Moderator Report
18 February Mastery School
Group Number 4
Moderators: Fatima Hafiz and Jean di Sabatino
Total points: 56

Group Description:

Our group was composed of 19 adults, 8 African American, 7 Caucasian and 1 Asian. Four of the total were males. There was a cross-section of age groups represented, the oldest in their late 60s, and the youngest in their 20s. Two city observers stayed for the entire session, Urie Monson, PICA representative and Jeff Friedman.

The tone of the evening was for the most part respectful and lively. By the end of the evening, and with coaching for the most timid, all participants had the opportunity to express their opinions and to offer items for 3 of the 4 buckets. No items were added to the Gut Wrenching bucket.

There was a strong dissenting voice regarding the process. From the very beginning of the session, one participant was interested in presenting her position relative to tax revenues as opposed to service reductions. While she pressed to distribute her “fact-sheet” the moderators asked that she hold off until we focused on the service side of the ledger. Moderators had to continually reinforce and reiterate the process against her protest throughout the session. While she gained some support from other participants at varying times during the session, moderators were able to bring the group back to task. The note-taking served an important outlet for those wishing to present alternative ideas.

The end of the session was rushed however once the group realized there were only minutes to the end, consensus was more quickly reached regarding revenue actions. There was considerable group attrition (50% of the group) in the last 5 minutes of the session.

Low-Hanging Fruit
Total points: 35 points
• #1 Administrative = 5 points with 90% agreement
o Cut overhead (no clarification re. specifics)
o Suggestion that everyone listed in this category agree to a 5% cut in salary. Could graduate percentage according to salary level. Examples of this are emerging across the country.
o This was the first item discussed.
• #2 Courts = 5 points with 80% agreement
o Discussion began with the 20% reduction in mind. Group agreed that “foreign courts” should be curtailed and/or a surcharge levied when suburban or regional cases were moved into the city. There was energy around the suggestion to consolidate court facilities.
o Participants were concerned that family, juvenile and truancy Courts would be sacrificed if the 20% cut was enacted. A compromise of 10% reduction (5 pts.) was reached.
• #3 DROP = 4 points with close to 90% agreement
o Several participants did not understand the program. The PICA representative clarified that this was to be a temporary measure (2 years).
o Vote was quickly taken.
• #20 Eagles = 4 points with 100% agreement
o Participants wanted to know if player salaries were subject to wage tax. Again the PICA rep. clarified. There was a suggestion to levy a celebrity tax on players.

No Ways, No Hows
Total points: 0
• #5 Fire = 0 points
• #6 Free Library
• #7 Housing
• #8 Human Services
• #10 Licenses & Inspections
• #11 Police
o Concerns were raised about specialty units…the city person said that it would mean a re-deployment of officers
o Participants raised questions about reduction of police officer in low end area with high crime and where civilians may not have respect for police officers
• #13 Public Health (revenue option not discussed)
• #14 Recreation

Shared Pain
Total points: 38 points
• #’s 17 - 26 with the 20 falling under low hanging 100% of remaining citizens
o These items were addressed near the end and the continual push by one participant to address the revenues created a type of wholesale vote on accepting all the revenue actions with very little discussion
o There were questions and some discussion about the PILOT program as a viable alternative to some of the cuts.
o There was uniform consensus on raising the wage tax with one person voicing concerns about raising this tax would be detrimental to workers
o Another suggestion was put on the floor regarding the implementation of a progressive wage tax that other cities use as an option

ISSUES NOT RAISED: #9 Law,
Gut Wrenchers
Total points: 0
• No discussion

Big, Hairy, Ambitious Goals
o No Discussion

Memorable Quotes
• “Cut Licensing and Inspections and we could see the gas station on Wayne Ave. become a dumping ground”