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The former administration pandered to the unions. Well, let's face it, the entire state panders to the unions because they are the ones that pay to get politicians elected. They aren't going to bite the hand that feeds them, so the citizens are the ones to deal with the fall out. We are obligated to pay out for salary and pensions that we can't afford. It does no good to blame the employee or unionized worker for the pit we find ourselves in today. They signed a contract and worked in good faith. However, when the city no longer has the capacity to pay, it should be expected that things will change.

Contracts must be renegotiated. Pension reform must be enacted. Costs need to be cut. Everyone is going to have to feel a bit of a pinch. The city must downsize because we can’t afford to run as we did when there were more taxpayers and businesses in Warwick. We are already facing the reality of much higher taxes for the long haul. The only way we can get out of the hole is to ensure that the current leadership is working to protect the citizens of the city instead of themselves. The irony is that the current leadership is also the former leadership.

We need to keep the current administration honest and transparent. That goes for union leadership as well. The employees that work for the city have it pretty good. They are paid well for their services. We appreciate all they do for the city, but Warwick isn't Stop & Shop's parent company. There were no 2Billion dollars profit last year!!!

For nearly 20 years the citizens have been conned into believing everything was great and there were no financial worries on the horizon. Except for a handful of people who kept trying to sound the alarm, most citizens were very comfortable with turning a blind eye and disparaging the words of the few watchdogs. And yet, here we are. Watching and waiting to see what comes next for our city.

Some of the most negative consequences of social media keep playing out in the comment section of the Beacon. I have stayed away because it was just too much. Personal attacks and disparaging remarks that are completely off topic of the actual article. Everyone has facts. Facts that prove their comment is correct and another is not. Facts should be concrete, but they often turn subjective based on the angle of light shed on it.

We, as citizens, can behave with integrity towards one another. We can be respectful of one another. We can agree to disagree. It doesn't cost a dime to be kind. I hope that we can see the end to the personal attacks.