City Hall-Not Like Newark

I worked for 22 years as the Chief Financial Officer of a New Jersey municipality.  

NOT LIKE NEWARK

Copyright © 2010 by Robert A. Roth

This burg’s really rich,
and some pay for private schools

and high taxes too.

The rec center closed.

The  county’s pool could be sold.

Layoffs in town hall.

Stopping brush pick-up

is the price they’re asking now

just to stay even.

Our cops take some risks,

maybe not like in Newark…

Aren’t suburbs safe?
  

Their pensions are tops,

better than mine, I hear said.

Twenty in, then out.

More than half their pay

and a lot more if they stay

on patrol longer.

The threat is to quit

and put their papers in now,

than take any cuts.

Taxes are soaring,

and it’s going to get worse.

I just lost my job.