The new Hammond budget that was passed by the City Council consists of a cynical shell game of hiding the truth from the citizens of Hammond and burdening Lake County Government with additional costs and services. There are two primary individuals responsible for this charade: the Mayor and his side-kick Councilman Dan Repay.
The citizens of Hammond will pay and pay heavily for this shell-game. They have little options at this point. The possibility of Tom McDermott, Jr. loosing the general election is close to zero and Dan Repay has no opposition.
Between the two of them sharpness in public policy is measured by their ability to slice pudding. In both cases, if it was not for daddy's last name they would both be fighting for Steve Fowler's Hammond City job.
The budget serves as a political cover for both candidates. Tom McDermott needs to look like he is accomplishing something as mayor. Dan Repay first needs Tom McDermott's support and he also needs something to sell to the voters when he runs for Lake County Commissioners. It is one of the least kept secrets that Repay's new wife is not having anything to do with Hammond as a place to live (a little problem if you are a councilman in Hammond). As usual love trumps responsibility and Repay will move to Schererville after the election. The reason this occurs after the election is that the Mayor will name his person to the City Council. Repay runs for Fran DuPey seat with McDermott's support. (Remember, he has already told Tom Philpot he cannot support him because there will probably be a Hammond candidate.) I wonder who?
McDermott and Repay made sure that Repay had no opposition, including the primary, otherwise this run to South County for love would have become public and a big embarrassment.
So what have these two schnooks done to the citizens they were elected to serve? They have ensured that Hammond will die a slow death, in the footsteps of Gary and East Chicago, while to attempt to waltz their way to "higher ground." (Yes, that was an intentional pun on their responsibility for the recent floods.)
The big lie called the Hammond Budget is presented in this Times story:
City_shaves_5_million_from_its_2008_budget.mht
First, the budget decreased nothing in actual costs to homeowners. Any actual reduction in the "City" budget will be more than compensated for by increases in direct fees to Hammond City residents. The new City budget is $5 million less than the previous one. Part of that reduction ($800,000) is strictly a lowering of debt service that occurred at this time automatically. The rest is achieved mostly by moving sanitary workers and their cost to the Hammond Sanitary District and second by shifting the Hammond Health Department from the City of Hammond to the Lake County Government, NONE OF THIS IS A REDUCTION IN THE MONEY SPENT FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICE IN HAMMOND. This is freshman political science, apparently a course both McDermott and Repay did not take. As a matter of fact Hammond residents will be spending more money for the same or less service.
Second, service to the citizens of Hammond will be reduced. There will be a definite reduction in the health of the community -- no City Health Department. This is mostly a McDermott mental ego trip win. The Health Department is a unique need for the cities of Hammond, East Chicago, and Gary. I have been critical of many aspects of the management of these cities; but the Health Departments are just not one of them. This move truly shows that McDermott never ever had any Democratic Party credentials. No self-respecting Democrat would do away with the health department of a city as his only cost cutting move.
The Health Department does not save that much money. It would have cost only $670,000 next year; but, it brings into the City $200,000 in income. I would think people are already talking about not eating in Hammond restaurants, with a few exceptions like the Wheel, because of the likelihood of food poisoning, rat infestation, roaches, etc. resulting from lack of inspection by the Health Department The County Health Department will not provide the same coverage as was available under the City Health Department. The Mayor said so himself -- you cannot get the same service and pay less.
Third, There will be a reduction in safety and security. But, the police chief is getting a $15,000 raise. Why? And why now? There is no accountability in either the fire and police departments for the increased costs that will result from Cabelas and other new retail. Cabellas, to be properly patrolled, would take at least one police officer. One officer for three shifts for seven days a week, plus leave, holidays, sickness, etc. requires the City of Hammond to hire four new police officers next year. For a beginning patrolman, including training and benefits, that would come to at least $130,000. Where is that in the budget? It is not. It is going to be accomplished by reducing the fire and police coverage in other parts of the City.
For any of you who believe the nonsense about crime going down in Hammond, you know that the FBI numbers given by Hammond City Hall do not add up from your own experience in the City. By the way if you are one of the people who believes that Hammond is safer, I have some land to sell you in the everglades because I also assume you believe the police chief deserves a raise for the creative police work that Hammond is undertaking. It is rumored that the City of New York is interested in finding out how Hammond is accomplishing this miracle.
Fourth, Scrooge is back in Hammond. Crossing guards, I repeat SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS, had their health insurance cancelled in the new budget. How low can you go? This to give the police chief a raise and the Mayor and Repay call themselves Democrats. I would not even call them Americans. How much money did Daddy McDermott make on the City insurance scam? By the way how much money did he make on his brilliant analysis provided to Cabellas? I am sure the people at the bottom, our school crossing guards, appreciate all that work by daddy McDermott. Daddy McDermott successfully went after the unions at The Times newspaper. It is clear the apple does not fall far from the tree.
Although not directly part of the budget the City Council now permits double dipping by City employees who sit on boards and commissions. Talk about lack of independent thought. Many of these double dippers are also Department Heads who are getting a hefty increase in their pay. That should help them come to terms with supporting McDermott and Repay in their future political runs.
