Boss Godfrey Polishes His Tarnished Public Image

Per the Std-Ex: The Godfrey administration presents some evidence that Boss Godfrey is not a complete screw-up

We got a good chuckle out of this morning's Scott Schwebke story, which we thought to reveal a not-so-subtle note of Godfrey administration desperation. Maybe that's just us, however. Check it out for yourselves however, gentle readers, and let us know what you think:

• Big Ogden retail projects on track

In the wake of the Godfrey administration's latest disappointment, in what's working out to be a long parade of administration disappointments, we suppose it's reasonable that Godfrey and his "A" team would try to polish up its public relations image, and cast about for a list of projects that aren't quite yet DOA. In this connection, it would appear that Godfrey and his henchmen have done just that, and accordingly issued a press release to Mr. Schwebke, concerning projects which still have a discernible pulse. Sure enough, there are still two of them that Godfrey hasn't yet botched up, which just goes to show, that contrary to overwhelming public perception, Godfrey is not a complete screw-up.

Reader comments are invited, as always.

Std-Ex Letter; Jan Hamer's Most Excellent 5/4/09 Missive Works Its Way To the Editorial Page

The Envision Ogden/FNURE money laundering story ain't quite buried... yet

To kick off this morning's discussion, we'll reprise Jan Hamer's most excellent May 4th letter, which we spotlighted on Weber County Forum last Tuesday. It's a thoughtful and well reasoned piece, urging renewed and enhanced scrutiny of the Envision Ogden/FNURE money laundering matter. The letter has finally worked its way from the live website to the Standard-Examiner editorial page this morning, and we believe it's well worth another look:

• Campaign finance disclosure means transparency

Although we're sitting on the edge of our seat, eagerly awaiting new and further Std-Ex reporting/editorializing on this story, we're delighted to see this letter being made available to the Standard's hard-copy readership this morning. For the moment, at least, we'll remain optimistic that this may well signal the Std-Ex's intention to refrain from completely burying this story.

We'll also note in passing that it might be politic, we think, for a few of our readers to mosey on over to the Std-Ex website, and to lodge a few more remarks in the comments section beneath the letter, just to let Std-Ex management know that significant numbers of Std-Ex subscribers remain interested in further treatment of this story.

Don't let the cat get your tongues O Gentle Ones, if you know what we mean (and we think you do.)

SL Trib: Lieutenant Governor Refuses to Enforce the Law

Weirdly, Republican Lt. Governor Herbert says his job is merely to "accept" campaign donation reports, and not not to enforce the Utah reporting law violations

By Curmudgeon

There was a story in Friday's SL Trib that was worthy of mention, I think. It reported that Utah's Lt. Governor Gary Herbert says his office "won't enforce" a law passed last legislative session that requires campaign donations of more than $25 dollars to be disclosed by the candidate receiving them within 30 days. The Lt. Governor's office says its job is merely to "accept" the reports, not to enforce the reporting law. Even if the report came in more than 30 days after the deadline, Joe Demma, Herbert's chief of staff, said the Lt. Governor's office would not enforce a penalty.

From the story:

However, state law firmly puts the onus on Herbert's office to make sure that all candidates are filing reports that conform with the law and to report any candidates in violation to the Attorney General's Office. Candidates who break the law could be charged with a class B misdemeanor. Why then would the Lt. Governor's office not file charges in such a case? You will love the answer. So will Mayor Godfrey and Councilman Johnson:

“I think simply filing an amended report would work.” But, Sheena McFarland's probing story points out, "that report could come well after the election ends." Uh hun. Yes it could. And has, right here in River City. This is so blatant a "protect our political friends" approach to non-enforcement of election laws, it has outraged even Republican legislators. To their credit. From the story:

That's not good enough for Sen. Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights, who cosponsored the bill. “To play games by not properly reporting contributions and then filing an amended report and say 'No harm, no foul'... that was not our intention,” Bell said. Kudoes to Sen. Bell, who is not one of my favorite legislators.

