Letter to the Editor: Expressing Shock Over Mayor’s Use of Out-of-Town Union Members at Budget Hearing

I am writing this letter with a profound sense of shock and disgust regarding yesterday’s Council meeting involving our mayor’s decision again to bring out-of-town union members to a crucial budget hearing. I witnessed a strong amount of support during these hearings for Councilman Musella’s budget cuts and noticed so few residents buying the arbitrary claim made by the Mayor and the other Councilmembers that “nothing could be cut.” It’s important to say this because I have noticed a pattern whereby if residents support Councilman Musella on an issue, out-of-town union members show up to start repeating the Mayor’s talking points. I remember this during the Waterview episode. It was well-documented during the PLA meetings and now during a meeting about our budget that has no relevance to unions.

Of course, the Mayor will say he can’t control the unions, but the unions routinely show up whenever his back has been up against the wall. Yesterday, I got out of my car and saw almost 75 union members in our Town’s parking lot again, creating an atmosphere that felt very intimidating. I am sure these union members were following orders, and I wish them no ill, but it doesn’t make sense to me why they would come to support the Mayor’s tax increase that doesn’t affect them.

I’d like to again thank Councilman Musella for being the lone voice last night, acting in the best interests of the Town.