Mayor Tom Henry does it again, good grief
Posted by Mike Sylvester - 2/6/10 @ 10:16 am - Filed Under Featured, Local Politics
The Administration of Tom Henry has been painfully hard to watch. The Administration has largely been dysfunctional and ineffective.
Kevin Leininger has a must read column in the Thursday News-Sentinel entitled “Is Purcell salary pay for work or a gold parachute?”
Basically Deputy Mayor Purcell resigned earlier this week on Monday. He resigned to return to Michigan and care for his elderly mother. I certainly wish Mr. Purcell well and hope that he is able to effectively care for his mother and wish both of them the best of luck.
That being said it is hard for me to imagine that the Deputy Mayor warrants being paid his full salary and benefits for an additional three months so that he can work on a part time basis for the City from Michigan.
I believe the City of Fort Wayne has a policy in place that all of its employees live in the state of Indiana and be Indiana residents. I am pretty sure that you cannot live in Ohio and be a City employee…
I wonder if the City is waiving this rule or if they just “forgot” that they had such a rule?
Mike Sylvester
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34 Responses to “Mayor Tom Henry does it again, good grief”
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Mike it’s been painful for me to watch all levels of local government lately that I have stopped keeping up with the latest news. The practice of “whats in it for me, friends, family” game permeates on all levels and both parties do it.
The climate is ready for a strong independent leader to expose and speak out against the misuse of public monies for the gain of a small percentage at the expense of the common good. Are there any takers out there in fort wayne?
Maria,
I could not agree with you more. This is not something that one Party or the other does; it is something that has permeated both major political parties.
Mike
Mike, apparently you do not realize that the rules don’t apply to those who make them. I believe that this clause was recently added as a Constitutional Amendment. Unfortunately, the Patriot Act preclude this Amendment from being published (or challenged.)
And after Jim Sack’s recent appraisal of Mayor Henry’s weak performance, I think it is clear that Henry agreed to continue paying Purcell simply because he realizes he is unable to stand on his own without someone holding his hand (even if it is only by email.) He should be giving Purcell a reduced salary for what will most likely be a reduced work-load, but the money is not coming out of Henry’s pocket so it’s not his problem to worry about.
http://www.angrywhiteboy.org/index.php/2010/02/06/the-mayor-makes-sausage/
I worked for City Utilities and the rule was that we had to live in Allen County, not just in Indiana.
Maria-
The “best” cadidate is the one who can win an election, which means he/she has to be a good politician or rich or both. Neither of those attributes translate to competence in governance. So I wouldn’t necessarily expect an independent candidate who can win to perform any better in office than the ones we have now.
Here’s the ordinance:
§ 31.03 RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS.
(A) All appointed officers and all employees of the various departments of the city, except those city employees whose residency requirements are established expressly by Indiana state law, who accept regular full-time employment or regular part-time employment after April 1, 1989, must have their principal place of residence in Allen County. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the city may employ employees in the Communications Department as Dispatchers or as a Supervisor of Dispatchers who have their principal place of residence in counties contiguous to Allen County, provided that said employee or potential employee principally presiding in a contiguous county has not less than 12 months experience as a Dispatcher or a Supervisor of Dispatchers with a public safety agency.
(B) Employees and appointive officers whose residency requirements are not established by Indiana state law and who were first appointed or employed prior to April 1, 1989, but who have a break in service with the city and are reappointed or reemployed after April 1, 1989, must also have their principal place of residence in Allen County.
(C) Employees and appointive officers first appointed prior to April 1, 1989, and who have had no break in service with the city, are not subject to any residency requirements other than those established by Indiana state law.
(D) Employees must have a valid phone number and physical address on file with the Human Resources Department.
(’74 Code, § 2-8.6) (Ord. G-03-89, passed 3-27-89; Am. Ord. G-05-94, passed 3-8-94; Am. Ord. G-13-01, passed 7-24-01; Am. Ord. G-01-08, passed 3-11-08)
The mayor could just hire him as a consultant at the same salary. He wouldn’t get city benefits though.
