Bob Chirdon, Vice President and General Manager of WTOLBy Bob Chirdon, Vice President and General Manager of WTOL
Posted by Lisa Strawbridge - email
Mike Bell gave his State of the City address this week. I give it a "B". He was direct and honest about the budget deficit. He didn't sugarcoat the pain that is coming our way. He didn't try to tell us that it was going to be easy. That was refreshing.
But he also left me wondering just how he is going to get the taxpayers and the unions, including people he once worked with, to cooperate.
He tried to offer an uplifting message, but I couldn't ignore the possibility of everyone just telling him no: no to tax increases, no to wage and benefits concessions. And then a big, fat hysterical "no" when people have to pay more for services and start losing entitlements.
I think he needed to show us some tough love. Let's face it, he is imposing. I just wish he had been a little more intimidating. I think he is going to need that toughness and strength to move forward.
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