We find a virtual smorgasbord of discussion-worthy items in this morning's Standard-Examiner -- so many in fact that we hardly know where to start. Well what the hell... maybe we'll just start out here:
We received this wonderful missive in last night's email, along with this amusing pdf attachment:
I think this would make an interesting news item.Remember folks, Boss Godfrey is not only Emerald City's #1 screw up, but he also purportedly holds a WSU masters degree in... get this... PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTING!
Mayoral candidate in charge of hundreds of millions can't add and subtract and fill out his own candidate form.
Dorothy Littrell
And speaking of basic incompetence, we would like to direct our readers' attention to a letter this morning, wherein one Godfreyite Standard-Examiner reader takes a unique approach to promoting Boss Godfrey's re-election. Putting the focus on the resumes of the top screw ups in Godfrey's A-team, Emerald City business newcomer Rufus Lohmueller sheds light on the job histories of some of the clowns who've been bungling Ogden City affairs since the very beginning of the Little Emperor's reign. Some of these guys have evidently been booted from jobs all over the globe. We're glad Mr. Lohmueller was kind enough to put the spotlight on this heretofore unknown information, although its effect (at least for us) probably wasn't exactly what the author intended.
In our ever-humble opinion, such a motley collection of job-hoppers has seldom been seen in any municipal government or corporation. When Godfrey is dethroned in January of '08, we'll all be able to breathe a sigh of relief, as this gang of itinerant nincompoops once again seeks new employment opportunities -- elsewhere.
And speaking of spotlights, we now segue into this morning's most articulate Deb Badger letter to the editor, wherein she advocates (what else?) "voting for officials who thrive in the light."
We particularly appreciated Ms. Badger's reference to that heart-warming day in January 2006, when Councilwoman Jeske handed out flashlights to her fellow council-members, symbolizing her hope that Ogden City government would henceforth "thrive in the light."
Ms. Badger does make a good case for the election of candidates Wicks and Van Hooser, by the way, although the same argument, we think, could also be applied to several other candidates as well.
We'll also zero in on Rosemary Hoffman's letter of this morning, wherein she accurately and succinctly draws a bead on the mayoral incumbent's bogus "Godfrey the Crime-fighter" theme. We do hope that this letter will penetrate the consciousness of Emerald City voters prior to the election. God knows the Standard-Examiner hasn't lifted a finger to enlighten its readership about the lies that Godfrey tells us. Hopefully, Rosemary's letter will help in that endeavor, at least with those readers who haven't had the advantage of reading this.
We got a couple of good chuckles reading this Godfreyite letter, wherein a very deluded Stephanie Moore starts out by making the absurd comparison of the methods of the little guy who can't even properly fill out his financial disclosure form, with those of American banking giant (and Ogden home-boy) Marriner Eccles. Then she inaccurately characterises Godfrey's reckless borrowing and spending as "managed debt." After that, Ms. Moore inexplicably launches into an odd manifesto-style rant, accusing Godfrey opponents of carrying "a black banner." We'll go easy on Ms. Moore for now however, and leave it to our gentle readers to rip her letter to shreds.
And last but not least, we were pleased to learn this morning that three new eateries will be arriving at The Junction project. We've been to Iggy's Sports Grill in Salt Lake City, and we're very pleased to find out that this class-act sports bar will be a short bus ride from our own front porch. Located outside the sacred and holy walls of the Salomon Center we suspect it'll be "a happening place" for sports and beer enthusiasts from all over the valley -- especially on Sundays -- when the Rec Center is closed for religious observances. We suspect the Irish pub joint has its possibilities too, although we're slightly puzzled about the whole concept of "Irish Cuisine." A Guinness and a potato, yes?
Whew!
Take it away, O Gentle Ones.
63 comments:
The things one learns reading the letters to the editor in the SE. This morning I learned that Godfrey's fiscal policy approach is the same as our great President FDR - the "managed debt" or Keynesian approach. This approach, which involves government spending beyond its limits in order to spur economic growth, is credited with bringing the US out of the Depression. Ms. Moore, in her letter, tells us that the G-man has improved on this approach by moving the debt out of the hands of tax payers into the hands of private developers. First of all, what debt have any of the Junction folks taken on? As numerous posters to the Forum have indicated, the Junction businesses are free to walk away leaving the tax payers of Ogden holding the bag. Secondly, in previous pro-G-man letters the RDA budget was included with the City budget to talk up how important it is to have a Mayor who can handle a corporation with such a large budget. But now, when it comes to the debt generated through the RDA we are told that the City budget and the RDA budget are separate things. Well, which is it?
The details of Trentelman's article about the Junction are telling. Is this article based on a city press release? If so, it would be to compare the press release to the article.
Godfrey is obviously getting defensive about two of the aspects of the Junction and other new downtown developments: First, that many of the owners and developers are from out of town, and will take the profits out of our community; and second, that the architecture of the Salomon Center and Megaplex don't exactly fit in with the rest of downtown Ogden.
You also have to wonder about the timing of this announcement, so close to the primary election. I wouldn't be surprised if Godfrey has been sitting on this information for a few weeks, but waited to tell us when it would stay fresh in our minds on the 11th. I heard yesterday that Godfrey has scheduled a very hasty, last-minute groundbreaking ceremony for a new trail connection on the Weber River Parkway, just so it'll be reported in the papers before the election.
Cato:
Nice catch on the Amazing Disappearing RDA Debt... now you see it, now you don't!
My favorite Godfrey Accounting Spin is his explanation of why the RDA debt is not really debt: it's not debt he says, because we have a plan to pay it off with tax increments. And as long as we have a plan to pay it off, it's not really debt!
