Hey we love a pretty Christmas tree, but pay for it out of your own pocket, not ours

Michael Scala with his taxpayer-funded Economic Development Department tree. (Rochester Voice photo)

You would think that the mission of Rochester's Department of Economic Development would be to attract quality commercial and industrial movers and shakers to locate their businesses and factories in the Lilac City.
So why did the department headed by Mike Scala just spend $541 in gift cards and baubles to trim a Christmas tree for the city's recent Festival of Trees event?
A good question.
Most of the businesses and organizations - and there are many that enter the popular Yuletide event - already know Rochester is a great place to live and work. That's why they came here.
Scala is supposed to be out pounding the pavement outside the city trying to land the next Sig Sauer or Safron Aerospace, not wasting taxpayer money on a local Christmastime event.
Perhaps if he had just paid the $25 for the tree's entry only a Scrooge would've cared. Or maybe if he had just paid for the tree's entry and the $66.48 to festoon it with decorations, according to OSJL and Walmart receipts, you might still not have batted an eye.
For those who have never been to the festival of trees, it's a wonderful event in which dozens of trees are decorated beautifully, with many additionally trimmed with a gift card or two. But 14?
During this year's event word got out fast that the city's economic development department's tree had beaucoup gift cards, probably the most of any tree.
We questioned Scala about the propriety of the taxpayer-funded entry.
"It's in our budget," he replied.
We wonder if the City Council knows they passed a budget that allowed Scala to blow $450 in taxpayer money for 14 $25 and $50 gift cards to local restaurants, coffee shops, tire dealers, sports outfitters and other local retailers.
For what purpose? That would be a good question to ask all the city councilors, city manager Blaine Cox and Scala, too.
If you think this was a great use of your tax dollars, please let the city councilors who represent your ward know. Click here to get their contact info.

- HT