… Small Things can actually provide Big Lessons.
In a piece earlier this morning, I reported that the City did provide me some material at the end of yesterday about the Official Trenton City Christmas tree to substantiate statements made on the record by Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson earlier this week. Material that the City claimed did not exist when it replied to my December Open Public Records Act request.
Among that material disclosed yesterday was a graphic for an advertisement which the City claimed to have appeared in the Trenton Times in October. I also said I was looking to verify that claim.
This afternoon, Jenna Pizzi of the Trenton Times confirmed for me that the advertisement did in fact appear in the Times in five of their October issues.
The Times charged the city $270 for the five ad placements. The charge was approved by the City of Trenton by means of a city Purchase Order, # R5-01959 in that amount.
Since the ads appeared, the City has been billed, but as of today that bill remains Unpaid.
Let’s review, shall we?
The City of Trenton cut down one of its own trees, a strapping 40-year old Norway Spruce – I’ve been talking about him so much, I feel he needs a name of his own. I will call him Sven – as the Mayorally-described “Best Option” to provide a holiday tree. Because, according to the Mayor, there was no money to buy one, and no one was stepping to donate an adequate tree.
Before that, the City committed to spend $270 to advertise for a donation. Hundreds of dollars the City presumably doesn’t have, not to actually buy a tree or decorations, but to advertise.
But, the City hasn’t actually spent that money, because they are so far stiffing the Trenton Times for the bill from back in October!
And, it took the City of Trenton one entire month to officially notify me, with the legally-required response to my OPRA request – that they had NO PUBLIC RECORDS about the matter.
But in the last 24 hours, the City has found an ad graphic and two photographs. And a local city reporter tells me about an Official Trenton Purchase Order that exists somewhere, supposedly. I wonder what else will be revealed?
I’ve asked the City, again, if there is Anything Else they’d like to get off their chest.
Have I covered everything?
Now, why exactly do you think I have so many doubts and concerns about this Administration?