Try that one with your bank next time you apply for a loan and they analyze your credit. "Well, yes, I did just borrow $40,000 to buy a Hummer, but I have a plan to pay that off over time, so it's not really debt, you see, so it shouldn't be counting in when you're evaluating my credit."
Lotsa luck with that one. But that's exactly what Hizzonah is arguing with respect to millions of dollars of RDA debt his administration has piled on.
Dan S.,
a quick look at the contributors list to Godfrey's campaign shows that many of his contributors are not from Ogden - to the tune of over $29,000. And that doesn't include many others who may not live in Ogden but at least use a PO Box in Ogden for their address.
Curm:
Precisely. Thanks for articulating the problem with Godfrey's explanation of the debt.
Reminds me of how a certain councilman once told me that a $2 million subsidy to Walmart isn't really a subsidy, because Walmart would generate tax revenue for the city. I suppose a $5000 campaign contribution to Godfrey isn't really a campaign contribution, because you get so much from the city in return.
"We have tried to keep this unique, so when visitors come from out of town, they are not going to the same places as in other cities.” says the mayor
Nice thought except that 2 of the 3 eateries already exist in other cities.
Will this rescue the Junction from the skool dayz doldrums? Been down there this week. Tumbleweeds and boarded up windows is the vibe now. The place is a ghost town. The flowrider, paid for with city bucks, is now in loss control mode. Minimum groups of 5 now required to fire it up. Several hours this week with no-shows. The lack of a cohesive layout makes this place so visitor unfriendly. Wait til the cold weather. It's going to be a loooonggg winter for your pride and joy, Matty boy.
Dan:
You wrote: You also have to wonder about the timing of this announcement, so close to the primary election. I wouldn't be surprised if Godfrey has been sitting on this information for a few weeks, but waited to tell us when it would stay fresh in our minds on the 11th. I heard yesterday that Godfrey has scheduled a very hasty, last-minute groundbreaking ceremony for a new trail connection on the Weber River Parkway, just so it'll be reported in the papers before the election.
Doubtless true, but I can't get too bent out of shape about it. Matthew Godfrey is the elected Mayor of Ogden... the voters put him there... and one of the perks of office is, you get to control the announcement of projects, etc. Naturally he will time those announcements to best effect [as he sees it] for his campaign. I'd do the same. And so will Rep. Hansen or Councilwoman Van Hooser or any of the other candidates should they win. It's one of the perks of winning. You get to control the city's timetable and agenda for announcements.
What is interesting is the, as you note, "hasty" arrangement of a public ceremony trail opening. Suggests that his polling is telling him he's in more of a fight than he figured he would be.
The location of these newly announced restaurants will not be opening in early '08. One quick look at the site reveals little happening on those pads. I may be wrong, but with only foundations poured, it could be more than 6 fall & winter months away from completion. Just how will more restaurants, franchise ones at that, make this place more attractive. 25th street has many non-franchise, locally-owned places with excellent food. Ogden's supply of out-diners is getting spread pretty thin. Costa Vida was empty last night. How do more restaurants alone draw when the flowrider, climbing wall and oversized leaf blower fail to sustain it now. The Salomon center is a bit of an embarrassment. Notice that Salomon did not support the recent flowrider competition. Atomic was generous enough to put up a banner(that was it). Some t-shirtz were given away for good measure to someone. This is the big time folks.
Tec:
Two points. First, you're right about the god-awful architecture of what Hizzonah is now pleased to dismiss as the "first phase" of the Junction project. The kind of "Blade Runner on Steroids" style of the Megaplax and Salomon Centers. [The Boy Mayor of Ogden must have been getting some flak on that.] But have to say I'm happy the penny has finally dropped, and the remaining exterior architecture of the Junction will conform more closely to the look and feel of historic downtown Ogden. Better late than never.
Second, on the traffic at the Flowrider and wind tunnel ride. I suspect it will improve in the winter as the weather worsens and the non-skiing set is looking for get-out-of-the-house recreation close by. I imagine the relatively good weather, opportunities for outdoor recreation are cutting into the summer business. I don't know if it will make the difference between profit and loss, but I expect the winter business will pick up. We'll see.... But the key point I think you make is very sound: the jury is still out on whether the two featured "high adventure" Soloman center rides are going to make it.
Costa Vida was empty last night. and they are cutting back on the hours of the employees, one kid that I overheard said they are not making it and wonder if they will be there in another month. well we shall see. I guess if the they go under what will that tell these new ones that want to open up in the spring?
Who in the heck is Tom Christopolous?
If he is so important to the operation of Ogden why haven't we heard of him before?
Stephanie Moore's Letter to Editor is off the mark.
Mayor Godfrey doesn't generate money. He generates taxpayer debt.
I think Stephanie Moore needs a class in basic finance.
Developers pass on every cent they spend to the public they sell to or the private party they build for.
They are not making any donation to anybody for whatever they are in the process of selling.
Whatever is given away with tax incentives are tax dollars that are taken from the normal process of government.
The only place that tax dollar loss can be replaced is from the taxpayer's pocket book.
That is just a basic fact of finance.
The space traveller who extrolled the resumes of Godfrey's circle of empty suits could very well put it all in perspective by also including the backgrounds and qualifications of:
Ken Lay, Bernie Ebbers, Richard Scushy, Dennis Kowlosky and numerous other high profile, high flying tycoons who now reside in prison and/or the great business hall of shame.
