By CurmudgeonWe want to call your attention to today's editorial in the Standard Examiner.
It reviews the Mayor's recent announcements regarding the Mt. Ogden parklands and the storied [but never produced] "Peterson Proposal," and today's Mayor Godfrey clarification about the "city gondola," stating in no uncertain terms that such a gondola will not be built with city funds, and would now only be built if Mr. Peterson agrees to pick up the entire construction, maintenance and operating costs.
The editorial is suffused with a quality far too lacking too often in the discussion of the gondola/gondola and "Peterson Proposal" so far. There is much to commend in it. Well worth the reading, every line of it. But let me highlight here a small portion near the editorial's conclusion:
"Godfrey backed Peterson -- at least in part, we presume -- because the developer kept promising to submit his formal proposal to the city, setting deadlines and then blowing them time and time again. As far as we know, there still has never been a full-blown, formal plan submitted to anyone in an official capacity."...absent the details it's impossible to know whether it deserves support."
Absent the details in such a document, speculation by both supporters and detractors has filled the void, and the Ogden community has been polarized on the topic....
And we will continue to wait with great anticipation to see where Peterson plans to go from here with his 1,440 acres east of Ogden.
The resort idea sounds interesting to us, but absent the details it's impossible to know whether it deserves support."
Exactly. And think how much better off Ogden would have been, how much rancor and ill-will might have been avoided if Mayor Godfrey had grasped that simple and common-sense-filled point two years ago: that absent the details... or what most might call instead "the facts"... his enthusiastic championing of the plan, his denigration of those who raised questions about it as "naysayers" and enemies of progress in Ogden, his administration's active support of zoning ordinance changes to accommodate a Peterson Proposal that never appeared [recall the "Ellison Ordinance" matter?] --- all of that, absent the details, the specifics, the facts, was ill-advised, inappropriate and did not well serve the interests of Ogden and its people.
Update 7/11/07 8:22 a.m. MT: Alert and gentle reader "Jill" provides a link to this morning's Salt Lake Tribune editorial, which presents a challenge to we citizens of Emerald City, to act decisively to permanently protect our precious open space.
This is must reading, we think, especially for our city council.
48 comments:
What the little boy Mayor has done, is to take his worst issue out of the campaign. His opponents will have to focus on his many other dirty deeds, the ones the citizens are not very knowledgeable of. The Gondola/sale of the golf course was the largest issue in the community for years. Now it's gone, until he gets re-elected along with the plants he will have running for city council. Then the Gondola/golf course sale will miraculously re-appear. Mark my words, it will resurface after the little guy and his pals get elected.
The Gondola freaks do not give up that easy, they need another few years to finish screwing the citizens.
Variations of the idea have been around at least a hundred years, so it won't be going away any time soon. I think somebody posted this link here a few months ago, but I find it fascinating, so here it is again: Grand Malan's Resort Plan c. 1907
Another great article in today's Standard Examiner. Hopefully the Mayor and City can now get down to real business.
And don't miss out on the Trib's editorial:
Trib Ed
There's no way that Boss Godfrey will be able to take this issue off the table.
1) His reputation for truth and veracity is virtually zero due to his behavior in this and MANY other matters.
and,
2) His disdain for the opinions of his own constuents, except during municipal election run-ups, WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
His conduct in re this matter (and many other matters) starkly reveals his immaturity, incompetance and ill-suitedness for another term of office at the helm of our great little city.
It's the job of those of us who are aware of the dark side of Boss Godfrey, to help edumacate our fellow lumpencitizens who remain oblivious to what actually happens at city hall.
(An aside for Jill: Thanks a bunch for finding the 1907 gondola graphic.) We posted it a while ago as a converted JPEG image, and now, thanks to you, we have a PDF original which we can upload to our WCF storage site.)
Politics can be so amusing. Todays article truely provides an insight into the lack of ethics, moral conviction and honesty.
By asserting that Peterson cannot rely on any source of public funding, lying little matty has pretty much admitted publicly that he's been lying to everyone for at least the last two years.
Other than the sale of the golf course, he has been adament that this was always a privately fund deal. His explanation now is predicated on the complete opposite position.
I guess the logic behind his strategy would be the public has a very short memory and reads nothing but the headline.