The story goes on:

When a candidate misreports campaign finances, it can impact a race. In Utah, supporters of the state's lax campaign finance laws often argue the laws are lenient because everything is disclosed for voters to see, said Kirk Jowers, a campaign finance attorney.

However, that only works if candidates accurately report contributions. “If voters cannot get timely contributor information, it eliminates their ability to fairly see influence on that legislator that may or may not make a difference to them,” said Jowers, who also is the director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah. And what says Rep. Brad Dee, a sponsor of the bill? He "understands" the Lt. Governor's position on not enforcing the law that makes enforcement his responsibility. But Dee sees no real problem because he can't imagine candidates not complying because "it's simple and entirely possible." Uh huh. [Rep. Dee, may we introduce you to Councilman Johnson?]

So, the legislature passes a law to require reporting campaign contributions within thirty days, and we include in the law the Lt. Governor's responsibility for enforcing it, and he says "Nah. Don't feel like it." And Rep. Dee says that's fine with him, because he can't believe that any candidate would not comply with the law anyway.

I presume Rep. Dee also believes in the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny and that Bill Clinton never inhaled.

Boss Godfrey Seeks $4 Million in Federal Ogden River Cleanup Funds

Godfrey and "Broke-ass Leshem" scramble for a $4 million Obama administration handout

This is interesting. Today's Standard-Examiner reports that Boss Godfrey has applied for a $4 million federal grant to clean up the Ogden River:

• Ogden to seek $4M to clean up part of river

And here's a fairly startling snippet from today's Ace Reporter Schwebke story:

The river clean-up initiative is being spearheaded by California businessman Gadi Leshem.

That's right. "Spearheaded" is the word Ace Reporter Schwebke used, possibly a little tongue-in-cheek. Big Money (now broke-ass) Investor Gadi Leshem, who's basically been in hiding ever since his Coverall, Inc. revenue source filed for Chapter 11 protection last year... is "spearheading" the Ogden River Cleanup, says Mr. Schwebke, with an apparently straight... (but possibly playful) face.

Yes... "Spearheading" is the description Schwebke used, we reiterate. Too funny.

Very humorous of you, Mr. Schwebke. (wink, wink; nudge, nudge)

Comments?... Anyone? Does Schwebke have an EXTREMELY subtle sense of humor, or what?

Imagine if these creeps Gadi and Godfrey were to actually receive a $4 million federal handout. Imagine how much of that would actually go to the federal project intended, ha-ha-ha.

And it's not as if the federal government exactly follows up on the massive money it doles out, in which connection we'll post this, which pretty much illustrates exactly how lame the U.S. government is now... as it hands out billions to losers like Leshem and Godfrey:

• Fed Inspector General Knows Roughly Nothing About The Fed (VIDEO)

Gentle reader comments are invited, as always.

Emerald City Chalks up its 100th Puff Piece

Something for the lumpencitizens to think about with a municipal election coming up

This morning's Standard-Examiner puts the spotlight on another of those "city ratings" puff pieces which appear from time in magazines of national circulation. The latest of these comes from Newsmax Magazine, which has Ogden City pegged as fifth in the nation among cities "that best embrace core American values." We got high scores for Hospitality, Wholesomeness Family-Friendliness, among other attributes, and even finished above Logan City, which we've always kinda considered to be the gold standard for these core American civic virtues. Read Charlie Trentelman's full writeup here:

• Ogden recognized for 'American values'

In our never ending effort to provide our readers with all the necessary links, we've googled and present the very short Newsmax Magazine tout piece here:

• Newsmax magaaizine Rates the Top 25

Yeah. it's just a brief blurb; and Godfrey plays it down for that reason. Still it's the hundredth magazine article in the past 3-1/2 years, Godfrey reminds us. His scrapbook is getting pretty thick we suppose.

