Friday, June 12, 2009

John Patterson: Boss Godfrey and Donald Carpenter Are Pure As The Driven Snow

Big decision for the city council coming up on Tuesday
I don't know what it's like to be black and I don't know what it's like to be Latino; but I do know what it's like to be fat and poor.

Kelly Farley, OWCAP board member
Godfrey, OWCAP defended for Marshall White plans
June 12, 2009

The motivations are pure and the hearts (of Godfrey and Donald Carpenter, who heads OWCAP) are pure;" they are only doing this because they want what is best for young people."

John "Pureheart" Patterson, Godfrey henchman
Godfrey, OWCAP defended for Marshall White plans
June 12, 2009


Just as Scott Schwebke promised in last night's real-time tweetfest, this morning's Standard-Examiner carries a recap of last night's city council public hearing. Although Mr. Schwebke reports that a parade of residents (we're guessing the event drew a packed house) "questioned the management agreement and requested that the contract be amended to guarantee that the pool stays open," the chief architects of this fiasco, Boss Godfrey and Donald Carpenter, were missing in action. Too cowardly to face the music, we assume. As a consolation prize, they did send their two comic relief stand-ins, however, who provided the two embarrassingly ridiculous above quotes. It's pretty clear from Mr. Schwebke's report, by the way, that the only persons speaking in favor of the OWCAP turnover were Mssrs. Farley and Patterson.

According to this morning's story, the closing of the pool is a major (maybe THE major) sticking point. Whether amending the management agreement to ensure that the pool stays open would be a compromise worthy of pursuing is anybody's guess; but it might be worth a try, we suppose.

Assuming that nobody succeeds in pulling a rabbit out of their hat over the weekend however, the city council is now backed up against a drop-dead deadline. Under state law, the council must have the FY2010 budget approved by next Tuesday, June 16, 2009. We expect therefore, that it will be a long weekend for our intrepid city council members, as they're faced with one of the most difficult decisions in memory. Time to put on our thinking caps, we think.

So what approach should the council take, gentle readers? Should they ignore Godfrey's proposed budget and insert their own line item, funding the Center at its previous $350 thousand level, with a specific instruction that it shall be disbursed only for continued MWC operations under the current management structure, with a strong prohibition against expending this money in any other manner? Should they hold out for a management agreement amendment mandating continued pool operations during the term of the OWCAP agreement, as suggested above? Should they simply admit defeat, and do as Ozboy predicted, inelegantly roll over, and then stand back and watch, as this half-baked Godfrey plan fails of its own internal stupidity? And suppose they fail to approve the budget by the deadline. Would that be the end of the world?

What other options does the council have at this point, gentle readers?

The world wide blogosphere awaits your ever-savvy comments.

61 comments:

What will it cost us said...

Pattersons comment that both Godfrey and Carpenter hearts are pure should be left at a Ward meeting and not a city council meeting. They want what is best for their own pocketbook and could care less for dis-advantaged youth.

Chocked on my coffee when I read that this AM.

althepal said...

I suspect the management contract may at present be legally unenforcible, inasmuch as Godfrey has promised a $30,000 monthly subsidy, something not within the sphere of authority of the executive branch of city government.

Fact Checker said...

Thanks to the newspaper reporter, who informs us at the start of the article that Godfrey's underling is willing to say nice things about Godfrey.

Now THAT'S news.

Question: Does anyone else claim Godfrey is honest - anyone who does not work directly for him or who has not taken taxpayer goodies from him?

Headline:
GODFREY'S UNDERLING STICKS UP FOR HIS BOSS.

Some news THAT is.

Chaz Bono said...

Schwebke needs to grow a pair -

Anonymous said...

What Ogden needs is a civic-minded group of about 15 people with shovels.

There is plenty of room out by Fort Buenaentura for a old-school swimming hole; bonus point for this location?

Out by the river for skinny dipping; away from these meddlesome parents; out west of the tracks, where the poor people and artists can start their own little Artist and Drifter Enclave; maintenance can be performed by any groups who want to expand the facility, put in mud slides, connect it to the river, or install competing holes for various cliques of youth.

