EDITORIAL: Public a no-show on statues and other issues
Editorial by Matt Marquardt -
What does it take to get the public involved in an issue?
There were strong opinions on the Chamber of Commerce statue debacle, judging from the comments left here on NIT, and even some council members admitted they received calls and letters on the matter from their constituents, but it wasn’t enough to bring them out in person.
And the calls and letters, likely some for and against this particular project, were not enough to sway the council at all.
(PHOTO: Councilman John Lee really tried to do the right thing Tuesday night, as he speaks on the statue project in the above photo. Take a gander at the looks on the faces of the three men to his right and you might see the pressure he faced to vote yes. Click photo for larger view.)
Really, only when people show up in person is a difference made.
I have witnessed this a couple times in the last two years as I have followed Mason City politics.
First was with the “gentleman’s club” issue. That one packed the room, and the idea was soundly put to bed, no pun intended.
Then we saw a strong turnout with the garbage burning plant, with strong opinions on both sides. That one narrowly lost and our friends from Colorado… or was it Wyoming… or was it Nevada… packed up and left town. Maybe they are in Antarctica now busy with their plant down there.
We also saw a strong turnout on the multi-purpose arena project meetings… where is that project at now? O yes, the city gave up on it. How’s that search for a “shovel-ready site” going?
Anyway, because the public is staying home – I call this apathy – it is easy for certain folks to get away with just about anything as long as it’s “a small amount of money” as Councilman Scott Tornquist described the dollars the Chamber was asking for. City Hall has become was Max, Don and Jeff guarded against: Wasteful.
Mayor Bookmeyer has his team in place, the public is asleep at the wheel, and the handouts are just beginning. This behavior will be justified at all costs.
People, you need to start coming back to the council meetings and standing up for yourselves.
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VIDEO: Council input from public on agenda items only:
28 Responses to EDITORIAL: Public a no-show on statues and other issues
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Polio Loco
August 12, 2012 at 11:24 am
Wiseguy — take your hat off in a building. It’s not a bar.
Observer
August 10, 2012 at 7:46 pm
“I spent time writing out my thoughts on issues, and I was attacked and belittled from the very beginning by this NIT mob, which Matt did a poor job of regulating…”
You were given free reign to publish what you wanted, no matter how far out from reality it was. And you should now be so shocked of the reaction to it?
If I spoke on a street corner of my talking car, free land for everyone, or alien spaceship houses, the general reaction would be the same from listeners. Why on earth do you think it should be any different for you?
Anonymous
August 10, 2012 at 5:29 pm
OK…I’m okay if Matt was voted in as Mayor! At least he is for the people or he would not be running his articles… and just how fast is the other 2 media …? My vote would be for Matt for sure .
Peter L
August 9, 2012 at 10:28 pm
You know what really angers me about this all? It’s that I wrote articles for NIT and Matt gladly published them. I spent time writing out my thoughts on issues, and I was attacked and belittled from the very beginning by this NIT mob, which Matt did a poor job of regulating. Just look below a couple comments…a person comes on there telling me to throw myself off a ledge, and to go away. Clearly that qualifies as a violation of Matt’s terms of Service, but he allows those types of comment to stay. It makes me realize that all along, Matt published my articles just to “feed the NIT lions”. He used me basically. I told Matt, that if he would delete all my writings off his website, I would leave for good, but he hasn’t answered me. I don’t want my work up on this website for people to belittle in my absence.
Peter L
August 9, 2012 at 4:15 pm
Matt, now you’re coming to terms with what you’ve created here, and what it truly is. It’s a public gawking area, and place for people to anonymously launch their worthless 2 Cents worth. Just like the elections for city council this past season, these people here on NIT aren’t your friends. They aren’t going to actually do anything for you. I’ve been trying to get you to understand that for some time now, but you kept believing in them. Forget about these losers. Stand by the people that actually matter, and care about this world, and stop defending all these other worthless yohos.
I’m sorry no one turned out for something you believe in. I go thru the feeling on a regular basis.
