What astounds me more than anything is why otherwise intelligent people will refuse to accept facts put in evidence before them that are irrefutable beyond doubt… yet in a hypnotic state, these people refuse to accept that evidence.
Is it a fervent hope that blinds them, a throbbing heart that overrides common sense that is laid upon the table before them that pulsates danger? And yet they lift the cup willingly and drink the Kool-Aid. Mmmm soooo fruity good and delicious – but little do they know, this pleasure drink will rot this town’s insides, spreading the cancer of debt and loss into our future, a burden we would carry for decades.
Our own city officials have spoken on film in front of the world that there is no firm commitment from the State of Iowa on a 10,000,000.00 grant. None, zero. Mr. Rachie admits there is no deal to speak of and has no bank financing. That there is no franchise agreement in place with Hyatt Hotels. As Mr. Lee and Mr. Hickey says, where is his true “skin in the game”? The answer is, he already got $150,000 from us and he put NOTHING in. We’ve already been suckered. Towns in Minnesota tossed his ideas in file 13 and never looked back. I pray to the holy God we are next in line.
And now the Mall in which they want to dump $14,000,000.00 (millions!) into is about to be offered in a tax sale because it’s tens of thousands in arrears. The Real Slim Shady does’t live in Detroit, he lives in New York, playing paper games to him that have real-life consequences to fixed-income folks here, inching by, who can’t afford let alone fit into a ice skates. They don’t listen to Brett Michaels, either.
Just where is the law in this film-flam game? Why haven’t warrants been served? Someone, please call Tom Miller and beg for an investigation.
Peter Children
Mason City, Iowa
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The more I look into this project I am going to vote no. In the end the taxpayers will be paying off the bonds as it can’t cash flow. To many variables that have to work flawlessly and we all know that never happens.
Hmmmm Dick, appropriate in many ways!
You said it best Dick, it’s not like families are flocking to town, well duh no shit, like they will then. Never going to happen.
Poor Dick, go ahead and keep your fat belly home all of November.
I am voting no. This deal is bad in so many ways.
Scanning the articles for the most comments offered it is ole Pete who always delivers the most opinions. Reminiscent of the colorful journalism of the big city newspapers of yesteryears he does bring flavor to the table. To the irk and dismay of some, but hey everyone has a chance to put their 2 cents worth in to his breezy style. As for whichever way it goes it is good to know what’s going on in good old River City politics.
As I sit here this morning and ponder trail of tragic proposals brought forth by Eric Bookmeyer during his sober moments…..the burning plant next to Newman School…the pig plant that was covertly enigineered away from the prying eyes of those who are native to this community where oceans of corn surround us. It’s been said we live in the great breadbasket of the world…..and I believe that.
And now he and his select council members have served up a Mirage that has risen above the billions of stocks of corn coming to life with artist renditions printed in the paper…..drawings you can wrap your garbage in. This hopefully will be his swan song as he weaves together the tapestry of decite who’s true purpose will saddle this town….with pole buildings built in the city core to remind us all just where we live. this cruel act will morgage every home on every block on every street……Vote no!
If you don’t give money to corporations and crooked elected officials you shall hence forth be know as a patriot – something the sinking stinkin NFL knows little of. Being a crook is the NORM for the demorats.
Typical ole dog! Better run to the basement check the mason jars, the mold maybe getting to them. Vote yes Mason city needs a face lift, why not have it in the middle of town. Gotta pay to play in the 21st, and it’s not like we have businesses and families flocking to town setting up shop or homestead. Ole timers much like yourself can keep your ass home November 7. New generation of Mason citians who give a shit what there town is have got this one.VOTE YES!
What are you smoking? All this mess will do is change money from the taxpayers hand to insiders hands. And they have no skin in the game.
This project sets Mason City back instead of progressing. We need something positive to help Mason City not this negative crap you are pushing. Get real!
the millions are to be paid back from the taxes the mall pays, what tax money?? the mall hasn’t paid their taxes yet to date so how is the mall gunna pay back the taxes, all of the NO’s get to your neighbors that may not have a way to the polls and give them a ride, lets get rid of this stupid idea once and for all. everyone is bailing out, trout is leaving, others arnt running again and now the chief of police is bailing. they all can see the future if this passes which doesn’t have a snowballs chance in hell of doing so
Rahcee is scaring.me. Alls I gots is me social sec check not a penny more. Please, Lord Jesus on High, bestow your graces and deliver us from evil.
Oh oh the hacker raised his head. Deleted my comment that said you went to bed. What a sorry loser!
Why does this geriatric dullard continue to waste his time and electricity writing these anti-development pieces? I support this project and I’ll be the first to admit there is no way this gets the needed 60% approval in this town.
Seems his time would be better spent on opinion pieces about the tastiness of Worthers Original Candies or his Boner meds.
Tsk tsk, seem to have struck a nerve. No blue pills for this buck. At least you admit that this stupid tax grab is going down in flames.
It appears the hackers have went to bed.
It appears that dog should have went to grammar class. Love your Ebonics bro
I don’t believe that is Watchdog commenting. Not his style at all. I think it is the troll that should be banned immediately.
Gatehouse and Mr. Rachie has no credibility. The man don’t pay his taxes. Mason City will never get their tax payments from him and we will all be saddled with paying for the $ 26,500,000 in General Obligation Bonds.
We HAVE to vote NO
Vote No on the downtown scam. It’s the worse!
I’ll bet Matt can learn how to block hackers using their IP address!
In case and of you are watching this. The yes folks are hacking NIT’s web site and deleting all the comments that they don’t like.
Don’t matter the NO vote will destroy them in the end.
All the comments are restored; that they were deleted in the first place ought to tell you something about the people behind it.