Oh, and Jill, thanks for the trib link. Unfortunately little lying matty dismisses all sourse of wisdom other than his own clairvoyancy, as Dan has pointed out, there's property above and around that golf course. Little lying matty and Wayne(c.) Lane(Fred) Peterson, still have their eyes on the prize. If they start there, and pinnoccio gets re-elected believe it, that golf course will land squarely on the table.
I can't help but wonder if the double secret purpose behind the Bootjack purchase, isn't for a future land swap for the property south and east of the golf course.
With the proper zoning changes,(slope restrictions) and that access from 36th st. there could be a gated community placed above and around our beautifull golf course. The trail heads may start as trails, then have to be sidewalks through that, before returning to trails again.
OK, maybe it's time to be a contrarian again. Sometimes, when you've been in a long and bruising political fight [and we have for the last two and a half years over the gondola/gondola/park sale matters], it can be hard to notice when you've won.
But we have.
The parklands... golf course and adjacent city parklands... will not be sold for residential development. The city gondola [good term for it] will not be built, operated or maintained with public funds... which means it will not be built at all. For the foreseeable future, it's over. We've won. Time to move on to the other, very significant matters that still face the city and its people.
Yes, I know, the Mayor stated he would not sell the parklands before the last election [in a reply to a Sierra Club query] and he reneged on that promise. But there is, I think, a substantial difference between reneging on a promise to a small group like the Sierra Club, and abandoning his policy on the front pages of the Standard Examiner under banner headlines.
Let me be clear: going back on his word was reprehensible, no matter how small the group he gave it to. A man's word is his word: given to five thousand people or fifty or five or one. But as a matter of practical politics, it will be much more difficult for the Mayor, should he wish to, to abandon the commitment he made on the front pages of the Ogden paper, and in the Salt Lake paper, in mid-campaign. Nearly impossible.
So we've won. Though Rudi is right that the issue will stay alive in one context: the Mayor's performance on the gondola/gondola and land sale to his crony matter will come into the election as people look at it as a sign of whether his judgment is sufficiently sound to return him to office again. But the sale of the parklands and gondola matters per se are done. Finito. Over. We won. Time to move on.
So, what should happen next? Here's a suggestion. Recall that as of the moment, UTA still has a quarter of a million dollars in public money earmarked for a gondola study for Ogden. [I pass over in charitable silence the question of what in the world impelled UTA to do that.] Clearly, now, there isn't going to be a city gondola.
I think it's time for Ogden's state legislators to get involved. I think it's time for Rep. Lou Shurtlif [D-Ogden], Rep. Neil Hanson [D-Ogden], State Sen. Greiner [R-Ogden] to pick up the phone, and call the head of UTA, Mr. Inglish I think it is, and suggest --- politely but firmly --- that spending that quarter of a million on the promised gondola study now makes no sense whatever. And that a good alternative use would be to allocate the money for the "alternatives analysis" of the street car plan, that is an absolutely necessary first step in applying for federal subsidies.
And it would be a good gesture of reconciliation for the Mayor to make the same suggestion to Mr. Inglish: that the money should now go for the street car "alternatives analysis." It would be a good new beginning. It would be a hand offered across the divide in the city. And it would serve the people of Ogden well... and I might add, be good for the Mayor. The Council might want to give Mr. Inglish a call along the same lines.
Lots of wounds out there in the city need healing. The mayor's reaching out to shift the now pointless gondola study money to the street car alternatives analysis might be a good way to start the process, to begin mending fences.
Curm, it would be nice if this mayor would do that, BUT nowhere no how has he conceded anything as far as the idiotic stupid GONDOLA is a DEAD HORSE. Recall the wording supposedly attatch to the earmark. That money (in little lying matty's mind) is for aiding Perterson in crafting a plan. Other than making a timely statment with an impact headline, littlr lying matty has not given up one bit on his VISION.
We would indeed be naive to think otherwise. The purpose of his statement was to instill some complacency in his most vocal opposition, which despite my knowing better,you statement previous, serves that end.
This is nothing but a ploy, and lying little matty's track record,(no pun) leaves me no doubt of that fact. WE've won nothing, till that lying little SOB is out of the affairs of this city.
