Op-Ed: The Silence is Deafening | CNBnews.net
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Graphic & Opinion by Wil Levins
This upcoming Election Day will mark the sixth year of Mayor William James' administration and a mid-point of his second term in office. I remember reading candidate James' pre-election campaign message to the Gloucester City News, back in 2006, in which he said: "Over the past years, I’ve seen a community that is losing its hometown feel and appearance. I see and hear of deteriorating neighborhoods, I see vacant and closed storefronts, and I see the streets, and street corners and porches abound with individuals who have no respect for the people around them or conscious care about their own behavior."
He also spoke boldly of communication, public access, fiscal
responsibility, and tearing down a political machine that was restricting the
future prosperity of our community. "The time has come, ladies
and gentlemen, to stand up to 'the machine,' of a select group of people, who
have controlled your lives for far too long. The time has come to 'hold the
high ground' and stop the decline, to 'fight the good fight,' and to give
Gloucester City government back to the people."
However, as the years have gone by, this administration's desire
to openly share information with the broader public has decreased substantially since
its first year. As far as the political machine goes, the words of one
Councilman said it best: "We had to become the machine to beat the
machine."
On communication, candidate James said - "It’s time to
change the way the City government has communicated with you. The Independent
team is a proponent of supporting and informing the City News of all
major and current developments within the community. We are a strong proponent
for more informative use of Channel 19 and for bringing Council meetings back
to Channel 19 so everyone can see what actions City government is taking in
your behalf."
As it stands today, the City has developed a website. The
Mayor makes an annual address on the State of the City in the pages of the
Gloucester City News and CNBnews.net and just a few weeks before Election Day the
administration will make a couple of statements about how hard they are working
for our residents. All good things except, where is the communication for the rest of
the year? Only to be found at Council, Caucus or Work Session Meetings?
What if you can't attend? Is this all the administration had in
mind when candidate James spoke of increased communication with the
public?
When was the last time a Council Meeting was broadcast on Channel
19 or even the City's website? Web-video is not difficult technology to operate,
so why hasn't the administration taken the initiative to follow through with
their support of increased public communication?
So, as an example of this Administration's failure to communicate openly with the people of our community, I instead ask YOU - the reader and resident of Gloucester City - if you know even some of the answers to the following questions.
- What has the James Administration done to relieve the quality of
life concerns in the City - especially the northwest side?
- How has the administration utilized the information gathered from its public survey conducted last year?
- How has this administration assisted the small business
community to grow?
- What barriers has the administration removed to promote
entrepreneurial investment and commercial development in our community?
- How has this administration promoted Gloucester City's potential
to the commercial and residential market outside this community? What has
the UEZ Office and the Community Relations Specialist done, specifically, to
attract interest in what Gloucester has to offer?
- What was the City's need/purpose of the schooner "Northwind?" Has that need been met? If yes, please explain.
- What exactly is the plan going forward to promote Gloucester City's Waterfront or overall community investment?
- Aside from a rented billboard on the border with Brooklawn,
where else throughout the Delaware Valley has the administration
advertised our community's potential?
- Of the over Five Million Dollars of public bond money the City
spent on buying and redeveloping Chatham Square/Meadowbrook Mews/Gloucester
Terrace, how many reconditioned townhouse units have been sold? How much
has the City recovered for the public tax dollars put out?
- What is the City's plan for Gloucester Terrace?
- What is the City's current plan for Freedom Pier? Is the
City going to shell out many more millions of tax dollars to build a
restaurant?
- What law enforcement agency /security group did they consult
with for planning the security of Freedom Pier and what has the cost been to repair vandalism of
lights on Freedom Pier vs. vandalism to lights in Proprietors Park?
- How much has the City saved since privatizing the ambulance
service and has the new service fulfilled set expectations?
- Why did the City layoff eight firemen the year after hiring
seven?
- Will the City layoff the three newly hired/rehired firemen if the City
cannot obtain new grants in the future?
- What is the plan for the rehabilitation of Fort Nassau
Playground?
- What is the plan for the empty parcels of ground the City owns
in Southport?
- When will
construction begin for the compost facility?
- Why did the City not have full disclosure public hearings about the compost facility's plans to build a processing facility here, as the City Governments of other neighboring communities had done?
- Has the City Government put forth or followed through on a plan to reduce the number of empty lots and City-owned properties in our community - which will reduce our collective tax burden and increase property rateables?
- Has this administration given you any further explanation about
the status of the at-large Council elections referendum that passed in 2011 or
how that proposed amendment to our City Charter is progressing in the State
Legislature?
What of our community's objectives and goals? Aside from the huge
public expense we can see at Meadowbrook Mews/Chatham Square/Gloucester Terrace
(well over five million in bond debt and still counting), the dirt pile at
Southport (another five million in bond debt and counting), and Freedom Pier
(two million of public grant money and still counting) what are the
Administration's plans for the City's future?
The current Master Plan was developed in 1996. It has been
reexamined in 2002 and 2010 yet, a new Master Plan still needs to be developed.
What is the delay and where is the focus for our community's efforts in the
next year, five years, or ten years from this administration's perspective?
I understand that taking on the responsibility
of public office is a thankless job and though I am critical of their silence, I do honor their committment. I give praise when deserved. That said, there are certain expectations to
be fulfilled while holding public office - one of which is openly communicating the actions being taken on
behalf of our community's residents by their Government. Over the course
of this administration's time in office, I have come to see that Mayor and Council do not
believe broad explanations are necessary to the public due to, I can only assume, the simple fact of
their being elected or that communication begets questions and questions lead to debate which hampers expediency.
Costly actions have been taken that put substantial amounts of public debt on our shoulders, and decisions have been set in motion that have sweeping consequences for our City's current and future operation. I for one want a City Government that communicates freely, openly, and unsolicited with their constituents to explain the reasons behind their actions. This current administration has seemingly yet to realize this basic and fundamental precept of good governance.