Richmond faces growing fiscal crisis as City Hall, City Council, media fiddle

Goldman for Mayor - 20 October 2008 - For Immediate Release - 804-833-6313

Whereas Emperor Nero when you need him?

"The failure of the Wilder-led Administration and the Pantele-led Council to be straight with the people of Richmond about their failed budget and financial policies is one thing: but the failure of the local media to understand the importance of these matters as to their impact on the next Mayor is quite another."

(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today that "it is a sad day for Richmond when George Bush "gets it" and Mayor Wilder, City Council President Pantele, and the local media don't."

"Last week, the city finance director conceded that Richmond has to be prepared to deal with what could be it's biggest budget and financial mess in memory: and yet, neither the Mayor, the head of City Council, indeed the Council itself, not to mention the local media or business community, show any real urgency in dealing with this growing crisis, nor seem to truly understand the potential problem that could be facing the most vulnerable city residents as a winter recession approaches."

"From the local campaign finance reports, it is clear who has pledged to help make sure key private, special interests get a piece of the public treasury.

But who is going to look out for the public interest and insure that there is a level playing field in Richmond, who is going to protect the public treasury during a time when some of the toughest budget and fiscal decisions, along with social policy decisions, will almost surely have to be made?"