City Solicitor Colleen Mejia, Chief Financial Officer Eric Demas and Councilor Anthony DiPierro should resign following their disingenuous, Hollywood style performances before the hapless and ineffectual city council last night.
The city council meeting last night proved that the mayor owns and manipulates city government and his vassals Mejia, Demas and DiPierro.
Councilor Mike McLaughlin also showed where he stands by reading a ridiculous statement protecting the mayor’s $40,000 a year bonus payment that the mayor might well have created himself.
All of the above and their statements and actions Monday night prove the value of Abraham Lincoln’s famous statement about political corruption: “You can fool some of the people some of the time. You can’t fool all of the people, all the time.”
The mayor is being paid $40,000 a year. Yes. $40,000 a year when he should be receiving a $2,500 a year longevity payment.
In a stunning move, Councilor Jimmy Tri Le showed tremendous courage. He handed Mejia a copy of the ordinance and asked Mejia to read it.
To everyone in the city council chamber watching and listening to Mejia on ECTV it was obvious – the mayor should receive $2,500 a year, not $40,000 a year.
Mejia shilled for her boss the mayor, telling Le in her studied Carlo DeMaria lingua franca that Le didn’t know what he was talking about. Demas remained quiet. Even he understands the value of not speaking about a financial situation he hid in the city budget so no one in government could see it.
Councilor Fred Capone was as angry and upset as we have seen him. He found the proceeding incomprehensible. He said the longevity for the mayor is a fraud.
We agree.
Councilor Mike Marchese’s comments were bold and to the point. He spoke like a leader.
“This is bull,” he said.
We agree.
Councilor John Hanlon’s comments were disappointing. Councilor Stephanie Martins who is making the rounds to be the next council president showed she has not an ounce of courage.
Councilor Rosa DiFlorio made absolutely no sense – but then – the voters have already rejected her.
Last night’s council meeting reveals the mayor owns city government. He owns, controls and manipulates the city treasury to his own advantage – and the city government – with few exceptions.
DeMaria is being paid $40,000 a year when he should be receiving $2,500.
That he receives the highest salary of any mayor in the state makes a mockery out of his bloated salary.
This cannot and won’t go on forever. Someday there will be a reckoning. That day is coming.