It was also interesting to see that he didn't mention Patterson being run out of West Valley City for sexual improprieties, or Harmer being canned from his state economic position, or Lard Ass Johnson's record of failure and his double cross of the voters of Ogden by quiting his council position to take the very best job he ever had as Godfrey's lackey!
As to the numb skull that compared Godfrey to Marriner Eccles, what do you say to someone so completely mis-informed as this? Bottom line is that Godfrey and his entire circle of incompetent empty suits couldn't collectively carry Marriner's Jock strap!
This person is too stupid to know the difference between deficit financing on a national level where the Federal Government controls the printing press and where there is a very complex economic structure, versus a city just plunging into reckless debt by making foolish decisions like basing the cities resurection on a bowling alley and penny arcade with massive debt that rest on the backs of local tax payers. It is like comparing a huge corporations debt structure to a reckless teenager with dad's credit card!
By the way, Marriner Eccles was a Logan boy although he did migrate to and thru Ogden, Salt Lake, Washington, D.C. and later in life San Francisco. He was named after and mentored by Marrriner Browning and the Ogden Browning family.
It is truly amazing the simplistic and uninformed arguments made by the kool aide drinkers in the Godfreyite movement.
Just Curious:
Tom Christopolous has replaced Scoot Brown in the city's development office. He was introduced [by Mr. Harmer I think] to the Council at a recent Council work session. As I recall, he was introduced as someone who worked in the development office in Layton, left to go into private business [company start up], succeed, sold the business he started up, and is now returning to municipal development work for Ogden. That's the thumbnail sketch as I recall it.
Breaking news from the SE's on line site. Here is the lede:
Breaking News: Two injured in Ogden shooting
Thursday, September 6, 2007
OGDEN — Police are investigating a Wednesday night shooting that sent two men to the hospital.
The shooting happened in front of a mobile home at 976 N. 550 East #48 about 11 p.m., said Ogden Lt. Mike Ashment.
Full text of the story available here.
Hell, Mayor Godfrey's much-touted crime reduction program works any better, we'll have to rename the place "Dodge City."
Curm:
Sorry if I seemed bent out of shape. I don't blame Godfrey for trying to control the news during the campaign season, but I do blame the Standard-Examiner for letting him do so.
Last week I tried to play the same game as Godfrey, submitting a guest commentary to the paper just in time to appear a few days before the primary. Guess what? Mr. Porter agreed to print the piece at this time only if Godfrey would write a column on a similar subject to run alongside. So he invited Godfrey to do so and Godfrey declined. At that point, my choice was to reduce my commentary to a 250-word letter, or let him run it after the primary was over.
By the same token, the S-E should ordinarily wait until after the primary to print announcements from the city whose timing has been manipulated to influence the election.
And from today's Salt Lake Trib this:
State officials on Wednesday launched a marketing campaign they hope will expose out-of-state tourists to Utah's abundance of high-quality golf courses.
The program, to be known as PlayUtahGolf, is a joint venture including the Utah Sports Commission and the Utah Office of Tourism.
Commercial spots featuring NBC TV analyst Johnny Miller will begin airing on outlets such as the Golf Channel... beginning today.
The Golf Channel will air 106 30-second commercials over the next four days that promote Utah golf, Utah sports and Utah tourism in general. [Full text here.]
Couldn't help wondering as I read the story if any of those TV ads will include Mayor Matt Godfrey telling potential golf tourists that the Mt. Ogden course is "not golfer friendly." You know, the same Mt. Ogden Golf course that Golf Digest recently recommended as one of its top ten plays for this year.
Maybe the Mayor hopes to coerce a campaign contribution from the Utah Sports Commission and Utah Office of Tourism. For a contribution of a mere few thousand from each, he'll agree to stop going before cameras to tell golfers how bad his city's only 18 hole public course is --- at least until November.
I clicked on the "Professional Accounting" master's link above which got me to Godfrey's list of accomplishments.
I almost lost my breakfast when I saw his "creator and owner of successful business" claim.
What did he ever do in business except buy houses on his credit card to become a slum lord?
Do you ever feel ashamed to say that you are from Ogden and that Matthew Godfrey is our elected mayor?
Dan:
The problem is, I suspect from the SE's POV that Ogden has only one daily paper. In the good ol' days, when it had two, each associated with one political party, the "fairness" argument lost much of its impact. If you promoted your guy, you could be sure the other paper was going to promote its guy, so between the two, everything got out.
Not so now. I can understand the SE's desire to be fair to both/all sides immediately preceding elections. A not ignoble goal, that. But clearly the SE fulfilled that obligation when it offered the Mayor a chance to write an op-ed piece on the same topic to appear besides yours. Once the Mayor declined, the SE having gone [I would argue] the extra mile to be fair to the Mayor just before the primary, had no reason to refuse to run your piece on "fairness" grounds.
As it worked out, the SE's misguided attempt at "fairness" ended up keeping the issues you wanted to raise in an essay it found otherwise acceptable off its pages during election week. That's not fairness, that permitting the Mayor to control its op-ed content by standing mute. That's not preserving a level playing field. That's delivering control of what appears on its op-ed page to the administration. And that's just plain bad journalism for what likes to present itself as an independent paper.
Sure wish I was a fly on Godfrey's wall right now so I could see how he is scrambling to come up with still another lie about how safe Ogden is, especially after the news flash about this newest shooting!
It must be awfully frustrating to have reality continually conflicting with your lies. Poor guy Godfrey, sometimes it's just hard not to feel sorry for the dumb ass when the real world doesn't conform to his fantasy.
