A Modest Proposal

From The Trenton Times, 12/5/13, by Jenna Pizzi:

TRENTON — Christmas will be coming to Trenton after all. In spite of Council President George Muschal’s fears, the city will be able to purchase a Christmas tree for display in front of City Hall during the holiday season.

“The good news is, I was informed we are going to have a tree,” Muschal said. “The bad news, I think, is that I was informed that there is a price tag coming with the tree.”

The 20-foot Norway spruce will cost the city $450, said Paul Harris, a Trenton Water Works employee who volunteered to help arrange the Christmas display. Harris worked previously as an unofficial aide to Mayor Tony Mack and coordinated the holiday displays in the last two years.

…The city will use Community Development Block Grant trust funds set aside for the recreation department to pay for the tree, said business administrator Sam Hutchinson.

As of their latest disclosure reports filed with the NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission, as of September 30, 2013, the campaign funds of the declared Council and Mayoral candidates stood at the following balances:

Most of the candidates have probably raised more money since then. Lord knows they haven’t done much campaigning yet with what they’ve raised!

So, how about one of those guys, or maybe all of them, pitch in to reimburse the City for its tree?

Why should taxpayers – in this instance United States taxpayers since Trenton’s city government could not find a single alternative way of paying for the darned thing other than a government grant – be stuck with the bill?

In the spirit of the holidays, in the spirit of the public service all of our candidates supposedly endorse, in the spirit of saving the taxpayers a few bucks, come on guys! Buy us a tree!

Will any candidate have the grace to step forward? I don’t know. However,  in the words of Councilwoman Phyllis Holly-Ward ($734.93),  it will be “a check mark if you do, but a red flag if you don’t.”

Do it for the kids!