Orlando Ranks High...

...in the indicators that demonstrate the decline of a city, as well as the quality of life for its citizens:

Orlando No. 8 In Foreclosure Rate

quote:
Locally, Orlando still ranks among the top 10 – at No. 8 – among large cities in foreclosure rates and Florida is No. 3, behind Nevada and California.

Let’s see now. We are number 18 in the Most Dangerous Cities category according to city crime rankings based on DOJ crime statistics. In cities with our size population, we are number nine. And Forbes rated us number six in their most dangerous cites in America survey.

Can someone explain to me why the mayor and his staff have box seat privileges at the Magic Games? Isn’t this like AIG awarding themselves bonuses after bankrupting the company? Maybe the city should sell those box seat privileges and have the top people take a "voluntary" salary cut, and then use that money for highway expenses, so that they can lower the tolls back to where they were. (the economy is horrible, there was public outcry and they still raised the tolls...go figure)

Gun Shy has only been back in the Orlando area for one year now, and I am shaking my head. Have the local residents become this desensitized?

As a side note, I found this list of salaries on the net. I am not certain of its accuracy, because there may have been raises since it was published, and some staff may have changed:

Mayor - Buddy Dyer -$156,205.66
Chief of Staff - Brie Turek -$127,004.80
Special Assistant to the Mayor - Joe Robinson -$115,003.20
Executive Assistant to the Mayor - Kathy Scanlon -$79,123.20
Administrative Specialist - Veronica Wilson -$57,179.20
Hispanic Affairs Advisor - Orlando Rolón -$94,099.20
Press Secretary - Carson Chandler -$87,568.00
Public Information Officer - Heather Allebaugh -$56,014.40
Director of Audit Services and Management Support - Beryl H. Davis -$121,284.80
City Clerk - Alana Brenner -$97,364.80
Director of Communications - Michele Brennan -$85,987.20
Director of Constituent Services - Reggie McGill -$92,393.60
Director of Human Relations - Shirley James -$95,492.80
Director of Intergovernmental Relations - Kathleen Russell -$107,744.00
Director of Neighborhood and Community Affairs - Marcia H. Goodwin -$117,748.80
Chief Administrative Officer - Byron Brooks -$174,012.80
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer - Kevin Edmonds -$148,116.80
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer - Deborah D. Girard -$148,116.80
Chief Financial Officer - Rebecca W. Sutton -$169,790.40
Deputy Chief Financial Officer - Ray Elwell -$122,012.80

Gun Shy thinks they should give the complimentary Magic tickets to the little guys like the toll collectors who sweat it out all day on Orlando's toll roads or the people who clean the city offices just so they can feed their families.

UPDATE:

This was just reported in the local media:

City Leaders Won't Disclose Who They Gave Magic Tix To

Gun Shy has a question for the readers. How can you tell when a politician is lying?...Anyone?