But in our heart of hearts we know that there's one more magazine issue that Godfrey craves, and that Godfrey won't rest until it's in newsstands across the nation:

There's a city council race coming up November, in which the lumpencitizens will be called upon to fill four seats. The Council candidate filing period commences in a little more than a month. Unless we want to see a magazine cover like this on the newsstands some time in the near future (or a similar golf magazine cover story touting a bulldozed and flattenened Mt. Ogden Golf Course), it's probably time to recruit some responsible, prudent grown-ups to run for these offices, we believe. Just a helpful reminder from yer old pal Rudi.

And what say our gentle readers about all this?

Feel free to expound upon the ratings... Boss Godfrey's self-consuming gondola obsession... the upcoming council race... or whatever else lifts your skirts.

Ogden's Open Space Still Threatened By the Little Dork From Harrisville

More brilliant insight into Boss Godfrey's "secret" top of 36th Street scam

Gentle reader Dan Schroeder has just sent us a link to a newly posted article on the Ogden Sierra Club web site:

• Ogden's open space still threatened

In this masterpiece of amateur journalism, Schroeder skillfully juxtaposes three recent developments that threaten the open space on Ogden's east bench:

1. Three proposed water tanks that will provide water service to currently undeveloped areas.
2. The recent golf course/condominium proposal for the top of 36th Street.
3. Last fall's mysterious clearcutting on the Malan's Basin property.

While the forces behind these developments undoubtedly would like us to think they're unrelated, Schroeder's map vividly shows what a curious coincidence that would be. We'll leave it for our gentle readers to draw their own conclusions.

Don't let the cat get your tongues, O gentle ones.

Std-Ex: Youngberg Didn't Violate Campaign Finance Ordinances

Expect an upcoming Godfreyite claim of factual equivalency between the Youngberg matter and the the much more complex Envision Ogden fact scenario

The Standard-Examiner carries a story this morning, reporting on one of the more predictable developments in the ongoing Envision Ogden Money laundering Saga. Ogden City Attorney Gary Williams has considered the complaint of Godfrey loyalists Mr. Geiger and Mr. Gullo, weighed the evidence and found no violation of campaign finance ordinances on the part of former city council candidate Dirk Youngberg:

• Youngberg 'didn't violate' ordinance

Read the full text of Mr. Williams' opinion letter here:

• Gary Williams 5/9/09 Letter

Now that Mr. Williams has disposed of this frivolous Godfreyite sideshow, it seems to us that it would be incumbent upon our Ogden City Attorney to broaden his investigation, and take another look at what we deem to be the "main events," such as the blatantly anonymous contributions to the Eccles and Johnson campaigns through the shadowy anonymous entity Friends of Utah Real Estate, and the questionable use of the Salomon Center for a Godfreyite campaign fundraiser. We won't hold our breath for this however, inasmuch as it's become apparent that Mr. Williams won't look into such matters on his own initiative. Perhaps one of our gentle readers will pick up the ball, and nudge Mr. Williams along, by lodging a new complaint requesting a thorough examination of these issues.

The ludicrous downside to this latest development is quite clear at this juncture, of course. Now that Williams has disposed of the Youngberg complaint, and exonerated everyone (for the time being, at least,) the Godfreyite loyalists will claim a factual equivalency between the Youngberg matter and the the much more complex and labyrinthine Envision Ogden scenario, wherein several troubling issues remain as yet entirely unresolved.

In short, every effort will be made henceforth by Godfrey and his allies to sweep the Envision Ogden story under the rug.

And what say our readers about all this?

