I have dealt with politicians from all facets of government dating back to the earliest days of my career. As both a journalist as well as their colleague in City Service, I have been immersed in the world of politics for many, many years. I can tell you that the majority of politicians do their best for both the constituents and the district they represent – but there are those few that just make a career out of jumping on bandwagons, bashing an City agency without first knowing the facts – and disguising false care and compassion towards a group or community for nothing but a photo op.

I don’t see this too often, but when I do – it makes me sick. From back when I was a journalist, I would see a politician come to a meeting of a local community group. They would make a speech about how much they cared about the group and it’s goals and agenda, then they would ask the local press that was at the meeting to take their picture along with the group’s officers – and then they would leave. Granted, a large number of the politicians that did this were truly sincere – but I know several that just did it to get their face in the paper at the expense of the group they “pledged to help” – how disgustingly devious.

Now that I am on this side of the journalistic fence, I am witness to a much more dubious act by these few sour politicians. I absolutely love when a politician blasts a City agency for something that has happened, without having any knowledge of the facts in the incident, the whole story of exactly what happened – or sometimes – the completely wrong agency. It’s easy for anyone to get on a soapbox and go off on an City agency for something – but perhaps the elected officials that do this should wait until they know what the story is before they blame that agency.

I have seen this far too often since my tenure began with DOB. Some elected officials pick one particular item that a City agency has jurisdiction over and begin a all out campaign against that agency on that particular issue that lasts through their entire term in office – and suddenly becomes an even bigger issue around election time. For years they spend their time, their efforts – and our tax dollars waging a war against an agency that is part of the same government that they are a part of. Instead of going after drugs, crime, and the issues that concern that community – they decide to call press conferences and claim that a particular City agency is doing nothing – how ironic.

Perhaps those few elected officials that tarnish the reputation of the rest should consider doing some real work for the people that elected them. If not – there’s always someone else who wants the job.