Ward 7 Coun. Frank Mazzuca Jr. says it's time to admit that Greater Sudbury is not working as it should.
“All of us need to look beyond the ever-growing not-in-my-backyard-tribalism and admit that the amalgamation experiment is a failure,” Mazzuca writes. “We need to address the unpleasant reality that Greater Sudbury is in trouble and needs fixing.”
He said city council has been spending money like “a teenager with their first credit card, spending freely with no regard for consequences.
“For too long, Sudbury has lived the high life while only paying the monthly minimums,” he writes. “It’s time to make some changes. It’s time for the city to live within its means.”
Full text of Mazzuca's letter:
Time to Exercise Financial Restraint
It’s time for this city to roll up its sleeves and get to work. Life doesn’t get better by wishing—it takes effort. Ward 7’s great communities didn’t spring up overnight. Each and every one—be it Garson, Skead, Capreol, or Falconbridge—was built on sweat and determination. Our ward is full of labourers, men and women, unafraid to do the job at hand: miners, railroaders, truck drivers.
Many of us grew up working—and working hard! We didn’t just make a living, we made a life. Following in the footsteps of our parents and grandparents, we’ve built something special here. Soon it will be our children’s turn to take charge. The hard work of tomorrow will be theirs.
But there’s more to building a strong community than just work.
There is no success without hardships: tough decisions, unpopular actions, compromises and even sacrifices. All of us need to look beyond the ever-growing not-in-my-backyard-tribalism and admit that the amalgamation experiment is a failure. We need to address the unpleasant reality that Greater Sudbury is in trouble and needs fixing.
No one at city hall seems to realize we’ve been overspending. Council continues to act like a teenager with their first credit card, spending freely with no regard for consequences. For too long, Sudbury has lived the high life while only paying the monthly minimums. It’s time to make some changes. It’s time for the city to live within its means.
Projects, both big and small, should be weighed on two criteria: What will it cost? And How will it benefit the city?
We need some old-fashion sanity. We need practical men and women on council—people willing to stop and think, and not be swayed by special interest groups. We need to work together for the entire Greater City’s benefit.
More from Frank Mazzuca Jr. can be found on his election page.
