Time for Democratic City Council Candidates To Stop Misleading the Public

Chester, PA - On October 7, 2013, Councilwoman Portia West and Al Jacobs, the sitting Democratic City Councilmembers, held a press conference to put their spin on and misrepresent their recently released 2011 audit.  I continue to be amazed at how Chester City Councilmembers continue to attack the previous administration which has not been in power for over 22 months with their false and misleading accusations. 

There was so much misinformation that was presented in their press conference that it’s hard to determine where to even start as they simply refuse to accept facts and constantly change what they say.  

Earlier this summer, Councilwoman West basically said I lied when I stated that the previous administration left office at the end of 2011 leaving the incoming administration with nearly $5 million in cash on hand.  In fact, in her own words she said “show me the money”. It was only after I filed a Right To Know Request for copies of the City’s bank statements from December of 2011, that the Councilwoman then switched her story and had to admit that they were left with a cash bank balance of nearly $5 million.  However, instead of admitting she was wrong, she went on to spin her original claim by saying most of that $5 million we left them was now somehow restricted.  Yet their own 2011 audit, on page 8, says that $4,974,996 was left at the end of the year for “spending at the government’s discretion”.  I’m sure the Councilwoman will change her story again and give some other explanation to try and twist the facts.

Giving partial truths or not being fully transparent is something that the current administration does quite well.  At their press conference, the Councilwoman made a big deal over the overtime that 8 employees apparently made in 2011.  What she failed to tell the public is that several of those employees were in her department.  As the Department Head for Streets and Highways, she was responsible for scheduling the number of hours her employees worked including overtime.  I guess she’ll blame me for following federal law in paying overtime to employees in HER department that SHE approved for overtime.  By the way, did she happen to mention at her press conference that the 2011 audit shows that the Highway Department that she was in charge of spent $470,677 more than what was budgeted?  It’s on Page 62 of the 2011 audit in case she wants to call me a liar and needs further proof.   Her own management of the one department she was in charge of at the time had nearly a half a million dollar deficit, yet she wants the public to believe it was all someone else’s fault. 

The constant distortion of facts, the twisting of the truth and false claims that this administration continues to make and focus on after nearly 2 years in charge is simply a smoke screen for their real lack of transparency.  How long will you continue to talk about things that happened 2 years ago and take responsibility for your own failed leadership?  

This Democratic administration has adopted 2 budgets that projected over $90 million dollars in anticipated revenues since they took office.  Add the $5 million beginning balance that the previous administration left you and you’ve had in excess of $95 million dollars available to spend over the last 2 years.  A truly transparent government would share with the public how they’ve spent this money rather than spending their time going all the way back to 2011 to make factually inaccurate and misleading speeches.  Earlier this year, I filed a Right To Know Request asking for detailed reports on how they’ve spent all of this money and was told that they don’t have those financial reports.  It’s really hypocritical to criticize the previous administration’s financial track record when you won’t even produce financial reports showing how you’ve spent $95 million dollars that have come in since you took control of Council.

The public can figure out some of the things you’ve spent money on though.  Within you first month in office, you gave yourself a pay raise by increasing your personal car allowance to $6,600 per year; you fired capable, long-term employees and replaced them with family members and your political friends often at higher salaries than the people you fired; you bought the Mayor a fully loaded Tahoe; and you gave your politically connected friends lucrative consulting contracts.  For example, why don’t you tell the public who The Nakaishi Group is and what services they provide the city at a monthly cost of $3,500 that you have been paying them every month since January of 2012.  The list goes on and on.  You increased the city’s spending on all of these things while at the same time cutting funding to the J. Lewis Crozer Library, reducing summer garbage pickup to once a week, and generally wasting time and money as the Mayor argues and sues Council and Council sues the Mayor right back.

This upcoming election is not about misrepresenting what happened nearly 2 years ago, it should be about the future.  Your all Democratic administration has had nearly 2 years of sole control of City Council and you continue to try and find ways to blame everything on the previous administration.  It’s time for you to stop the smoke and mirrors blame game and take responsibility for your lack of transparency and accomplishments.  Perhaps this administration spends all of their time looking backwards because it’s obvious they have no vision or plan for the future. 

On November 5^th, Chester voters will have an opportunity to elect two candidates who can provide the leadership, transparency, and real results that Chester residents demand and deserve by voting for myself and Shakirah Randolph.  Let’s get back to progress Chester and provide the change that will move this city forward!

Shep Garner

Chairman