We can even bury an ice chest for a refreshment stand.

Budget expenditure factor: zero. Fun factor for the kids v. other city facilities: 1

And, damn it: none of you stinkin' money grubbing and hypocritical adults allowed.

Tom said...

Comment posted on the Standard site:

So our dear and dishonest mayor meets in secret with this Carpenter guy and they cook up a deal without any input from the council or the citizens of Ogden most affected by their secret deal. Then when the matter goes before the council they both are no shows. Instead they send hired mouthpieces to defend their nefarious actions with the ultimate insult to the public - the Nancy Workman defense - "we did it for the kids"!

Patterson, who you may recall was run out of West Valley City for a number of gross improprieties, then has the gall to stand up in front of the public and proclaim how "pure" Mayor Godfrey is when any one who has paid attention believes that he is not only the most dishonest politician in Ogden history, but that he has tried for practically his whole term in office to dump the Marshall White Center. He has millions of public money to spend on the obscene money losing Junction, built with millions of our tax money - apparently for the rich only, but he doesn't have any money for the poor and disenfranchised of Ogden.

In my opinion Godfrey is a sorry petty little man who wouldn't amount to a pimple on the butt of the Ogden hero - Marshall White.

Anonymous said...

On a related note: We were told last night by The Man Himself:

D.S. Andersen intends to run for office: a vibrant and forward looking campaign for City Council.

One of the best known citizens of Ogden, D.S. has a huge base. He reigned as Mayor of 25th street for over a decade.

Right now he is a Loan Officer at New Castle Mortgage.

He is fair and balanced, and is known for his razor sharp intelligence and ability to bring different groups of people together for a common cause.

That, and he is widely acknowledged as "The Most Dangerous Poet Ogden Has Ever Produced"

We might help to manage his operation, if we can find the time in between the long indolent days and frenzied nights of debauch.

See you at the polls.

monotreme said...

The City Council needs to take control of the budget. A morally and fiscally corrupt administration has been allowed free rein for too long.

Ozboy said...

AT last RJS has revealed his real self! Great picture Mr. Bad Boy!

Please tell us more about your new dream candidate. Where is he in the integrity department? Where does he stand vis-a-vis Mr. Godfrey? What would he do if he had the choice between another Godfreyite power move and the good of the people? Does he call bull shit when he sees it regardless of who is putting it out? Is his daddy rich? Is his momma good looking? Does he take Avodart and Flowmax? What is he all about?

Wm III said...

RJ ...

You wrote, "He reigned as Mayor of 25th street for over a decade" ...

I've been on 25th Street for 25 years and have no clue who DS Andersen is ...

Please elaborate ...

Bob Becker said...

RJ:

"He is fair and balanced...."

Sorry, RJ, but among the thinking portions of the population, that phrase has been so debased and degraded by the Fox "News" [politely so-called] Channel that it is not a recommendation any more. Try again.

Milt said...

"Right now he is a Loan Officer at New Castle Mortgage."

Works in the real estate industry...

Strike One!

Bob Becker said...

On this morning's SE story:

1. I am grateful for the paper's reporting Mr. Patterson's "we are pure of heart" comment. He will now {I trust] be forever known in these parts as "Pureheart Patterson" to all and sundry.

2. The story did not tell me one of the things I most want to know about the MWC mess. Not having been at the meeting, I can't say if it was specifically addressed, but Councilwoman Wicks did seem to at least begin asking about it when she noted that grants applied for don't always materialize, grants competed for don't always get awarded.

What I want to know is this: suppose the federal grants... identified in the story as "hoped for"... do not materialize? What then? The $30,000 monthly subsidy the Mayor wants Ogden City to pay to Mr. Carpenter ends in January 2010. What happens if the federal grants are not there to take up the slack? What happens to programs, personnel at the MWC then?

If that was discussed at the meeting, I'd like to know how Pureheart Patterson replied. If it was not discussed, I'd like to know why it wasn't discussed, since it seems like the elephant in the room --- or at least one of them --- in re: the MWC matter that the administration is straining every nerve to ignore.