Peace.
Anonymous
August 9, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Still haven’t found that ledge??? Go away Peter.
Peter L
August 9, 2012 at 6:21 pm
Look at what you’re asking for. You basically are asking for a person to commit suicide. What kind of person does that? Even if you are pro-military unquestioned, and care deeply about people who drive thru stop signs and kill people, and you really think marijuana is horrible, and you love loud tailpipes…the fact that you want someone to commit suicide to satisfy whatever demented deep seated hatred you possess within yourself, speaks volume about your character. If you used your real name, perhaps you would matter, but you don’t…so you’re nothing to anyone. Go ahead and print your real name…I know your knees are shaking…but do it. Be a real human being with a voice.
Anonymous
August 9, 2012 at 6:28 pm
Peter, you are soooooo stupid. The comment is sarcasm! Let me spell it out for you.
You are not wanted on this site by pretty much everyone, and you keep saying you are leaving, but you never do. You have your own site, but I think you are disappointed that no one gives a crap about your rantings, so you keep coming back here for attention.
I’m not telling you to commit suicide, I am asking you to get the hell out of here and stay off this site like you promised. I guess promises don’t mean anything to you.
Peter L
August 9, 2012 at 8:54 pm
As far as stupidity, I would say that a person who is an enemy of someone which you appear to be to me, has about as much command and “promise” over that person as a German does over an American during WW2. Why would I honor anything to you? You’re just some aggravating character that was who drove me to the brink of being fed up with this website in the first place. I owe you nothing…so it is you who should go away. Given the level of frustration you must possess, to constantly show up to badger me…there must be something that really digs in you that I have written. Why not just get it off your chest, rather than follow me around on here?
Anonymous
August 9, 2012 at 5:42 pm
Peter, I am sure Matt really appreciates your sensitivity to this issue. After all, you’ve done nothing but tear him down on this site, and your own. Save your words, because I am almost positive to him they mean nothing. Go away.
Peter L
August 9, 2012 at 6:22 pm
Matt became drunk with power, thinking he had it all wrapped up and locked down. He woke up to realize that his legions of anonymous shit slingers, don’t actually add up to real political power. I don’t really care what I mean to him. I’m voicing reality.
Anonymous
August 9, 2012 at 6:39 pm
Matt is gonna become Mayor of this City. And Peter, that will just tear you to shreds won’t it? He’s the man for the job, and I will support him from start to finish.
Anonymous
August 9, 2012 at 6:46 pm
And obviously you do care what he thinks of you. Admit it, you are obsessed with him. You cannot stand the fact that people look up to him, but look down on you. He’s smart, educated, successful, and has the paperwork and website to back it up. If you truly did not care, you wouldn’t keep popping up over here, hoping once again that he noticed you, or would take your OPINIONS to heart. Give up Peter.
Peter L
August 9, 2012 at 8:30 pm
If Matt became the mayor of the city, I would hope people would demand fairness and accountability from him like anyone else. Mason City is no where I would ever live and I have no real interest in it. I know the town owes me for numerous karmic debts, and most of my writing is geared at evening those scores. I have my plan and it involves land elsewhere. I’m merely biding time until my departure. So, good luck to Matt if he runs for Mayor. That would be good for the city. But if I’m around…I’d still hold him to task, because he’s not 100% in my view as far as his eye of discernment. It’s close, but wouldn’t garner my full faith. Plus, not to sound negative…but you underestimate the powers that be, and overestimate the people who would be supporting him. Most of them don’t even vote.
