On Monday, the City of Huntington Board of Works and Mayor Updike are set to accept a federal grant that will pay the salary of six laid-off firemen for two years and allow the Mayor to re-hire these six individuals. The only stipulation is the Mayor cannot lay-off any firemen for the next two years. The Mayor cites a small increase in tax revenue as his reasoning for putting the City of Huntington back in financial jeopardy (if it ever left). Yes, your heard me right, if things go to hell in a hand basket again, and you know it will, he can not lay off any firemen. But hey, I’ve got a little extra cash, why save it for a rainy day!
The worst part about this is he’s going to hold a press conference Monday to talk about it. That means news cameras! Mr. Mayor, haven’t we talked about this before? Keep your mug off the tube. It does no one any good. I can hear the echos reverberating all around Northeast Indiana already, “Oh God, he’s on TV again”!
Anyway, back the real story, Mayor Updike re-hiring six firemen the city doesn’t need. Here’s a question. If any of these firemen found other jobs and don’t want to come back, does he get to hire more family…err…new firemen? Mayor Updike’s tenure as mayor makes President Obama look competent. Maybe he should start doing the opposite of what his initial thoughts are, can’t do any worse.
By accepting this grant and rehiring these firemen, the Mayor is not only tying his own hands, but the hands of his successor, and there will be a successor next year. So when you see Mayor Updike on TV Monday, hear what he is saying but listen to the words; Screw you, you and especially you!
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Well, Gary, you apparently didn't have the pleasure of opening a homeowners insurance renewal policy recently as a citizen living on the east side of Huntington in the city limits and owning property he is required to keep insured. I am hoping this acceptance of the grant will result in our 40% increase being reversed.
You might try shopping insurance companies. Just a thought.
Having watched the Huntington financial debacle for about 2 years now I suspect there is more going on there than just the unfortunate consequences of a bad economy. Does anyone know if independent auditors have looked into the cities finances?