Civil Service or not – that is the question. There is no doubt that in 2010 and beyond, thinking out of the box will help this city when it comes to the budget process and having flexibility that comes with removing civil service from different job classifications can only help, especially when it comes to vital city services. And while changing civil service eligibility/status and/or privatizing certain city functions has proven much more cost effective and convenient in the past, there is a real argument for the occasional "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" argument. However, to hang your hat on preventing cronyism/nepotism by keeping or getting rid of it is merely a red herring.

There should always be exceptions to the rule; however, who determines how often we venture to that well and partake of the water? Where is the line drawn in the sand when it comes to making those exceptions? So in the meantime, until we can all agree on what process is best, people's feelings will continue to be hurt and bitterness will ensue, and that's not productive on any level.

So at the end of the day, there is more than meets the eye at the heart of this particular issue – the twist is that there is no easy way to create a systemic solution – so the fairest method is to take up each issue as it comes, and to ensure there is open and conjunctive discussion – real transparency – so that the wrong impression doesn't have the chance to seep into the minds of not just the people involved, but those watching on the sidelines.