Peter L
August 9, 2012 at 8:40 pm
And I don’t know if you think you need a degree to operate WordPress themes, widgets and some plugins…but I managed to figure most of it out in about a week’s time. Sure I can always stand to learn more, but my GED and 15 college credits has done me just fine. As far as people looking down on me or up to him…I take that with grains of salt. He’s obviously entrenched in this culture and doesn’t have the level of deep systemic differences that I do. We are different beasts. He began showing his true colors though when he unleashed on the media…people caught a glimpse of the radical pissed off aggro character they may not have known before. I know some of his backstory, which I won’t print here. You also fail to understand that my main grievance with Matt, has and always will be his failure to have seen who the troublemakers were on this website, who basically harassed and badgered me for my beliefs…and worse, he sided with them by deleting important comments I made and left there’s. Why did he do this? Because he sided with his people…who are the people of North Iowa…with all their beliefs and idiosyncrasies. These are not my people, and our belief structures are too far different, so it does not bother me like you think it may.
big john
August 9, 2012 at 2:11 pm
Nice to hear Mr. Moorman giving his view on receiving more FREE stuff to help his business traffic!
LVS
August 9, 2012 at 8:34 am
I used to attend the council meeting when I thought it would make a difference. After sending e-mails to all of the council members (except for the two fluffs) and only getting one reply (from Kuhn) I though what is the use of going. It is hard for me to get around and I only do so when I think there is a chance of winning. This was obviously and done deal long before the meeting. (I thought it was against the law to pre-arrange). However, I current mayor and council could care less about the law or the taxpayers. It is all about what the Chamber and the elite want in this town and always has been.
Joe
August 8, 2012 at 9:54 pm
Obviously wouldn’t have made any difference! VOTE them out!
Duh.
August 8, 2012 at 8:28 pm
Why are you here?
Matt Rezab
August 8, 2012 at 6:42 pm
By the way, I know I didn’t spell the word “surprise” correctly.
Anonymous
August 8, 2012 at 5:12 pm
I really don’t believe that showing up would make any difference. This was planned out in advance. And too all the people that used to blame Max for everything, how’s this new council you voted in working for you?
back row
August 8, 2012 at 5:32 pm
Only in in numbers that would have made them take notice, and only if they spoke and could make some points.
shalom 2
August 8, 2012 at 4:35 pm
Sandy is more and more articulate everytime she speaks at these meetings. One can only hope she runs against the huge insurance woman and throws her ass into the street. By next election, Sandy will be miles beyond solberg in knowledge and the ability to care for the people of mason.
Sandy
August 8, 2012 at 6:21 pm
thank you
anonymous
August 8, 2012 at 10:02 pm
Seriously Pat did you watch the video. Sandy is just trying to turn this into a class warfare issue. She isn’t knowledgeable about the topics she speaks about. I am not saying she is lying. All I am saying is she doesn’t know the facts and spews out incorrect information that isn’t true. She should do her homework before she speaks. Just like ignorance of the law is not an excuse but in this case it is.
Katie
August 8, 2012 at 4:28 pm
I don’t vote in MC so I figure they won’t really listen to me at a council meeting. I did write to all the council members and the Mayor because I pay a good chunk of property taxes there. I heard from Lee, Kuhn, and Bookmeyer, which was more than I expected. But I am pretty shocked that all of the people who whined about the sculptures on this website did not even bother to put in an appearance. Had it been in the city where I vote, I would have gone. I think it’s time that the whiners on here either better put up or shut up when it comes to these kinds of issues. If it isn’t worth fighting for, quitcher bitching.
Matt Rezab
August 8, 2012 at 6:37 pm
Really, you’re suprised people who mostly post uninformed nonsense anonymously on a website didn’t actually show up and speak their minds in public? I can’t imagine why, maybe because they know they’d look stupid when actually confronted with the other side of an argument. That can’t be true though, everyone on here does their research and doesn’t comment based on feeling and gossip alone right?
Katie
August 9, 2012 at 12:14 pm
I’m aware of the other side of the argument. These whiners just may have heard that side had they gone to the meeting. I’m still not thrilled that the motel tax has to go toward this project and I think there are better places to spend it for the arts. Let these people go to the meetings, spout off, and find out they haven’t done their homework. Just like when they went to school, didn’t pay attention in spelling class, and now show the world they didn’t fully appreciate that free education, courtesy of the taxpayers.