Link: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100327/OPINION02/3270348

"Toledo is not Detroit, by any means. But there are some similarities. Both have falling revenues, declining populations, and labor contracts that are no longer realistic.

Mayor Bell and City Council need to make decisions that are bound to be painful, politically and otherwise. But putting off what needs to be done now will, in the long run, make things worse. If city leaders want a glimpse of the potential costs of "doing things the same way because that's the way we've always done it," they need only make an hour's drive to the north."

Two paragraphs sum up the problem, all except the bow for the package.

The leadership in this city, is simply dead-set on the same practices and operation of the city, and come hell or high water, or declining revenues, and change will not happen.

The present is working for us, even though each and every year there is this theater of the absurd played out at budget time.

The rest of the year people are bickering over pools, parks, playgrounds and other fluff, not even remotely related to operating this city.

We need a change in the practice of relying on income tax revenue, because there is now a problem front and center, and the same problem confronted the city in 1982, even though some claim that the current situation is unique and distinct, and the same problem will confront us in the future.

But with leadership that rubber stamps or waits to the 11th. hour to act, well carry on with Business As Usual and keep voting for more levies and taxes and please, keep putting the same people back into office.

Change is bad, and this city is living proof of it.