Rockford Mayor less likely to see another term

For any “wanta-be” mayor of Rockford out there, now may be the time to cast your hat into the ring because the trend now taking lead in our local politics is the firing of Mayor Morrissey.   We may have thought that budget cuts which effects the lives of so many was only being done in other cities and states but today I learned that they are happening here.

I awoke to smoke from a small fire within the walls of this home and after checking to make sure that it was something that I could not discover or combat myself, I relied on our fire department.  The 911 operator was with the county but as soon as I explained the situation to her, she immediately put me through to the city.  Minutes later, Engine 3 and Ladder 1 showed up at my address.  They were so very professional that my daughter and my niece began thinking about making fire fighting their career.  I was surprised only by the number of other fire stations that responded and began to question why.

I had not noticed before but it became apparent to me that on the west side of Rockford, there are few if any fire hydrants compared to the other sides of town.  I noticed that the reason so many other fire stations responded is because they would probably have to assist ladder 1 and Engine 3 with connections to reach the only one around which happened to be several blocks away.  This was quite concerning to me but what I learned from the fire fighters them selves were even more disturbing.

Budget cuts had found them to be the first among teachers and police officers affected.  Without the expertise of the fire investigator, we would have never learned that it was “possibly arson” nor would we have known the importance of his job.  Had the cuts been deeper, we may never have had the privilege of his extensive knowledge.  Had this home required more hands on deck to save it, my family and I would be homeless right now with no place to go and we would have lost everything.  We look to our mayor and aldermen to keep the public safe and pay very close attention to our welfare, this was not the case here and it appears not to be the case for many less fortunate than we were.  While businesses receive years of tax abatements and tax cuts, the public shells out more in taxes to cover what should have been covered long ago.

Politicians and office holders, who never did do much in way of their jobs, are now free to sail away and collect millions in monthly retirement checks while those of us who are not born rich or rub elbows with those who are get nothing.  Those fire fighters showed me just how much they are needed and the job that they do go unrewarded because the individuals who never risk their lives to save or protect their fellow citizens, make the decision on who pays and who doesn’t.

Add up the millions of dollars in revenue lost by giving business so many breaks, the millions paid out to those who really do not need it as far as retirement is concerned and the actual cost to survive and thrive here in the city.  The average monthly obligations are some where in the neighborhood of $3,000.00 per month but our former District Attorney receives $12,000.00 per month.  That’s a difference of $9,000.00 monthly, $108,000.00 annually.  Don’t you think that the savings could be better spent on keeping fire fighters, teachers and police than put in the pocket of people who really do not need it.  That retirement money being thrown away could actually provide for 4 individual families in our area.  Do we really need middle class and poor Rockfordians to go hungry and starve or lose everything they have because those in office were afraid of enraging a close personal friend by saying to them that they too have to sacrifice for the greater good of our city?  You hear so many speak about how much they care and love their city, yet they are not willing to sacrifice for it.  They say it a lot but can we really believe it?