Anonymous said...

Displays a complete misunderstanding of life, and denigrates a complete stranger based on a tired stereotype:

A weak pop up by Milton to shortstop DS Andersen brings the inning to a swift close.

Better go to your reliever, Milt: the big guns are coming up.

Wm III said...

RJ ...

Never mind - I know the guy ...

Anonymous said...

Billy:

Everyone who knows, knows DS Andersen. ;>

Wm III said...

Yeah, yeah ...

I just didn't know he was the "reigning Mayor of 25th Street for over a decade" ...

Hard to believe I was in the jar that long ...

Matthew 19:24 said...

"Fat and poor" is much better than "fat and rich."

And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Anonymous said...

Curmudgeon:

We refuse to cede idea-scape phrases such as "Fair and Balanced" to corporate entities merely based on a few decades of newsmedia outlet dominance, and a host of attornies claiming som sort of trade ownership in perpetuity.

Right now, these corporate lawyers scheme toward ways of trademarking actual physical colors.

Thats right, light wave length ownership.
Ho hum.
DS Andersen is fair and balanced.

Tiim said...

Hey Matthew:

"Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression."

Timmy

Milt said...

Ahem, RJS. ogden citizens don't want balance in this climate of Godfrey tyranny.

What we want is patriots who know how to balance their own checkbooks, and would bring that talent to the city council.

There is no way to balance Godfrey incompetence and political tyranny, with plain old Mayberry USA common sense.

Any city council candidate even remotely connected with Godfrey in the upcoming 2009 municipal election is dead meat.

It makes no difference how much money Godfrey's developer friends are willing to donate to the Godfrey Party warchest.

Anonymous said...

Mr Andersen has an enormous amount of personal charisma and charm.

He recieved his batcholrs degree in Botany from Weber State in 97.
He speaks fluent spanish, and has travelled extensively in North and South America.

He worked as a community organizer for Job Corps.

He is perhaps best known amongst the youngish set of Ogden for his gig MC`ing the big stage at the Ogden Street Festival, year in and year out, and as one of the first bouncers at Beatnicks on 25th street.

Or maybe for his legendary poetry slams.
Or his mayoral run a few years back.

Regardless, a fantastic toastmaster, a generous host, and an electable candidate.

googlegirl said...

"Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression."

1 Timothy 2:11

Anonymous said...

Milty,
You presume a lot as for knowing what Ogden wants; you speak like another knee-jerk Godfrey hater.

It is the knee-jerkers who will be suprised in the upcoming.

Calling DS Andersen "associated with Godfrey" makes your opinion on other matters suspect.

You have no idea what you are speaking of, except the same, tired, we hate Godfrey.

Got you: hate Godfrey.

As a political science guy, we can attest: We Hate the Opponent Pathologically is not a platform, a policy position, or even a news bite.

DS Andersen is not Godfrey. Not by a country mile. ;>

Bob Becker said...

RJS:

"He worked as a community organizer..."

Uh oh, RJ. There goes the Republican vote....

Anonymous said...

Really? The republican vote?

DS Andersen cuts across party lines; he makes left-right-middle-up-down look like mere directions that determine much of our physical realty.

He can out-debate, out charm, out think, and out drink 95 percent of the population.

You all would be lucky to have him as a neighbor, let alone a city council member.

And he works quite well with Ms. Wicks, if memory serves. ;>

Milt said...

Sveny:

"It is the knee-jerkers who will be surprised in the upcoming."

Gotcha, Sveny. Many of we lumpencitizens have long suspected you were a Godfreyite in drag.

Thanks for letting yourself be lured out from the Godfeyite lair.

Funny thing.
It only took a little bit of political dynamite to do that.

Bring on your RJ Anderson candidate.

Watch what happens when this apparent poser ... "the king of 25th Street"(ferchrissake) wastes his campaign dollars and again gets politically creamed just like that aristocratic pinky ring "aristocrat" moron, Royal Eccles, did in 2007.

Seriously??? said...

Sven,

Surely you are not referring to the guy who has made two failed attempts to land a public office.