Residency is most likely not an issue- no one said Purcell was moving.
Kevin Knuth,
No one said he wasn’t moving.
Are you saying he is going to commute back and forth?
Mike
Ft Wayne should follow the lead of Phoenix, San Diego, Austin, Oklahoma City, San Antonio and many other communities in the US and convert to a council/manager form of government.
Rockville, MD for example has at-large, non-partisan elections for council and mayor. The mayor in this system however has only one council vote.
http://www.rockvillemd.gov/FAQ/formofgov.htm
A complete description and history of mayor/council is here.
http://www2.icma.org/pm/9007/public/cover.cfm?author=James%20H.%20Svara%20and%20Kimberly%20L.%20Nelson&title=Taking%20Stock%20of%20the%20Council-Manager%20Form%20at%20100
Mayors were needed back in the day when most couldn’t read and mail traveled by pony express. Modern municipalities Ft Wayne’s size favor this system by a 2-1 margin and it is growing.
Mike- No. But, the law says “residency” is where his PRIMARY residence is. So if he keeps a house here, then he is a resident. isn’t he?
I know the laws that govern VOTING say that if you INTEND to be at the address you register for on election day, that holds up. I think this is similar.
Kevin,
Residency is generally defined as the place where you live for the majority of the year.
The local ordinance that covers this does not define what residency is…
Mike
Last week at the (Neighborhood) Presidents meeting, the Mayor had an immediate compulsion to talk to the neighborhoods. Three (3) time during his comments, the Mayor made such statements as…
He DID resign.. there IS a letter of resignation.. etc.
This person thinks “he protesteth too much”…
Why does Fort Wayne have a Deputy Mayor position in the first place?
What I would like to point out is that your outrage is in the right arena but the wrong position. The real outrage should be with Tom Henry hiring Palermo Galindo as the ‘Hispanic & Immigrant Liaison’ for Fort Wayne, also a taxpayer paid position.
Henry is taking Fort Wayne down a road that will lead the city to become a ’sanctuary city’ for illegals. His hiring of Galindo has absolutely nothing to do with immigrants taking advantage of city services and has everything to do with enticing illegals to participate in the federal census so that Fort Wayne can increase its federal funding.
Once Henry opens that door and starts catering to illegals, there will be absolutely nothing that the Fort Wayne citizens can do to reverse the negative impacts that will most definitely follow.
Jerry:
What negative impacts are you talking about?
Undocumented workers have not SUDDENLY shown up in America , they have been here for many, many years we just chose to look the other way because they were cheap labor and benefited businesses and wealthy land owners. People like YOU have just begun complaining about them in the last 10 years because our jobs have been shipped overseas and some of us now have to work for minimum wage or slightly above. So don’t blame the undocumented Mexicans, my ancestors were here in North America before the Europeans hit the shores. America took the southwest lands away from Mexico and the trend you speak of started way back before Mayor Henry. He cannot be faulted for the things you write in your comments. I think it is wise for Mayor Henry to count everyone and to get Fort Wayne’s fair share of government funding. I sometimes don’t agree with Mayor Henry, but I still believe he is still the best person for the job.
Maria, your a looney-toon and I could care less when your ancestors arrived… the reality is that this is U.S. territory… not Mexico. Got it? Good.
Second, illegals (not undocumented, Maria) DO NOT pay state and federal taxes since they cannot legally hold jobs. The only form of tax they can possibly pay is ’sales tax’ and simply paying sales tax does not equal a fair share of taxation compared to what ‘legal’ american citizens are forced to pay. The amount of resources that the illegal consume (directly and via anchor babies) far outweigh their individual or collective contribution.
Third, Mayor Henry is wasting taxpayer money on Palermo Galindo. Henry’s focus should be to ensuring that ALL Fort Wayne residents are taking advantage of city services… not just immigrants.
