I would never make is a political pollster. Remember a few months back I wrote that we should just have 11 councilors, all at large, and no district councilors. Well, I am back on that again.
First, it is very difficult to beat a sitting district councilor.
Second, since there are only 6 at large spots it is pretty hard for someone to break in on a city wide basis.
In other words, at most we may get 1 maybe 2 new councilors every two years under the currrent system. If it was the top 11 , I think you would see more turn over and more interest.
Same Time Next Year
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It’s been nearly a year since I wrote about the problems that come from
having 11 bosses who are not on the same page about anything, as well as
suggestion...
5 months ago
5 comments:
Bill,
I’m not so sure about 11 at-large councilors being the answer to Worcester’s lack of new blood. Although Joe O’Brien proved that a true urban candidate can win across the city, I think it was more about his organization, his ties with the McGovern/Murray machine, and strong backing from the Unions that propelled him to a victory.
If everyone had to run citywide, I’m afraid a majority of the councilors would be from the “suburbs” i.e. the West Side, etc. We need a majority of Urban folk (D4 & D2) on the council to move Worcester forward not more West Siders.
DAVID, I LIKE YOUR 1ST PARAGRAPH
BUT........WE CANT EVEN GET D-4 OR D-2'ERS TO THE POLLS ( TO THE POOLS YES...TO THE POOLS NO)...NEVERMIND GET THEM TO RUN......WHICH OF COURSE IS GREAT FOR ALL THE OTHER DISTRICTS IN TERMS OF VOTING FOR AT LARGE'ERS.
IMO THE ONLY WAY TO CHANGE THIS CITY IS TO GET COUNCILORS WHO ARE NOT BEHOLDEN TO CITY LABOR INTERESTS AND i THINK I'TS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE..WITNESS NEW COMER oBREINS STUNNING WIN AND OVERWHELMING DEFEAT OF SITTING MAYOR KONNIE.
wHEN THE MONEY RUNS OUT COMPLETELY AND ALL THE LABOR CONTRACTS GET RE WRITTEN AND WE DO AWAY WITH 80% DEFINED BENEFITS PENSIONS, ETC, ETC......THEN AND ONLY THEN CAN THE NON-CITY EMPLOYEE TAXPAYERS TAKE BACK THEIR CITY.
bESIDES THE COSTS OF CITY EMPLOYEES, THEIR PRODUCTIVITY HAS TO BE CLOSELY LOOKED AT. TRASH HUALERS WORKING 4-5 HR WORK DAYS, FIREFIGHTERS SLEEPING/WATCHING TV ON THE CLOCK, COPS DOING CLERICAL JOBS, 10 SICK DAYS PER CITY EMPLOYEE PER YEAR, HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO ONLY TEACH 3 OR 4 CLASSES PER DAY.......THE LIST IS ENDLESS.
ANY NEWLY GRADUATED INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING STUDENT COULD HAVE A FIELD DAY INCREASING CITY EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY .PROBLEM IS POLITICIANS WONT LET IT HAPPEN...........GERMAINE, RUSHTON, TOOMEY, CLANCEY, AND OTHERS ARE ALL IN LABORS BACK POCKET.
bILL i ASSUME FORM YOUR POST THAT sMITH WON & CASELLA LOST.
I only read todays headlines on thre way out the door thsi morning and dont know how the district races stacked up.
The last thing worc needs right now is another pro-labor councilor in the form of an allegedly disabled, allegedly retired firefighter who allegedly still works as an electrician?
It seems as though many of the concerns with Plan-E would be covered if we had kept some aspects of the old local bicameral system intact; namely the 11-member Board of Aldermen and the 30-member Common Council. I'd be less concerned with what part of the city a councilor resided in or what party they (didn't) represent if there were simply more voices in the room to guide the Manager.
As to the labor support: I had the pleasure to speak with a local municipal union official recently, and mentioned to him that from where I sit, if all the unions and the Manager each took a big step back from the collective bargaining table to remind themselves and the public that they do what they do each day not for themselves but for the community, much of the posturing would begin to seem trivial. And more importantly the public could regain much lost trust and the employees much lost morale. Surprisingly (maybe?) he agreed, sincerely. Lets hope that the last few years in labor (and public) relations were the bottom and we can start to rebuild those relationships in a way that benefits us all.
Bottom of the ninth 2 outs bases loaded Worcester up to bat.
1st pitch belt high fastball right over the middle strike looking.
2nd pitch belt high fastball right over the middle strike looking.
3rd pitch belt high fastball right over the middle strike looking.
Worcester strikes out without swinging the bat. Shows over
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