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Week 4

A change in a city’s budget can have a lasting impact on every aspect of city life. In this week’s news broadcast, you’ll learn details about Mayor Taylor’s new budget for New Harbor. After watching the news program, explore reactions from other citizens and think about how the budget cuts may affect the role you selected in Week 1.

Action News 7

Miles Johnson: Good evening. I’m Miles Johnson. Big news from city hall as just hours ago Mayor Taylor announced his proposed city budget for the next fiscal year and it was full of surprises. Our own James Grant is here to tell us about the details. James.

James Grant: Thank you, Miles. Yes, it was a day of surprises and strong reactions to the budget that Mayor Samuel Taylor’s office released today. Of course, the biggest uproar has come from the massive cut aimed at the New Harbor Port Authority which will see a whopping 10% cut from its current funding levels. Many people expected the Port Authority budget to actually be one of the few programs to see an increase but today’s budget seems to indicate a radical change in thinking for Mayor Taylor whose prospects for re-election seem to be dwindling by the day.

Perhaps no one was more shocked by the news today than Port Authority Director Tad Scott who, as one of our camera crews discovered this afternoon, was apparently caught completely off guard by this announcement.

Cut to video footage of camera following Mr. Scott outside as he walks toward a building. A reporter speaks to him from behind the camera.

Reporter: Mr. Scott! Mr. Scott!

Tad Scott: What?! (he turns to face the camera) What is this?

Reporter: What is your reaction to the mayor’s budget announcement this morning?

Tad Scott: Huh?!

Reporter: The mayor, he announced his budget for the Port Authority. It is being cut by 10%.

Tad Scott: Who gave you this information?

Reporter: The mayor’s office, sir. It was an official report

Tad Scott: You’ve got to be kidding me! A 10% cut?!?!

Reporter: Yes that’s correct. What’s your reaction.

Tad Scott: I Told that (expletive deleted) we need this money! (pause) I can’t talk now!! (he rushes inside building)

Reporter: Mr. Scott!

James Grant: Mr. Scott’s office later issued a statement saying, “The budget cuts proposed by Mayor Taylor are a severe misstep and hindrance to the safety and security of New Harbor in an attempt to gain easy political points. In the coming days Director Scott will be making tough decisions to cope with the insufficient funds but asks citizens to know that every effort will be made to preserve their security in these dangerous times.”

Other reactions to the new city budget ranged from elation for the miniscule 0.5% cut that the Department of Education faces to criticism from rival mayoral candidates who would have preferred to discuss the budget proposal openly in last night’s mayoral debate.

Alec Coppel: I think its particularly shameful that Mr. Taylor waited until this morning to release his budget proposal when it would have been perfectly feasible for him to release it yesterday ahead of last night’s debate. Instead what we got last night from him were a lot of empty promises that have all been broken by this farce of a budget.

Mary Davenport: I applaud the minimal cuts to the school budget, but in all reality there shouldn’t have been any cuts at all. We should be giving our schools =more money – never less. And if I’m elected I will work with the City Council to reshape this budget so that it is appropriate for the entire city.

Miles Johnson: Was there anyone happy with the mayor’s announcement today?

James Grant: Ya know, with the exception of the education department it doesn’t look like it. This budget does come with some tax breaks but most people are so dismayed by the cuts in services that they seem content to do without those. So until we get some new polling data in we can only assume that the mayor’s attempts to woo undecided voters has backfired.

Miles Johnson: Thanks, James. In other campaign news today Independent candidate, Mary Davenport, earned a major endorsement from the powerful environmental group, Peacetree! The group has long partnered with Democratic candidate Alec Coppel and his strong environmental record but recent ties to Jensen Construction and their pollution charges have slightly alienated him from the Peacetree organization.

The Davenport endorsement this afternoon followed a bold statement that she gave at last night’s debate touting her promise for a better environment.

Mary Davenport: No one here is blind enough to even think about claiming that our waterfront is in good shape. Drastic measures need to be taken and my very first act as mayor is to sign an order banning all international ships from dumping their bilge water within 50 miles of our city’s harbor!