And no, it is not wise to include illegals in the census.
Maria
Henry is the best man for the job???? I don’t think even Henry would agree with that.
P.S. I voted for him too.
Maria,
You can always head south, of the border.
Hello all,
Just a few comments:
1. Tom Henry is a corrupt man who has used his position to line the pockets of his family and friends.
2. People who come to the US illegally should be returned to thier home country. If they are here legitmately we should welcome them and help them integrate into our society.
3. Being a back-woods bigot isn’t as cool as it used to be, even here in red-neck-heaven Fort Wayne.
The point that you have all missed is that my ancestry is native to North America including some parts of the southwest. They were here 1st so those who have lived in America their lifetime and span generations ALIEN sounds ridiculous. The question of immigration is a complicated issue too many to discuss in a blog. I believe one should be a citizen, legal resident, on worker program, etc. to be in America. I don’t think we need more immigration laws we only need to enforce the laws we have in place. Factories, businesses, and agriculture sectors have not obeyed laws if ever which lead to the issue Jerry raises earlier. As long as a housing unit or condemn housing has people living in it the Census counts the residence. The purpose of the census is to count EVERYONE. The Census has been conducted since 1780s with Thomas Jefferson. During the 1800s they counted slaves south dixie line and they were not citizens. Again, I give Mayor Henry credit for hiring someone who can ensure ALL will be counted.
As far as being called a looney tune, maybe so to others who don’t appreciate my broad point on life. So in that spirit I will take it!
This is an excellent reason why illegals should NOT be counted:
Counting illegal aliens in the census undermines the fundamental principal of American representative democracy that every voter has an equal voice. Through the census-based process of apportionment, states with large numbers of illegal aliens will unconstitutionally gain members in the U.S. House of Representatives thus robbing the citizen-voters in other states of their rightful representation.
In addition, an inflated population count resulting from the inclusion of illegal aliens would increase the number of votes some states get in the electoral college system, the actual process of electing the President of the United States.
In short, including illegal aliens in the census count will unjustly bestow additional political power in states where lax enforcement of immigration laws attract large populations of illegal aliens, such as California, Texas and other states in which Democrats seek to gain greater influence over national politics.
In my geneology research… I find the first official Federal Census in 1790 (Constitution was in 1789). The first everyname census that I can find is in 1850 and I have difficulty finding Afro-Americans in either 1850 or 1860 census. Some show up in 1870… but not all. So not sure that slaves in the South were counted and represented in Congress…
Bob& Jerry
How little you know of history. You need to look at property records of white owners prior to to the 1860’s. This is where you will find them listed. Go back and read about the 3/5’s compromise in the Constitutional Converntion. (1787)Read Article 1, Section 2, Paragraph 3 of the Constitution. If you take a look at some of the once decaying neighborhoods (Central, Alexander, Plaza streets S. of Pontiac) you will find properties being renovated in a mostly Hispanic neighborhood. Illegal or not, property taxes are being paid for sure. Ease up a little. I would rather live next to an intact family who maintains their property regardless of where they were born.
Little Turtle,
I haven’t posted anything about references American history but be that as it may, you are confused for sure. Illegals do not pay property taxes… they cannot. It is the owner, not the occupant, that you are perhaps referring to.
Second, I would like to stay on topic with the content of my original post. It is my belief that Mayor Henry has made a serious mistake when he used your taxpayer money to hire an individual to cater solely to the hispanic community.
I do not condone his hiring of an advocate. If he believes that there exists a need to hire such, it is not my intention to second guess his belief. However, the responsibility of this advocate should have been to educate and assist ALL residents of Fort Wayne, Indiana, regardless of skin color or ethnicity, in understanding city services and how to take advantage of them.
Which brings us to my third point that his apparent intent was to cater solely to the Hispanic community in Fort Wayne… The position title of Palermo Galindo is ‘Hispanic & Immigrant Liaison’. Palermo Galindo previously worked for the Indiana State Lottery and whose position was devoted to lottery sales to Hispanics. Given that Palermo Galindo speaks English and some form of Spanish, what other group of immigrants can be possibly be effective in communicating with where the English language is not a likelyhood?
