In this life the majority of us ask very little, and expect even less; and invariability that is exactly what we end up with. For the most part we are law abiding, we conform to what society deems proper, we go to work and give whatever we can afford to those less fortunate; it could be honestly said that we’re a pretty good bunch.
Whenever you assemble some 28,000 people who are for the most part diversely different in so many ways, it’s not an easy task, nor does it always run smooth. We practice different faiths as witnessed by the many places of worship within our community. We have a better than average selection of restaurants to pick from, enough national brands of merchandise to chose from, more beautiful women living here than we deserve.
We are privileged to have a first class medical facility in our town, good schools, a junior college with accreditation to transfer anywhere you choose to go. We have a library that is the envy of cities five times our size. We have an airport from which we can reach anyplace on earth; a wonderful resort ten miles away and we sit on the interstate highway system that allows us fast access to safe travel coupled with expediency. This puts us about two hours from a metropolitan area of three million in Minneapolis….life here to an outsider looks idealist.
We have our share of those who break the law, but proportionally we are well off with excellent law enforcement. Our system of parks is more than adequate for our needs, well maintained and safe.
We all know you can’t have your cake and eat it too; where we are lacking is in our city administration We have a part time mayor who is in over his head; hasn’t got a clue what he’s doing. To make matters worse his top people are under the illusion he is in charge, that is far from the truth. We have a city administrator who is intimidated by this mayor and therefore concedes readily because he believes Eric can fire him. Only the city council can do that. Unfortunately Eric currently owns those people lock stock and barrel. No group of citizens deserves that assembledge, that is the very worst excuse of what is suppose to pass as a governing body of elected officials whose duty it is to represent the citizens of this community in the history of this city. Let me go on to say that if they were away from that council table and had no way of ever taking those seats again, they would probably be decent folks. But as it is now, malfeasance could be on the table.
Such then are the days of our lives as they pass before us in this small spot nestled on the great Midwestern plains. Let me remind those who can read; vote next time, it is the only way out of this nightmare.
Peter Children
Peter, I like that you pointed out “some” of the many attributes of our fair city. And I do agree with you that our city government is lacking… trust, common sense, leadership and representation of ALL of it’s citizens. Clearly, our city’s weakest link.
HA ! Reg same goes for Mary !
Going, going, gone!!!!!
Peter, you might want to jump in here to defend yourself.If you keep letting drunk be your point man you might lose what little credibility you have left.
Mary are you kidding. What a weirdo. You are just as you describe! Entirely to funny. NOthing nothing. ??? You must be new here or you could not say that. Jeeeezus NIT has it all and we have written and blogged to hearts content on ALL of the PROOF Peter is mentioning. NIT has everything you are demanding. Talk to them and get it. Mary be a real man and give it a try ask NIT. Oh and your name like Peter. He beat you on that one and the whole thing for that matter. You’ll NEVER win this so shut the F up. You are so efffing out of your ass. Soooo funny.
My point is, why is Peter Children having to work so hard if his point is being heard. Almost daily op-ed’s? This is pure desperation. Period. NO ONE is listening and he knows it and NIT knows it. But they can’t just give it up. They have NO proof so they have to try and bribe somebody for $100 to get the proof that they have not been able to come up with. PC claims he has proof but let him produce it on his own. He can’t, plain and simple. So how can anyone claim that his op-eds are legitimate? Peter Children has NOTHING to substantiate his claims. NOTHING, NOTHING and NOTHING. Maybe they should up the “bounty”. Make it $1000 or $5000. Then maybe someone would try harder to get the proof they want but then again, maybe the proof isn’t there?????!!!!! Peter, show everyone your proof that you claim you have!!!!!!! Be a REAL man and back up your claims and end this once and for all! If you can’t, than be a REAL man and stop this ridiculous nonsense that you keep spewing.
Wait until re-election rolls around, you’ll see plenty of proof appear. Bookmeyer is the biggrest joke every played on this or any other community. If you like him that much why don’t you try and get him into treatment.
What I don’t get is this. What’s the point of having cake if you can’t eat it? Isn’t that what cake is for?
Oh Mary you are full of crap you too Reggie. Cripes everybody knows exactly who Bookmeyer is and his entourage. He is a drunk period. I am out and see him. I’m to chicken shit to take his picture because he and Kuhn will jump me and then a big fight because that’s how they roll. You f’ing wake up and swallow what they will do with your money and all the clandestine shit they pull off. I’m sorry, you can’t, you are one of them. Reggie get over Max would ya? I know it is hard to forget the greatest watchdog this joint has ever had. Oh and Mary the proof is all right here..what do you want proof about? All of their lies and tricks are here. NIT will gladly pull it up for you you clueless mindless idiot.
Good coherent rant.Reminds me of the saying” I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member”. You are right,PROOF is highly overrated.All I have to do is believe Peter,Matt and DRUNK.
Peter is always right on the money as far as the mayor and council goes. It is a sad situation and we are in a world of hurt. Anything the mayor wants, he will get. Obviously, he was spoiled as a child and used to getting his own way. We had some people on the council before that had a backbone and those days have come and gone. I watch the council meetings all the time and anymore it is 6-0 no matter what comes to pass whether it is good for the citizens of Mason City or not. Keep an eye on these people good citizens because we are in for a bumpy ride as far as taxpayers go.
I don’t understand why you think the Mayor is spoiled.He has a vision/direction for Mason City and he has 6 council persons that agree with him. That’s called leadership.I understand that you might not agree with this direction BUT to call him spoiled is wrong in my opinion.