If the Standard were really fair on this issue it would immediately print a news article detailing Dan's efforts and the Mayor's refusal to participate in the paper's generous offer. I agree, the Standard is not being fair by letting the mayor control the message by refusing to play. It's like the little kid who owns the football and refuses to play because the other players won't play by his rules.
Ms. Moore was incorrect when she tried to correct the total debt of the RDA. I don't recall anyone saying that the total RDA debt is $100 million -- that is Ogden's total debt including the $40 million RDA debt which Godfrey denies is debt. I have to agree with OzBoy, who with a brain, believes when you bond that you're not going in debt? All the financial institutions look at bond loans as debt and is considered debt when rating a city's financial status.
There are a lot of people in Ogden who believe Godfrey and his administration (who have to agree with Godfrey to keep their job) that RDA is not debt. A couple of years ago the Weber County Commissioners had to raise taxes in order to cover the losses they were experiencing because of the lost tax revenues from properties that were removed from the tax rolls for 20 to 25 years because they were placed in Ogden's RDA projects. You and I paid the taxes that these properties had been paying before Godfrey interfered. I am glad to see the downtown starting to revive again, but I don't believe that EVERYTHING has to be done as an RDA project! Let private developers pay their own way!
Ogden is going to see their water, storm sewer and sewer rates increased more than they should be because Godfrey has taken the money from BDO revenues and used it for his pet projects and to secure financing for the Solamon Center. Don't think for one minute that the residents of Ogden aren't paying dearly because of Godfrey's business beliefs and methods of doing business. Thank goodness there are more who can see through his smoke and fast talking lies.
So much for Don Porter's set of rules about who can attack whom, et cetera, et cetra, et cetera in Letters to the Editor.
I have never met Stephanie I. H. Moore.
However, she singles me out in her letter of today's date because of my August 31st letter that Mr. Porter entitled "Mayor needs to be honest about agendas".
Her first sentence starts off that Ogden residents continue to endure the attacks on Matthew Godfrey because of continuing personal hatreds.
Her second sentence states that my letter leads the black banner in our community.
Her second paragraph continues with "the author and her supporters attempt to stop the projects which generate these funds".
Her next to last paragraph includes the most asinine statement of all, "from the author's determination to destroy the mayor and harass positive growth".
I am not interested in destroying the little man - I just want him out of office.
I am only interested in saving our City and it may be too late for that..
There is no point in my calling or writing Mr. Porter about his double standard in applying his own rules for letters. His idea of fair treatment to his contributors and readers is not appreciated by many of us.
This woman has made false statements in print about me and my perspective of Ogden City government. Mr. Porter has printed them.
This letter was not about her support of Matthew Godfrey. This was a personal attack on another resident whose views do not conform to hers.
It will be interesting to see how this is covered by the libel laws.
to dorothy -
Sounds like you have a good case.
You are not a public official or celebrity who has to take the negative stuff.
You just qualify as a regular Ogden taxpayer with enough guts to speak out once in awhile when you can't swallow the nonsense anymore.
One hardly knows where to start with today's bumper crop of pompous piffle in the S-E. Frustrated, apparently, with the thud of her husband Tom's recent regurgitation-to-the-editor of the mayor's alleged virtues, Stephanie Moore, purporting to channel Marriner Eccles (after all, the Moores do live in Eccles's old house!), rebukes Ogden for backsliding on its blind faith in Matty G. While we're accustomed to hearing that "when the prophet speaks, the debate ends" from 50 E. North Temple, Steph argues that this extends to Ogden politics.
(A "black banner," indeed. How literary!)
Then there's Elder Godfrey himself, who with the usual chutzpah declares that his three new fine-dining eateries slated for The Junction will be "unique" and not "the same places as in other cities." That schlemiel, Trentelman, has the gall to contradict Matty in the following paragraph, revealing that there are already seven other Iggy's Sports Grills throughout Utah. That'll have the tourists fighting to get in! And we'll also get other "Grill" restaurants. Finally, the class and elegance Ogden deserves.
Thanks goodness Ms. Littrell's vigilance exposes the mayor's cynical approach to prudent government for what it is.
We read who the big contributors to Godfrey's campaign war wagon are. I loved the statement of one resident who read this list and knew they were big benefactors of Godfrey's generous give aways. He stated that he will NOT support or patronize them. I say: WHAT A GREAT IDEA!! LET'S ALL OF US REFUSE TO DO BUSINESS WITH OR USE THESE BUSINESSES WHO CONTRIBUTED TO GODFREY'S CAMPAIGN IN ANY WAY!
According to the Standard's online version, Ernest Health is indeed building in Ogden. So much for the Council scaring them away.
Also, isn't Stephanie Moore Tom Moore's wife? What a coincidence. Seems like Tom made quite a stir on this board last week.
The item Emperor referred to is on the SE's "midday update" link. Here are the opening graphs:
OGDEN -- After months of negotiations, Ernest Health Inc. has agreed to a $1.5 million Ogden River Project property purchase to house a 40-bed rehabilitation hospital.
Work on the hospital that will be located on about 4 acres at the corner of 20th Street and Grant Avenue is expected to begin in early 2008 and should be completed by the end of the year, Mayor Matthew Godfrey said Thursday in a prepared statement.
The full text can be found here.
All due respect to those involved in rehabilitation, but how does a "40 bed rehabilitation hospital" improve the downtown area to attract people and new businesses? I would think that people would not be as willing to walk the parkway if it passes nearby a rehab hospital.
Wonder what Ogden gave away to Ernest Health to get them to come to Ogden ---any body know?
Has it been before the Council?
