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Kammy, please post this link to a January 7, 2010 interview Mayor Avedisian had with Jim Hummel from "The Hummel Report" regarding over the top benefits the mayor provided to employees. Pay particular attention to the 3:19 mark in the video for the dialog between Avedisian and Hummel.

http://www.hummelreport.org/Stories/1_7_2010_sick360.html

There is no doubt that it demonstrates the Mayor's short term philosophy on how he has negotiated contracts with the unions throughout his tenure as mayor and developed a strategy of providing new benefits to keep labor piece and balance the budget with no regard to the impact of the cost of those benefits in the future (or tomorrow, as referred in the interview).

Here is the word for word dialog from the Interview:

[Avedisian admitted in our interview there is such an acute crisis in municipal budgeting these days, HE HAS HAD TO TRADE TOMORROW FOR TODAY. . .

``Think about it, every time you hit a bad budget cycle it is `I need relief from where we are today, AND THAT’S HOW YOU END UP GETTING ADDITIONAL HOLIDAYS, ADDITIONAL BENEFITS, ADDITIONAL PERKS,’ BECAUSE THERE’S NO CASH TO GIVE OUT THAT TIME.’’

Hummel: ``Did you think you had leverage a year ago in February, or did the unions have more leverage?’’ Avedisian: ``I think we had more leverage last time.’’ Hummel: ``And were you satisfied with what you extracted from that contract?’’ Avedisian: ``WE WANTED MORE BUT IT GOT US TO WHERE WE NEEDED TO BE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET FOR LAST YEAR.’’] But no thought to how this cost will impact the future!

The analysis I provided, investigating the last 15 years of the city budgets, clearly show what the effect of the Avedisian short sighted approach as had on programs and services throughout the city. Avedisian’s management strategy has directly contributed to the fiscal crisis we are now experience in the city. As further proof, the independent city auditor Parmell Poirier & Associates, indicated in the April 1, 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, that the Financial Health of the city was “deteriorating” based on the decrease in the City’s net position.

Link to previous analysis: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cdTPu3KTMslZMQ2RCv2oY0wpWuZtHlL2/view?usp=sharing

Although these facts have been disputed and dismissed by Avedisian and his minions who have given the mayor immunity by blaming the City Council, the school department (who both share some responsibility) or simply sighting insignificant bond rating reports that have no correlation to why our roads are pot holed ridden, our school and city building are falling apart and programs and services for the elderly, poor, homeless and children have either been cut or eliminated in the last 10 years while spending increases each year leading to new property taxes.

Also, please don’t take my criticism of the current mayor’s policies as support for Mr. Corrente or anyone else for Mayor. I just find it hypercritical that the mayor gets a pass all the time on this blog.