It is one of the most powerful and creepy moments in cinema. A delusional, forgotten star enjoying the last moment of attention — even with a crowd of cops awaiting to take her to jail.
Norma Desmond came to mind today as it was disclosed that Democratic mayors in cities with struggling programs and funding shortfalls will be spending millions to prepare them to answer questions about their sanctuary city policies. Mayors Michelle Wu of Boston, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, Mike Johnston of Denver and Eric Adams of New York will appear before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
At a time when the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is releasing a litany of examples of wasteful spending by the Biden Administration, Democratic mayors appear entirely unconcerned over the public backlash in spending millions to prepare for a hearing to answer questions about their immigration policies.
These are long-standing policies that the mayors have previously addressed, but they are clipping taxpayers in cities where the money could be better used for education and other programs.
Boston’s WCVB reported that the city expects to pay up to $650,000 to the law firm Cahill Gordon & Reindel to help Wu prepare for the hearing.
Denverite reports that Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has hired the gold-plated firm Covington & Burling. a contract that could reach as much as $2 million.
As a general matter, the public should expect political figures to be prepared to answer questions about their policies without such massive expenditures of public funds. They (and their staffs) are paid to be fully versed on the costs and record of their policies.
Indeed, these mayors have their own full-time counsel on their staffs. Even if there is a perceived need for D.C. counsel, the cap on costs should be far less than has been reported.
Otherwise, we are left with an equally unnerving entrance of Wu (and others) into the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform:
