MASON CITY – Mayor Eric Bookmeyer gave his annual “state of the city” report on Tuesday evening at the regular city council meeting.
Reading from a computerized teleprompter, Mayor Bookmeyer gave a 20 minute glowing report on Mason City and his and the city council’s achievements over the past year.
Among the mayor’s remarks, he and the council took credit for creating a “River City Renaissance” in the downtown core. He and the council also took credit for addressing the “perceived crime problem” in the city by giving an ultimatum to a “troubled” Mason City bar.
Mayor Bookmeyer claimed that due to his and the council’s work, Mason City is “pulling out of a recession” and unemployment levels are lower than the state levels.
Referring to the citizens of Mason City as “customers,” Bookmeyer said that he and City Hall have an emphasis on addressing people’s needs and concerns. He pointed to the “see-click-fix” program implemented this year as proof.
Watch entire speech:
This overstuffed baboon is so full of himself the crap has to run out somewhere so it’s usually his mouth with his sidekick turncoat quick to lick up the overflow.
Matt! Is that Crisco Christe or wannabe Beermiester you have posted ?
So sad,he is so far from reality! had a friend in from Los Angles, CA. His statement was he felt safer walking around east L.A. then he did on the north side of Mason Shitty.
A couple of statements are wrong in this blog. Many school districts in Iowa have declining enrollment, not just Mason City… in reality, the number of school districts with declining enrollment are greater than the number of districts with climbing enrollment. Also, I am not sure that students in smaller communities are getting a better education than those in the Mason City public schools, either. I have encountered very well intentioned professional educators in the Mason City district; and some not so much – but that can be said in any district. AND… if you think there are less drug problems in smaller schools such as Newman, Central Springs, West Fork, etc… you are kidding yourself. Not defending our mayor, or saying that Mason City Schools are above reproach in many regards… just commenting on the statements about MC schools in this blog.
This Mayor acts like he is narcissistic.
Are the people of this awake?????
I see it as a dead town, losing hundreds of people a year, With the majority of buildings being empty, and little chance of anything taking their place, No JOBs, no youth, and nobody coming back here after they leave.
I leave it up to you, which of us is telling the truth?
@Sad-I agree with your comments about this being a dead town. If it’s not dead it is certainly trying hard to die. Look at Southgate with the empty stores and across the street on South Federal. Then move up to Southbridge Mall and see all the empty stores and then move into the plaza and the rest of downtown and finally you will get to the North End where it looks like it has been bombed out. I just went through the industrial park and saw all the empty buildings. All of this used to be full. Then we have our schools. Mason City is the only system in Iowa that lost student population. Good job Fat Man and Puppets.
Yes, and they have even removed the word “Growth” from the Development Department Services, or whatever they changed it to in their announcement this week. They finally figured out there is no growth.
And after spending $40 million without voter approval or even letting the public know until after the fact. More kids are going to smaller schools like Manly, where they are getting a better education, guided toward college preparation and EVERY student gets attention from the teachers. Also, less drugs!
This guy runs a dictatorship in our town. Taking credit for the Vision Iowa program is B.S. That was in the works long before he came into play and as for reducing crime, he need to walk down North Federal at night. That would fix our problems because no one would hear from him again.
Actually, Mr. Bookmeyer did work on a “grass roots committee” to promote Vision Iowa. I don’t want you to get the impression it was all his doing, in reality, the plan was the product of the City’s Marie Antoinette. While I was supportive of the idea to rebuild the Park Inn, and Library, I disagreed with the other projects attached. Thankfully, not all of them came to fruition. And more importantly, why those involved with the failure to maintain our institutions were not held accountable. $9 million in repairs did not happen overnight.
The citizens look to the City for services, Law Enforcement, and Fire Protection, proper water and sanitation, finally public infrastructure. These needs are basic and essential, and should be first in line for proper funding. Other services such as health, both mental and physical should also be at the top of the list.
Yet, far flung ideas are waved around as the golden cow. Saviors of the community. A Blue Zone for example is worth nothing to a person with cancer or bad back. It gives them no relief, nor care from a physician. Why then are we putting so much money into it?
People suffering from depression, get no relief from sidewalk statues, or art purchased from New York for $178,000. For the person so afflicted, the tax revenues would be better spent funding our local clinic. In the long term, it has much more potential to help the community.
But the whitewash looks pretty although hardly a priority. What good is a pretty downtown, when the neighborhoods are suffering? Why is there not enforcement of current code? Why do some private commercial properties in town get services no one else receives such as snow plowing and pavement repairs? Why do some property owners get away with code violations for years while many others do not get the same leniency?
It really is about priorities, and making the most of your revenues in serving the needs of all citizens. It is quite telling when the desires of a few trump the needs of the many!
He’ll have to drink on it.
What does he plan to do about the 33.2 percent rise in burglaries in the past year
The answer to that question is racist and won’t be talked about by any politician!