The Arrogance of Power … or Is It Just Another Source of Campaign Cash
The Salisbury City Council is holding a work session on January 2nd. They’ll start off with their usual closed session to discuss matters that they don’t want the public to know about (particularly in an election year), although they probably don’t meet the conditions for a closed session.
What else will Mikey and crew discuss? They’ll start off with a discussion of the new fire station that the city can’t afford because of all those developer reimbursements. They’ll wind down with an attempt to justify the PRD zoning for the old mall project. You know, the zoning classification that City Attorney Paul Wilber claimed in open court was inappropriate. In between they’ll cover septage fees and a bike path that Gary Comegys wants. Nothing like a little pre-election pork.
What’s not on the agenda? Little things, like taking care of resident complaints about landlords. Councilwoman Debbie Campbell has been asking for a discussion of the city’s policy towards rental properties since September. First Mike Dunn arbitrarily decided that emails are no longer a valid means of requesting that an item be put on the agenda. When Councilwoman Campbell followed Herr Dunn’s ridiculous rules, he simply ignored her. In October and November he publicly stated that she could get anything on the agenda that she wanted. …NOT!
We all know that Mikey is not intelligent enough to understand his own rules. Fair enough. However, why does he publicly state that he will do one thing and then fail to do it? The answer in this case is simple - $$$$$.
There is a dirty little trick practiced by certain members of SAPOA (the slumlord guild). Despite the 4-2 (now 4-3) legislation passed by the city council, certain guild members pack as many individuals into a single family home as possible and charge each tenant per head. Since Barrie Tilghman and her “council leadership” tacitly endorse such a practice, why forgo all of that extra revenue (even if it is illegal).
Mikey and Barrie will tell you that we can’t just throw these poor people into the streets. Of course they’re right. The solution is to enact legislation that would make the landlord responsible for all costs incurred by a tenant who is forced to relocate. Then swiftly and strenuously enforce existing law. Of course that might cut into the profit margin just a tad. Can’t have that.
OK, that still doesn’t explain why the Mayor and her “council leadership” would allow this to go on. You’re right. Just wait about two months. Barrie’s “council leadership” sans Shanie Shields are up for re-election. Barrie has to keep those seats or she can’t control the city council. Her only tool would then be the veto.
Who will be the biggest backers of Barrie’s little crew? The Slumlord Guild. SAPOA members will max out to every one of Barrie’s chosen candidates. They will make sure that yard signs are in front of every property they own. They might even hand over bundles of cash to the candidates. They might even try to intimidate their tenants into voting for people who will deliberately work against their tenants’ best interests. With a city council that isn’t controlled by Barrie Tilghman the gravy train might stop!
In the meantime, some tenants will continue to live in substandard housing while their landlords rake it in. Mike Dunn will do all that he can to make sure that the issue isn’t debated before the city council. The rest of Barrie’s “council leadership” will fall right in line.
Whatever happened to “good will toward men”?
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Our New Year’s Resolution is to ditch the “Dream Team” in the upcoming City Election.