Same old Maggie - the stage is set for a partisan battle.
Here is the bit from County Executive Maggie Brook’s speech last night I wrote about earlier. Notice the bold.
In the days ahead we will launch a budget solution website. The public will be able to weigh in on our options. Residents can e-mail feedback on specific service cuts and revenue raising opportunities. Taxpayers can also offer their own ideas to help shape the financial future of the County.
Starting next week, I will host the first of several virtual town hall meetings. Taxpayers can discuss budget solutions with me over the phone while at the same time talking to thousands of their neighbors. Every member of our community with a publicly available phone number will receive a call from me and have the chance to participate.
And beginning next month, Budget Director Bill Carpenter and his team will join me as we host several community forums across the County.
We will partner with taxpayers, but also with government leaders at the city, town, and village levels. We will work through our Council of Governments, and invite our school districts to join in, as we examine potential opportunities for collaboration and cost savings.
Our legislature has asked my Administration for answers. Tonight I will challenge those lawmakers to come off the sidelines and work together in a bi-partisan way to advance practical cost saving options.
OK, lawmakers are challenged. Challenged to work in a bipartisan way. Well - we know how bipartisan works in Monroe County government.
Here is how I see this thing playing out. “Great” ideas will come for the forums and Town Hall meetings. By “great” I mean ideas that will advance the local Republican agenda. I can see astroturf ideas coming from here. The Republicans will fall back in lock step and push through whatever needs to be pushed through on party lines.
Come on Harry Bronson - we are counting you you as County Leg Minority Leader to keep your counterparts in the County Legislature and Ms Brooks honest.
Anywhere we can see the full text of her speech from Tuesday night?
Follow the links in the post.
Thx
[...] gave her State of the County speech where she took the prefix “bi-” out of the word bi-partisan Oh, lets see - there is a [...]