Tec,
I just tried to go to Costa Vida an hour ago and had to find another place because it was packed. It's amazing how you sit and bad mouth anything new. You are a true visionary. I welcome the new eateries and will be there in full support (maybe not the irish cuisine).
A Potpourri of thots:
I am sooo disappointed in the SE..touting the 3 new restaurants, which aren't so new after all could've been a 2 inch piece in the sidebar. Instead, we see a big headline and after these not unique restaurants, comes MORE of Godfrey's visions for fixing up dead old Ogden! A fluffy free campaign piece and the SE, in collusion to have the twerp reelected, expands the story for hizzonah.
I can't recall how many times I asked the mayor, "Which retail stores are coming into the Junction? We'd like to be excited for their opening". Well, the little sneak must've thot, "hmmmm, I'll stall this negative person who really doesn't want growth in Ogden, and then I'll spring the news with a BIG story just befoe the election." I think I recall him gleefully rubbing his bony hands together. Or is that just another 'retrieved memory' from my spooky experiences with this sociopaath?
Yes, Ashamed, I used to be ashamed to say I was from the city that had Godfrey for Mayor, but he's infamous now, so we just have a good laugh! And, believe me, his "visions" are known far and wide and people chortle, roll thier eyes, offer sympathetic pats, or ask, "is that guy for real?"
Ms Moore stated that taxpayers don't pay debt, "developers do"!! Is SHE for real? Or is she just another attendee of the Uncreative writing group for Godfreyites?
Where is Steve Larsen? Off on a mission....he could be counted on for amusing drivel too.
Well, according to Ms Moore....I don't have to pay one dime for the gym, "high adventure" rec center or Fat Cats.
BTW....the front of the Junction is soooo gaudy, it makes me think that Tijuana, sans church influence, attempted to erect a Temple. And just across the street from the lovely LDS Temple. What an affront.
We did attempt to go to the movies at Miller's megaplex Mon...parking is terrible, and could use more handicapped spaces. We went to Tinsel Towne where parking is not a big problem.
Loved Rosemary Hoffman's and Deb Badger's letters. However, I thot touting candidates up for election was no no.
Enjoyed the whitewashed resumes of Godfrey's A-Team. Straight from the 9th floor. Is this guy transparent or what????
Now, lots of people who are pooped out from seeing the thrilling sites along the riverfront will want to pop into Ernest Health's rehab center. "Too pooped ? Pop in here!" Would be a good slogan, very classy in keeping with the front of the Junciton.
Maybe Jeske should give the SE one of her flashlites so they can actually get their heads out of the cobwebs and see how to better serve the citizens of Ogden.
Let's see, debt is not debt, franchise eateries are unique and offer an insight into local flavor and invisible architecture blends very well with the old look. Nice..........
Here's a little free insight for the current(hopefully short lived) powers that be. A bowling alley archade and movie theatre are not something tourists are interested in. These can be found in their own locales. Tourist prefer to eat at places that have plates(literally) usually fine more upscale dining. Paper plates, plastic forks and tinfoil don't attract tourists. Franchise restaurants are the least prefered of all eateries prefered by tourists, the lack ambience, have boring menus and offer nothing related to traditional local cusine, thus franchise restaurants usually would be the last choice of a tourist, if given a choice. The very nature of franchising is geared to more budgeted, repeat business.(local).
So far, nothing that has been accomplished in Ogden recently shows any intention of being geared for the tourist industry, despite the many statements made by lying little matty's advocates.
Last night, PBS ran a show called,Utah Adventure, or something like that. There was no mention of Ogden. In fact the whole show was outdoor activities, go figure.
Lying little matty gondola godfree is nothing but a sham and a flim flam, the same can be said for those that support him.
This is my day to vent.
More lies and deceit by Mayor Godfrey and his staff and some of the Council people that were on the Council at the time of the Ernest Health proposal and are still on the Council.
Several of us went to some of the Ernest Health public meetings and made our comments.
I had done my research on the management of Ernest Health and presented what I could in my 3 minutes of input as others did.
Today I find that the present Council has gone along with the sale to Ernest Health.
I am venting because Ogden is selling the land at the price of several years ago and not today's price.
I am told it was because a promise was made on price to Ernest Health at the time of the first negotiations.
I want to know when an approval vote was taken by the Council on the first negotiation. When was there an approval vote on the current negotiation?
The bottom line is that the land is being sold for half what it could be sold for now.
For you new comers, Ernest Health ownership and management is made up of some of the ex-employees of the defunct Health South which pulled off the biggest Medicare scam in U. S. history.
Some of the top people were indicted and some wound up in the pen.
Mayor Godfrey seems to have a habit of associating with persons who have brushes with law enforcement.
Oh, by the way, one geiger should stay clear of the Irish eatery, the chef may accidently peal his breathing appendage.
Waterboy:
That's the question I've been wondering about since the first Ernest go-round: how does a rehab hospital fit in with the up-scale condo/fernbar/restaurant/outdoor plan of the River project area? Puzzled me from the git go.
The original justification was that the Ernest money was needed so the River project RDA could buy the remaining parcels in phase one, so the project could move forward. That seems to have already been accomplished without Ernest's purchase money.
Look, I am all for a rehab hospital coming to Ogden. New business, expansion of medical services, new jobs. All good. But exactly how this fits into the overall "plan" of the Residential/Entertainment/Recreational themed River Project Phase One still escapes me. And it will hardly be part of an attractive "strolling" route linking the River Project area with Historic Downtown.
So, keeping an open mind about this, but still puzzled by this particular project in this particular place.
