When we learned the Pine Bluff City Council voted themselves a pay raise, we were rendered speechless. Thankfully, that moment has passed. Apparently, it wasn’t enough for them to be among the highest paid city council members in the state. Now they have voted themselves a hefty $1,800 per year raise. Anyone looking for validation that this crew holds self-interest ahead of their constituents’ now has glaring proof.
Just to put names with the misdeed, council members Bill Brumett, Glen Brown, Irene Holcomb, Thelma Walker and Charles Boyd voted in favor of the $1,800 raises. Aldermen Wayne Easterly and George Stepps voted against them. Alderman Steven Mays abstained. While it is small comfort, at least three of our “leaders” have the character and wisdom to exhibit some resolve.
To the rest, a brief review of their collective performance bears consideration. First we should consider events of the past decade — a period during which most of the offending five have occupied a council seat. Over the past ten years an average of more than six hundred people per annum have abandoned Pine Bluff.
Numerous boarded up and otherwise vacant houses stand as grim testament to the decisions made by erstwhile residents, many of whom simply pulled up stakes, forsaking the thought of selling their former homes. Collateral to this injury is the insulting knowledge that an “underwater” sale was their best alternative.
Heap on their burning pyre of failure a fading downtown, ill advised disbanding of the Civil Service Commission and and the nightmare of crime. At a time when our neighbor, Little Rock, boasts a 30-year low in violent crime, we ended 2011 climbing toward a record peak. We need not even discuss our murder rate in excess of seven times the national average.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Of course, the offending council members will equivocate and attempt deflection. They will insist that “things are tough everywhere” or that “they don’t control the economy.” Malarkey. If they don’t determinatively influence the success or failure of this city, who does?
Mayor Carl Redus stood as a moderating voice in this debate. He tried to bring some compromise, but the $1,800 club just wouldn’t have it. So too, must we give credit to the lonely sentinels of reason: Wayne Easterly and George Stepps. On that same score, it’s difficult to know how we should reconcile Steven Mays’ abstention. Mays has expressed mayoral ambitions. Were one looking for a moment to assert decisive leadership skills, this was it. If not now, Mr. Mays, when?
Lastly, let us return to a point we’ve made previously: No sitting council should ever have the power to vote itself a raise. We need a law, perhaps brought by public petition and referendum to carve it in stone. Very few of us have the power to willy-nilly vote ourselves a raise. Even imagining a scenario where you throw open your boss’ door and proclaim, “You’re gonna give me an $1,800 a year raise” borders on absurdity. Or perhaps the public would like to weigh in on a proposal to reduce and cap the pay for these elected officials. Just a thought.
Fortunately we the people hold the trump card. Some of our council members clearly think themselves unbeatable. When they pull stunts like this, it’s time to put their alleged invincibility to the test.