Pulse Line: First, Congratulations and Bravo to the City Council members who are taking a firm stand against the Mayor’s request to increase property taxes. The headline “Brinkmanship high as tax deadline nears” used by Staff Writer Dan Moriarty in Friday’s Westfield New was spot on! To think that the council must use this practice of pushing the tax situation to the brink of disaster in order to accomplish a positive outcome for the taxpayers of Westfield is ludicrous. The Mayor’s arrogance in his decision and lack of concern by not attending the council meeting are inexcusable-if not downright spineless!
In case you did not attend the 5-hour council meeting or watch the televised event, numerous residents voiced their opinion and appeared unified by asking the council not to raise taxes for residential and commercial customers. The council was very attentive in listening to all comments. With $13 million in reserve funding, it is unbelievable that the Mayor would have the nerve to ask for a property tax increase. Hats off to the Finance committee chairman, Chris Keefe, for insisting that Mayor Knapik explain his rationale and engage the committee with the necessary communication to resolve this issue or it will remain tied up in committee. Councilor Dave Flaherty’s presentation and spreadsheets further illustrated why a property tax increase is NOT necessary this year. Ward Five Councilor Paul blocked the Mayor’s request for immediate consideration to move money from free cash to reduce the 2015 tax levy. Thanks to both councilors for your input. Although some councilors made no comment, Councilor Harris asked “…why is our Mayor not responding to us and our concerns…” To which many councilors shook their heads in disgust. Even Councilor President Bean commented that several councilors met with the Mayor but efforts were unproductive and the Mayor further ignored them by picking up his cell phone and began texting! Since no one attended the meeting from the Executive Office, City Collector McMahon was asked to address the council. He noted that a delay in setting the tax rate could force the city into short-term borrowing until the next tax billing cycle in April. A question that I would like to ask, “What can’t we use some of the $13 million in reserve funding to offset borrowing?” You can certainly assume by now that I, along with the majority of Westfield taxpayers, am not happy! I am disappointed with our Mayor and many of the decisions he has made in his tenure in office. He continually drags us along in his quest for power and recognition. How can he be available for endless social activities or business openings (complete with photos) but not attend the most important council meeting of the year? His priorities are obvious. Although I am not involved in politics, I do pay close attention to what is happening in our city. Many individuals echoed the same comments at the meeting. I grew up in Westfield, live in Westfield, work in Westfield, my children attend school in Westfield, I shop in Westfield, I support and give back to Westfield, and I love Westfield! Now it is time for WESTFIELD to give back to us! I trust that our council will remain diligent and steadfast in their decision to repeal the Mayor’s request for an increase in our property tax. The residents of Westfield that elected you to office are depending on your support.
This entry is in direct response to the coward who chose to attack me anonymously via the Pulseline. My name is Stephen S. Crooker and I had written a Letter to the Editor wondering why Democrats were not sticking up for their President. The person who chose to attack me personally did not have the intestinal fortitude to at least sign off on their allegations but I will address some of them individually. While it is true that I did get into some trouble and did serve prison time back in the 1980’s, that is ancient history and I have moved on. I am neither a Democrat or a Republican but consider myself an Independent as a voter if its any of your business which it isn’t. My wife and I of 36 years have brought up 3 well-behaved, polite sons and I helped coach them through Little League and other sports activities. I ran for School Committee twice in the early 1990s. You’ve made noise that opining “Wake up the war against terrorist is never going to be over. I guess you would rather see it happen here on home soil then over there.” And maybe that’s so, maybe not. What I personally think is that we should draw all our troops back from around the world, protect our borders, enhance cyber and other high-tech surveillances, and send in Seal Team Six to surgically strike whenever the United States is threatened. We are not the world’s police but are more than entitled to protect ourselves. Your last line: “I don’t leave my name because who knows what kind of retribution would take place at your hands” is rather pathetic in nature. If you are going to attack someone in print, you should at least have the courage to sign your name instead of whining like a little baby and using the Pulseline as your baby rattle. Signed, Steve Crooker
