator doing? He never mentions Sandy Guerrier and we have no idea of what she does.
- Lack of affordable apartments and homes for people. The mill buildings being converted into apartments are not meant for the poor.
- The lack of veteran assistance in the City. I am not writing about the Veterans Services Office, but the actual discrimination of jobs, services, assistance, and housing.
- More and more minors being caught in alcohol drinking establishments.
- City changing or modifying ordinances for their campaign workers to get licenses, home loans, changing street signs and selling themselves to the highest bidders via campaign donations.
- The increase amounts of unprofessional auto shops popping up all over the north side of the city, therefore taking up valuable space for housing.
- The non-respect of city employees by forcing contracts down their throats for the benefits of giving campaign employees and friends’ salary increases.
- Continues hiring incompetent people in jobs requiring educational levels they don’t have.
- The filthy trash founds in almost every street and alleyway.
- The absence of protection of employees working in the streets that are non-public safety.
- The nonexistence of a statewide/nationwide bus station and service.
- The dissemination of the Community Development and Business & Economic Development Departments.
- The lack of a safe, secure and professional police station.
- There’s no transparency from the police department. They say crime is down but Lawrence remains a violent city during the day and night. According to his speech, crime is down but crimes are not reported as they should be by police. ¿Remember the man who died at the Senior Center last year? José Puello was pushed through a window, taken by ambulance to the hospital and a month later died from his injuries but it was downplayed by police.
- The mayor should have also included future plans: what needs to be done in the coming year.
De La Cruz shakes down business
Some say “crime pays” but in Lawrence, it’s politics what works to their advantage. For example, María De La Cruz got a job for her niece in the City Clerk’s office. She was always a mayor’s lackey and now she’ll get worst.
On Tuesday night, she did the mayor’s bidding when she asked the representative from the telephone company to come up with some money for the city. I was shocked when I heard that because the ethics manual they have to sign off that they read it, clearly says they cannot do “soliciting.”
Another one who in just one month in the City Council is getting the fruits of her campaign is Celina Reyes alias Lina Montesino. Her campaign manager Carlos Morel is the new Recycling Coordinator. Not too bad for a parking lot attendant!
