Ogden City's RDA board cowed to the pressure of the Godfrey Administration (and the recent St-Ex propaganda onslaught) at tonight's RDA meeting -- and voted 7-0 tonight to tap the city's $3 million credit line, exercise the about to expire River Property options, and to issue $4.5 million in new bond debt, contingent only upon Ernest Health Inc.'s signing of a purchase agreement, with performance obligations which are quite meager by any objective standard.As Comrade Councilman Safsten noted, Ernest Health could sell their interest to a "Chinese Consortium" balloon manufacturer at any moment after the signing, and there's nothing the RDA Board could do about it.
The newly-elected council bent over just like the former gang-of-five, only much more painfully and obviously.
Forget U.S.M.C. veteran Glasmann's earlier "probative" questions asking who the principals are, and whether they have the financial capability to perform their contractual obligations. Forget attracting businesses that will stabilize our community. All that went out the window tonight. When the going gets tough, even novice politicians turn "pro."
Forget the RDA Board's asserting itself as the new power in Ogden City government. The new Board proved tonight that they have neither the brains nor the political guts to ever pull it off.
Two weeks ago, Ernest was asked a few questions, couldn't handle the heat, and then closed off negotiations. This is a standard bargaining ploy, of course.
This week, the RDA Board cowered, became weak-kneed under pressure, and offered to give away the store with no questions asked. It's what's called in Councilman Glasmann's beloved U.S. Marine CorPse a "slow surrender."
The RDA board meekly approved the new debt, relinquishing any claim that the new council/board will ever assert itself against a totalitarian mayoral administration that the people of Ogden voted to reject only two months ago. This -- in spite of a parade of Ogden citizen commentators tonight who advised the Board to "stand their ground."
It's the same old game, only with new political cowards sitting on the city council, I fear.
Three weeks on the job -- and they're already co-opted. It's enough to make honest people gag.
Comments, anyone?
Is there anyone more disgusted with our new council's most recent performance than I?
