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Let’s forget for a moment that the only reason Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman didn’t request an increase in water and sewer rates again this year is because there is an election in less than 12 months (that applies to a property tax increase as well). Let’s forget for a moment that the coverage of the Salisbury FY 2009 budget, by the Daily Times, has consisted of little more taking dictation from Tilghman and her cronies. This morning our local paper crossed a big line, printing total falsehoods from Tilghman and treating them as if they were gospel. If that isn’t bad enough, Ms. D’Alessandro believes that she did nothing wrong.

This morning the Daily Times printed another piece from Tilghman press secretary (and nominal reporter) Laura D’Alessandro regarding a possible increase in water and sewer rates. Quoting Tilghman:

Tilghman said she did not recommend a water and sewer rate increase
last year because citizens were already experiencing a double-digit tax
hike — 12 percent.

The fact that Tilghman ASKED for a 17% property tax increase (not 12%) can be chalked up to a mis-statement or bad math. However, there is no question that Tilghman requested a 10% increase in water and sewer rates last year. One need merely look at last year’s budget message, or look it up in Daily Times own archives. The paper mentioned the proposed rate hike (which was defeated only because Councilwoman Debbie Campbell embarrassed the administration and Tilghman’s lackeys on council regarding the size of the Water and Sewer Fund surplus) several times.

According to Ms. D’Alessandro, it is not her responsibility to check up on statements from Tilghman (or her cronies) provided that she quotes them:

“I’m quoting her (Tilghman). If she lied then it’s her responsibility.”

When pressed on the subject, her initial arrogance gave way to whining that “she was new to her job”. If Ms. D’Alessandro doesn’t have enough common sense to meet any quote from a politician with a certain amount of scepticism then she needs to cover another beat.

D’Alessandro actually believes that the Mayor or her minions have never lied to her until now. While I can’t prove the negative, probability leads me to believe that she has.

Let’s be honest! Tilghman hopes that she can pass the buck and somehow make her arch-nemesis Debbie Campbell look bad while she sits back and watches the fiscal state of Salisbury collapse upon itself. This is probably a sound political strategy IF she is not planning on running and is merely shilling for her heir apparent, Councilman Gary Comegys.

The bottom line is that our local paper need no longer be the town crier for Barrie Tilghman.

Note - I have been informed by our friends at the Daily Times that a correction will be forthcoming.

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