Dear 2UrbanGirls,
Inglewood’s fiscal emergency has invited the wolf into the hen house. What the council didn’t say is the city is actually closer to $20 million in the red this year. They’re already $12 million short, then you add the $6.1 million they underfunded the budget for police services for SoFi stadium events, and the $2.2 million they under funded for plan check fees for the proposed Clippers Arena, and its all coming out of the city’s reserves.
Mayor Butts likes to ‘wax poetic’ like he is this genius mastermind behind “saving the city” when it is nothing more than a delusion of grandeur. The Daily Breeze, Barbara Ohno, Wanda Brown, and you have consistently pointed to Butts’ lies and failures, but right on cue Butts emerges from the wings, to say “they’re lying”. The numbers I’m afraid aren’t.
Mayor Butts is loosing his mind, and presumably his health, by apparently living in city hall to control the reins of the city. His quest for absolute power is scary.
I took the time to watch the meeting and heard the Mayor’s and City’s of Inglewood’s disposition in declaring a fiscal emergency and the measures they are taking to address the fiscal crisis, and I want to share my opinions, as voter’s will be tasked with the choice of voting either yes or no, to raise taxes to address this fiscal emergency.
I use the term ” Fiscal emergency” loosely because the Mayor , Council and staff comments seem to be in stark contrast to the staff report in support of the declaration of an fiscal emergency and subsequent election.
“We saved money and have more money in our reserves than ever before, HOWEVER, it’s like having money in the savings account, but the checking account isn’t gonna pay all the bills,” said Butts.
In referencing the City’s fiscal emergency, the City expressly cites additional law enforcement costs associated with the opening of Sofi stadium.
I mean it would be reasonable to believe law enforcement and Fire costs would rise, and associated with the opening of Sofi, but to the tune of 6 million dollars? The notion that the Mayor and Council in concert with the City Clerk, like thieves in the night, allocated an additional 6 million dollars to pay outside law enforcement agencies to provide services not only during early morning special city council meetings, but didn’t allow the public opportunity to voice their concerns, when either the city clerk or the employee actually doing her job, conveniently left out the phone numbers to call in on. We also had to have comments emailed to them by 7:00 a.m. or is it 8:00 a.m.? You don’t know because they keep changing the deadline.
My next question would be knowing you were going to significantly increase costs of almost to the tune of over 6 million dollars , why not factor that into your budget?
The only logical reason I can guess is that the City is hiding the true financial health of this City and voters should be mindful of this as this ‘harmless ” tax as advertised feeds the Mayor and Council’s rationalization to bleed Inglewood residents dry.
How do we have significant “reserves” when the council is spending it like its already encumbered? Have they already used up that $10 million line of credit?
Marvin McCoy
1 Comment
Marvin, our poor dear Marvin, is it possible you didn’t understand that when the Mayor said he “saved money” that was Bspeak for he cut resident services, so he could spend it on the zipper and footwash club?
Dear one You must understand that cutting services -claiming to save money – was important, because he needs so much more money to keep all those executives who may know better to keep their eyes closed and mouths shut long enough to get the very fine pensions they have been promised . Remember the refinanced pension bond, an unnecessary debt (along with added Interest) was taken on for the purpose of illusion – an increase in the general fund. Honey, compare the compensation increases by employee at Transparent California.org. and you will see that the illusion of saving while actually spending cannot continue…. think drug addict he has just got to have more people around him telling him he is the best !!
Of course meetings must be conducted at various and inconvenient times and of course comments must be squelched. It is so much easier to do wrong when the public can’t find out until the coffers are empty.
Don’t you see dear one, consider the obvious… few would know of George Floyd if there had been no camera – there would have been limited outrage .
…in some cases when the public learns about wrong it reacts to evil- the mayor couldn’t have that now could he …..so he went about to destroy the strong foundation of resident participation that built this city and replaced it with the false promise that the billionaires will pay their fair share, Obviously not that case if they need to raise any taxes at all
The wanna be savior would have us believe we are now beholden and should consider it a joy to pay much more for so much less.
Anyone remember that 18 million dollar forgiven loan?