In summary, it is my opinion that Mayor Henry was being biased with his hiring of Palermo Galindo and his reasons for establishing the position of ‘Hispanic & Immigrant Advocate’ and that this position is a misuse of taxpayer money.
His objective of establishing this advocate position to entice immigrants in Fort Wayne to participate in the 2010 census is a useless effort. Every legal resident of the United States is required by federal law to complete the census and there is penalty for not doing so. However, for those in this country ILLEGALLY, it becomes optional and I believe that these are the people that are target of Mayor Henry’s immigrant advocate.
Another relevant point…
According to the Journal Gazette newspaper, Mayor Henry, in his State of the City speech, said the following:
“Tonight I am also excited to announce my intent to create the “Bank on Fort Wayne” program. This new initiative will generate opportunities for any Fort Wayne residents who have relied on expensive check-cashing services and payday loan operations. This initiative will allow them to open bank accounts at local financial institutions while also receiving financial tools. Founded on the success of similar programs in Evansville and other cities, I see Bank on Fort Wayne as a win-win. It will allow some of Fort Wayne’s hardest working residents to keep more of the money they earn, save for the future, and establish relationships with local banks. I look forward to working with Councilman Hines with his banking experience, as well as the financial institutions here in Fort Wayne on this important project. ”
The interesting connection with this announcement and the ‘Hispanic & Immigrant Advocate’ is that Palermo Galindo was/is associated with a check cashing service in Fort Wayne as either owner or manager.
If he follows through with his intent, I would watch very closely just how much taxpayer money becomes involved in supporting this “Bank on Fort Wayne”. Persons in this country illegally cannot establish bank accounts (no SSN) and are generally forced into these check cashing establishments.
Is Mayor Henry, once again, attempting to cater to the Fort Wayne population of persons illegally in this country?
My apology to everyone… let me amend a statement in my last posting.
“Persons in this country illegally cannot establish bank accounts (no SSN) and are generally forced into these check cashing establishments.”
What I should have said is:
“Persons in this country, illegally, cannot establish bank accounts because they lack the necessary and acceptable proof of identity to do so and are generally forced into these check cashing establishments”.
Thank you.
Jerry,
Please research before spreading misinformation. You stated ” Illegals do not pay property taxes… they cannot. It is the owner, not the occupant, that you are perhaps referring to.”
Please show me the law that states non-citizens cannot hold title to private property in the United States. This is blatantly false.
The Allen County Treasurer is not required to check for citizenship before taking a property tax payment.
Our Federal Government is bringing in refugees from Myanmar (that’s Burma for you, Jerry)in great masses. They have no idea how American culture works. It does tax the social and other governmental programs. That is obvious. I’m glad Henry has someone on staff to interact with the immigrant population. I think that our willingness as a City to give those less fortunate to be born on this soil an opportunity speaks well for us. Maybe that would be a plus to a large corporation looking to relocate here.
I think you are feeling threatened when there is no need to be. I encourage you to stop at the Building Department and see how many “aliens” are snapping up Commissioner owned property and making repairs on houses you wouldn’t let your dog live in.
Keep drinking the Kool Aid, Little Turtle.
I’ll enjoy a big tall glass of grape just as soon as you admit that you posted misinformation on the the FACT that you don’t have to be a citizen to own soil here.
Remember, the Reverend Jim Jones only offered the Kool Aid after he knew his misinformed followers were finally on to him.
Just to tip my hat to the thread topic, I’m still glad that Fort Wayne has a Hispanic Liason.
dearsir i myself think you are doing a fantastike job and hope you get re elected as mayor. i have had the pleasure of knowing your mother and father great people i also know your one sister again agood person you i have met you a very few times so keep up the good work. you will always have my vote. may god be with you always.
