Lowell craves to spend other people’s money.
Are you wincing because I put it out there? It’s true. We hate to admit it. For all the rote blather about keeping taxes low, Lowell adores spending tax dollars. So many here, especially in the bubble, feed from a table, adorned by the taxpayers. Of this, I, too, am guilty. But, I’ll be forthright in ways I only see from Councilor Mercier. She doesn’t shrink from her incomes. She has earned it. And, she has!
What irks me? Is the many that talk fiscal conservative, but gorge from the trough of public monies. Some are public servants. They are directly employed by the government, but they decry government spending. There is a special place in my heart for municipal, unionized workers that supported Scott Brown. These folks, imho, are special. Touched by an angel.
Then, we have the contractors, seeking to win bids for a variety of services. You know LOTS of these guys. They are all over Lowell, crying poor mouth. They demand release of funding for shovel ready projects. Yet, all the while, gripe about the stifling choke of regulations and taxation.
Lowell is just choke full of these folks. They hold their heads high and brag of their enterprises. Why? Because Lowell gets a buttload of money from OUTSIDE OF LOWELL. It’s like freakin’ Monopoly money. Manna from heaven! So, why should we really care how it is spent.
Well, it ain’t monopoly money. They take it at the Longmeadow, Mount Pleasant, the East End Club and every other haunt where our shrewd family and friends bend an elbow, smirking and winking to one another over their ‘inside joke.’
I say that, to say this:
Lowell gives way too much power and prestige to our elected Beacon Hill delegation.
We kowtow to them because we see them as the ladle. So many of us feed from the bacon they bring home. We adore them for it. Even Lowellians disconnected from the public disbursements are aware that every penny funneled in to Lowell, is a penny they don’t pay in local taxes. (Though, as everyone should know, it is still our money. We just rather tangle over property taxes than payroll tax. Maybe, we feel we can lobby City Hall? Do we feel empowered when we push councilors around? Do we find dignity?)
Suffice to say, we have anointed our delegation. To a degree I think is unwise.
It certainly doesn’t hurt that they can help influence hiring for state jobs. Maybe, even county? The Blog of Record has been detailing the abuses of many of our Commonwealth’s pols wielding ‘undue influence’ and such. That doesn’t faze us. We know the score. If we are loyal, we will get our turn.
You’re smirking because, if it ain’t true for you, personally; you know several people that fit this bill. But, who cares. We are spending other people’s money. Right?
If you’re wondering why I opted, just now, to write this dissertation on the welfare-lite that Lowell is privy to? And, why we gush glowingly at the visage of those we send to Boston? It’s because you are being sold a bill of goods that a ‘political city manager’ is a net positive.
The subtext to this notion is that pork barrel aid will keep your local property taxes low. That a politician knows the game and can bring home the bacon.
Consider this:
The DeLeo effect: Greater Lowell reps with less clout
The Sun (3/31/13)
Greater Lowell's pull in the House of Representatives has shrunk as representatives have apparently fallen out of favor with House Speaker Robert DeLeo, three years after they voted instead in favor of a Norwood legislator for the position.This condition exists, still. Especially in the House, Lowell’s delegation is sucking fumes. At least, for now!
Of the eight or so representatives whose districts include Greater Lowell, only Cory Atkins of Concord holds a committee chairmanship.
"The internal politics are critical," said Jeffrey Barry, a political science expert at Tufts University. "Those out of favor with the speaker are very unlikely to get a committee chairmanship, or if they hold one, to retain it."
To the wizened, hard core followers of the money trail; I recommend you think long and hard over who you back for City Manager. If you get lucky, that ring in your nose, will lead you to prosperity. If the many things you can’t control go just the right way.
Let me finish with a story from 2007.
No love lost between Nangle, Lynch
The Sun (4/1/07)
STATE REP. David Nangle made his distaste for City Manager Bernie Lynch crystal clear this week.
Nangle's fundraiser at Long Meadow Golf Club a few weeks ago included several heavyweight politicians, including House Speaker Sal DiMasi, House Ways and Means Chairman Robert DeLeo and the entire Lowell delegation .
DiMasi asked whether the mayor or city manager were there. It's often customary to invite city leaders to welcome influential visitors to the city. But Nangle didn't invite Lynch ...
-snip
The Column asked Nangle, who said no snub was intended.
Then he added: "I would have no interest in having Bernie at an event like that."
He then launched into a critique of Lynch 's communication skills, and said if Lynch needs something from the speaker he can go through the delegation .
"That's the problem. There is no communication coming out of the city manager's office at all. Bernie is doing what he does best, circumvent everybody. He did it in Chelmsford, and he's doing it now," Nangle said.
-snip
"I'm a little surprised, but I know Dave and my predecessor (former City Manager John Cox) were very close. I don't know if that's playing into this at all," Lynch said.Bernie Lynch, having worked next door to Lowell those many years, never played by the established Lowell Rules. In any conversation I have ever had with him, he always seemed immune to whatever pretenses the delegation emoted. He simply meant to get the work done.
Lynch added that regardless of who was invited where, "I'm sure (Nangle will) continue to do his job on the part of the city and I'll continue to do mine."
That is why they ran him out, after he weathered the storm and fattened the hog.
Lowell is about to choose our next City Manager. Call or write the City Councilors. Give them an earful. It is your right and their obligation. Tell them what is in your heart. What you want to see for our City’s future. Shall we press forward or turn back to exploited loyalties? Will you opt to break the political ring, forged by the long serving state reps? Or, will you kneel to have a refitting of that ugly nose ring? It may pay off, eventually? If you wait your turn!
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3 comments:
As to businesses decrying their taxes, I've often repeated the following: Nobody takes their tax cut and invests the money in expanding the business in a declining market. You'd be a fool to invest in such a company. Moreover, in an expanding market, nobody delays expansion because their taxes are too high. You'd be a fool to invest in such a company.
Regarding regulation, the issue is the public interest, not the convenience of the regulated. The convenience of the regulated is only an issue to the extent that it *can* (but often isn't) *also be* a public interest issue. So for example I think regulations on the licensing of some businesses serve only as a rent-seeking mechanism for current businesses to avoid competition. So are there bad regulations? Of course. Is regulation a bad thing? Not on your life. So as a rule, when people decry regulations, make them be specific, otherwise you're talking meaningless dogma.
The "other people's money" is an interesting thought. I would plead guilty - because I am adamantly opposed to a slot facility in this ares (Tewksbury was on that chopping block)since it would be a wealth drain from the area. However, being located in Plainville it does not come with the same negatives, and with 40% of the net revenue going into the State's general fund, it will likely be a contributor to Lowell. Other people's money is easier on the pocketbook.
The Cherry Sheet! when I think of spending other peoples' money I think of our schools. On the other hand, all that school money pouring into Lowell is part of some grand bargin to improve education in Massachusetts. But such money should be treated with some respect. We here in Lowell use it for the betterment of not just Lowell, but the Commonwealth. Chelmsford benefits when Lowell kids graduate from high school, rather than dropping out and joining a gang.
As for regulation, for me it is a question of whose nest gets feathered. As Dr Hernando de Soto points out in his book, The Other Path, if regulations are used to continue existing monopolies, to stifle new entrants into fields, then it makes all of us poorer. If regulation is designed to even handedly help all of us, then it can be good. Who benefits?
Regards — Cliff
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