Thomas MacMillan Photo
Alderman Goldson speaks out [Thursday night] against plan to [buy newfangled parking meters].
Despite a last-minute charge by Darnell Goldson at [day of week]‘s meeting of the Board of Aldermen, lawmakers voted to approve [proposal] designed to [effect]. Goldson called it [adverb] irresponsible to pass such a measure when the city is already paying for [municipal expense].
In what has become a fill-in-the-blank exercise, West Rock’s Alderman Goldson was once again a lone voice of opposition at Thursday night’s meeting of the Board of Aldermen.
From the budget to beers at the beach, the first-time alderman routinely finds himself in 11th-hour floor debates, staking out an unpopular position and taking on multiple lawmakers at once. Sometimes his appeals succeed in attracting a large enough faction to hold up proposals or get them changed. Other times he sparks compelling debate about city priorities by voicing an opinion that would otherwise not be heard.
Thursday evening the script played out again as the Board of Aldermen approved a measure to buy new credit card-accessible parking meters — but not before Goldson made a passionate plea to avoid spending taxpayer dollars on the purchase. Following is the Mad Libs version of the script; see if you can fill in the blanks
[type of legislation] Considered
Alderman [alderman’s name], head of the [aldermanic committee], rose to propose a [type of legislation] that would provide [city service]. The plan requires [amount of money] in municipal bonding.
“We’re in a budget crunch,” Goldson said. “I don’t know if this is the right time to do this.”
The proposed new [noun] will bring in revenue, replied Alderman [name].
“I don’t see how this raises revenue,” Goldson said. “When do these pay for themselves?”
Alderman [name] said the plan will pay for itself within [number] of years.
“When the administration gives us something, it’s always going to be ‘cash positive,’” Goldson said. “The new schools were going to be cash positive. … I think it’s outrageous. I think it’s the wrong thing to do.”
Goldson said he would have voted against the proposal in committee but he’s not on [aldermanic committee] because he’s the only alderman whom the board president assigned to only one committee.
After [number] more minutes of back and forth, aldermen voted to approve the proposal, with Goldson and Wooster Square Alderman Michael Smart among the [number] of other aldermen voting no.
Answer Key
Ready for Thursday night’s particulars?
Aldermen were discussing a proposal to borrow $550,000 to upgrade downtown parking meters to solar-powered devices that accept credit cards. West River Alderman Yusuf Shah, chair of the Finance Committee, rose present the plan to the board.
Alderman [Paca].
Edgewood Alderman Marcus Paca said the new meters will bring in more money, as did Fair Haven Alderwoman Migdalia Castro.
Alderman [Shah].
Alderman Shah acknowledged the plan will not save money right away: “We believe in the long run.”
“This is the perfect time to be considering revenue-generating items,” said East Rock Alderman Matt Smith. In a five year bonding plan, the meters will have “net positive cash flow of $105,000.”
Alderman [Perez].
The new meters will need fewer repairs than the old ones, Hill Alderman Jorge Perez said.
Goldson said he doubts that: “Do we really believe this stuff?”
After aldermen noted that the plan received the approval of the Finance Committee, Goldson said, “If I were on that committee, I would have voted against it.”
Goldson and Smart were the only two aldermen to vote “No” on the plan, although Goldson changed his vote from a “No” to “A resounding no!” just before the item passed.
So Darnell is against purchasing new parking meters that will generate $105,000 in new revenue for the city because he's opposed to new debt, BUT he's spent the last several months pushing that terrible monetization plan that would create well over $100 MILLION in new debt for the city. I don't get that. This is simple. New parking meters that are easier to maintain and easier to use, and pay for themselves in only five years, are AWESOME. I can't wait to use them. Revenue from those meters is enough to pay for librarians, or cops, or nurses, or more snow plowing. Borrowing money in the form of monetization gets us nowhere but deeper in debt and a downgraded bond rating.
Thanks to the thoughtful members of this Board who attended the two Finance Committee hearings on these meters and pushed the city to provide proof that these meters will generate new revenue before recommending this purchase. Matt Smith isn't even on the Finance Committee but clearly did his homework on this issue. Committee meetings are open to all alders and residents, and any alder who had questions about these meters had multiple opportunities to request additional information. To me, it is irresponsible to raise questions at the 11th hour without making any attempt to attend the public hearings. I'd love to see the New Haven Independent write more about alders like Perez, Smith, Shah, Castro, and Paca who work hard when the cameras aren't around to make sure anything they vote for is in the best interests of the city and their constituents.