Smith: Running from accountability

photo Robin Smith

A few events discussed recently in this space have upset some "powers that be" - so much so that their discomfort resulted in professional threats and name-calling.

When I pointed out the United Auto Workers lost the union election after two years of unfettered access to

Volkswagen employees (a victory for the fiercely independent workers of this state), I heard about the anger in the Berke administration, among others.

When I compared Mayor Andy Berke to Barack Obama in his empty political rhetoric while he gazes at the prospects of making a bid for the office of Tennessee governor or U.S. senator, I heard the same growling.

I asked a few questions about the Berke administration permitting the city-owned EPB to conduct an "audit" of its books after data was presented over a year ago showing overcharges for electricity usage and erroneous inventories of streetlights.

Heads spun in City Hall and the executive offices at EPB.

Then the financial club was raised.

EPB pulled advertising dollars from the newspaper, and not for the first time.

A former Free Press editorial page editor called out EPB in 2012 and 2013 for wasteful spending, earning the wrath of the utility and a decision by EPB to yank its advertising. Recently, EPB pulled advertising dollars from a local radio station after talk show host Jeff Styles asked legitimate -- and repeated -- questions about EPB's billing problems and faulty data used to reject a contract won by a local company (which was adding jobs in the Scenic City).

Feel better, "leaders?"

Now, it appears that, indeed, the taxpayers of Chattanooga were overbilled $1.2 to $1.5 million over a seven-year period by EPB.

At last week's Chattanooga City Council meeting, Councilman Moses Freeman shrugged off the cost to taxpayers since the city owns the utility. Multiple reviews or audits over the last several months have "been for nothing."

Nothing?

When the city-owned utility overcharges the city, it's not the city's money. It's the taxpayers' money.

Councilman Larry Grohn is wrong when he characterized erroneous data provided by EPB for our mayor in his decision-making process to end a streetlight contract as "a disagreement between cousins."

The "cousins" at City Hall and EPB have been less than transparent and more than willing to resort to bullying and intimidation to stifle criticism, to avoid accountability. They instill no confidence in companies seeking to do business with and in our city. In fact, their pathetic behavior is forcing one of our bright entrepreneurial minds to back off his business plans.

The ongoing dissection of whether EPB overbilled or underbilled the city comes as the Chattanooga Public Library embarrassed its board and the community with lax oversight of staff travel and the Bessie Smith Cultural Center reels over an audit slamming its financial practices. Publicity stunts won't cover up the lack of accountability -- and likely incompetence -- in our city government.

After seeing the employees defeat the UAW after the union's presence and campaign inside the Volkswagen plant, I know that under-the-table deals don't always fall into place as planned behind closed doors.

Theodore Roosevelt once said, "Knowing what's right doesn't mean much unless you do what's right."

If you run for public office, receive a paycheck from taxpayers, use public funding in your business, or have a role in stewardship with the public trust, don't rear up on your hindquarters in anger when asked for accountability.

Robin Smith, immediate past Tennessee Republican Party chairwoman, is owner of Rivers Edge Alliance.

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