Curm,
The administration that you speak of in incapable of mending fences.
I am not sure if anyone knows this little tidbit or not, but Mr. Patterson invited the Firefighter Union Reps over to his office to "mend the fence". While discussing ways that the Firefighters could show a sign of good faith, and endorse the Gondola, the administration was in the process of having Senator Jenkins sponsor a bill to eliminate the Civil Service Commission, also having their paid lobbyist push the bill through the legislature. The bill passed, but the council refused to abolish the commission, which would have been a bad thing for Police and Firefighters in Ogden, placing them into an at-will employee’s status. I am pretty sure that if the Mayor gets re-elected he will push to abolish the commission again with the new council.
I am just saying people need to be very cognizant of the placement of the hands of the present administration when they are reaching out to mend fences. It's hard to trust someone when they have a track record of not so forthright maneuvering.
bill c. if you'd listened over the last couple of years you would know that that funding of this project was based on all pieces happening: golf course, WSU, resort, houses and condo, etc.
It was a house of cards. The Mayor never lied about that. I went to several meetings and that was always the case. Anyone who really has listened knew that as soon as the WSU land was taken out the whole thing was done.
But since today's article was such a big revelation to you, I'll explain... the houses to be sold and built..yes, in that order, were to finance most of the project. Now that no houses will be built on the two pieces of land mentioned, there will be no funds for the other pieces.
The structure of the deal was never a secret, perhaps you just didn't listen or care to know.
Well Mr. cheers, nice interpretation of the shell game financing, I have to remind you of one thing, it's all about financial gain. To that point I will say, there never was or is, a resort intended for Malan's Basin. No one in their right mind would believe that has any viability what so ever. Do you recall the south Tyrolian DOLL HOUSE drawing that Peterson, in his permanentlt affixed patagonia vest, so proudly displayed at every dog and pony show? ( til being benched by the mayor, for inadequate straight faced public lying) Looked like it came out of some catalogue. This is all about profiting off an undeveloped part of our city, that require's chicanery and inside manuvers from a corupt,disengenuous administration.
There are acres up there, including Peterson's recently aquired piece, but to profit from development a lot of string need pulling.
Peterson's land is pretty much worthless without much cooperation from the adninistration, as is Rassmusens.
Bill:
As a tactical matter, beating a dead horse... and the park sale and city gondola projects are now very dead horses... is usually not a particularly good election strategy. You don't want voters asking themselves a couple of months from now "Geez, are they still going on about the gondola? Hasn't that been settled?"
If the Mayor refuses any gestures across the lines, he will be the loser for it. [The question is, is he smart enough... or are his advisers smart enough to understand that. If not, it will hurt his re-election campaign, which is fine with me. If he or they are shrewd enough to figure it out, then Ogden may benefit from his willingness to cooperate with the Council and other city groups under pressure of the coming vote, and good things may get done.]
Either way, a win-win situation as I see it. The mayor harms his re-election chances by remaining intransigent one way, or good things begin happening for Ogden [like the alternatives analysis and the start of the fed funding process for the streetcar] the other way. Win-win either way.
Cheers, in reference I point out, Montgomerys pushing the Mt. Ogden comunity planning sub committees on annexation, adding infastructure and ever other possible means of aiding future development. The idea from the outset was get as much land as possible, get city committment to bear the cost of services and infastructure, build and laugh all the way to the bank. This recent development just represents downsizing, for political expedience.
Curm, you'll have to excuse me, I was finishing up my response to Mr. Cheers, and didn't see you post.
I aggree, now is the perfect time to box the lying little chucky cheeze impersonating pinnoccio nosed(still growing) mayor into a corner. And total preservation of all areas east of current development needs to be acheived.
And yes, burrying their trojan horse gondola diversion once and for all is laudible.
Several of you seem to know a lot about the inner workings of the mind of Chris Peterson...There is one thing I can quite reconcile...you keep mentioning greed as the primary motive for this whole project and proposal...how much do you think he would have profited had the whole project been able to be done? Once you consider that he and his wife are the second largest share holders in Sinclair Oil behind Mr & Mrs. Holding, I find it difficult to believe that money was the only (or even main) motivation.