Anon:
You wrote [in reply to Tec]: I just tried to go to Costa Vida an hour ago and had to find another place because it was packed.... I welcome the new eateries and will be there in full support (maybe not the Irish cuisine).
That's the problem with drawing conclusions about the viability of a business [any business] from quick snapshots of traffic on the premises. Nobody being around when Tec looked in could be simply the result of the restaurant's daily slow time and business at other times might be booming. Or its being packed when you looked in could be evidence that you hit the one hot spot of the day, and business is dragging at other times. Neither snap-judgment by itself provides, or can provide, a good indicator of the health of the business long term. To both of you, I'd say we're just going to have to be patient and see how it all plays out.
Now, about the other restaurants planned: someone else above raised a not-trivial question. Just how many "dining out dollars" are there, reliably over time, in the downtown Ogden market. And will the new venues bring in lots of new business [doubtful with the chains] or simply dilute the business at Ogden existing downtown venues, most of which are unique or nearly so to Ogden. That seems to me to be an open and serious question.
It is possible that post-frontrunner plus a few years, the residential population of central Ogden [middle class and upper middle class --- the dining out cohort] my have risen enough to support a large increase in eateries. But these are opening soon, they say. Not a couple of years after Frontrunner arrives.
I think a good case can be made that the Union Square condos anticipated the downtown market too early. They're all sold now, but it was a painful first year and a half with a receivership involved, etc. My concern is that all these new places opening may be opening well in advance of the market developing to support them. And that chains can hang on better until such a market develops than can the smaller one-shot owner operated and unique eateries on Historic 25th Street. In the long run, restaurant competition in downtown Ogden may not be a zero sum game... but over the short term, it well may be if the existing and new venues end up splitting a non-expanding market.
Again, we'll just have to see how it all plays out. It's going to take some time. I wouldn't put much stock in an "instant analysis" either way just yet. A year or ighteen months from now, maybe we'll know something solid. But not yet.
I agree that in the short term it probably is a zero sum game. However, things are changing. More business is coming in. It seems to me that some in this forum are just sitting around waiting and praying for failure. Tec's writings scream that point. Maybe i'm just a glass half full person. I will continue to support all I can. Including going to the theatre in Ogden vs. Riverdale. I don't believe the other post that said parking at the mall was better than the junction. The parking garage next door is huge. At the mall I used to have to park in the old Key Bank parking lot.
Just rec'd a call from a smooth talkin' woman who said, " I am calling about the upcoming election.." (pause)....I want to tell you about the wonderful things Mayor Godfrey has done." At which point I interrupted with, "Lady, lady, lady, sober up!"
Then I hung up!
Anon:
You wrote: I agree that in the short term it probably is a zero sum game. However, things are changing. More business is coming in.
Two quick points: (a) the question [in the short term] is not "is more business coming in." The question, in the short term, is "is the customer base expanding." In the short term [pre-Frontrunner], I don't see that happening. But I could be wrong. We'll, as I said, have to see.
(b) The mall movies are not in Riverdale. The Mall is in Ogden. You are supporting Ogden's business [and tax revenues] no matter which of the two theater complexes you patronize.
As for which movie complex to attend: well, they'll have to compete. So far, for me, the Mall Cinemark Complex has had the edge. Every time I've tried to see a movie at the Junction Megaplex, it's either started hours later than the same show at the Mall complex, or it was reserved seating only. [Which I do not like.]
I recall that Mr. Miller talked about having one screen at the Megaplex devoted to perhaps indie flix, non-Hollywood blockbuster films... the kind we usually have to drive to Layton or SLC to see. So far, I've seen none of that at the Megaplex. Screening films I can't see unless I drive out of town would definitely bring me down there. So far, nada. In fact, it was the Cinemark theaters at the Mall that first screened "Sicko!" which I and my son wanted to see.
So, for me, Cinemark is just out-competing the Megaplex. Shows movies I've wanted to see at better times for me [first showing Sunday AM to cut down on yakkers which ruin films for me] and without requiring me to pick a reserved seat to buy a ticket. As long as that keeps up, I'm probably going to continue to be a Cinemark Mall customer rather than a Megaplex customer. After all, both complexes are Ogden theaters. I don't see that as disloyal to Ogden, or an expression of negativity. I see it as rewarding the business that [for me] offers the best product.
Anonymous,
First of all I have probably eaten at Costa Vida more times than you and I have spent a grip at the Salomon on the Flowrider so labeling me as envisioning failure is reaching.
Next, there are NO foundations poured on the site shown in the newspaper. Any comments.
Anonymous,
You were there at lunchtime, try dinnertime midweek now that school is in. The place is dead. If they hope to make it on lunch and weekends I pity the fools.
While you are discussing theaters, don't forget the Pointe on 12th near Wall. It's an independent place with close-in parking, good popcorn, and the same films as at the Megaplex and Tinseltown. It's in Ogden too.
Og:
I've never been to the Pointe. I figured it was way off in the wilds of North Ogden where people organize petition drives to run out of town Wingers managers who wanted to serve beer in their restaurant and such like. Never even checked the Poine listings. Will now. Thanks for the pointer. [No pun intended.]
I got a dinner-interrupting phone call tonight from "unavailable".
Me: Hello?
Caller: Are you familiar with the fact that Mayor Matthew Godfrey is running in the upcoming municipal election?
Me: [thinking it's the pollsters that called Dan] Yes!
Caller: [unintelligible] support?
Me: What was the question?
Caller: Can he count on your support?
Me: Absolutely NOT.
Caller: Thank you for your time.