Good Discussion Developing on Charlie Trentelman's Blog

Gentle Reader Dan S. takes the Standard-Examiner to task; managing editor Andy Howell replies with his (shall we say) "shallow" retort

Interesting reader discussion developing over on Charlie Trentleman's Blogging the Rambler blog, under Monday's article title, "A Monday Morning rant." Our own gentle reader Dan S. takes the Standard-Examiner to task midway down the reader comments section, for burying the Envision Ogden Campaign Contribution Money Laundering story, just as troubling issues related to Mayor Godfrey's involvement in Envision Ogden's Salomon Center 2007 campaign fundraiser were laid squarely in the Standard-Examiner's lap. Managing editor Andy Howell has even become involved in the discussion, wherein he defends the newspaper's non-coverage of this aspect of the story under the rationale of legitimate "news judgment, resource committment and space considerations." Gentle Reader Dan expresses his differing view, of course.

This is a developing discussion, we believe, that's well worth checking out:

• "A Monday Morning Rant"

Who knows? Perhaps a few of our readers will want to mosey on over to Charlie's most excellent blog to offer their own ever-gentle comments.

Stranger things have happened on otherwise slow news days in the Emerald City blogosphere.

Std-Ex: Union Pacific #844 Rolls Into Ogden's Union Station

Added bonus: A YouTube video preview for those of you who haven't witnessed on of these locomotive behemoths in action

We'd like to provide a heads up on an upcoming Ogden event, courtesy of the Standard-Examiner's Charlie Trentelman. Railroad buffs, and anyone in general who gets a charge out of "massive hissing, rumbling, smoke- belching moving objects" will want to present at Union Station on Thursday afternoon, when Union Pacific's giant steam locomotive #844 rumbles into town. Here's Charlie's morning story:

• Steam engine rolls into Ogden station

And here's a YouTube video preview for those of you who haven't witnessed one of these locomotive behemoths in action. Take it from us however; viewing this video is a poor substitute for experiencing the real deal... up close and personal... if you know what we mean (and we think you do):


Bring the kiddies along. They're bound to get a thrill out of this.

Std-Ex Letter: Campaign Finance Disclosure Means Transparency

Assuming for sake of argument that Johnson and Eccles could theoretically "cure" the inaccuracies in their earlier financial disclosure statements by the subsequent filing of amended statements, such cure remains nevertheless incomplete

We'd like to direct our readers' attention to this Jan Hamer letter to the editor, which was posted to the Standard-Examiner live website yesterday, stirring the pot once again on the Envision Ogden money laundering scandal:

• Campaign finance disclosure means transparency

For purposes of this morning's discussion, we'll cut to the chase and incorporate this key paragraph, which argues that Ogden City Attorney Gary Williams needs to take another look at this situation, and re-examine the conduct of the involved parties from a slightly different angle:

The point of campaign finance disclosure is transparency: voters have a right to know who is giving financial support to candidates for office. The Ogden City Code forbids anonymous contributions and contributions made by one person in the name of another (Section 1-8-3 B and C). Either FNURE exists and is effectively anonymous, since no records have been found and no one who might know will give names, or it is a fiction that existed only on paper for the purpose of passing money from Envision Ogden to candidates for office. Either way, both the spirit and the letter of the law have been violated. Section 1-8-7 of the Code provides that any person violating any provision of the chapter is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor and no person convicted thereof shall be permitted to take or "hold the office to which the person was elected..." I think the City Attorney should take another look at this. [Emphasis and links added].

Jim Hutchins also hit this nail squarely on the head, and framed the issue in his comments to the city council on April 21, 2009:

Yet, we have a situation where an organization, Friends of Northern Utah Real Estate, received money ($20,700) from Envision Ogden and paid out the same amount of money (minus $10) to two candidates for office, Councilman Johnson and Mr. Eccles. Yet, no one seems to be able to name any of the people involved with Friends of Northern Utah Real Estate. If no one in the organization has a name, is that not an 'anonymous' organization making an 'anonymous' donation? [Emphasis added].

