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Elevating the political discourse
In my opinion, Mayor Winfield and the three new council members are to be commended for embodying the spirit of "more elevated political discourse" in last night's budget meeting for Oro Valley.
Solomon makes a spectacle of himself…again
In terms of substance, the most controversial and contentious issue in my opinion was that the budget requested from the Town Manager included no additional FTE's [full-time equivalent positions] for any department, including the police. Councilman Solomon made a spectacle of this issue. He pressed the police chief [Danny Sharp] as to whether he had requested more police and not gotten them, and eventually he said yes. He also revealed, apparently for the first time in this budget cycle, that at certain peak times, 20% of requests for police officers had to go unanswered because no officer was available. There was no discussion of how long these peak periods were, how many "not available" situations were simply postponed without danger, like fraud reporting. All council members were shocked.
Chief Sharp admits that there is no crisis
This triggered an immediate, persistent, angry tirade from Solomon. He said that Oro Valley's sterling reputation for safety was being endangered, this was unacceptable, and that a firm and final decision should be immediately made to give the chief whatever he needed. Under questioning and clarification as to why the chief had not sooner made the danger clearer, the police chief confessed that it is normal to have peak periods with no officer immediately available for around 10% of requests; that the statistic had worsened slowly over the years; and that there was no immediate crisis. Eventually, he [Chief Sharp] apologized that the issue had arisen in this manner at this time.
Mayor Winfield remains composed
Winfield graciously said that of course it would be given another look and asked that the Town Manager give options for moving money around to make room for more police funding. Solomon was undeterred in his crusade for immediate action. He did not want options; he wanted a decision, now, with instructions to the Town Manager. This, despite that the meeting was a study session where no decisions were to be made, said Winfield, several times, very politely, until Solomon grudgingly capitulated.
It was an ugly, inappropriate, and unnecessary display in my opinion. People were relieved when the topic changed to parks and recreation, which began with the joke: "Next year, I refuse to be put on the agenda after the police." The tension finally broke.
Dave Perry’s lead balloon
Quite some time later, after much post-police discussion had occurred, Chamber of Commerce President Dave Perry asked to speak and gave an impassioned plea for more police funding, complete with extended anecdotes designed to project poignancy, like the Target employee who told him that in Tucson, police didn't even bother to come when called about shoplifting incidents. His performance had the buoyancy of a lead balloon.
Solomon’s palpable antagonism
After 4 hours of discussion and very few people were left, Solomon yet again found a back door into re-raising "prioritization of public safety." He pointed out that while no department, not even police, had gotten a single FTE, the Town Council had gotten a net increase of approximately ½ of an FTE in legal services. This triggered another hammering from Solomon. Why more legal service and not the police? Exactly why? What message does this send? Why did we never need this before? Was this a temporary increase just until the new and inexperienced council members are trained? No? What then?
It was tiresome and overdone; nothing more than political grandstanding in my opinion. Winfield and his allies met all this palpable antagonism with patience, forbearance, politeness, facts, perspective, and logic.
Hiremath’s cowardly absence
Conspicuous in his absence was Satish Hiremath who, [as published in his Explorer Op-Ed on May 1st] characterized them as liars who are threatening and intimidating the Town Manager into formulating an austerity budget guaranteed to result in an exodus of key personnel and a crime-ridden community without adequate police protection.
I have to say the Town Manager did not look in the slightest bit intimidated or threatened. She projected 100% calm professionalism. Moreover, her budget summary was exceptionally well-written so she is obviously competent and can find another job; she makes $180,000/year and probably has savings to carry her through a job loss, should that happen. I doubt that she perceives herself as "succumbing to threats of retaliation and intimidation by liars who are forcing her to compromise on principles."
Hiremath's method of elevating public discourse is apparently to let the remnants of his administration and former allies act as proxies for his bitter partisan rhetoric while he remains above the fray of face-to-face public meetings via cowardly absence. What a negative role model for the children and young adults who will lead us in the future.
A kinder, gentler mayor
What a refreshing and promising display of hope I saw last night for a kinder, gentler, unified community where elected officials are role models of public service for all citizens, regardless of age.
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LOVE’s Analysis
There is clearly a concerted effort going on by defeated former mayor Hiremath and his proxies to take down Winfield, Barrett, Jones-Ivey, and Nicolson. Solomon has spent the past 6 months using his position as a council member to launch into his bi-weekly lecture series attempting to discredit and minimize Winfield, et. al., while Hiremath and former councilmember Joe Hornat, along with the incorrigible Don Cox, take their phony rhetoric to the pages of the local newspaper.
Pavlov’s Dogs
It’s no coincidence that Hiremath’s May 1st Explorer op-ed, followed by defeated council member Joe Hornat's May 8th letter to the editor have both come exactly 6 months into the reign of the Winfield administration. What’s the significance of rearing their heads at the 6-month mark? You have to wait 6 months before initiating a recall against a newly elected mayor and council members.
It appears that the Hiremath posse is salivating in anticipation of a recall in hopes of retaking their majority voting block on council. And it appears that they are planning to use their repetitive and worn out scare tactic of being the only ones who will make public safety a priority. And we all know that is not true.
Be sure to read tomorrow's article on public safety funding during the Hiremath years.