Curm,
There is both a Pointe Theater and a North Pointe, which is on Washington up in North Ogden.
Mr. Ogdenlover and I like supporting this small movie house over the megaplexes just as we prefer to spend our bucks at Grounds for Coffee or Bella Villa instead of Starbucks.
What ever you people do, DO NOT go to the Beach House Coffee Shop on North Washington. The guy who owns it is a dyed in the wool staunch Godfrey suppoeter at all costs.
Observations in Emerald City
on a fine September afternoon:
Went to the land of Oz today to visit with my bean counter who's shop is on two bit street. Funny thing about his location, it used to be called electric alley and it's where the whores plied their trade. My bean countin man doesn't necessarily see the humor when I point out the connection!
So after sortin out the limas from the pintos and navy beans, I cruised on over to the new and exciting High Tech Recreation Center. It was about 5:30PM when I hit the place. It sorta looked like an early Sunday Morning considering the sparseness of the place.
The penny arcade had maybe 8 people wandering around. Two of the many bowlings lanes were in use. The glow in the dark minature golf was completely empty as was the pool room. The little boxed in bar with the one way mirror windows was completely free of all sinners - and bartenders for that matter.
The whole place was mortuary dead.
The attached Pizza joint had four customers in it, beside some hired help. The highly touted Costa Vista Mex place that serves up their expensive mexican grease on tin foil and paper plates had one customer and five employees. This at 5:30PM the bewitching dinner hour.
The surf riding pool had one customer who incidently was one fantastic wave riding fool! He was truly amazing and didn't fall once in the 10 minutes or so I watched him. Made it look really fun.
I then climbed the long assed stairs up to the sky diving ride and golds gym. The gym had about 12 or so people in it which given its vastness made it look pretty empty. The fat guy that runs it with the hundred grand or so a month subsidy from the city was wandering around looking sort of glum. Course as I recall, he always looks that way which I find rather mysterious considering the huge gift he gets every day from the tax payers of Ogden. Hell, if I were scoring that good off the hoi polloi I would have a shit eatin grin from ear to ear every minute of every day!
Next I strolled into the ski diving ride area. There was one instructor who was riding the hell out of that wind tube. Man was that dude good! He had a student he was teaching who looked like he was having a good time learnig the routine. He sadly had to quit after his last one and a half minute ride was up. I think he had done ten minutes total. I overheard him regretting he couldn't continue because of the cost and the hundred and eighty bucks he had just spent on his introductory lesson. Seeing that no one else was waiting to ride, the instructor gave the guy an extra minute ride which I thought was nice of him. But a hundred and eighty for 10 minutes! Who can really afford to do much of that?
Incidently there were 5 employees in the sky dive ride. One was on some kind of control consol, one was instructing and the other three were just sort of hanging out. Not one of them acknowledged me or pitched me for a ride or anything, and I hung around for 10 minutes or so. Five workers and not one salesman in the bunch!
When I left the place I stopped and talked to one of the young gals that was working in the arcade. She looked pretty bored and seemed happy to talk to me and answer some questions. I asked her when the busy time was. She said Friday night and Saturday. The rest of the week was like it was today, pretty dead. I asked if there was an after school crowd and she said this is it, this is as busy as it gets since school started.
I cruised back past Costa Vita to see if biz had picked up as it was now about 6PM. Not one single patron in the place!
As I was leaving I thought to myself, boy oh boy am I glad I'm don't have any money invested in this turkey. Then the cold hard realization hit me! Holy shit man, as a tax payer to the city of Ogden I am an investor! Yikes, was that a depressing thought...
Thorough observation, Oz
Things were a little busier from 8 to 9 when several were surfing. There were a handful of occupied tables in Costa Vida. I'm not trying to be negative. I enjoy the place. It is the worst design for a building of it's nature. The giveaway of 5 million dollars of capital improvements and the leasing at .50/sq ft has me concerned. Most of these flowriders that are municipally owned are cheaper to ride. So much for public/private partnership. The limitations of the layout are now evident in off season. Had the flowrider been surrounded by all the eateries including alcohol service and allowed surfside dining the place would still be rocking and be a major hangout. Instead it is closed on Sundays and has no attendant activities to generate interest. You can only stand on the sidewalk to watch or breath chlorine so long. A proper design would have taken these things into account and maximized the public participation. All the people that watch through the windows could be chillin' at a table ordering drinks generating income.
I took a little closer look at those parcels denoted on the SE map and I still contend there are no foundations there. No footers, no slabs, no retainers, no rebar, no stem walls. No concrete! Will the SE and Charles Trentleman please explain.
the reason tec. is that the plume of diesel that the contractor hit in the demolition of the old mall says that nothing can be built for several years.
I just ran across the Weber County Dungeon site -
http://wcfdungeon.blogspot.com/
Especially enjoyed the two firs comments on the site from two years ago from Ozboy about Bobby Geiger.
Seems like he had Bob's number even way back then! Well worth the read considering Bob's recent melt down and sign vandalism.
Dan S has a good letter in this morning's SE about fact that Godfrey has never taken the park land east of the golf course off the table - despite the belief of many. And just to confirm Dan's comments, a friend of mine e-mailed the mayor asking if he were re-elected (again) would the golf course and surrounding park lands continue to be off limits to development. The mayor's response was that he would not sell the golf course. No mention of the park lands.
Two letters this morning besides Dan's further confuse the debt issue. One from Mark Johnson claims city debt at 20 million and another by one Timm Thorn claiming 40 mil. Both of these guys are sticking up for Godfrey. 20 mil, 40 mil, who cares guys. As long as the construction continues and the mayor can claim it as his initiative. I wish my bank was as carefree with my balances as you all seem to accept as Ogden's debt load. A $20 million discrepancy would seem to indicate smokescreen and create more questions.
