Quotable Quotes 8

(All of the following are from the April 27, 2008 Joint Subcommittee meeting. In attendance at various points during the meeting were Mayor Lukes, Councilors Toomey, Smith, Eddy, Rosen, Rushton; School Committee members Foley, O'Connell, Bogigian, Mullaney, Hargrove, Monfredo; City Manager O'Brien, Deputy Superintendent Mills, City Chief Financial Officer Tom Zidelis, School Chief Financial Officer Brian Allen, and a whole bunch of very interested parents.)

"We need to look to ourselves to solve our own problems. " City Manager Michael V. O'Brien, who also spoke of the three R's of budgeting: reform, redirect, and new revenues

The issue here isn't city prioritization...it's simple revenue." District 5 City Councilor Bill Eddy, who added that he is "very sympathetic to the need for more revenue."

"Where do we want to be moving forward from here?" School Committee member Jack Foley, discussing the "proper level of funding" for City of Worcester schools.

"...myth-busting going on...not coffee shop talk " City Councilor-at-Large Rick Rushton, who asked for a number of reports, including one listing five areas where the city schools could reduce costs.

"You have only one shot at your kid's education. You can't sacrifice your children on the altar of being an an urban pioneer...You are going to lose the quality of life in this city if you don't take care of these schools." School Committee member Mary Mullaney, to a warm round of applause from parents in the gallery

"I'm a political historian...I know...if you raise taxes, it's political suicide. If you don't, it's civic and social suicide." Stephanie Yuhl, parent and Holy Cross history professor