New Orleans, LA - September 30, 2009 - "I want to publicly make my position known relative to the recently introduced ordinance dealing with pay raises for City Council members and the Mayor. When this issue comes up for a vote I will be voting no. During the budget process, the administration and the council will be faced with making tough budgetary decisions. The anticipated deficit and the lack of projected sales tax revenue, may force us to make decisions that would call for all of our citizens and employees to make sacrifices.
"After four years, our citizens are still struggling to recover from losing their homes and jobs; and this is not the right time to propose pay raises for elected public servants. Therefore in the spirit of leading by example, I am not willing to ask employees and the public to make sacrifices that I am not willing to make.
"In addition to objections already noted, the proposed ordinance would not only double the salary of the City Council, but it would also give annual automatic pay raises to all council members and the Mayor, without a vote of the council or the people. Every year the council members and the Mayor would get automatic pay raises."
Contact:
Clarence Bickham
Chief of Staff
Office of District "E" Councilmember Cynthia Willard-Lewis
Phone: (504) 658-1055
Email:
cbickham@cityofno.com