I'm sure Mr. Peterson will live just fine whether or not he finds a way to make any sort of project work or not. He's already laughed his way to the bank.
Hey Bernie,I mean cheers, please tell us just what could possibly be the motivation behind this then. Particularly your brother in law's, after being it's most ardent supporter, now concluding that it nerver was feasable.
Curm, now that Matt has said the issue is over, it's over, huh?
And when Clinton said, "I did not have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinski," on national television, it was over, huh?
Do you say these things just to agitate people?
Thank goodness the rest of the people here know this issue is NOT over.
If Godfrey loses the election, and we have no safeguards in place from the city council, we lose the golf course. Whether he wins or loses, we lose the golf course, unless the city council acts, now.
I know one thing that goes on in the mind of Wayne Peterson and that is the furious hatred of squirrels. The Squirrel Patrol lives! Nuts! Get 'em!
I hate squirrel too...at six in the morning when they won't shut up.
Who's Bernie?
A bit paranoid are ya Bill C?
So Bill C it sounds like you are only motivated by money then...if that is the only motivation you can see.
What are you money motives for posting on this site then?
Oh, and Berncheersnie, I didn't know there was a demarcation line for those that worship money, where enough is enough, I believe this applies mostly to those that fall into it, not those that have realised wealth as a bybroduct of their own pursuit of something they love.
I also need to to point out the existence of hords of terrible fury squirrels residing on this side of the mountain, the erradication of which will be costly, and we know Mr. Peterson holds that purpose as his personal priority, as exemplified in his very short term of responsabilty whilst being employed by his father in law.
Are you implying that Mr. Peterson, squirrel phobia and all, is really just a future philanthropist, using Ogden as his apprenticeship, and the mayor is committed to aid him for future conciderations?
And you didn't answer the question, What's their motivation?
Danny:
You wrote: Curm, now that Matt has said the issue is over, it's over, huh? And when Clinton said, "I did not have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinski," on national television, it was over, huh?
I'll take Non-Sequitors for $200, Alex.
And please note, absolutely nothing I posted above precludes the City Council from moving to more permanently protect the city parklands from private development. Nothing. In fact, that's one of the good things that might happen should the Mayor be in a truly conciliatory mood [election induced or not.]
A brief comment on motives:
In re: the discussion above of Mr. Peterson's motives in proposing the never actually produced "Peterson Proposal." Does it matter? I don't think so. Whether he was motivated by pure public spirit, by gleaming greed at developing all that lovely foothills land, by a mixture of the two, or because the Mother Ship beamed down instructions he dared not refuse, it does not matter. What matters is that the proposal, in any of its many and mutating half-released versions was non-viable, non-sustainable on the facts. His motives didn't then and don't now matter at all, so far as I can see. I neither know nor care why he proposed it. All I care about is the fact that the plan was not a good thing for Ogden, was not feasible from the start [as the Mayor now concedes]. All this mind reading [from either side] seems beside the point to me.It would be no less a bad idea if his motives were pure as the driven snow; it would be no more a bad idea if insatiable greed lay behind it.
Ditto the discussion about the Mayor's motives in making his recent announcements. [Did he do it to save his election chances? Did he do it out of deference to citizen concerns about losing trails? Did he do it because he finally understood that the project could not succeed? None of the above? All of the above? Two of the above?]
Don't know. Don't care. What matters is, he did it. The City is not going to sell the city park lands in the foothills, and the city is not going to build a gondola from downtown to WSU. What matters is the action, not his motives. He did --- finally --- the right thing. Speculating about why seems beside the point to me now.
Thanks for fixing the link to Godfrey's comments on the WCF front page.
And thanks to whoever did that great graphic on the WCF front page.
We always appreciate it.
I don't know his motive...could have been purely money. Could have been pride. Could have been the desire to do something he thought cool for a community. Could have been the desire to remove squirrels from the East side of the mountain. I don't pretend to know as much as you pretend to know Mr. Bill. I thought you could enlighten me.
My question was how much money did you think he was going to make?
But you have proven you lack of insight by thinking I'm someone I'm not.
He, they, were, are going to make a shit load, that's how much!
I think this is just the seventh inning stretch for this gang at city hall. I agree with others here, if they win in November they will be back with this Gondola plan only it will be bigger and more ominous than ever.