Jerry, when it comes to Federal income taxes, few workers pay any Federal Income Taxes. Sure many have federal income taxes with held, but due to child tax credits being refundable and dependency exemptions, more than 60% of all workers pay no federal income tax.
Illegals who use another person’s SSN to work help that person’s work record and increases the holder of the SSN’s SS-OASI benefit. Illegals who are paid under the table allow both them and employer to escape paying FICA taxes.
Sales tax in Indiana is the largest source of revenue. IN state income tax rate is 3.4% only after subtracting dependency exemptions and child exemptions.
As for property taxes, do people who rent pay property taxes? Rental tax rate is 2% or is it 3%, far more than the 1% for home owners. Where do you think the money comes from for the rental owner to pay the property tax, his pocket or does he cover the property tax with an increase in rent? It could be said of FICA as well. When does FICA get collected? If people do not buy products or services, there is no sales and therefore, people cannot be paid. So where is the source of all taxes? Is it a circle with many stops? Who decides where the starting point is on the circle?
I have no love for illegals. In my opinion they should be rounded up and deported. There is huge misconception about the pay of illegals. The though is they are paid less when in reality they data shows they make about 1% less than U.S. Citizens. There is also another myth that they do jobs that Americans won’t do. When the labor department collects data on over 432 different fields in the U.S. they find only a few of these fields have a higher concentration of illegals than all others, yet the concentration is less then 1/3. This means the all fields in the U.S. labor market have a majority of U.S. workers in them. There is not one field that has a majority of workers that are first generation or illegals.
some of you anti- white native born jerks should go up to newbille- east of auburn, on US 6, or Go out to warsaw, and join the KKK, or the Neo-Nazis. you jackwagons would fit right in.
while youre at it, why not run all the asians out of town, the hispanics, the blacks, all the jews, moslems, and anyone else who isnt protestant, evangecal so-called christians as well.
Then you would only need one radio station- right wing whack job talk radio, and one local cable TV channel - Fox news. And live in your ARYAN echo chamber, keep re-electing your nutjob koo-koo for koko puffs, inbreed your children with other white only purebreds, and build a wall around the perimeter of 469, and livein your own little lala fantasy land /Wacko compound; and stockpile your guns for when the blakc helicopters, and zionist government comes to cart you away to secret black sites, and you know the rest of the McCarthy/Bircher/robertson/falwell/apocalyptic insane loony-toon one world order conspiracy theory- trileteral comission/bilderburger/ fringe fairy tale you stupid, ignorant, servile sheep have fabricated, and conflated. I have some special kool-aid for you. its strychnine/arsenic/cynaide flavored- so here you go- drink the kool-aid and go goose stepping off to oblivion, and back to the ash-heap of history. like the late night time- life DVD set says- they were historys worst nightmare- see how it is to liveina world gone mad. you surely know the one. (and dont call me shirley…)And as for the non- eurpopean, non- white, non- christain civilization that lived here for the previous 10,000 years, well, I’ll simply let you jackwagons ignorance, idiocy, factual illiteracy, and genocide speak for itself.
Maria= dont waste your breath. they are stupid, cant be convinced by the truth, and are total wastes of human DNA- if you can call them human at all…
FORT WAYNE- ITS A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE YOUR FAMILY! WE HAVE A ZOO! WOO HOO!
I just wanted to tell you to keep up the good work on keeping our streets clean! I’m from around here too, matter as fact born and raised. Cool new buddy center downtown. Thats a good contabution to the success to our city.
henry needs to stop the killing of the animals at animal control. 50 dead animal per day. 2 and one half million dollars to run that department. henry doesnt care about the animals or people or your money. they murder the animals there. they are not sick or injured. they are happey and young. henry hates animals. henry kills kittens. henry kills puppies, henry kills dogs, henry, kills cats. stop the killing. insist on a free neuter clinic everyday until all animals are neutered. this will save your tax money and save the animals. henry should resign.