Sustainability seems to be the word coming out of City Hall these days, at least according to John Skipper official reporter for Bookmeyer and Trout. In his Monday column John talks about what Eric said in his new year proclamation to the city.
I spoke to a few people about this and their contention was more towards sustainable jobs….something that has eluded this administration since Mr. Budweiser assumed office. How’s it go? “Talk is cheap, it takes money to buy whisky.”
All these people spew nine dollar words that ring hollow in the ears of the residents living here. By now I think they know just who our mayor really is, he’s the guy who shut down the public forum as his first order of business as our leader. Then only because of public pressure or he sobered up, the public forum was once again restored. When the mayor of any city does away with the public platform, it is a shot across the bow that he doesn’t care to hear what you might say.
According to John, Eric said he wanted to build a foundation for the city; now he wants to build a $25 million dollar hockey rink. John talks about “good stewardship” of the taxpayer’s money. Who are we kidding here? To even think about building an edifice this city cannot afford is not good stewardship, not even close.
The ensuing list is more make believe; make believe Eric had something to do with any of it. Maybe the Streetscape…maybe; the rest…no way.
When I hear the word “endurance” as it relates to Eric, the thing that first comes to mind is his capacity to drink beer. It is well known among those who drink with him that his endurance is far below par…and I think that says it all, about everything relating to him.
Peter Children
A civic center/rink would be sustainable if certain people in town had any sense of business acumen.
For a city of its size, Mason City lacks the facilities needed to compete with similar sized cities. The North Iowa Fairgrounds is a joke IMO and the rink either needs to razed or modernized. You will not bring hockey to this town or maintain a competitive youth program with the current setup. I know a few people could care less, but that sort of thinking also has led to Mason City’s current malaise.
Great commment Matt. Grey hairs in MC have been working so hard to keep anything from changing for so many years they are finally now seeing the results of that. Soon the only thing to do in MC will be meth unless you live in an old folk’s home.
You are absolutely 100% right on the money with this one, Peter; nice work.
You ask why I periodically go after Eric? Its because people have short memories. That and its my perogative. People need to be reminded of just what we’ve got in city hall. I am trying to make Eric a better person.
I think it may be a dead issue. Read the GLOB. Trout (big fish) is going to recommend that they do NOT spend the money going after the beer hall (civic center) at this time. He says we should be going after jobs instead. Now we will have to find something else to debate.
Matt-it is on the GLOBS web site.
“I am trying to make Eric a better person” Anyone who believes this , I have swamp land in Florida that would make a beautiful campground.Good one Peter.
Sustainable or just not financially feasible? That pipe-dream of a civic center/hockey puck or whatever you call it, is just that. NOT Financially Feasible! It is the result of to much booze and clouded thinking.
The Mason City Taxpayers were told Southbridge or more appropriately called Tollbridge was sustainable/financially feasible too. Let’s see how that has worked out?
Toll-bridge has went bankrupted twice now. The Taxpayers of Mason City spent around 20 million on that bridge to nowhere. Remember when the 7 million dollars of General Obligation Bonds that were sold to help build Tollbridge was supposed to be paid off by the Mall Owners?
Well after Tollbridge went bankrupt the first time the $800,000.00 per year in taxes they were supposed to pay toward Mason City’s yearly bond payment was cut in half. The Taxpayer’s of Mason City had to pay $400,000.00 out of our pocket to pay off the bonds. So much for sustainable huh?
This city has lived in a stupor for decades. When we ever learn?
FYI:
that is $400,000.00 per year for several years until the bonds were paid off.
Then instead of the City putting that $400,000.00 per year of tax money into the General Fund as promised by the then Mayor Kew and the City Council, they diverted the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) money out to the Wal-Mart development.
In other words, out city fathers are playing Monopoly with our Tax Dollars.
Wrong, wrong, wrong!!!!
Peter, You talk about jobs, what is your idea on bringing jobs here. Please give some examples that will bring John Deer, 3M or IMB here.
I am not Peter but will answer your question.
An attitude change is first and foremost needed. You see, Mason City would never go after a John Deere, 3M, or IBM because they would hire to many people and cause the existing employers to compete for labor and thus increase wages.
In order to get that attitude change you will have to elect a slate of candidates that are not tied to the Chamber of Crime and Chicken Dinner News ie. Globe Gazette.
With a new positive group of leaders at City Hall you sever your relationship with the EDC and Chamber Of Comerence and hire a recruiter. Also some long range planning would be needed to accommodate new employers.
I could do it with my eyes closed and one hand tied behind my back. I have seen many positive communities across the USA have tremendous success with such a program.
Does this help?
“I could do this with my eyes closed and one hand tied behind my back” I vote Watchdog for recruitment director because he has it all figured out.We are not worthy.
I agree we need change at city hall and we do have to separate the city from the chamber of commerce. I do not see anyway anyone can justify the access the chamber has to our leaders and policies. Remember the chamber is a special interest group and their sole purpose is to see that their members get ahead. There is nothing wrong with lobbying for your members if you do it out in the open and admit you are working for a select group of people and not the whole community. Bookmeyer came into office with grand ideas on how he was going bring in all these companies with his experience and expertise. It has not happened and it wont as long as he is in bed with the chamber.
We can start with having a workforce that can SPELL “IBM” correctly. That would probably help IMMENSELY.
I am not in that business. It also seems no one else here is either.
What IS your business Peter?
By Peter Children
LVS, its because both Peter and Matt have figured out they get more hits if they call the Mayor names.They can’t generate controversy/hits if they play nice.I agree with you Peter on the events/hockey center not being the right thing to do now but WHY water down your argument with childish name calling?
HA HA after re-reading my own post I realized I had answered my own question,MORE HITS!!!!
Nice piece Peter. Common sense says Bookee the Wookee has the paper in his pocket. Problem is no one is eating that lunch. So glad that NIT is here to bring real truth to the populace. Keep hitting these turds between the eyes!
It is totally ludicrous for the Globe to continue this charade of pretending to be unbiased in their stance on Bookmeyer’s agenda. In fact its sicking atthis point.
I am notoff the subject anywhere in what I wrote. Read it again….slower.
Peter-it is not Bookies agenda that I am talking about. It’s your predictable personal attacks on Bookie that get kind of old. It detracts from your subject and scatters the meaning. At least that is my opinion.
WOW Peter-although I agree with you on the civic center (Hockey Rink) and somewhat agree on our current mayor it was hard to understand what your point was with your on going rant about our mayor. WE all know you feelings about the drunkmaster so how about giving it a rest and sticking to the subject in your articles.