Gumby is a green clay humanoid character that does good deeds and see’s the good in people and wants to do the right thing.
“ the City Council shouldn’t be snookered into sleep mode”
In the past few Days we have gotten the opportunity to see two very opposite and distinct views of the Fiscal shape of the City through the eyes of seasoned veteran newspapermen. They offer a sharp contrast in viewpoint about as opposite as Gumby and Glum.
One optimistic and the other very pessimistic and insulting to the City Council – “the City Council shouldn’t be snookered into sleep mode — as the majority usually is during its rubber-stamp budget season.”
Gumby is showing us that Lowell is in good shape –“Hopefully, the brighter local fiscal picture means an improving economy for all.” While GLUM is telling us “there is a whole lot of fiscal uncertainty on the horizon.”
Gumby is telling us” It was nice to read the good news announced by City Manager Bernie Lynch, who certainly has taken his share of lumps as he guided the city through the worst economic times since the Depression.”
While GLUM continues to attack the Councilors “For councilors to think that city workers deserve a pay raise simply because they “sacrificed” during the recession years is irresponsible.”
Glum tells us “According to the state Department of Revenue, the local tax levy has increased $30 million under Lynch, from $77.2 million to $107.5 million in 2012 — a 39 percent increase.”
(Yet he avoids mentioning the previous 5 years which saw the City using ALL it’s reserves and getting us placed on a state watched list…some would say a sin of omission or accuse GLUM of protecting his friend.)
While The Optimist Gumby tells us “the average tax bill in Lowell rose by 5.7 percent from 2001 to 2006 and 2.5 percent from 2007 to 2012.” “The projected city increase this year is 0.4 percent. Most area communities are again looking at a 2.5 percent hike.”
The other good news in this proposed budget involves a $4 million capital improvement package for city buildings, including $2 million in badly needed repairs at some of the city schools. Lowell’s residential tax burden is better than 240 of the 322 communities in the state. Only 82 towns have a lower average real-estate tax bill.”
One has to wonder if the reality lies somewhere in between? Should the city temper its raises and increases in department budgets or should we move ahead with long overdue repairs and invest in our schools and buildings? Increase recreation and give our employee’s some added salary?
Do you think the Manager and council have been correct so far? It is hard to argue that Lowell isn’t in one of the best financial shapes of any city in all of Ma. or that Manager Lynch and the council deserve credit for it. Unless you have an agenda (See R. Elliot) or just have a GLUM outlook (see J. Campanini) or have some personal beef with the Manager (see both names above).
These two stories – Kendall Wallace’s Saturday Chat and Today Sun Editorial certainly paint opposing views of the Manager, Council and financial shape of the city by two men who have long been in the journalism field and who both over the years have their share of detractors and supporters.
So who do you most agree with and identify with ? Gumby or Glum?
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