Mayor's Row

by Mayor Ned Mitchell

Mayor’s Row…….by Ned Mitchell

Since I do most of my serious thinking behind the Sears Craftsman push mower while mowing the lawn I have had ample time this year to really do a lot of thinking. With all of the rain and heat grass grows to the point that it requires attention two times a week and sometimes three so while I am mowing I am thinking about all sorts of things.

It came to mind last week while mowing that something strange is happening, or not happening, whichever you want to think, in Springfield. For the past six years we have been told that what is wrong up there can be blamed on the former reformer/unreformer Governor Rod Blagojevich. As you know I called that guy out a long time before any of the other politically correct crowd had the courage to do so. Turns out I was right and they were wrong, but I’m over that by now and with a new Governor in place I thought things would improve. Turns out I was wrong and they were right!

So who is to blame now you ask? We certainly cannot blame former Senate President as he has retired and has been replaced by a very bright young man Senator John Cullerton. The Senate did their part to help pull us out of the hole we are in by passing a much needed but dreaded income tax hike. Senators are taking a beating in some areas of the state for their solution to the problem. None of us really want to pay taxes, but all of us want services that tax money makes possible.

Republicans were absolutely no help in the matter as they have joined some Democrats in calling for deep cuts to services. Lets’ be frank here, there are areas that can and should be cut. Lets’ also be honest with each other in saying those calling for cuts always want those cuts to be made in areas that will not affect their districts. Even if we fired every state employee that would save $5 billion dollars and depending on whom you believe the deficit is between $9 and $12 billion dollars. I’m always open for ways to save money so to the spending cuts crowd I say put them on the table and take a vote.

Governor Pat Quinn, in my opinion, is exactly right when he addresses a joint session of the State Legislature and says that those in that room are responsible for creating the very same programs that now they don’t want to pay for.

So that only leaves the House of Representatives to blame for the fiasco since they can’t seem to get any solution on the table that will pass. It could be that House members have to run for re-election every two years unlike Senators who have a couple of 4 year terms to play with.

Summing up the House issue Speaker Mike Madigan’s spokesman Steve Brown said recently that the House would be back in session at a time that would cause the least amount of disturbance to the lives of the Representatives. It would be inconvenient Brown said to call them back immediately. Really! I’ll just bet that is one of those statements that Steve Brown would like to have back. There are mountains of words to be said about all the folks who are about to be facing an uncertain future in this state if the Legislature does not get in gear and provide solutions for real issues.

Supposedly next week, July 14th is going to be a convenient time for House members to assemble and put forth solutions to solve our financial dilemma. I can hardly wait!

Nearly a thousand people came to pay their respects and to say a final goodbye to Sesser resident Buster Zimbro. As you know by now Buster was killed in a motorcycle accident last week doing what he loved, riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

I have known the entire Zimbro family since they moved to Sesser decades ago from the eastern Kentucky coal fields. They came here to work the coal mines, specifically Inland Steel mine north of Sesser. They were a welcome addition to Sesser as they provided a good family a decent living and quickly made friends with all of us in Sesser.

Buster was one of four children of Mitchell and Ruth Zimbro. He was a friendly guy and if he ever had a bad day it surely did not show. Buster worked in the coal mines while they were up and running and he was a steady and dependable worker. He earned the respect of many much older miners, including my 90 year old dad who remembers Buster as always having a smile on his face no matter what the circumstances of the day were at the mine site.

Buster loved motorcycles and he loved his family and friends. Just about a week before he died Buster explained to long time family friend Ditto Basso that he was happier now than he had ever been. He summed his happiness up by saying he had the dream job of being around motorcycles every day at work. He went on to say that his Sesser area family was also all involved in ownership of the Black Diamond Harley Davidson dealership in Marion where he worked and that allowed him to be with his immediate family every day too. To Buster that was a dream job, motorcycles and family and those pretty well sums up what we should remember Buster for. A great big smile, a love of family and motorcycles in that order. We will miss him and our heartfelt condolences go out to his family. Pray for them that they will find the peace that does pass all understanding!

We have had a great time this past week visiting with Aisha’s dad Richie, wife Becky, and son Jesse who were in from Seattle. The meals at Nana’s were good, even the blackberry cobbler that got dropped in the kitchen floor. They are leaving us Saturday morning for the return trip home and we have been truly blessed by their visit. We look forward to seeing them again in the very near future!