Dover Anti-Government Change Predictions           Come True!  Spending Out of Control !

                         By Joseph A. Lypowy  8/26/04

   Throughout history, there have been scores of prophets who are said to have the ability to look into the future and predict particular outcomes. There was the Delphi Oracle, the Biblical Prophets such as Ezekiel, Daniel and Isaiah. During the Middle Ages there were the prophesies of Nostrodamos. The fulfillment of these ancient prophets can be argued today, but I can say without a doubt, that a fulfillment of prophecy has occurred in very recent times right here in our own community. Who are these modern day prophets you say? If you remember, only little over a year or two ago when the debate took place over the Dover Township Change of Government, pundits who were against the change of government made numerous predictions as to what would occur if the change of government took place. These recent day prophets were called exaggerators and outright liars by some and it is now history that the change of government squeaked by in the election by a narrow margin of less than 1%.
   They predicted that the new mayor would demand a salary of up to $80,000 per year and today the mayor is demanding $75,000. They predicted that under the new form of government costs would rise up to $6,000,000 per year leading to higher taxes and today the mayor has announced the need to raise taxes approximately $300 per household. They predicted that under the new government additional waste and political patronage jobs would be created and today that prediction has come true with unprecedented “pay-to-play” patronage jobs being created in a manor never seen before since the days of Tammany Hall. They predicted that political bosses in smoke filled rooms would profit from the government change and that has also occurred too.
   Originally I thought it might take years to say that the anti-change of government predictions were right, today I am astonished that it can be said after only eight months. In a recent letter to the editor the Godfather of Dover Government Change, Angelo DiGiovanni wrote, “The change of government is the greatest thing that ever happened to Dover Township”. He should specify what he means by thing in his statement. That thing can mean blunder, boondoggle, charade, chicanery and snow job. There are only two positive aspects of the new form of government. The first being that the ward system might enable third parties and independents to run for office. The second being that perception of better representation in a particular section although there is already a Township Municipal County Committee system in place, but under-utilized by the public. The one thing the new government is not, is the most cost effective as we have learned in the last eight months.