So if you were mayor, what would you do? Walk away from the system, let it go dark and make your $147 million in payments over the next 30 years with nothing to show for it? Do you try to sell the network and take pennies on the dollar? Do you dribble in a little money so the network can limp along indefinitely, hemorrhaging cash along the way? Or do you take out a new bond that can grow your subscriber base to break-even point and beyond? A relatively small bond — 20 percent the size of the original UTOPIA bond — could do that.

Leadership is not complaining about decisions made in the past that can’t be undone. It’s not questioning whether or not the decision should have been made in the first place. It’s not endlessly blaming your predecessor for inherited problems. It means accepting the reality of your situation and choosing to make choices that lead towards the best possible outcome, no matter how painful or unpopular they may be.

If only other elected officials had the same strength. (I’m looking at you, Congress.)