We hope the music has stopped, paused, and the empty chairs will be thoughtfully filled.
But over the past few weeks this has been a city government of musical chairs and the perception is one of instability and random decisions made at the spur of the moment.
We need the carpenter’s rule, “measure twice, cut once.”
Last week, Mayor John Ramon Vigil placed the city’s Finance Director Robert Corabi on administrative leave with pay. He has only been on the job since January. This follows the suspension of City Manager Jordan Yutzy who is also being paid, a decision affirmed by the city council one week ago.
The city is more than six months late on an audit and a budget due to the state.
Along with the perception of a city hall out of control, employees cite an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. City councilors talk of messages from these employees who are too frightened to come to work.
And now there is this cloud hanging over city finances that at the least implies something is terribly amiss with taxpayer money. This is incredibly unfair for implications and innuendo to exist suggesting something it is not just “rotten in the state of Denmark,” to quote William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” but rotten in Española.
If there is suspicion of wrongdoing and malfeasance, come out and say it, city leaders. Stop hiding.
This is not government by the people for the people. This is government by a few for the few and communicating by gossip and whispers.
Last week we called for a forensic audit by the state of city finances. The city council and mayor have promised a financial investigation. Just what does that mean?
We could take heart in Mayor Vigil’s pledge last week to reorganize both the city’s Finance Committee and Public Works Committee but we do not.
He said he is “disappointed in leadership.”
Shakespeare did not write this but what is that saying about the “the pot calling the kettle black?”
Four of the city councilors on these two targeted for reorganized committees have been publicly critical of the mayor and now he is threatening to possibly remove them from important committees. They are Dennis Tim Salazar, Justin Salazar-Torres, Manny Martinez and Denise Benavidez.
After speaking out against the mayor and demanding answers for what appear to be impetuous decisions, he threatens the membership on the committees where they serve?
This strikes of harsh retribution not leadership.
Suspended City Manager Yutzy says he is suing the mayor and the city.
As we have reported Yutzy believes he was suspended June 28 after city employee Danielle Bustos sent him a complaint against Vigil. He received the complaint June 27.
“Mr. Yutzy further contends that Mayor Vigil unlawfully retaliated against him because Mr. Yutzy refused to fire at least one classified city employee that the mayor asked Mr. Yutzy to terminate without just cause so that the Mayor could fill the position with his preferred candidate,” Yutzy’s attorney has said.
The talk about leadership and lack of it has never been more vital. Española needs leadership that wipes away the perception of no one being in control and supplants it with decisions that appear well thought out, made with deliberation not haste, not without retribution against critics and decisions that do not imply wrongdoing when none have been substantiated.