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Flaherty blames mayor for firefighters abusing the pension system
By adamg on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 9:26am
The Globe reports:
Asked multiple times if the firefighters themselves bore any responsibility for what city leaders call an abuse of the public retirement system, Flaherty repeatedly steered his answers to Menino, who is seeking an unprecedented fifth term in office.
"The mayor, as CEO of our city, has to take responsibility for contracts that he signs on behalf of the residents of our city," Flaherty said. "The buck stops on his desk."
The Globe didn't ask Flaherty if he'd used any of his oversight powers as city-council president or just plain old city councilor to look into fire-department pension abuse, but does note Flaherty has the endorsement of the firefighters' union.
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Comments
Politics 101
Clearly he took notes in Politician School.
Step one: Blame the previous administration.
Even had it underlined.
No more photo ops
I'm supporting Flaherty for mayor because I think he has some smart ideas around education, crime prevention/funding and upgrading city services, among other areas. But every time he gets near the BFD union I cringe. I know, I know, he has their endorsement, which is fine (Menino gets union endorsements all the time)so he has to defend them. I think he has a point where he says the mayor ultimately bears responsibility with what happens within the city limits, but come on -- the union is reponsible in part for the mess we have in the first place. If he were only able to say that -- if I were him, I would stay away from any future union photo ops or press conferences.
Time to stop playing the blame game
I will start by saying I am a Flaherty supporter..
I think the Firefighter union leaders should stick to firefighting and get out of the press relations game.
With that said, everyone who lives in the City of Boston knows or lives near a firefighter. The super majority are good hard working family men who also are at the rink and the park as coaches and fathers.
Take both Ed Kelly's bad press management and Menino's spin machine out of the equation, and when did all 1500 firefighters become the criminals of the city. Every family and organization has bad apples.
When Michael becomes Mayor, the only thing he speaks too is restoring the prestige that the Boston Fire Department had prior to Menino destroying it. I can say without a doubt that accountability will not be sacrificed, but neither will the goal of having the best fire department in the country.
Shouldn't every Mayor strive for that ?