THE BULLY RETURNS
Nutter, who had planned to close the branches Dec. 31 to help close a $1 billion budget gap over the next five years, said that keeping the branches open would mean reduced service across the library system.
“We only have a certain number of personnel to operate the 53 total branches, which will impact the level of service and continued service,” Nutter said. “That will cause us to have to cut back service days and programmatic activity.”
Nutter also said that if the city has to keep all the branches open, it likely would mean more layoffs.
Shorter Mayor Bully: “Fine, i’ll just make sure there are no staff for ANY libraries..
over at Young Philly Politics, Ray Murphy bravely holds his nose and calls the Mayor’s argument what it is: a big, stinking pile of horse shit:
as Marc Stier reported on this blog, “”rolling closures” may now be in store. That means random branches close at random times during the week to save money.
Come on Mayor.
You control a multi-billion dollar budget. The library closures you proposed represent an $8 million annual cost. And your own budget director has said that he now expects a $40 million surplus this year. What gives? The idea of rolling branch closures makes it hard to think you are not being somewhat vindictive.
What gives? I’ll tell you what gives, ray: the mayor has made up his mind that the libraries have to go, and that’s that. They have to go, no ifs, ands, or buts from we the peasantry.
I do not know why the Mayor is opposed to services that help working class people and the poor, but it’s totally in character for the man who nearly bit my head off for pointing out his disgraceful stance on public transit and suggesting he take SEPTA to work:
“Mr. Nutter: when SEPTA was to re-open the Route 15 line on Girard Avenue, your colleague Carol Campbell tried to block this project saying that her constituents didn’t want to go back to parking on one side of the street: they have been parking on both sides illegally. You backed Ms. Campbell. I want to know how you and Mr. Saidel propose to fix the SEPTA problem, and whether you will both commit to riding SEPTA to work every day.”
The mention of the Route 15 clearly set Mr. Nutter’s hackles on edge: I could see it. He turned to me and said “The issue with the 15 trolley was that SEPTA did not communicate with the community at all.”
“I don’t believe you,” I said, and with good reason. News of the revived line had been in the newspapers for MONTHS. The construction on Girard Avenue was obvious, taking place in the middle of the street. Unless the residents of 59th and Callowhill are deaf, illiterate, and blind, the revived line was impossible to miss. This is a project that cost taxpayer $82 million dollars, and Mr. Nutter is telling me that no one knew this was coming?
“I don’t care if you don’t believe me,” Nutter said. “As for riding SEPTA every day, I will not have you force me into pandering to you. I will not commit to that.”…
After tonight’s Q&A, I feel comfortable saying that Michale Nutter is exactly as he’s portrayed: has a superiority complex; he believes he knows what’s best, does not want to entertain questions or concepts that conflict with his image as civic hero, and is condescending and arrogant when dealing with constituents and voters. I saw this repeated throughout the evening on any number of topics. His answers on gun violence were predictable and boring. His answers on taxes were evasive. All were delivered with the air of someone who knows better than you.
Take a look at my post on the meeting at the Kingsessing Rec Center a few weeks ago, and you’ll see that nothing has changed. Same old arrogant, high-handed, dishonest, condescending egomaniac with a superiority complex.
Philadelphians will have to fight long and hard to restrain this Mayor, who seems to see himself as better than the average city resident. He’s not willing to ride transit with us, he wants to take away public resources (forever!) rather than raise taxes, and he’s unwilling to take on the city’s corporate deadbeats. Perhaps all those years as a municipal bond salesman made him identify more with those who would coddle big business and the wealthy at the expense of the poor and the working class: i don’t know what it is, but it’s unacceptable.
4 Responses to “THE BULLY RETURNS”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:17 am
[...] Someone I’ve heard of added an interesting post on Brendan Calling Blog Archive THE BULLY RETURNSHere’s a small excerptas Marc Stier reported on this blog, âârolling closuresâ may now be in store. That means random branches close at random times during the week to save money. Come on Mayor. You control a multi-billion dollar budget. … [...]
January 6th, 2009 at 10:46 am
[...] Someone I’ve heard of added an interesting post on Brendan Calling Blog Archive THE BULLY RETURNSHere’s a small excerptas Marc Stier reported on this blog, âârolling closuresâ may now be in store. That means random branches close at random times during the week to save money. Come on Mayor. You control a multi-billion dollar budget. … [...]
January 6th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Karen Heller has a “suck it up Philly” column on Philly.com today. I sent her an email saying it’s as much attitude as message(can forward to you - email me at jordanandsam at comcast dot net and I will send copy). I usually respect Karen Heller and am surprised she took this stance.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
[...] A smart blogger placed an interesting blog post on Brendan Calling Blog Archive THE BULLY RETURNSHere’s a brief overviewas Marc Stier reported on this blog, âârolling closuresâ may now be in store. That means random branches close at random times during the week to save money. Come on Mayor. You control a multi-billion dollar budget. … [...]