Notes from the Mayoral Debate of 3-15-10

First off, the same neighborhood associations who sponsored last night’s extremely well-attended town hall meeting – the Hiltonia, Hillcrest, Glen Afton and Cadwalader Heights civic associations – will also sponsor an evening with the West Ward candidates next month, on April 19. See you there!

For that meeting, you have my full permission to bring air horns and use them liberally if I do not, in point of fact, give a straight answer to the straight questions I am asked. That’s to keep things honest. Had air horns been available last night, perhaps they would have helped; because, honestly, no one answered the main question.

To be generous, the format of the evening wasn’t conducive to considered, thoughtful responses. With ten of the eleven declared candidates in attendance, it felt like Speed Dating: one minute each to say “Hello,” two minutes to answer each of two questions, and one final minute each to say “Goodbye.”  Six minutes is simply not  time enough in which to develop a considered opinion on the strengths and weaknesses of those who would lead this town. Staging that kept everyone seated and behind tables while passing a single mike did not help any; candidates felt detached and remote from the audience. The Mill Hill debate, allowing candidates to stand and engage the audience, felt more intimate and connected. That’s my opinion.

For all that, the candidates had time to prep. They had been given three questions several weeks ago, and had opportunity to compose what I had hoped would have been concise, pithy and — most importantly — on point replies. They knew they would only be asked two of the three. So, were they prepared and on point?  For the most part, nope.

For instance, the first question was essentially “How as Mayor will you handle the structural deficit?”  We heard many replies about economic development, reclaiming neighborhoods to rebuild the tax base, “go[ing] upstream” to state and federal entities for support (good luck with that!), and even (I am not kidding) selling city surplus goods at auction.

Good responses in themselves, but they would have been good answers had the questions been “How do we rebuild the City, long term?” or “What are some un-serious Band Aid proposals you have that can generate headlines and publicity but precious little cash?”

But that was not the question. Not one person spoke to addressing The. Structural. Deficit. Let me frame it for you.

The Fiscal Year 2010 (ending June 30) Budget As Introduced last month totals $215.3 Million. From Property taxes and other revenues under its control, the City plans to raise almost $82 Million, which is only 38% of the total. Excluding special purpose grants, the State of New Jersey is to provide $87.6 Million in “State Aid without Offsetting Appropriations,” i.e. unrestricted money. The State provides more money than the City can raise for itself. And, if you read the headlines this week you known that is not a dependable resource these days. So, we have expenses of $87.6 Million that we spend, but can’t raise ourselves; for which we must beg each year from the State.

It is that $87.6 Million gap – year in and year out – between what this City spends and what this City can raise that is the Structural Deficit. How many 10-year-old Jeep Cherokees can you sell to make up for that?

To be fair, one candidate spoke (as he had in Mill Hill) to the relevant fact that Hamilton – our neighbor town with a larger population – runs its government on a much smaller budget, anywhere from $70-$80 Million less. Where could he have gotten that idea?

We have to re-examine, re-evaluate, and re-build Trenton’s government from the ground up to tackle the structural deficit. We have to look at services, people and programs that may have been initially funded from external grants that may have run out years ago but which continue as the result of municipal inertia, however benign.

Once people and services have been around and build a constituency, it’s hard to let them go or reassign them, that’s understandable. It’s just no longer affordable.This is what zero-based budgeting means: scrubbing the city’s org chart and budget, challenging missions and activities, re-constructing a local government from first principles.

Since three of the candidates at the forum last night have the city’s proposed budget in front of them at City Council, I had hoped at least one of them would have spoken about not what they will do as Mayor starting July 1, but what they can and will do RIGHT NOW in their capacities as elected officers of the current government deliberating a budget in a year 3/4 gone. Disappointingly, not a word.

The candidates were each stronger when asked to define and promote their own best qualifications for the job. But, for me, in the context of their collective poor response to the first policy question, that didn’t do much for me.

Now, it’s been real easy for me to poke holes in the mayoral candidates for their performance. Time to put my money where my mouth is.  I hope to do a better job up on the same stage April 19.

In the weeks before, now that my candidacy has been certified, I will continue to speak to issues and to make my case why I should be the one to represent you as your Council representative. I noticed there were no questions asked by audience members last night. Too bad. I always find that members of the public can be better informed about issues on their blocks and neighborhoods than moderators or even candidates.

Ask me questions! Either here, via comments; via email; or call at 609.310.1852. Before the forums next month, I hope to have a few events where you can come and ask questions.

BYO air horn!