Tuesday, May 09, 2006

All hail Arroyo

He's not Boston's favorite local politician for nothing, folks. At-large city councilor Felix Arroyo just announced that he'll donate half* of his proposed $12,500 pay raise to charity if it goes through.

Personally, I wish he'd just given away the whole thing. Still, this is a commendable and politically savvy move by Arroyo, who was one of just two councilors (Chuck Turner was the other) to oppose the pay-raise package that breezed through City Hall with no public input. It'll be interesting to see if any other councilors follow his lead.

[*NOTE: I initially wrote that Arroyo was donating the full $12,500. That's what I get for reading the headline and nut graf and skimming the rest...Anyway, thanks to Chris Cagle for setting me straight.]

Here's the full press release:

Arroyo announces he will donate salary increase

BOSTON— On Tuesday, May 9^th, at-Large Boston City Councillor Felix D. Arroyo announced that he has decided to donate additional monies received from the recent increase in City Councillor salaries to charity.

Last week, the Boston City Council voted to increase the annual salaries of the Mayor of Boston, top Administration officials, and the City Councillors themselves. Councillors Arroyo and Turner opposed the increase. The Ordinance increasing salaries has not yet been officially approved and may need to overcome additional legal obstacles.

If and when the increases occur, Councillor Arroyo has decided to donate additional net salary received for a period of six months. He will establish a separate charitable account with those amounts and make donations to local organizations and individuals dedicated to promoting peace and/or to improving the lives of Boston’s youth.

“I opposed the recent decision to increase our own salaries, since I felt that there were more urgent needs that should have been fulfilled with those additional monies,” said Arroyo. “I hope that my decision to donate my personal salary increase will encourage other public officials in Boston to do the same.”

5/9/2006 12:23:16 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [13] |

Tuesday, May 09, 2006 12:01:18 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Actually, he's donating six months of the raise, i.e. $6,250. The value will be in the eye of the beholder. I've always thought he was a grandstander and still do.

Chris

Tuesday, May 09, 2006 12:21:03 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Still, Chris, you've got to admit that it's a pretty big chunk of change, and more than we can expect the pro-raise Councillors to be forking over to charity. As for the value....looks like about $6,250 to the eyes of this beholder.

David

Tuesday, May 09, 2006 1:12:52 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Chris, thanks for catching my mistake--I'll fix the post now.

Adam

Tuesday, May 09, 2006 3:25:43 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Do remember that some of the Councillors have young families -- Consalvo, Tobin, McDermott, Yoon, Flaherty (who does have outside income, though) ..others do not.

Media Watch

Tuesday, May 09, 2006 3:31:28 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

A fair point, Media Watch. God knows I could use another $12,500. What really galls me, though, is the fact that the council signed off on the pay-raise package without holding a public hearing. That's indefensible.

Adam

Tuesday, May 09, 2006 4:31:30 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Adam, would you run a story of who on the council is collecting money from antoher job (attorney, real estate, etc.)

John in Boston

Tuesday, May 09, 2006 9:07:31 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Grandstander? For donating money he did not feel the Council should've recieved in the first place to a worthy cause ("Improving the lives of Boston's youth") Seems to me that some people are so insecure and spiteful that they will spin just about anything, give the man some credit for literally putting his money where his mouth is, I also apreciate that he was public about his donations because it puts the other councilors in a position where they will be forced to atleast think about possibly doing the same or better. Hats off to Councilor Arroyo I hope the other councilors follow suit, my only problem is why not give the whole pay raise since he din't agree with it did he think the councilors should get a 6,000 pay raise but not a 12,000 dollar one?

Adam I agree with John is there anyway you could find out what these councilors are making from other jobs? The fact that they would give themselves a raise and not even open it up to the public is insulting but I can't say Im surprised.

No Doubt

Wednesday, May 10, 2006 2:15:57 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Boston Finance Commission including BFC Chairman Paul Minihane http://www.ward3boston.org/citycommittee deflect enquiries for BFC Reports, BFC minutes of the Commission's public meetings.

Here's the Finance Commission's budget
http://cityofboston.gov/budget/pdfs/volume3_07/13_NonMay_dep.pdf

dsaklad@zurich.csail.mit.edu

Friday, May 12, 2006 5:11:49 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Boston's favorite politician? Felix Arroyo? I don't think so. Neither do Boston voters. Menino would croak him Flaherty bested him by over 6,000 votes and Arroyo came in 8th (out of 8) in many places last year.

He may be YOUR favorite, Adam, but do you live or vote in Boston. No.

Kurt

Saturday, May 13, 2006 10:37:23 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

haha Kurt obviously doesnt read the Boston Phoenix, I believe Adam was refering to a readers poll the newspaper ran in which Arroyo ranked first as Bostons favorite Politician... also Arroyo did not come in 8th he came in second to Flaherty so youre basically discrediting yourself right there... I also believe he also won more wards then Flaherty (Adam can clear that up better then me) That said sure youre right voters spoke in favor of Flaherty and Menino so yes there are probably many people whos favorite politicians are Menino and Flaherty just not most Phoenix readers so take yourself over to the herald forums Im sure you'll feel at home there. The man did something good just give credit where the credit is due..

No Doubt

Monday, May 15, 2006 5:40:11 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

ha ha No Doubt there should be no discredit here. Arroyo DID finish 8th out of 8 in many of Boston's largest wards. The number of wards one or lost doesn't count, as some are much bigger than others. (It's discrediting to YOU that you don't know that..)

Felix did do something 1/2 good, 1/2 credit should go to him.

Kurt

Thursday, May 18, 2006 4:00:52 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Arroyo is a grandstander...if he is so "dedicated" to giving up his raise, then have him deny it for the next few years since I hear the raise goes for a couple years. This guy is a half ass politican. Its just like when he went on a "hunger strike" becasue not eating breakfast doesn't equal a hungar strike.

Frank

Friday, April 06, 2007 12:48:35 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

you guys that call it grandstanding are weak...quick question do you find the raise deserved? if not then why get mad at a councillor giving half of it away when others kept ALL of it and arroyo has 5 kids to of them still in public schools your arguments confuse me by the way he won the most wards and yea came last in places like south boston big friggin surprise there ya think a person of color would do better out there since historically thats been the case as for GRANDSTANDING the man left a well paid position to be a school committee member a non paying job well all five of his children were under 18 two of them under five so about that...

Huh?

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