As far as the 6 to 0 votes go, I think that there are issues/topics that they don’t agree on that just don’t come to a vote.Why put it on the agenda if it is going to fail.They don’t have to air out their “dirty laundry” for everyone to see.Unfortunately that is what Max did at the meetings.Entertaining but not good for Mason City. Again just my opinion.
Reggie I understand what you are saying about not airing out your laundry for everyone to see but sometimes leaders need to stand up publicly and show people they are in charge and have their own opinion on issues. As far as putting things on the agenda that might fail I dont like to think someone is going around polling the council to make sure an item is not brought forth because it may not pass. That is why there is council meetings and they are held open to the public. I don’t think for one minute max hurt Mason City and that is what concerns me with our mayor if you have a different opinion you are labeled a trouble maker difference of opinions made this country great. and I dont see where anything has improved for Mason City with Max gone nothing happening just my opinion. And NO I did not vote for Max
I see things starting to improve.We almost got a new business into Mason City.Yes I know a lot of you thought it was a bad fit.The council meetings are no longer the laughing stock of the whole state. Mason City is slowly digging itself out of the anti-business hole it was in. Perception is a big deal when a city is trying to recruit a new company.
Unfortunately polling the other council persons happen now and has always happened.You don’t think Jeff, Don and Max all just had to go to the bathroom at the same time last year when the Micro-enterprise vote came up,do you?
Peter, why are you working SOOOOOO hard at these, almost daily, ridiculous op-eds? Obviously, it’s because you aren’t able to convince people to agree with you. You slam the Globe Gazette in most of your articles, but it’s obvious you read it daily. You criticize our mayor and city council relentlessly. Your statements about our “drunken” mayor continue and as you say “with proof”. Yet everyone knows that if you had the proof (pictures, videos, etc.), it would be plastered all over NIT. Thus the “$100 bounty”. You and NIT are so desperate for some kind of proof that you are willing to pay ANYone for a picture to substantiate your claims. This is beyond ridiculous. Most people would be humiliated and embarrassed beyond belief for all the nonsense you are putting out. But you continue with this idle chatter trying to sell your obvious unhappiness with life to the people of Mason City. Haven’t you figured out by now, those same people are too smart to swallow such nonsense from you? Get a clue, Peter Children. Mason Cityans aren’t a bunch of clueless, mindless idiots that have to rely on op-eds from Peter Children for direction.
“MARY” I THINK YOU ARE NUTS, PEOPLE ARE HAPPY NIT IS HERE AND PEOPLE CAN READ ARTICLES AND RESPECT THE SOURCE. THAT IS WHY SO MANY PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT THIS SITE AND ITS CONTENT. THE DAYS OF THE GLOBE GAZETTE AND THEIR BIAS REPORTING ARE ALMOST OVER. JUST LOOK AT HOW MANY PEOPLE COMMENT ON STORIES ON NIT COMPARED TO THE GLOBE. MARY I WILL AGREE WITH YOU ON ONE THING MOST PEOPLE ARE EMBARRASSED AND HUMILIATED TO SEE THEIR MAYOR AND CITY ADMINISTRATOR DRESSED UP IN RED SCARF’S AND PARADED IN FRONT OF CAMERA’S BECAUSE A LOBBY GROUP[CHAMBER OF COMMERCE] TOLD THEM TO. MAKES ONE WONDER WHO IS REALLY IN CHARGE IN RIVER CITY.ONCE PEOPLE LOSE RESPECT FOR THEIR MEDIA SOURCE AND LEADERS ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY STAND UP AND RUN THEM OUT OF TOWN.
Echo, I’ll ask you what my wife always asks me “Why are you yelling”.
”reggie” I am yelling because this women comes to this site and thinks she is going to change the opinions of people that are here. If anyone wanted to be like her and think the way she does we would go to the globe site. I have lived in this community for a number of years and the pride of being from here and the attitude of the people has gone down with this chamber,mayor and yes man city administrator getting nothing done and expecting everyone to take notice of them. We pay the administrator over 150,000 a year to be dressed up and displayed by the chamber and their special interest and get not one damn thing in return
I think peoples attitudes are affected by the bad economy,not just in Mason City but the entire country.While I think sites like this are a good place to let off a little steam sometimes I think it does just the opposite. When you have cheerleaders that stoke the fires, it can seem a lot worse than it really is.
I agree with most of what Mary and Reggie said. In stead of continually bashing the Mayor and City Administrator for their job preformance come up with some ideas that are constructive and positive. I believe the Mayor And City Administrator are doing what their believe to be what is best for Mason City. I don’t always agree but I don’t hate them because of that. Instead of spending all that time and energy hating the two, use that time and energy for something positive and that will make Mason City a better place.
You are so wrong when you say bookmeyer wants what is best for Mason City he has thrown people off boards and commissions because they do not agree with him. Some of these people have worked hard for mason city and they want what is best for mason city. I have seen it time and time again. I have done my homework and will continue to do so. When election time comes for him the people will speak he can’t control who votes and how they vote. I am sure if he could he would.
On the contrary. PChildren has a vast, loyal following. I have seen him approached in the grocery store by strangers who say ‘i love your stories i read them every time.’ And if memory serves me his writing is validated, he won a golden pen from the newspaper. Children is old and wise and his words should be respected, really looked upon as the gospel when it comes to how this town operates. Thanks again PC for a great perspective.
Peter,I agree with almost everything in this piece.The only difference is the second to the last paragraph. I think the Mayor is leading the council in a new direction.Obviously you think this direction is wrong but I don’t.If you don’t like the direction DO NOT vote for them BUT VOTE for whoever you want that has a better vision.