By Curmudgeon
The Standard-Examiner has an editorial this morning cheering on Ernest's closing on land in the River Project RDA area for its planned rehab hospital. It has some interesting passages in it. For example, this [all emphases in the following are mine]:
Ogden’s officials, including Mayor Matthew Godfrey and city council members, deserve credit for getting Ernest Health back to the city. You’ll recall that in January 2006, Ernest pulled out of the deal after a meeting with Ogden’s RDA board. It was alleged that Ernest took offense at questions about the firm’s investors and finances from board members.The RDA board later apologized and further negotiations resulted in Ernest eventually returning to the deal. This is a great achievement for Ogden. Having the rehab hospital here should be a decades-long benefit to the city.Nice to see the editorial recognizing that the Godfrey narrative [i.e. that irresponsible council members rudely attacked Ernest execs and drove them away, and that only herculean efforts by Hizzonah saved the deal] is not established fact, but only one narrative of what happened. [Note alleged in the editorial.] Since newspapers provide the first draft of history, it's nice to see the editorial board recognizing that the facts of this particular story are still disputed.
And nice to see the Council and Administration both recognized and applauded for making it happen in the end. Interesting what can be done for the city's good when the Mayor decides to work with, rather than around, the Council.