Mayor in 2003 and City Council in 2005.

Carpenter Daryl Shane Anderson, 37, listed meth production and use, divisive politics and a trend toward single-solution problem solving as major issues facing Ogden. Additionally, Anderson said the city lacks clear goals and suffers from growing pains and an identity crisis.

Electable? I think not.

Anonymous said...

Hi kids!

We worked for nearly a decade as a highly paid Psychic to the Stars. We drop the name Jerry Seinfield, as he and others of the cast of his TV show were clients.

And Milt: you are so clueless as regards your assessment of the personalities that you discuss/disparage, it would appear you really could use some Psychic Counseling.

He is our advice this morning: wake up, open your eyes, pay attention to the day, speak less, watch more.
This tact will help you in refining your perception of what transpires around you.

You have no idea of that which you speak; oh, except you hate Godfrey.
We listen, you see. We get that.

grab the popcorn... said...

Curm-
"What I want to know is this: suppose the federal grants... identified in the story as "hoped for"... do not materialize? What then? The $30,000 monthly subsidy the Mayor wants Ogden City to pay to Mr. Carpenter ends in January 2010. What happens if the federal grants are not there to take up the slack? What happens to programs, personnel at the MWC then?"

This was not brought up in the meeting last night so there is nothing that Patterson said about it however, in the agreement it states that "in the event Lessee fails to receive the grant or other funds necessary to pay the 2010 rent provided for herein, Lessee shall immediately notify Lessor thereof in writing, and Lessor and Lessee will meet to re-negotitate the continuation or termination of the Management Agreement"

It is funny, when Patterson was giving his speech, he talked about the part in the contract that says OWCAP can fill in the pool to make classrooms. He says that they are working hard to get grant money for the pool so "that part will just go away". When Amy Wicks asked if there would be an amendment or a new contract to take out that part Patterson then said there is no intention of changing it.

Anonymous said...

Another person who does not know the candidate DS Andersen.

Already claiming that he is "not electable"

Perhaps if your glasses were not so dripping with anti-Godfrey venom, you could see what you look like in the mirror, running off with a extremely uninformed opinion.

But, whatever.

OgdenLover said...

RJS,
You said "He[re] is our advice this morning: wake up, open your eyes, pay attention to the day, speak less, watch more."

May I suggest you do just that.

Milt said...

"You presume a lot as for knowing what Ogden wants; you speak like another knee-jerk Godfrey hater."

I happen to know about the views of the average Ogden City citizen from a viewpoint other than than a Godfeyite dillatantte, like you Sven.

In your arrogaace and hubris, you don't seem to realize that the average Ogdenite is completely fed up with the additional fees which Godfrey has heaped on the citizens' backs, during his 9-1/2 year administration. The problen relates specifically, of course, to Godfrey's obsession for Governement backed projects, like the multimillion dollar money losing Junction project.

Anonymous said...

You can suggest anything you want.

Your suggestion would carry weight if it came with an attendant argument.

And, really, don't get up: we know, we know...: you hate Godfrey.

At least we have the wit and intelligence to introduce to you the new city council person; do us a favor: shoot for something other than I Hate Godfrey.

Anonymous said...

Milt:

Godfeyite dillatantte?
You still over there in the dark, flailing away?

You false categorization of everything in life you happen upon as Godfrey/non-Godfrey is indeed pathological.

We have spoke with many citizens during our stopovers in Ogden, and have received a wide range of opinions.

What is your opinion? Oh, yeah.
Everything is Godfrey's fault.
Enough said.

Milt said...

scram sven.

Bob Becker said...

Grab:

Thank you. Was wondering about that. Apparently, from the clause you quoted, there is not "plan B" other than [if the grants don't materialize] to meet again to try do devise one.

Thanks again.

Wm III said...

RJ ...

Local politics aside - with your expertise as highly paid psychic, lend a brother a hand and please tell me the score of Game 5 in the NBA finals ...

Money is no object ...

But of course, you should already know that ...

I'm joking RJ - (but you should already know that too)

Peace,out ...

Bob Becker said...

