Lately I’ve heard a lot of talk about “unity.” I want that too. But unity doesn’t mean silence, and pointing out problems isn’t what divides a community. Ignoring them is.
The problem isn’t one glaring hotel bill or a stack of Amazon receipts. The real problem is harder to see, because it’s a pattern. And once you spot it, you can’t unsee it:
Reward the insiders.
– Consultants and contractors get millions while staff are already on payroll.
– Serious mistakes are rewarded with merit raises.
– As the Mayor himself said, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.
Pay more for less.
– Five people in Communications, plus outside designers, plus pricey software — and still they relied on my work without credit.
– Millions poured into planning studies while growth outpaces infrastructure.
– Water bills and taxes climb, but service doesn’t.
Dismiss the residents.
– Lifelong locals laughed at and dismissed by the Mayor and Council.
– Parents threatened with removal for calmly raising safety concerns.
– “Lots of positive feedback” claimed, but no record ever produced.
Here’s the pattern in plain English: Town Hall takes care of its insiders. It spends freely on consultants, contractors, and perks. When mistakes are made, the cost is passed to us through higher rates, fees, and taxes. And if you dare to question it? You’re brushed off, discredited, or erased.
That’s not unity. That’s not accountability. And it’s certainly not respect.
Clayton deserves better. True unity only comes from transparency and trust.
The real mystery? Why would we keep voting in a government that treats its own residents this way?
And if you think this pattern stops here, think again. Next time: The Consultant Carousel — where the contracts keep spinning, the insiders keep winning, and the taxpayers keep paying.