If you're like me (what a concept), you're probably wondering why the Mayor wants to change the OFFICE of Economic Development to the DEPARTMENT of Economic AFFAIRS. And, if you're like me, you're wondering, hey, did she not do something like this before when she created the Department of Neighborhood and Environmental Protection? And didn't she install her friend Mike Malinoff as its head? Now she is working to install another Mike--Mike Miron as head of this Department, where he will now be guaranteed to make at least $100k per year, as with all other department heads. (Mr. Miron, by the way, worked prominently in the Aldermanic campaign for Ross Arnett, saying it was okay because it was "after hours", and also his brother, benefited from a nice contract with city government to hold seminars). And if you're like me, you're probably wondering why we have so many empty storefronts downtown, why we have such a failure in The Market House, The Police Station, and are now possibly teetering on the edge of bankruptcy due to the recent court ruling on pensions for firefighters. And if you're like me, you're probably wondering why our taxes keep going up....and up....and up....while we seem to get less police protection.....but at least we have sister cities, and by the way, this new department will oversee that program (for developing our economy of course).
I invite you to read what Brian Gill, publisher of Annapolis Politics, has to say. Although I do not support his fervent faith in the free market and laissez faire capitalist economic theory, we do both want to see effective government and use of our tax dollars. Visit annapolispolitics.blogspot.com/2007/12/fun-with-department-of-economic.html
for his commentary on this new department.
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2 Comments:
Paul:
Certainly your blog (CP) like any other is entitled to its opinion on whether the new Department of Economic Affairs serves a real need or not, however, I think it is reprehensible to make personal attacks against Department Heads without any factual cause. I have not personally seen nor do I have access to either Mike Miron or Mike Malinoff's resume, nor should I, however, let's stick to the validity of positions, specific deficiencies within departments, etc ... and NOT make this personal. I can tell you that I have had numerous interactions with the Director of the Department of Neighborhood and Environmental Programs concerning several different matters. I have not always agreed with the position or the outcome, however, I have always found him and the members of his staff with whom I have interacted to be very polite, professional, and respectful of my positions.
Please let's keep our discussions as bloggers on the issues and not on individuals who are not elected officials.
Respectfully,
M. Scott Bowling
Scott: These are not personal attacks. For one thing, the subjects are appointed officials, and highly paid by our tax dollars. For another thing, they are political and politicized individuals and so are their jobs. I do not insult them or call them bad things, but report facts. As appointed public officials, city department heads should not be immune from criticism. It is a fact that Mayor Moyer created the DNEP and is creating yet another department and she installs her friends/cronies in these jobs. It is a fact that Mike took a prominent role in the campaign of his friend and neighbor Ross Arnett. Would that mean Ross would have to recuse himself from voting on making Mike's job a "director's" job?
While I did not comment on whether or not DNEP is doing a good job, I do wonder why it was created. I have asked what has the economic development (affairs? office? department?) office accomplished. We are well aware of the debacle of the Market House. They put on a conference for minority business owners. What else has it accomplished? So my story was related to making that office a department and thus raising Mr. Miron's public salary. It was not an attack on him. Both Mr. Miron and Mr. Malinoff are decent gentlemen. This does not mean that they necessarily deserve their positions or salaries. After all, we pay them but only the Mayor, the ultimate subject of the story, can hire or fire them. Our own aldermen cannot even do that.
I think this is a pressing issue in our city, namely that many department heads need to be more seriously assessed, and probably even retired. What is the policy and procedure for that? If they cannot hire enough police, keep a public works director or find something useful for the city administrator, what else might they not be doing properly?
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