Milt:

Without getting into the merits, or lack thereof, of RJ's nominee [about whom I know nothing], I'd be a little leery about predicting the certainty of Hizzonah's defeat in any election, Council or Mayoral. There was a lot fo that kind of talk last time ---"Lying little Matty is toast" etc. --- which turned out in the end to have been empty bravado.

That kind of "anyone associated with Godfrey won't be elected" attitude is, in the end, harmful rather than helpful. "Not Godfrey" or "not a Godfrey supporter" will not be enough to win either the Mayoralty or council seats. You already have the anti-Godfrey voters, and however much they like to tell each other, here and elsewhere, that the whole city is with them, it's not. Not because the whole city is pro-Godfrey, but because most folks are not policy wonks, and are not following mayoral/council events closely or at all. You have to give them a reason to vote for a candidate, something more than "he's not Godfrey" or "he's not a Godfrey supporter."

On this point, I think RJS is right. "Godfrey-hating" as a campaign tactic is more likely to lead to failure than success.

Milt said...

It's pussies like you who elected Godfrey the last time around, when you ran that 2d grade school teacher for mayor..

Stand back, professor, you're going to find lot more aggressive campaigners this next time around.

Ogdenites will no longer settle for half-witted candidates for the city council.

Stand back and watch. It's going to be much more bitter and hard-fought the next time around.

You blew it last time. The Ogden natives will now have their way; and it ain't gonna be pretty for you pussy outa-towners..

Anonymous said...

How much time does it take to really be an informed voter?

To be able to cast a reasoned vote for everything from dog catcher up through school board, Mayor to state Senator, House, and President?

In fact, an elected persons largest constituency consists of "uninformed voters", followed by "don't know don't care".

An astute politician realizes this, and acts accordingly, if he is to be re-elected to serve the people.

A small a percentage do cast an informed vote; these people rarely get their way in a representative democracy.
At least, at the local level.

You love this town.

beaver said...

RJS said:

"And, really, don't get up: we know, we know...: you hate Godfrey... do us a favor: shoot for something other than I Hate Godfrey."

I'm not particularly fond of you, either.

looking for real info said...

Is this the RJ Svengali website or the WCF?

Anonymous said...

Yeah, we can imagine.

What ourselves having mild disagreement on a topic arguable, and you embarrassed to be fumbling for ideas, settling for an attack on our person?
And us congenially writing using a tone that suggest I could buy, own, and discard, all the while smirking superiority?

Imagine that.

Anonymous said...

Why, silly! It is the WCF. Just look at the banner at the top of the page, man!

We read the WCF, and occasionally comment, because we admire the tenacity of the contributors, and like real news as to what is going on in one of my cities.

We actually went back and re-read a good portion of the archives.
Kudos again to all persons who take the time to investigate and journal on these topics.

We cant get enough.

beaver said...

"What ourselves having mild disagreement on a topic arguable, and you embarrassed to be fumbling for ideas, settling for an attack on our person?
And us congenially writing using a tone that suggest I could buy, own, and discard, all the while smirking superiority?"


If this is what passes as intellectual, cogent argument, color me stupid. And happily so.

Dr. Bunsen Honeydew said...

Get RJS off this site what an ass.

Joe blow said...

RJS-Careful you're sounding an awful lot like Godfrey himself with all the we's. How many are you?

Bob Becker said...

Milt:

In case you didn't notice, the Mayoral candidate you dismiss so cavalierly won the nomination in a primary. [She was not the candidate I worked for in the primary, by the way, but I backed her in every way I could once she won the nomination.]

Second, I don't know how experienced in politics you are, so I'm not sure how many campaigns you have under your belt. But it strikes me the candidate you are so quick to disparage did a hell of a job. Woefully underfunded, with a patched together campaign staff, and with no campaign experience behind her, she came within 450 votes of ousting a very well funded experienced campaigner and two-term incumbent. You can sneer at that if you like. My experience tells me she did one hell of a job, and the people working for her, under very difficult circumstances.

