Kudos to Bob Hansen of Duluth for pointing out the lack of accountability at local government, international liberal priorities overshadowing local city issues, and to candidates not taking special interest/union money. I noted earlier that the political tide appears to be shifting along the North Shore. Hansen's letter posted at the Duluth News Tribune readies the sails for November 6:
Why have the people elected to represent Duluth failed to resolve the city’s major financial problems, such as the unfunded retiree health-care liability and next year’s projected $6 million budget deficit?
There’s a simple answer: special interests.
The following were among the main questions one special interest group (as one example), the Duluth Greens, used in a questionnaire to evaluate candidates for the coming election: What plans do you have to increase sustainability in Duluth, to lessen the use of nonrenewable fossil fuels in Duluth? What would you do to increase local food production in Duluth and the surrounding area? What would you do to strengthen the union movement in Duluth? As an elected city official of Duluth, would you support calling for U.S. troops in Iraq to be brought home now? In light of the October 2005 David Croud incident, would you support an Independent Citizens Review Board for the Duluth Police Department?
Many members of the Duluth Greens also are members of Progressive Action, which claims to be a grass-roots group promoting a “better future” for Duluth.
Progressive Action endorsed Laurie Johnson, a staff member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; Sharla Gardner, a member of the AFSCME executive board and of the Duluth Greens; and Jeff Anderson and Tony Cuneo for City Council.
Progressive Action’s “better future” doesn’t seem to include the need to take care of the city’s retiree health-care liability which, if left unchecked, could cost Duluthians more than $1 billion in years to come, according to the December 2005 final report of the Post Employment Health Benefits Task Force. Another financial shortfall in budgeting for 2007 is an estimated $2 million deficit in funding pensions for police officers, firefighters, AFSCME members and all other city employees.
How can anyone disagree that these financial issues are more important City Council business than increasing local food production, strengthening the Duluth union movement or managing the war in Iraq? A “better future” means providing money for, or borrowing to pay, the city’s pension obligations to its employees.
Duluth needs new policies from its leaders to stimulate economic development and create more high-paying jobs. A current quagmire of restrictive ordinances and red tape sends the wrong signals to employers and property owners.
Duluth needs to focus on attracting new employers and working families who will add to the tax base that provides money for vital city services and schools.
Many self-serving special interests and some elected officials blame Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the state for Duluth’s financial mess. But those elected to serve can’t play that blame game. They need to take responsibility for providing adequate money for core services such as police, fire, streets and infrastructure maintenance. And they need to reject the pressure of special interests. In other words: priorities over promises.
Who is responsible for the $9.6 million bonding error for the new First Street parking ramp? Who is responsible for city of Duluth overtime pay, now estimated at more than $3 million per year? For years, the excessive overtime has been questioned by the state auditor.
Over the past three years the City Council has voted on the immediate release of a political prisoner in Syria, to criticize the U.S. Secret Service and to take on the Iraq war. The City Council’s actions had no affect on world issues and were a waste of time and city resources. During that same time, the unfunded retiree health-care liability grew from $178 million to more than $330 million.
Duluth desperately needs leaders who will truly promote a better future. This means saying “no” to special interests whose contributions to the city’s devastating financial problems are no longer welcome.
It seems to me Duluth’s greatest opportunity for a change in course away from special-interest agendas is with candidates who did not seek or accept endorsements from special interests like the Duluth Greens and Progressive Action. Those City Council candidates are Todd Fedora in the First District, Heather Rand in the Third District, Jay Fosle in the Fifth District, and Becky Hall and Tim Little, who are At-Large candidates. They represent many colors of the political spectrum, but they have one thing in common: independence. They are indebted only to their own will, judgment and conscience.
Will the city of Duluth change course to move promptly toward a healthier future?
The answer is up to those of us who take responsibility and vote for crucial and fundamental change on Nov. 6.
Bob Hansen is a lifelong Duluth resident and the owner of three Duluth-based businesses since 1983.
