A gift for Gallagher

DeKalb 4th ward alderman Brendon Gallagher’s taken the gloves off.

Gallagher and Mark Charvat locked horns at the last city council meeting. Charvat can be too in your face and rude sometimes. I thought he was all that Monday night. I understood where he’s coming from: Who cares what fund the expense was paid from, when taxes are being raised at the same time services are being cut and people are being laid off, reading a line item for several hundred dollars of peanut butter is more than a little annoying.

I’m glad Gallagher pointed out that his anger was aimed at those whiners who don’t volunteer and serve on committees to work for change. Otherwise I’d have thought some of his venom was aimed at me.

So I’m going to join the 4th ward alderman on the high road and stick to the issues.

Gallagher wrote:

Thanks again for your support this past year.  We have accomplished many things on the City Council; but harder tasks are in front of us in 2011.  Revenues continue to stay flat, and expenses remain flat or just barely higher.  The path we have chosen seems to be a dead end, but I tell you fear not!  We will continue to tighten the belt and be fiscally responsible.  We made tough decisions last year to layoff workers to cut payroll.  We will be faced with more difficult decisions here in January and February as we start to see the 2nd quarter reports which will give us a good indication of where we are financially.  Sacred cows, like retiree health insurance, will be discussed.  These are some of the legacy costs we need to eliminate to make us a lean city who will survive into the next decade.

click to open to enlarged view

Indeed the challenges are too great for a game of sticks and stones.

Times are tough so adding another gift to my list wasn’t budgeted. So I went out and found Alderman Gallagher a nice but second hand gift. It truly is the thought that counts. Here’s to a brighter New Year… for everyone.

H/T CityBarbs