Godfrey has proven over and over again that he cannot be taken for his word. Why believe him now?
That means I also disgree with Curmudgeon about the damn thing being over and us winning.
We haven't won jack shit Curmudgeon. That is what the mayor wants people to believe. Meanwhile he and his gang are preparing the knock out punch.
Lionel is right. Not only that, Godfrey has never actually said he won't sell the park.
He's said Peterson's original concept won't work, because 200 McMansions won't fit around a real golf course.
He's said he won't sell the park to "pave the way for a gondola and resort project."
He's even said he won't commit public monies into building a gondola system.
He hasn't said he won't sell the park to his developer cronies simply to "fatten up the taxbase" and make a bundle for his friends.
When he's willing to say he'll refrain from selling the park under any conditions, or even better, to cooperate with the council in placing the park in a "perpetual land trust lockbox", we can then start talking about having won the battle.
Until then, intra-mural arguments about "winning," or undignified "post touchdown end zone celebrations" are quite premature, inasmuch as we haven't really even crossed the goal line yet.
You bring up a good issue:
How do we fatten up the tax base?
solutions:
By growth. By steady sustainable growth. Not by seeking a magic bullet one-shot-fixes-all go-for-broke gamble [like the Peterson Proposal in all its aspects].
And Ogden is growing, partly by its own efforts... rebranding the city as an outdoor hub when the High Tech branding went belly up was a good idea of the Mayor's and it has worked well for Ogden, and if properly handled, can continue to work well... partly because the state is for the moment well-positioned to draw and accommodate growth. Ogden benefits from that. Frontrunner coming is a big thing too. Property values are rising.
I noted in the SE today a story about Davis Co. taxpayers are in for a shock.... the amount they pay in property taxes is about to skyrocket because property values [including on homes] has been skyrocketing. So its not an unmixed blessing.
But stead sustainable growth is how you build a tax base without gambling on boom-or-bust silver bullet desperate rolls of the dice. Or so I think.
Mr. Cheers, I never claimed claivoyancy, who you are matters not in least. Your original comment pretty much makes all our points and begs the question, who in their right mind, would stake the city's future (you own words) on a house of cards.
As for knowing anything, I make no claims, could be I've made a lucky guess or two. What was it that caused you so much discomfort anyway? Did we hit a nerve? ARE you one of those thats been tossed under the bus? I'll use your moniker as a passing salutation, cheers.
One last item Mr. Cheers, if it was all over with the board of regents announcement, why has the mayor taken so long to concede, and why did he make such an ass out of himself still touting this house of cards on the WSU campus? Why didn't you come forward and spare us all the grief? Just wondering.
Gondola still occupying 3rd spot on the City's home page.
Curm, I'm glad you're sitting down. I am about to give lying little matty a somewhat back handed compliment. Just returned from the amphitheatre, wednesday night TALENT in the PARK, runs all summer. So far they have had pretty good shows. Unfortunatly they are lightly attended which is odd because its free, you can bring your lounge chair, a blanket or use the permenent seating, even bring your dog. I stumbled into it last year by accident and have been checking them out regularly ever since.
But I don't believe they have much promotion. Wouldn't that be pinnoccio's responsibility? He sure has spent alot promoting NEILSON'S new supersubsidized venture.
We also have Independent Film makers showing their talents at the Peery Theatre in the winter. THAT needs to be touted too. Should have a searchlight out front.
Aren't the Peterson's divorced?
For a smart man, Curm, you say some really dumb things. We haven't won anything! We need to be more alert.
Godfrey has not shown us that he ever foes anyhting without an ulterior motive. His LO Amen Chorus is pushing him. EXPERIENCED makes a salient point. Godfrey has not said he won't sell the paark.
We must let the Council know how important this is for the five of them (excuse Stephenson and Safsten) to take back their legislative powers and put that Mount Ogden jewel in protective custody.
So the gondola still shows on the city's website? Now isn't that special?
So like that lying little sneak.
Bill:
Mrs. Curmudgeon has brought the smelling salts and I've come to after reading your compliment to the mayor. Thankfully I was sitting down when the vapors came upon me.
