Protecting Priorities and an Urban Legend

January 22, 2003

Dear Editor,

I would like to commend Frank Gruber for his recent comments regarding the City budget crisis and the school district (WHAT I SAY: "Deficits," January 20, 2003). It is clear to me that the recent demonstration at City Hall in support of our public schools raises the stakes for our City Council and staff.

As was evinced by the demonstration, there is a powerful and pervasive feeling that our City government must respond to close the $11 million deficit that threatens our school district for the 2003-2004 academic year. The City clearly has a responsibility to provide basic services-public safety, refuse removal, and maintenance of parks and libraries to name a few. What times like these call into question are other priorities that our City government views as essential.

By any measure the current state budget crisis is unparalleled. For the City to not address the needs of children by responding with a shift of spending priorities would demonstrate a lack of political vision and leadership. It is also completely inconsistent with the designation of education as a "community priority" in the City's budgetary process. What one prioritizes, one protects.

The school district, through no fault of its own, faces draconian cuts to basic programs if new revenues are not received. Any ballot measure will only partially address the deficit for the next 4 to 6 years. Investment in education by our city has a number of effects that raise the standard of living for all our citizens, as well as stabilize property values, strengthen a sense of community, and diminish delinquency. Therefore it is possible to make allocations to the school district based on sound business reasoning, with the long-term welfare of all city residents in mind.

Shifts in leadership philosophy require leaps of faith as well as data-driven discussion of essential services. Shifts in funding will be an investment in our city's future, perhaps not as dramatic as a new civic center, but infinitely more rewarding to our citizens as well as future generations. In addition, providing adequate funding will restore confidence in our city, and our city's leadership, at a time of nationwide economic downturn.

I was encouraged by the council's response to the rally, particularly Councilman Katz's comments as well as Mayor Bloom's openness to discussion. These difficult times call for extraordinary leaders with the willingness to make paradigm shifts away from entrenched philosophy.

Respectfully,

Matteo Dinolfo, M.D.
Member, Save Our Schools Committee

January 22, 2003

Dear Editor,

(Re: "Landlord Leader Remembered," January 22, 2003)

In 1979, SMRR's Rent Control campaign decided to put up signs. We paid a princely sum, and a professional company came around early one morning and began posting "Yes on A" signs high up and above all the other signs throughout the city.

By mid afternoon all the signs had been placed. Late that afternoon, we heard loud continuous honking outside our headquarters.

There was John in his jeep with all our signs ripped in half. When he saw us looking out our second story window he yelled, "Where do you want these?" We gave chase, but he was way up the road by the time we got down the stairs.

When he ran for Council a few years later, a few of us collected his "John Jurenka for City Council" signs, cut out the "Johns," and hung them on our bathroom doors.

And that is why you haven't seen another SMRR sign in the last 23 years.

Michael Tarbet