MASON CITY – Elected officials can run, but they can’t hide, especially if the citizens are determined to confront them about issues they demand answers to. We will be seeing much more of this in the coming week.
Not that Travis Hickey was running on Sunday at a Labor Day picnic.
On the contrary, he stood his ground and took some stern questions from labor supporter Phillip Sanchez.
“I knew this might happen,” Hickey said later by phone. “But I wanted to come out and show support for the working folks, the unions.”
Sanchez accused Hickey and the City Council of “cutting those union jobs and having people work for $10 per hour.”
“You guys are wasting your time with that,” Sanchez said, referring to the Council and Mayor Bookmeyer’s goal of dismantling the city’s sanitation department.
“I’m just doing my job,” Hickey said.
“Your job isn’t to cut union jobs or any jobs,” Sanchez said.
“We’re trying to provide the best service to the taxpayers,” Hickey offered.
“Where are you getting that, no one complained about it. Who brought this to the table? Who brought this forward?”
“It was a council goal,” Hickey explained.
“Your trying to screw us,” Sanchez said. “I’m surprised you even showed up here.”
rukidding…recheck your so-called facts…the average wage adds up to about $72,000 per month and the insurance premium is about $12,000.
KIMT misses all the good stuff, unless it’s a funeral they want to showcase.
Has anyone asked the question…Does the $9.60 cover all costs? Since the city pumps in $750.00 per worker for health insurance…and then there is the contibution to IPERS. These are monthly expenses on top of the salary per men and the city’s contribution to Social Security. We’re I a resident I’d like to see if the $9.60 covers the entire cost!…or does the taxpayer cover the cost elsewhere?
Wonder what would of happen if them two met up and no video and no people around. If that would of been I bet Phil would feel just like the squirrel I run over last week.
Sanchez is a self serving jerk. I don’t say that because I support Hickey because I certainly don’t in his effort to eliminate our sanitation workers. Hickey has not supported any of the taxpayers wishes since he has been in office and is deep in the mayor’s pocket. At least that is my opinion. However, Sanchez is the type of union thug that rides on other people work and trys to make himself important by making a big show in public. I have it on good authority that when he was at Northwestern he told people that he didn’t have to work because he was a minority and he has been riding that ever since. Again, just my opinion.
I heard Mr. Hickey thanking the people for their service at the picnic. Appreciated that he took time out of his holiday to come. He certainly didn’t have to. Sanchez was being a jerk & had no business getting in his face the way he did.
Interesting that when things like this come up, NIT is always handy with a camera. Just a little food for thought.
I totally understand the need to charge to be able to keep your business afloat. Now keep in mind, I am a NIT supporter, but the GG doesn’t charge to be able to read and comment on stories. Some readers will be excluded from voicing their opinions due to the subscription cost.
Matt: I appreciate your desire to bring political issues to the voters but you must understand that when you charge for these stories the issues are lost- you are now a business instead of a news agency. The Globe and KIMT will continue to be the bearers of the news if you insist on charging the public.