I wasn't aware of the amphitheater shows. What kind of talent? Bands? What kinds? [Though I have to tell you, my enthusiasm for outdoors music in the heat of the summer began to wane noticeably when I passed the thirty year mark and that was nearly three and a half decades ago.]
Hey, here's an idea: if the gondola FAQs came off the city webpage, wouldn't that open up some space for a listing of the next three free amphitheater shows, updated weekly?
Ogden has, sadly, not been particularly good at promoting its own entertainment offerings. The Utah Musical Theater went under last year. I was only barely aware it existed until someone gave us a couple of tickets they didn't plan using. Enjoyed the evening... then the company folded. As for the low turnout at the amphitheater shows, maybe people were afraid they'd have to sit through California producers and actors giving gondola speeches before the shows began. But that shouldn't be a problem any more... should it?
The recent Hot Rockin' 4th shows seem to have been well promoted, drawing 10K Friday night and 15K on Saturday. Be nice to see a more effective promotional effort [no, not on that scale] for recurring entertainment offerings in town. We used to have a pretty good... small but good... independent theater company here in Ogden about four years ago. Until it moved to SLC looking for audiences.
Part of the problem is, I think, that so many Ogden entertainment events take place on the WSU campus, which therefor do not bring people downtown. Sundance happens downtown, and puts not only fannies in the seats but customers in the restaurants. The other indie festival mentioned above might work that way if it catches on and is promoted effectively. The recent documentary about 25th Street, done by a WSU history [brag, brag, brag] and film student sold out the Egyptian theater for a showing. And Historian David McCullough packed the main event room of the convention center for the Ogden schools [though it was a very pricey ticket.] [Hmmmm.... historians seem to be on a roll putting fannies in seats in downtown venues.... maybe there's a lesson there.]
I wonder if, other relatively small events might put some more people on the streets downtown with some frequency. Speakers, debates on public issues by speakers familiar enough to people to draw a crowd. Authors talking about their books on hot topics. The sorts of things that go on endlessly at Politics and Prose bookstore in DC or the Tattered Cover in Denver or Powells in Portland. Be interesting to see if we had a bookstore with a good venue for such events downtown if it would work here. [Mostly such speakers now appear at WSU, and they sometimes fill a room... but again, it's not downtown.]
All cities have events committees of some sort, and I'm sure Ogden does too. The problem [from my experience with them] is that they tend to focus only on big events. The Arts Festival recently. Hot Rockin' 4th and so on. Parades. That's all good and important but I wonder if exploring smaller recurring events might be profitable for the city. We do some of that... the Arts Walk for example. The Farmers Market. But maybe there are more opportunities out there for creative people-drawing programs downtown.
Of course, we are at a disadvantage. All of Utah is. In other cities, following the end of some provocative speech or presentation, it is quite common for people to adjourn to a local sidewalk cafe watering hole, acquire a glass of wine or a bourbon maybe, and settle down to argue about... in the most collegial way of course ... what they'd just heard. Makes, sometimes, for an interesting evening. Can't do that here unless everyone is a member of the same Private Club for Members or agrees to order food they don't want. And 25th Street was a tad low on sidewalk cafe watering holes last time I looked.
Utah doesn't make it easy to encourage a lively evening street scene such as occasionally exists in other cities, and in particular, in university towns.
Seriously, why don't you suggest to the Mayor... politely, Bill --- you can do it; I know you can do it --- that removing the gondola FAQs would open up space to promote the amphitheater shows. Tell him how you found them, etc... exactly what you told us. And see if anything happens. Can't hurt to suggest it.
Curm, it'sbeen a pretty good mix so far, The first one I caught was a blues guy out of Chicago, Can't reall his name now, but when they announced him that night I new of him. Older guy now, cut quite a few records. Then they had a kinda honky tonk rock western band,(is thata new genre?), anyway they were good also, then they had one band made up of parts of two local bands, a husband and wife singer song writing duo, backed up by some members of THE WEBER BLUES BAND, pretty good. Tonight they changed gears dramaticly, but it was still good. An Indian from Guatamala that played wooden flutes and other traditional instrements,his brother played the harp (not mouth or jews) and his wife and sister did some dancing. They called themselves RUNA PANCHA, good. So much for the ol' deadhead review, As for promotion, the city is the amphitheatre's main sponsor, but they've had to go outside to get alot of additional funding to provide the programs, they announce a new one tonight, Alliance Credit Union.