Samuel Taylor: The governor will never allow it!

Mary Davenport: Excuse me, Mr. Mayor, but it is still my turn to speak and I intend to bring forward ideas and solutions to the problems that you’ve made little or no effort to fix! So please let me speak.

Miles Johnson: Defiant words there from a candidate unexpectedly on the rise and a vibrant boost today for her fledgling campaign.

Up next in sports: Are the New Harbor Porpoises heading for the playoffs? Find out when we come back.

Reaction Points Around Town

“I’ve liked the Taylors through the years, Reggie and now Samuel – he’s a good boy and wants to do well by the people of New Harbor. Samuel Taylor’s got some important moves going for his side. The Port Authority budget cut is important -- it doesn’t look like the Port Authority has been doing their jobs with these mussels and the trash in the harbor. It’s really a stinking mess out there. But I know Samuel’s got a way to clean it up. He’ll do it.”

- Marty Culter, 86, Republican

“Alec Coppel is smart, he’s convincing, he’s experienced, and I love him to pieces! He’s been cracking down on pollution for years. He’s been going after better education for years. Coppel killed in this debate. I’ve followed his career since I was – since I was a senior citizen! He’s got spunk! This Port Authority budget cut Taylor just called, that’s just cutting a deal to make more money for the rich. What about the poor, what about the inner cities? As Mayor, Coppel would have this all fixed by now.”

- Berta Vincent, 92, Democrat

“There’s something about this Davenport that impresses me. I’ve always been a straight-line Dem but she’s a real straight-shooter and she got this campaign kicking with minimal support. I respect her. She’s passionate about her issues and a good decent person with a lot of common sense. You get the impression she can do a few things at once -- balance the budget, clean up the harbor, make the neighborhoods safer. She doesn’t have a limited repertoire. Then you look at Taylor – a budget cut to make room for a tax cut – he’s a one trick pony!”

- Dov Garten, 87, Democrat

“Yes, we heard the Mayor is now talking about a budget cut for the Port Authority. I know times are tough, but what does he think he can cut? At the airport, our security team is already understaffed. We need stronger security, not a cut in force. And I know no one here wants to get laid off. Personally, I was laid off two years ago this time and my family and I do not wish to go through that again. We have barely recovered as it is. I sure hope Mayor Taylor thinks long and hard about these plans and what’s right for the city. People’s lives are at stake.”

- Shiela Fountain, Airport Security Guard, 49, Democrat

“The fact that the Port Authority is taking a budget cut is a great step in setting priorities for this town. Our minimal 0.5% cut means that we can look forward to another solid year of programs. In New Harbor, we are committed to delivering excellent academic programs to each and every one of our students. We are working with the community, with parents, and with our dedicated teams of teachers to see to it that our children and young adults receive the individualized attention and guidance they deserve in order to thrive in a college preparatory environment. This budget stays almost for now, but it’s hardly where it needs to be.”

- Jennifer List, Superintendant of Schools, 52, Democrat

“That Peacetree endorsement for Mary Davenport is interesting. She really has the environment’s best interests at heart. I’m leaning heavily for Davenport -- her campaign is clean and focused. I used to like Coppel too, but he seems so slick and greased against the backdrop of Davenport. His campaign is like a political machine, I don’t feel like I’m listening to the real Coppel anymore, only sound bites.”

- Jane Crzyinski, Homemaker, 47, Democrat

“Let’s suffice to say that Peacetree’s newfound advocate, Mary Davenport, will not be good for business which will not be good for New Harbor. If, as Davenport proposes, no ships will be able to empty bilge water in the harbors, then that means no textiles, no commodities. But you need these things to keep things apace in a city and that’s what Ms. Davenport doesn’t see. She’s going to muscle out the mussels by muscling out the ships that delivers the materials we live on. Where is the reasoning behind this? Mary, let’s work together to reach some better solutions.”

- Alan Ilardo, Ilardo Importers, 37, Republican