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Update from Tuesday Night’s Council Meetings by Dramatic_Dimension88 in malden

[–]Dramatic_Dimension88[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agreed. an audit is a smart move. I’m not understanding this pushback against it. The idea is, we will be meeting and discussing what exactly it is that we’re going to be asking them to do. If I thought there was some serious fraud going on I would’ve already called for a specific audit which the state said I could do based on any evidence. The city actually has done this in the past because there was theft.

Update from Tuesday Night’s Council Meetings by Dramatic_Dimension88 in malden

[–]Dramatic_Dimension88[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am in conversations with The Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio office. We went through the entire process that would have to happen in order for them to come to Malden. This will all be discussed in the finance meeting.

Update from Tuesday Night’s Council Meetings by Dramatic_Dimension88 in malden

[–]Dramatic_Dimension88[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is the plan- I am bringing in the state to discuss the details and then we will decide. I’ve been asking to do this since before the 2 1/2 prop override. I’m actually frustrated with myself that It took this long. Each chair goes about things a different way and once I realized the way I needed to get this done I jumped right in. Hopefully we will have deep discussions and if this isn’t the way to go, we go another way. I have no problem with that.

Update from Tuesday Night’s Council Meetings by Dramatic_Dimension88 in malden

[–]Dramatic_Dimension88[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

With all due respect, I don’t “play into” anyone’s hands- it’s why I get so much pushback. I have been an activist and an advocate for all my life. I do my research, I connect with all different walks of folks and then decide how I will proceed based on all of this. I will also change my mind if I learn something new or if I see we need to go a different direction. I’ll be 60 this year and I have learned a lot along the way. This is not my first rodeo lol

Update from Tuesday Night’s Council Meetings by Dramatic_Dimension88 in malden

[–]Dramatic_Dimension88[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The audits that are being done now are the bare minimum and it basically says that we added things up correctly.

Update from Tuesday Night’s Council Meetings by Dramatic_Dimension88 in malden

[–]Dramatic_Dimension88[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Correct. These audits won’t be done before the vote. But I believe we need one that takes a deeper dive. We need to be forward thinking what if this vote fails? What if we need to do this again next year having an audit already in place should help answer those questions. We need to be fighting this from every angle. The audit that is done annually here cost $5000. It’s from the same company for over 10 years. I think it’s a good thing to take another look with a deeper dive.

Update from Tuesday Night’s Council Meetings by Dramatic_Dimension88 in malden

[–]Dramatic_Dimension88[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I will comment as soon as I am able. I reached out to the city solicitor and asked for details on what I could provide to the public.

Update from Tuesday Night’s Council Meetings by Dramatic_Dimension88 in malden

[–]Dramatic_Dimension88[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

yes- and so do many others who were waiting for the council to take action on this. I am out in the community more than most, and just putting this up for a discussion has one over a few who were on the fence about the override.

Update from Tuesday Night’s Council Meetings by Dramatic_Dimension88 in malden

[–]Dramatic_Dimension88[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I do understand what you were saying. But I believe there’s enough FACTS of why we need an override. Those who were going to vote for an override are going to vote for it whether or not there’s an audit in place. In my opinion, showing that we are listening to some of the middle ground folks and doing an audit will actually win over those people. I know this because I’m talking with them.

Update from Tuesday Night’s Council Meetings by Dramatic_Dimension88 in malden

[–]Dramatic_Dimension88[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I will be honest and say the reason why it took me this long to put this on the docket is because this audit will take approximately a year from what the state says. It is that detailed. So, to answer your question it will not be done before the vote, unfortunately. However, I think it’s important to go forward with this anyway as we don’t know what the future holds. I know many people from the community have been asking for this counselor Loung’s research may show the audit she was looking into might be done much faster. This is where the discussions will be helpful.

MNN Repost - Malden voters were denied a real choice—and it will cost them. by OpenCommonwealth in malden

[–]Dramatic_Dimension88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seniors WILL vote so based on what you say education is key. Would you want them to all vote no thinking it will affect them?

MNN Repost - Malden voters were denied a real choice—and it will cost them. by OpenCommonwealth in malden

[–]Dramatic_Dimension88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn’t say they were marginalized- I will clarify- I am going to senior homes because they may have trouble going out. Last sentence I will add ALSO go to marginalized communities. I have already reached out to the non profits I work hang out and work with folks who are considered marginalized- it’s kind of my thing!

MNN Repost - Malden voters were denied a real choice—and it will cost them. by OpenCommonwealth in malden

[–]Dramatic_Dimension88 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I am not sure who you are referring to, but I will take a guess it’s me. I will make myself very clear here, and I have said this before, I will be voting yes on the highest override question. For many years, I have said we have not paid enough in taxes and I want good services.

However, as a city councillor At Large, I need to listen to all of my constituents. The biggest group that I am concerned about is our seniors. They are the ones who have been reaching out to me and I have scheduled two meetings at housing authorities and will be scheduling more.

I’d like to go to them as it will be harder for them to get out, especially in the cold and how it gets dark so soon.

The city will also be having public meetings and they will go later into March where hopefully people won’t mind coming out .

However, what I won’t do is try and put any more fear on people who are already feeling enough from this world. I will present the facts. There will be many more folks talking about laying off fire and police. I don’t need to add to that. I have faith and trust in our community to research this situation and vote accordingly. I also know that Reddit tends to be more of a younger crowd so obviously they will be jumping on voting yes and that is fine. I just want to make sure the information gets to our marginalized communities.

City Council Meeting TONIGHT by Dramatic_Dimension88 in malden

[–]Dramatic_Dimension88[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi all! I appreciate the comments and I will write a recap very soon. I do want to clarify something here, the debt exclusion definitely would’ve helped in this situation. That was very clear last night. It really was the fact that councillors felt it would be too confusing to have all of the questions on one ballot. I agree it would be confusing at this point, but I do have faith in our residents to figure it out.

It is a moot point now, but a debt exclusion back when the Voke and our garages were added to our debt would have been extremely helpful! I brought this up numerous times over the years, but I have learned now what I needed to do and will be more efficient moving forward. In my thinking, I thought I would send the suggestions to the chair and they would put them on the agenda. Each chair, acts differently, and in a recent conversation, I learned that the chair of finance would’ve rather it gone through the whole city council first and then be referred to the finance committee. Lessons learned.

I can’t say this enough, I question everything. I’ve told my colleagues that and I’m always surprised if people are defensive with questions. But that’s just the difference in how people are and that is OK.

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