The other thing you might want to learn, again I don't know how experienced you are, is not to alienate those who substantially agree with you on the issues and on the need to beat the incumbent merely because they don't accept your ideas on how to campaign lock, stock and barrel. Calling your natural allies in the campaign "pussies" is not perhaps a winning strategy.

Ozboy said...

Mr. Curmudgeon

There are others who interpret the results of the last mayoral race different than you do. Some, me included, see the close race coming from a very large pool of voters who were unhappy with the mayor, not as a result of some great campaign waged by Mz. Van Hoser and her team. She should have and could have won that race had she not showed up with a knife to face the machine gun toting mayor.

The council race before the last mayoral race was won handily by the candidates that made an issue of the mayor, his incompetence and his dishonesty. I suspect that any council candidates that distance themselves from the mayor and pledge fiscal responsibility and integrity in city government will have a better chance of prevailing than those that align themselves with the mayor and his bankrupt policies.

Ozboy said...

Mr. Curmudgeon

There are others who interpret the results of the last mayoral race different than you do. Some, me included, see the close race coming from a very large pool of voters who were unhappy with the mayor, not as a result of some great campaign waged by Mz. Van Hoser and her team. She should have and could have won that race had she not showed up with a knife to face the machine gun toting mayor.

The council race before the last mayoral race was won handily by the candidates that made an issue of the mayor, his incompetence and his dishonesty. I suspect that any council candidates that distance themselves from the mayor and pledge fiscal responsibility and integrity in city government will have a better chance of prevailing than those that align themselves with the mayor and his bankrupt policies.

momba said...

I am amazed at the amount of angst Svengali can cause amongst the knee-jerkers. Obviously, they have no sense of satire. They probably think that Swift penned a children's cookbook.

Anderson isn't a Godfrey-ite and to make such an assumption shows knee-related blindness. Give the men a chance (Svengali and Anderson)!

How can we reasonably discuss ANYTHING when people keep lobbing flaming cocktails into the discussion?

Oh wait! Maybe I'm missing the satire in the knee jerkers. Hmmm... Let me think this over. More later!

momba said...

Back to the original discussion. I remember being proud of my community when it established the Marshall White Center. It recognized the service of Officer White AND the real need to provide a valuable asset to traditionally neglected parts of our town.

If we can help the rich (read: The Junction) we can certainly continue to provide a community center at the Marshall White Center. To say we cannot afford one means we cannot afford the other. Hypocritical on the part of the administration, I would say. I seem to remember that the INTEREST on the Junction is more than the entire cost of the MWC.

Godfrey should admit that his bad administration of our community assets is the cause of his wish to wash his hands of the MWC. As someone has suggested previously, getting rid of his "(bad) advisors" would go a long way for paying for his mistakes.

Please, City Council!

Call him on this outrageous abuse of power. He should not be allowed to get away with this complete disregard for a valuable community institution.

Bob Becker said...

Oz:

I don't think we're as far apart as you do, Oz. Nothing I said suggested candidates should not separate themselves from Hizzonah and his failed policies. What I said was doing that alone, making the main message of a Mayoral campaign "anybody but Godfrey and I'm Anybody" would, likely, not work. Nothing I said implied in the least that criticism of the existing administration should not be an important part of a campaign. Just not the campaign. Simply being "not Godfrey" wasn't enough. Won't be next time either.

As far as "bringing a knife to a gunfight": yeah, well part of being well-armed has to do with money. Not all of it, but a not insignificant part of it in most cases, because, unless you are the incumbent and so can command press attention by right of that fact, money is how you get your message out, how you frame the issues and frame the choice in voters' minds. [And if you can't frame the issues and the choice, you're going to lose in almost every instance.] Ms. Van H. was outgunned financially by a good long way.

And she was running her first campaign. Stumbled out of the gate, but was coming on strong once she got he legs under her [so to speak]. No losing campaign is satisfying. But I thought then, think now, the neck and neck race she made out of it demonstrated she knew how to counterpunch, and her staff did too. Witness the Mayor abandoning selling Mt. Ogden Park to his developer buds as election day approached. [His polling indicated had he not done that, he'd have lost.] He wasn't forced into that by opponents who didn't know how to fight.

