Malden pay-as-you throw critics keep up the fight
The following is a response from the Malden Taxpayers for Accountability regarding story published here on Pay as You Throw trash repeal on Nov. 3 ballot:
The group wants the voters to get the facts about the ballot question:
Three months ago the MTFA met with the City’s Clerk Karen Anderson and she states that she’s 90 percent sure that it will be called question one. We ask how any nonprofessional/citizen’s group can run a campaign with a statement like that from Ms. Anderson. That is what prompts the MTFA’s Robert Miller to state, "I don't care what the wording is, but we need to know how it's written."
The group wants the voters to also realize that the original goal of the trash bag tax was to raise $2.5 million and save $600,000 in solid waste disposal costs. The estimate is way off target and lost one million dollars. The city originally mandates the tax without public input. They also never follow the State of Massachusetts guideline for initial community support to eliminate any perception of a tax. The budget was still balanced with this loss in revenue.
City Clerk Karen Anderson said Miller wants to see the ballot question wording because he “fears” it will direct residents to vote "no" if they support a repeal, which may confuse his supporters. The MTFA counters her claims of “fears” as a response to her original statement of the 90 percent possibility of the question being worded the way it was written. Is that fear as she describes? No, just a group of citizens that wants to be treated fairly and not be given vague statements by their local government officials.
To the best of our knowledge the intent of the MTFA to include the phrase of pay-as-you-throw that Ms. Anderson refers to in the article. Is the MTFA only adhering to the rules of the state in regards to the wording of the Initiative Petition.
The story doesn’t accurately portray what the MTFA’s supporters call or identify the pay-as-you-throw program. Most people usually respond with the following phrases: blue bag tax, trash bag tax, and bag tax.
The organization has been advocating since last year for the voters to have their voices be heard. In a democracy the citizens win when issues like this end up on the ballot. From their recent You Tube video which is on their website at www.maldentax.com and to paraphrase the spokesperson as they state that Malden, whether you want the trash bag tax or not, you must vote on November 3, 2009.
The group challenges city hall to demonstrate that the trash bag tax original purpose is to balance a budget shortfall. Then after it lost a substantial amount of money, it then only became good for the environment. Which, we have always agreed with 100 percent, but, where we differ with the city is that when you take money out of our pockets, you must consult with us first. Also, there are other recycle programs that we believe would be just as effective as or better than what we currently have in place.
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