Like the Egyptian theatre, they have their own website. Can't get schedules and such from the City's website. I think their site is OCAE.org, thet also have some guy catering, ribs, corn and all sorts of things.
One thing, lying little matty won't allow them to sell beers though, could be something thats really hurting the attendance. I know this is UTAH, but it's also Ogden, prior to Godfrey Ogden was the one place in this state that had common sence drinking ordinances, oh well, more dead horses. Damn Curm, almost a completely possitive post.
Oh and Curm, whenlying little matty refers to potato nose and ilk,(lift ogden types) as the new naysayers, and he'll even make eye contact with me, then you can suggest I approach him. I have this funny feeling that there no affinity there.
Godfrey of in incapable of mending fences!
I am not sure if anyone knows this little tidbit or not, but Mr. Patterson invited the Firefighter Union Reps over to his office to "mend the fence".
While discussing ways that the Firefighters could show a sign of good faith, and endorse the Gondola, the administration was in the process of having Senator Jenkins sponsor a bill to eliminate the Civil Service Commission, also having their paid lobbyist push the bill through the legislature. (This was a knife in the backs of the Cops and Firefighter). Sadly the bill passed. Because of (Rep Neil Hansen) speaking out to the press went to bat for us Cops and Firefighters. Thank God the city council refused to abolish the commission, which would have been a bad thing for Police and Firefighters in Ogden, placing them into an at-will employee’s status. I am pretty sure that if the Mayor gets re-elected he will push to abolish the commission again with the new council.
I am just saying people need to be very cognizant of the placement of the hands of the present administration when they are reaching out to mend fences. It's hard to trust someone when they have a track record of not so forthright maneuvering.
So if you support those of us, who risk our lives to serve and protect. Rep Neil Hansen, from what I’ve seen of him, has the vision, experience, dedication to revitalize Ogden in the most cost effective way! The true winners will be the people of Ogden.
Bill and Curm,
Along the same lines as your suggestion about the web site, couldn't the city do something similar with its cable TV station? Cut out the gondola promotions and use the time to promote more of the actual events taking place downtown.
For that matter, the demise(?) of the gondola should free up a lot of us to talk about other stuff more often, and to attend more of these events rather than going to so many planning commission and council meetings, and working to set the record straight every time a gondolist says something deceptive.
Generalizing even further, I suspect that if we had a mayor who would work with the people rather than against them, and who told the whole story rather than always spinning things to push his private agenda, the whole town would function a lot more smoothly and a lot more good things would happen.
Speaking of downtown events, don't miss the first farmer's market of the season this Saturday. Click the link to see the newspaper ad which lists specifics plus a couple other upcoming events. I wonder what "High Adventure Series" is.
And when you're at the farmer's market, be sure to stop by the Sierra Club table and say hi.
Dan S.:
So, is the downtown Farmer's Market kaput? I thought it started the first Saturday in July and then continued through October.
This looks like a one-off deal in conjunction with Pioneer Days.
Mono:
No. This Saturday is the first. It will run into September, I think. Not caput.
Dan:
Excellent idea about the city tv station.
Just a cop:
Agree with nearly all you said. However, elections can concentrate the minds of incumbents not sure of their re-election chances wonderfully. The coming election might create a window of opportunity to get things done that will not be there once the election is over. If such a window of opportunity has opened... and the Mayor's recent backpeddling on the park sale and city gondola suggests that possibility... we ought to take advantage of it. That's all.
Only 3 days remaining, before Health and Fitness LLC's first lease payment is due, they've had 1 month free rent in order to get ahead of the curve. Whats the over/under bet on the street, till we see drastic changes at the Jackass cernter?
Farmer's Market is all summer ending on Sept. 29th.
Check Local 25th Street Businesses for a brochure with time and bands for the whole schedule.
bill c. glad you are operating only on guesses. Makes more sense now.
curm... you're solutions post had no solutions.
Font Runner goes both ways...taking income to SLC instead people spending it here.
Cheers:
Solutions post?
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