Resident has list of concerns with government

Now that the new Jackson government is in full swing and the dust has settled, I thought it a good time to pass along my thanks to the new administration for the hard work they are doing on our behalf.

Thank you for:

+ Campaigning to reduce taxes by 30 percent.

+ Levying a 32 percent municipal tax increase, the largest in the history of Jackson!

+ Continuing the 32 percent levy this year.

+ Blaming the previous administration for current fiscal issues again and again.

+ Being honest that neither Mayor Mark Seda nor Councilwoman Anne Updegrave knew what was going on as elected officials representing 40 percent of the previous administration.

+ Breaking the campaign promises you made.

+ Complaining about the previous administration for putting in a temporary budget.

+ Introducing a temporary budget at the Jan. 2 meeting.

+ Campaigning against pay- to-play.

+ Supporting pay-to-play with your appointments.

+ Campaigning against political patronage in previous administrations.

+ Supporting political patronage with selections and appointments.

+ Campaigning that you had a plan to make Jackson better.

+ Demonstrating the lack of a plan after the election.

+ Telling us what all the other government agencies are doing for us with our tax dollars.

+ Not telling us anything of what you are doing, except for raising taxes.

+ Requesting a ludicrous compensation after raising taxes to a new high.

+ Accepting a salary increase while telling us how bad the town finances are.

+ Being rude and combative at Township Council meetings when questions are asked.

+ Asking citizens to volunteer.

+ Failing to reinstate trained volunteers due to political affiliations.

+ Campaigning for a new start in Jackson.

+ Bringing back past political players to the game.

+ Campaigning on time for a change.

+ Appointing previous politicians to regurgitate old ideas.

+ Providing proactive leadership on controlling the gypsy moth infestation.

+ Losing federal subsidies for treating gypsy moths.

The council gets an extra thank you for providing no meaningful checks or balances to the mayor's requests. Happy 2007! Can't wait for 2008.

Dan Gross

Jackson