Even assuming, for the sake of argument, that Johnson and Eccles, through the filing of amended financial disclosure statements, might theoretically "cure" the inaccuracies in their earlier filings under applicable principles of law, such a cure would yet remain incomplete in this instance. FNURE has neither filed a fictitious business name statement, nor registered as a PAC. So far as we can tell, FNURE has made no filings with the IRS, or publicly registered in any manner so as to disclose the true identities of its "members." Adding insult to injury, Eccles and Johnson have in fact actively suppressed the names of the true FNURE "donor(s)." If FNURE can't be characterized as an anonymous donor under present circumstances, it's difficult to contemplate who could ever be regarded as anonymous in any instance.

In its present posture therefore, the shadowy FNURE entity, (and the people behind it, if any other than Mr. Johnson himself) still remain no less anonymous than they were the day before the filing of the amended disclosure statements; and Mr. Johnson and Mr. Eccles thus arguably remain in violation of Section 1-8-3.

Perhaps some enterprising soul will take it upon him/herself to file a new complaint with Mr. Williams. We're dying to find out how Williams will obfuscate his way out of this problem.

And yes. We believe the council does need to immediately initiate its own investigation on this, either by appointing an investigative committee as Mr. Hutchins suggested, or by acting to appoint a special prosecutor. We hope they'll get on the stick.

And what say our gentle readers about all this?

Standard-Examiner: Ernest Health Pulls the Plug on Its River Project Rehab Center

Helpful hints for the Godfrey Administration: How to count chickens before they are hatched

UPDATED with a little trip down memory lane

Ouch. Disappointing news from the Boss Godfrey administration in this morning's Standard-Examiner. Ernest Health, Inc., the Albuquerque hospital operator which was expected to construct a $17 million rehab facility in the very heart of Ogden's beleaguered Leshemville Wasteland Project Area, is apparently now pulling the plug on the project. Here's the gist, from this morning's Scott Schwebke story:

OGDEN -- A 4-acre parcel owned by the city within the first phase of the Ogden River Project that was supposed to be the site for a rehabilitation hospital is back on the market.
Ernest Health Inc., based in Albuquerque, N.M., had a $1.5 million agreement to buy the property at 20th Street and Grant Avenue by the end of 2008 from the Ogden Redevelopment Agency.
However, Ernest Health missed the deadline to finalize the purchase because it has been unable to secure financing, said Tom Christopulos, the city's business development manager.

Thus the Ernest Health project joins an increasingly long list of Boss Godfrey schemes which have died on the vine due to the financial incapacity of the proposed developers.

Sadly, it seems like only yesterday that Mr. Christopulos and the rest of the Godfrey Administration were doing the "high fives" and calling the project a "done deal." What a difference eleven months make.

And for Boss Godfrey and his claque of overly optimistic suits on nine, we offer some helpful and highly pertinent web-based advice:

• How to Count Chickens Before They Are Hatched

Reader comments are invited, as always.

Update 5/4/09 11:07 a.m. MT: Now that we're back on the Ernest Health topic, here's a little trip down memory lane:

• Ogden RDA Board Bends Over

Remember, folks; the RDA bonded and/or tapped its credit line for $7.5 million to acquire the subject parcel for Ernest, among other things, upon which public debt the taxpayers remain liable for principal plus interest.

Don't let the cat get your tongues.

Ogden Streetcar Study Update: Has the Process Already Jumped Off-track?

The apparent dominance of a few "special interests" and sloppy methodology raise some disturbing red flags

It's been a little over a month since the completion of the March 2009 UTA "scoping" open houses, wherein the lumpencitizens were offered the opportunity to submit their preferences as to the location of Ogden's possible streetcar routes. Not having heard anything on the topic in the news media recently, We contacted Dan Schroeder yesterday, and inquired about the progress of the UTA "stakeholder workshops," which were held on April 15 and April 29. Dan's been attending these meetings and actively participating in the ongoing process, on behalf of the Ogden Sierra Club, of course. Although Dan was tied up with his own personal business yesterday, he did have the time to send us a packet of relevant documents, some of which we'll publish here this morning in raw form.

