City Hall: "Until You Do Right by Me, Everything You Even Think about Gonna Fail."

I read an article in the CA and the City claims that the City did not rebound from the stock plunge and that and other reasons that were not listed were the events that left our Pension fund insufficient.  I had to laugh because if everybody rebounded from the stock plunge but Memphis, you should hire a new managing firm handling our funds.  

 Here's another side of that answer that was not mentioned.  This City Council and Mayor did not pay their full bills for the Pension Plan for 6, now 7 years, and gave us 22 cents back on the property tax rate (which was about $50 a year on a $100,000 house) rather than pay that $17 million on the pension.  They may have made partial payments but if you pay only a half of your house note for seven years, it won't be long before you are foreclosed.

I find it sad that at a time when our Nation through Congress is questioning the level of health care that our soldiers receive from Veteran Hospitals, our city administration makes a proposal that could leave its first line defenders without healthcare or in poverty trying to pay for it.  I guess they see the Affordable Healthcare Act as a solution, when it's not.  In fact, that plan needs young adults to survive and seniors whose careers have sunset would be a burden on that system that is trying to get started.  If cities start  dumping seniors to release them from their obligations and promises Congress should stop them.

Morale is at the lowest point that I have ever known at City Hall.  That is not good for productivity. Our first line defenders for the city who run through burning buildings, inhale smoke and years later have cancer, run into gunfire serving warrants, and get attacked while doing their jobs could lose what they were promised by city government. This is the making of a class action lawsuit which will cost even more money.

I realize they have some hard decisions to make but hitting the most vulnerable is not the answer.  Why not adopt a healthcare plan for retirees that is similar to the Shelby County Board of Education and Shelby County Government?  For all Medicare eligible individuals, it becomes the primary insurance.  The Government then purchased a policy as a secondary insurance for the amount that is not covered by Merdicare which is much smaller.  The Government contributes 70% of that premium and the employee contributes 30%.  The secondary insurance policy cost is a much lower burden on the budget, but it keeps their commitment to their retirees.

Throwing retired seniors off health care to save money when they gave you 25-38 years of service is wrong! To throw their spouses and widows off health care is wrong. Some of their loved one even died in service and you no longer want to cover their spouses.  Have a heart, please.  You are good and decent people.  

I applaud the City Council not voting on this plan in committee. Ask a lot of questions, seek solutions, from Shelby County Government and Shelby County Schools.  You don't need to go and do what Chicago is doing.  When did they become an example for Memphis?

Here's another example of this War on the Poor and Elderly.

Why is the City of Memphis asking poor and elderly citizens to repair sidewalks while we find money for bike trails around town and over bridges that supports a citizen who owns a bicycle industry is wrong, too.  If our sidewalks are in deterioration in older neighborhoods, why can we not seek federal resources to assist citizens with this project,  rather than sending official letters that scare them to death.

Throwing retired seniors off health care to save money when they gave you 25-38 years of service is wrong! To throw their spouses and widows off health care is wrong.

To not pay school children what you owe them is wrong. Your city finances will always be jacked when you don't do right by the least of these. 

Miss Celie was right when she told Mister, "Until you do right by me, everything you even think about gonna fail."  

 

My soul tells me I am right to tell City Hall the same...ball field, convention center, and even riverfront.  Or do you want to just be a city for the outsiders who come to the city to enjoy your amenities while the citizens suffer because they can't afford to take a grandson to a ballgame?

Pray for our leadership and speak out!

By the way, I run into many of my readers at events and while running errands. Thanks for your words of encouragement.  I am glad you enjoy what I write.  Thank you.  This blog is a "love", not a job. I don't make a dime off it. But, trying to use the talent that God gave me.   However, if it helps us to become more aware of the decisions that are made that are good or require our attention, well,  I'll keep taking note.  

Thank you.