[Recon Dad]

The first question that comes to mind is, “How bad are you underwater on your public service pension funding?” Second, “How much do you pay your Mayor, city manager, finance direct, and police chief”?

I doubt after answering these and a few other questions anyone here at FR will do much crying for them.

[RoosterRedux]

Hard times spur creativity...easy times make you fat and lazy.

Hoo-rah for hard times!

[GeronL]

So... where is their money going??

Gay bathhouses or libraries?

ethnic community centers?

bureaucrats? paper pushers?

millions of dollars to fund “studies” and stuff?

[IronJack]

Here's a "bold, new tactic:" Stop making laws! Stop trying to be all things to everyone! Stop robbing the many to give a few useless, counterproductive services to the few! Shut down your unions. Stop spending money you don't have and insisting it's The People who demand those additional services. They DON'T! Let the private sector do its job and you do yours.

Now THAT is innovative thinking!

[ClearCase_guy]

Bold Tactics?

Have they considered Limited Government?

[bkopto]

a fire that broke out two blocks from his home, not long after the city had closed some of its firehouses to save money.

Probably set by one of the laid-off public servant "heroes".

I'm not in favor of any publicly-funded firefighters. There should only be volunteer forces or publicly-contracted fire service subject to a competitive-bidding process.

[UB355]

The farthest our department usually goes on mutual aid calls is 10 miles, average is 5 to 6. Driving rigs through traffic is a pain.