I only delete comments that attack me personally or are copy cat fake comments. People are entitled to their opinion but not to make personal insults while hiding behind the Anonymous name.The troll should be banned from the site.
Gone again. You fools they will all back, just wait. So sorry bunch of jerks.
I be dammed if the yes folks took my comment off again. What a sorry lot of sore losers.
Hey all the comments are missing. The yes folks don’t like the fact that the no folks out number them and they are deleting all the comments. What a sorry lot!
Well, I will be voting no too.
The deep state has their own Arkancide hit squad – clean and carry !
Pete, you seemed to have struck a nerve in the yes bufoons.
I have been talking to the folks in the cheap seats and the yes folks can talk till there blue in the face. They will be dammed disappointed come election day.
THIS VOTE IS GOING DOWN IN FLAMES. The educated folks know full well that the RISKS OUTWEIGH THE REWARDS.
There are always those that will sign on to anything just to say we are doing something. Those are the folks that are DRUNK on the kool-aid. No hope for them.
You are right to say, should this pass, Mason City will be saddled with financial burdens for decades. IT REALLY IS THAT BAD!
The numbers do not pen out. There are too many moving parts that have to work PERFECTLY in for it to work. Than NEVER happens!!
I put my faith in the people of Mason City to realize that we get NOTHING for our $26,500,000 of mortgage debt against our homes and commercial property. WE GET NOTHING, NADA, but grief.
I am sure the the vote will be NO, NO, NO!!
That wasn’t my comment so I deleted it. It was the Dumb Ass TROLL using my name.
Just keep putting tax payer money into Elmwood Cemetery. That’s the future for most of us.
Thank you. This isn’t rocket science. There is nothing of measure that signify’s anything will occur. Nothing. Yet there is always that proverbial group who will be in favor simply because they want to upose me. A lot of these people are medicated….and mentally deficient. Their Mecca will be the new behavioral facility the Mercy is building……finally a place they can call home. What these city officials want is a blank check…..
So anyone that opposes you is either mentally deficient or medicated, eh?
Aren’t you quite the narcissistic, self-important little pissant.
Anyone know an honest elected official – Hollywood actors most of them.
This YES group sounds like the corporate owners of the Worth County supervisors now wanting us property owners to cough up $26,000,000 to pay for a gas pipeline for their corporate friends . Did I mention T I F -tax abatements and old walk from Michell (pig shit haven county) threw in Obamamamma TPP – Which Trump told the globelists to stick up their azz. Rat Pack swamp dwellers not to be trusted.
Don’t you understand….we do not need a hotel and we already have ice. You want to gamble go to Diamond Joe.’s. The numbers are wrong and the vast preponderance of our residents won’t support it.
Doom and gloom and agony on us, if it where’nt for negative thoughts you’d have no thoughts at all. Doom and gloom and agony on us. The voice of broken dreams and defeated motivations. Exaggerated fears. “We can’t do it.” “The sky is falling.” “You’re all crazy”. “If you’d just listen to me”. OMG, build it, deal with any issues proactively, and build a better Mason City.
The mall owner will flip the property…..but it. The operations numbers of the multipurpose center are sales and marketing issues, hire a manager with that expertise. Solve problems other than copping out with, “it’s toooo HARD, we can’t do it, I’m scared”.
The truth, the real truth of the matter is RCR is an imperfect plan AND it can still work magnificently. The fact of the matter is if EVERYONE embraced RCR, promoted it, took friends and family to the district for a meal and an event or too none of your entranced fears would be an issue.
Look! The City is conducting Seminars to “hard sell” this circus. How often do you see that happen? Maybe you didn’t notice because you have your head up your ass….
What circus were you dropped off from?
You got all kinds of time to keep blathering on and on about how we should vote, so why don’t you contact Tom Miller, if you’re so certain a crime has been committed.
There will be far more YES votes for this project than you will be able to imagine.
I spoke to the State Auditor’s office last week. Tom Miller is not going anywhere. This can be certified as a subterfuge perpetrated upon an unsuspecting population.
Sounds of desperation….I understand. All of you wanted the swine plant I am certain of that. Are you all sniffing glue……there is nothing there! Nothing to grab on to. I voted a double no the first day the polls opened and the next 6 houses on my block did the same.
Cute how you used Brett Michaels and the Real Slim Shaddy in your latest opinion post. You must not have seen the listing for Greta Van Susteren and Eminem in the Sponsored Content or you could have woven that in to your article while you were waxing eloquent and whatnot.
I herby nominate Mr. Peter Children, for Mayor of Mason City, Iowa. So let it be written, so let it be said this 13th day of October, 2017
Peter, I want to know paid for those “Yes” signs around town? It better not have come for the tax paying citizens of Mason City. What a waste of money! The word on the street is a resounding NO to this shame of a deal! Pay attention to the city council memebers who are telling us it isn’t costing us a dime.
Councilman Bill (hoodwink) Schickel is one of them. He can’t even keep a straight face at how bad this deal is. Mason City needs new leaders. I say drain the swamp!
You keep writing Peter the rest can piss off. They don’t like it, don’t read it!
More drivel from this clown. Your town is already dying!! The mall has nothing in it. What used to be the local News Station has moved away and any factory, retailer or anything that might resemble new jobs in the area has been scared away by IDIOTS like you. As I have said before if you want to change stuff throw your hat in the ring and run for some sort of public office. Otherwise shut the hell up and let people try to improve the community instead of kill it from hiding behind a key board.
Oh my god, you are so annoying. The vote will be yes. This town will move forward without your stupid ass. Move away.
Lets hear it for the NO votes. I’ll be first !!!
Stop trying to make people drink your stupid Kool-Aid too.