I was disappointed by the end result as you were, Oz. But I think, given what she and her staff had to work with going in, she made a hell of a race out of it. Knocking off experienced, well-funded incumbents is tough, Oz.

monotreme said...

Comment bumped to top shelf

The Lovely Jennifer said...

Timmy (and google girl)

For kings, and for all that are in authority[, including mayors]; that [they] may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
For this is good and acceptable
(New Testament | 1 Timothy 2:2 - 3)

Momba,

I thought "A Modest Proposal" WAS a children's cookbook! In a satirically witty sort of way.

As for Godfrey being "pure" -- a line from Monty Python, then think about the Emporer's New Clothes with the patterson guy being the tailor: 'Who's he?' ... 'I dunno, must be a king [or mayor]' ... 'Why?' ... 'He hasn't got sh** all over him.'

citizen said...

History of Marshall White Center
This handsome facility had a humble beginning during the dark years of World War II when an army barracks building was moved to a vacant lot on Wall Avenue for use by African-American serviceman as a USO Center. At the end of the war it was pressed into use by Ogden City as a Recreation Center for the youth of the area. It served well in this capacity until 1964 when it became necessary to condemn and demolish it because of its deteriorated condition.

The City Council and interested citizens of the area recognized the need to replace the rapidly deteriorating building and in 1962 began an active search to find a replacement and the finances required. No satisfactory existing building could be found, and in June 1963, a small area (later to become the first part of the Marshall White Center) way purchased and architect hired to prepare the plans for a recreation building. The plans were completed but before bids could be obtained, events occurred which changed the entire concept of the center.

Congress enacted legislation to provide federals grants to assist cities in the development of Neighbor Facilities Center, which provide greatly needed Social Services to target areas. Application was made in February, 1966, for a Federal grant and preliminary plans were drawn for a building which would serve both recreation and social needs. Addition of a Day Care Center later required filing an amended application to cover the increased cost.

To cover the City's share of the cost, a successful bond election was held on July 12, 1966. Bids were called for in August 1967, and an impressive and long-awaited ground breaking ceremony was held on September 7, 1967. Construction of the building required about one-year and the dedication service was held on October 18, 1968.

July 1, 2009, the facility was given away by Mayor Matt Godfrey.

All but the last line were taken copied from the city website.

blackrulon said...

If or when OWCAP takes over operations at the Marshall White Center who will own the building? Will Ogden be responsible for upkeep and maintenance? What is the status of the heating/cooling systems? Is OWCAP required to put up a general deposit for the use of the building?

Ozboy said...

Mr. Curmudgeon

I do recognize we are on the same side of the fence vis-a-vis Ogden politics. However, we will just have to co-exist in our differing opinions on the last mayoral race.

One thing I do hope is that Mz. VanHooser (sp?) throws her hat in the ring in the upcoming city council race. I think she would be an outstanding member of that council just like she was during her short tenure there before. She would be miles ahead in the integrity arena over the FANURE backed incumbent!

And speaking of throwing a hat in the political ring, when do you contemplate making your announcement? Or are you going to be shy and make us draft you? In any event Ogden desperately needs you - to paraphrase the old military recruitment posters.

Bob Becker said...

Oz:

With my water and sewage bill --- which arrived today, same day Dan's piece on Ogden's rates being way out of line with what SLC pays for the same services --- came the city newsletter announcing the upcoming election for four seats on the city council. Four seats. On a seven seat Council, that means control of the Council is up for grabs this fall. If Hizzonah's toadies win control, he will, I'm afraid, sell off half the city to his developer buddies [at fire sale prices] and load us with still more debt way into the future than he's already saddled us with. And, doubtless, more unfinished, half finishes or wholly abandoned grandiose projects.

Get out there and start recruiting good candidates to stand. Susie VH would be a very good one. Already has good name recognition. Councilwoman Wicks is running for re-election and deserves it. That's two. We need more.

But their number will not, ever, include yours truly. I'd be a textbook case illustrating bad candidates. Thanks for the compliment, Oz, but no way will I run for anything. Ever.

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