It’s been just over one year since Scott Mandel, Len Torres, and Fran Adelson took control of City Hall. As candidates for city council they made many promises. In fact, they posted their promises on their website at www.lbdems.com/platform.
Now that 2012 is behind us, lets take a look back at what the Mandel Administration promised as candidates and what they actually delivered for the taxpayers of the City of Long Beach in their first year in office.
The following promises and pledges were taken directly from Mandel, Torres, and Adelson’s Campaign Promise Web page and all links will take you to either that site or to documents that substantiate the claims made below.
During the 2011 campaign and/or on the candidate’s website, the Scott Mandel Administration promised they would:
LOWER THE COST OF GOVERNMENT
WHAT THE MANDEL ADMINISTRATION SAID:
“A Democratic administration would restore fiscal integrity to the City of Long Beach and lower the cost of government …”
FACTS:
- The cost of government under the Scott Mandel Administration has INCREASED $4.3 MILLION or nearly 6% in one year!!
- Before the Mandel Administration controlled City Hall the City Budget was $83,686,143 (see 2011-12 budget page “i”).
- After the Mandel Administration took office they increased the city’s budget to $87,962,428 (see 2012-13 budget page “iii”).
- That is an increase in total spending of $4.3 million in one year! That is nearly a 6% increase in spending!
- The Mandel Administration raised resident's property taxes nearly 15% in one year with more tax increases to come!
END THE POLICY OF GIVING JOBS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS The Mandel Administration publicly criticized prior administrations’ for hiring “family and friends” to city hall jobs and as a result they promised they would “end the policy of giving jobs to family and friends”.
FACTS:
Despite a "fiscal crisis" and a "self imposed hiring freeze", the Scott Mandel Administration hired, promoted, and gave taxpayer funded raises and/or settlements to over 22 family and friends at a total cost to taxpayers of over $1.3 million! Keep in mind this was done while over 20 CSEA employees were laid off and other employees were demoted or took salary cuts!
GRADE: FAILURE- The Scott Mandel administration did not keep their promise
PROVIDE OPEN GOVERNMENTWHAT THE MANDEL ADMINISTRATION SAID: “An open government is a more representative and efficient government.” The Mandel Administration promised to bring openness and transparency to city hall.
FACTS: At Scott Mandel’s very first meeting as City Council President he announced that city residents would not longer be able to ask questions of their elected leaders during “Good & Welfare” portions of the city council meetings. As a result, residents are no longer permitted to ask public, on the record questions that help to hold their elected officials accountable for the things they say!
GRADE: FAILURE- The Scott Mandel administration did not keep their promise.
CUT WASTEFUL SPENDING WHAT THE MANDEL ADMINISTRATION SAID: “Democrats will review the spending of every department in the City.” The Mandel Administration promised to cut wasteful spending form the city budget.
FACTS: The Mandel Administration has hired over 22 family and friends to city hall jobs, backed a secret deal that gave city council member Fran Adelson a $20,000 taxpayer funded settlement, handed out promotions and other taxpayer awarded settlements to their supporters, and increased city spending by $4.3 million! In addition they have nearly doubled the size of the city’s debt by continuing to borrow money while increasing spending!
GRADE: FAILURE- The Scott Mandel administration did not keep their promise
FACTS: Under the Mandel Administration the city has increased spending $4.3 million, nearly doubled the city’s debt, and they failed to adopt a balance budget in their very first year in office. In fact, because the 2012-2013 budget that was adopted in May 2012 was not balanced the Mandel Administration was forced to adopt a mid year tax increase which raised property taxes on residents an additional 11% on top of the tax increase of 8% passed in may 2012!
GRADE: FAILURE- The Scott Mandel administration did not keep their promise!
All anyone can do when evaluating their government is to look back at the promises and pledges that were made before those individuals took office and compare them to the actions they took since taking office. The truth and the facts speak for themselves. In this case, the facts are clear.
The Mandel Administration has failed to keep the promises and pledges they made to people of our city.