Also in response to yesterdays Anonymous, if the Junction had to rely on guys like you who turn and go elsewhere when Costa Vida has a minor crowd then good luck to them. You only proved that you are too willing to shop or dine where it is most convenient and the public will do likewise thus putting the whole business model in question. You might want to be a little more patient and drop those dollars where Godfrey needs them, in the Junction.
Letter in the SE this morning too from Mr. Mark Johnson, Ogden City Management Services director, too claiming that the $40 million in RDA debt Ogden has taken on isn't really debt. From his letter:
It is not city debt. For example: When a developer develops a piece of property in an RDA project area, the property base (property value) is frozen, and only the increased value (tax increment) generated by the project can be used for development improvements, including debt.
OK, let me see if I have this right: city tax revenues can be used to pay off the RDA bonds. But the bonds are not city debt. Sorry, Mr. Johnson, that fails the duck test. City tax revenues go to pay it off, but it's not city debt? Uh huh.
From further down in Mr. Johnson's letter: There is no city obligation for any RDA debt, with two exceptions where city assets were pledged in order to significantly lower rates.
OK, let me see if I can translate that into the language ordinary people not on the Godfrey Spin Team use: "Ogden City has no obligation to pay off RDA bonds, except when it does." That about it?
As I read his letter, a line from the Wizard of Oz kept running through my head: "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!"
In fact, there are two letters in today's paper arguing the same thing. The Hizzonah must be worried that voters are figuring out what's going on.
Godfrey has been out campaigning non-stop (even when he is supposed to be at Council Meetings according to Ogden City Policy) and he hasn't been received very well from the reports that I've received. He is running scared and so are thosee who follow him. Ogden should plan a HUGE celebration next January 8th when a new mayor is sworn in. Both of the mayoral candidates have expressed plans to do major house cleaning when they take office. So Ogden administrators, I hope that you are putting those big fat pay checks in savings for that rainy day in January! We're counting the days!
Counting;
Don't plan any celebrations just yet. If you're supporting one of the Mayor's opponents, it's time to go into home-stretch flat out full court press mode. Call or talk to friends, relatives, neighbors, people you do business with --- anyone you think you might have some influence with. It's what the Godfreyistas are doing, plus running a phone bank to lay the ground work for an election day GOTV [Get Out The Vote] operation.
Godfrey is a well financed, experienced, successful campaigner and an incumbent. He has powerful supporters in the business community within and outside of Ogden, many of whom have employees here. Don't underestimate the Godfrey campaign. Put the balloons and confetti away until the votes are counted.
As revolting as it is, Curmudgeon is right about celabrating too early. In fact I will go him one more - Godfrey is going to win the Primary and the Final. His competition is too weak, under-funded and unfocused to overcome Godfrey's well oiled, well financed jugernaught. The great unwashed are not aware of his true nature and they will vote based on what is sold to them during the campaign.
Sad but true.
Curmudgeon and Carl Rove's Brain, I'm sorry but I have to disagree with you. You aren't listening to the majority of the voters -- they HATE GODFREY and they WILL vote to get him out. I don't see him winning the Primary Tuesday. If he does, it will be narrowly over Hansen.
Counting:
You may be right, but people often have a tendency, on such matters, to converse with like-thinking people, and a thoroughly understandable tendency to weigh more heavily comments that agree with their own views than others.
In any case, it would be I think the height of foolishness to underestimate the Mayor's campaign. It could, for example, be entirely true that a majority of Ogdenites have had their fill of the Boy Mayor. But what will matter is how many actually bestir themselves to vote. If the majority of the electorate is tired of Godfrey, but he gets more of his people to the polls on election day than do his opponents, he will come out on top.
In election politics, it is always dangerous to underestimate your opponents, and always wisest to fight like a crazed weasel for every vote until the polls close, even if you think you've got it won. Believe me, it's much more pleasant to say when its over amid the falling confetti, rising balloons and popping champaign corks "gee, we had him beat but good; we didn't have to put all this effort in" than to sit around amid unreleased balloons and un-popped corks wondering "what the hell happened? How could we have possibly lost to him?"
I've done both. The former is much more fun. Assume nothing. From now to 8:00 PM Tuesday go after every possible vote, full bore. Then we'll see and I'll be delighted to say "you were right; he was toast from the git go."
But not until the polls close.
Have y'all put up signs for Hansen and Youngberg and Freed? Amy, I'd put up some (well, my husband will, ) if you have extra signs.
Great 8/16/07 article on the Utah Taxpayers' Association blog.
Although the article is slightly off-point, beginning with "truth in taxation issues, the final paragraph ought to strike a nerve with Boss Godfrey's Administration. The little Munchkin Shite is a give-away artist bar none, something that's NOT NEEDED within our booming Utah economy.
The pertinent paragraph from the UTA article:
"Property tax revenues would be even higher (or property tax rates for everyone would be lower while local governments would be getting the same amount of revenue they are currently receiving) if cities would stop using RDAs to subsidize locally-driven retail, recreation, and entertainment. Subsidizing economic activity that would occur on its own somewhere in Utah without a subsidy is poor fiscal policy. Hopefully, recent RDA reform will change this."
Did you get that? Godfrey is a one-trick-pony. The little Ex-Harrisville ex-cherry-picker, ex-pizza delivery boy still argues he needs to bribe businesses to locate in Ogden, even during a general Utah economic boom
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