Our Opinion: Stuck in neutral?
Sunday, September 7, 2008 12:32 AM PDT
Tuesday night the Ontario City Council made a series of decisions that were, if not decisive, at least an indication the elected board is moving ahead.
The same cannot be said about the council’s performance during the last 10 months.
In large part, the City Council has made few groundbreaking, or innovative, decisions regarding a number of pressing issues facing the city.
None of this should send the message nothing has been accomplished. The council has addressed many issues since Jan. 1, but those have been, really, minor.
The big issues — such as long-term funding for the city, setting priorities for the future — have largely been left to hover on the roof of city hall.
Tuesday’s meeting was significant because elected leaders acted promptly to create funding to tackle the city’s ongoing, and growing, illegal gang problem.
The session showed the elected board could act quickly, and wisely, in the face of a crisis.
While a performance under pressure is essential for success, the real test is whether an elected group of local politicians can make difficult, even unpopular, decisions regarding the city’s future.
Voters need an answer regarding the city’s long-term finances. They need an answer regarding the future of the Aquatic Center. They need an answer on which city service - police, fire, public works, etc. — is the highest funding priority.
We can see a board that can make a good decision regarding a subject such as illegal gangs, but what about Ontario’s future financial security?
The last 10 months have been fairly quiet on the City Council front. Perhaps to some that is good. But what it really shows is the machine of democracy is stuck in neutral.
And that needs to change.
