IF THEY HAVE NO BREAD...LET THEM EAT CAKE!
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Historically, that was one of the most damning, arrogant political statements, and led to the French Revolution (Viva' la France!)
The orator, Marie Antoinette, was beheaded during the Revolution.
Vince is even more clueless, more arrogant, although much less eloquent. I think Vince said "Burp" or was it "zzzzzzz". After all, FTC readers know Vince can't count to five.
Now, I'm not suggesting that the residents of Highwood rise up and behead Vince...right, I'm not suggesting that at all. But I'm hoping that they are smart enough to rise up and force feed him a few "No" votes, as his desert.
Marie Antoinette was known for her personal excesses while the French peasants starved. Vince is smarter, he has plenty of excesses, but has locked down City Hall to make sure that the Highwood peasants don't know that their dollars are being used to fund Vince's excesses.
While Fidel Ghini was proud that Highwood had no tax, he balanced that by being frugal. He recycled envelopes, worked in the streets himself, and wouldn't take a dollar from the City.
Vince is the anti Fidel. Sure he ran on a platform of returning to the "old days" of Fidel, but nothing could be farther from the truth.
Fidel was personally wealthy. But, he would rather slit his wrist than waste a penny of the City's money.
Vince is a bitter, unwealthy man. He will try every angle for personal wealth, but will spill the City's money, like water...as long as it feathers his own nest.
If Vince shows up at the League of Women's Voters debate (SEE BELOW), ask him why he is taking a $12,000 dollar salary?
Ask him why he has hired a City Administrator who is just out of school, but is getting paid TWICE what the last City administrator got paid.
But My Severance Package Sure Is?
Ask him if your money has no value to him, as he is pushing to reward this short timer with a severance package of $100,000 Dollars if the City fires him! Have you ever been paid that kind of money not to work? Of course not, most people aren't lucky enough to get paid that much to work. But your tax dollars mean nothing to Vince.
Of course, the City Administrator has been promoted to City Manager. This is so he can do the work that Vince couldn't do.
And don't forget that he is supposed to be politically neutral, but has wasted City money "censuring" Vince's opponents on the Council. You know the alderwoman who asked why the City was wasting tax dollars?
But rewarding people with your money, to do Vince's work is nothing new.
Remember the Police Chief that was terminated by the City? His legacy was that he tried to get me indicted on bogus charges! And when he was terminated by the City, he was paid about $35,000 in severance pay, so he would be quiet about his follies.
And don't forget the City attorneys that are getting 3-4 times as much as the former City Attorney...but, they are loyal to Vince. Is that how you would spend those $$$? Of course not...but Vince is happy to do it for you. Wait until the next tax increase.
Remember the saying..."follow the money"?
Well, have you seen the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Signs blaring their support for Vince.
Well, Vince bought that support with your money!
I said support, not "votes" because almost none of the Firefighters that support Vince live in the City. (I think one does, and he is management and therefore not a union member!)
So, your out of town Firefighters support Vince. Ask yourself "WHY".
Is it because Vince is so knowledgeable? Nope...Follow the Money.
Vince used your money to give them a fat contract, a contract that will cost the City hundreds of thousands of dollars...but it got their loyalty. You didn't even know that there was a contract did you? Of course not, Vince was embarrassed at what he had to give up (YOUR MONEY) to buy their loyalty.
Why not, (like the City Manager) they don't live in town. They go home, take your tax dollars with them, and don't pay the kind of taxes that you do!
Regardless of your politics, you have to give President Obama credit. Everyday he notes the country is in tough times. He imposed pay freezes for his senior staff. He criticizes obscene bonuses. While the country struggles, and thank God to have a job, Vince gave the Firefighters retroactive 9% pay increases!
And don't forget, the City has almost doubled ambulance fees!
BTW, that is for a 38 hour work week! And remember those are "Duty Hours" and include the sleeping hours at the station! Something that can be exempted under Federal Law.
Do you get paid to sleep?
Know anyone else that works only 38 hours a week?
And don't forget, Vince gave the Firefighters pay (50%) if they don't take a sick day! Aren't sick days for being sick?
And don't forget an ANNUAL CLOTHING ALLOWANCE, in addition to the City providing all other equipment!
But, here is the real cincher...on May 15th of this year, every Fire Department Union member gets a BONUS for retroactive pay raises. Did you ever get a retro pay raise?
The retroactive bonuses are up to $19,000 for the firefighters!
No wonder they paid for those yellow signs endorsing Vince. I'll bet they will even be knocking on your door telling you how great Vince is and how bad the other guys are.
So, when Vince gets elected,
He will take his $12,000 salary,
the City Manager will get $100,000 if he gets fired,
the Firefighters will be tooling around in their new truck or motorcycle (bought with their bonuses)...and
you will be wondering if you can afford the tax bill coming out in June.
If you vote for Vince, you have no self respect.
Highwood's Old Timers
I wonder what those men and women "blue collar" workers that were bigger than life and shaped Highwood would do if they were alive today. I can just imagine the old timers like Dominick Linari, Ed Linari, the Fabbri Brothers, Sam Ori, Reno Minorini, Flip Maestri Ozzie Mazzetta and Fidel Ghini talking about this at the Sheridan Lunch.
They wouldn't stand for it. They would probably build a beautiful stone guillotine...
But on the other hand, they would not have been stupid enough to elect Vince as Mayor...Are you?
IMPORTANT NOTICE
The League of Women Voters is hosting a
Highwood Candidates Forum
March 12, 2009 @ 6:45 PM
At Oak Terrace School
This Forum is critical. The League has a long history of being politically independent and working to educate voters on important community issues.
You should not miss it!
BTW -- Reliable sources indicate that Walter Pieri thinks that you are such a sucker, he isn't even going to show up! He is (over) confident that he can fool you again.
BTW II -- Reliable sources also say that Vince is feeling the heat. He doesn't want to answer your questions...just like the City Council Meetings...and he will also be a "No-Show". What a slap in the face to Highwood Voters!
BTW III -- Vince's $100,000 Baby (a/k/a the City Manager) wouldn't let the League use the Highwood Rec Center.
First, why was he even involved? Highwood has a Rec Board that handles short term lease?
Second, did it interfere with "SMALL FRY" Basketball (the "For Profit" "Not For Profit") that Vince is an officer/director of?
Third, if you can't use a community center for a "community event"..Oh, I forgot Vince doesn't want it to happen.
"Fool Me Once...Shame On You
Fool Me Twice...Shame On Me"
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The views expressed in this newsletter are my own opinions, and may not represent the views of anyone else. Factual corrections will be appreciated and reported. This letter may be informative, interesting, cynical, humorous, and/or irritating depending upon one's point of view.
************************************************************************************************************ Trying to preserve Highwood for the next City Council, through your involvement today!
Thank you for your interest.
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FROM THE CORNER (FTC)
Paul P. Diambri
Writer, Editor, Psychic, Detective, Photographer, Columnist, Reviewer,
Reporter, Janitor, Messenger, Owner & Chairman of the Board