First, we'll direct our readers' attention to Dan's April 30 letter, which provides a concise summary of developments since the conclusion of the March open houses :

• Dan Schroeder 4/30/09 Letter

Sadly, it also reveals that the process may have already run off-track, due to the dominance of a few "special interests" and sloppy methodology. Read up, people. The above document is very interesting.

Next, Dan has helpfully furnished us the series of documents below, which apparently represent the UTA "Stakeholders Committee's" work product to date. Even at this relatively early date it might be reasonably inferred that the "fix is in," and that a few dominant ones on the committee are leaning toward adoption of either of Boss Godfrey's ridiculous 30th or the 36th Street east-west corridor legs:

• UTA "Stakeholder Committee" Working Documents

And next in order, we're going to throw in another Dan Schroeder letter, which we believe captures the initial expectations of the lumpencitizens upon initiation of the committee study phase of this project, provides useful background information and further illustrates why well-organized and conscientious committees benefit mightily by having smart guys like Dan onboard:

• Dan Schroeder 4/6/09 Letter

Finally, we'll link the most recently updated version of Wilbur & Smith's Ogden-Weber State University Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis/Environmental Impact Statement - Discussion Paper, which has was originally provided to the Federal Transit Administration in February 2009, and was updated as of April 26:

• Purpose and Need Statement

The above document identifies the overall objectives and goals of the ongoing corridor study process. We'll leave it to our gentle readers to decide whether it dovetails with the "work product" so far produced by the current UTA study group.

We'll also leave it to up to our readers to decide whether "the fix is in" with the UTA for Boss Godfrey's knuckleheaded $146 million Golf Course Clubhouse/Gondola/Hotel & Condo Project.

Reader comments are invited, as always.

RJ Svengali Chimes in on Boss Godfrey's $146 Million Golf Course Makeover

"When we meditate, we see trees and dirt, birds and insects, snow and old bones"

By RJ Svengali

Note: we do not golf.

Our child weekly slides and climbs at the small playground under the trees at Mount Ogden Park, and sometimes toddles over to observe the big kids, active 6 year olds, playing soccer in the shadow of Malans.

We walk, climb and bike in the dead of night, through the foothills and up Taylors Canyon - down Strongs, lurking and prowling, searching for adventure and fortune.

We occasionally play frisbee up in the Marquardt section of the parkland.
And yes, teenagers still duck up there to smoke rope and make out, from time to time.

We actually lived far up the mountainside just north of Weber State for nearly nine months, fasting and studying, once a long time ago, during one of our early journeys through the mountain west.

Point?

When some oomans turn their thoughts toward this geographic area, they perceive quite a few billion dollars and, as a matter of rational self interest, they attempt to free some of that up, loosen it right on up so that as much artha flows within their control; one would also prefer to expend as little effort as possible.

Silly oomans.

When we meditate on the same yajna , we see trees and dirt, birds and insects, snow and old bones.

Priceless.

We will have it underdeveloped for the duration of our Northern Utah visit. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Southeast Bench Water System Improvements Preliminary Design Report

A straightforward proposal to save Emerald City water customers $1.6 million

By Dan Schroeder

Here's an electronic copy of the year-old engineering study on the southeast bench water tanks:

• SOUTHEAST BENCH - WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS - Preliminary Design Report

This report was presented to the City Council at its work session two weeks ago. I attended that work session and got a hard copy of the report, but soon realized that it needs to be distributed more widely. I'm grateful to Mr. Frisbee for going to some effort to obtain an electronic copy for this purpose.

The most important page from my viewpoint is page 11 (13 in the pdf numbering), which shows that the two existing tanks that serve zones 1-3 have more than enough capacity for existing customers, including emergency storage and fire flow. Therefore the proposed 1.25 million gallon tank is entirely for the purpose of facilitating future development.

In my mind the City Council should amend the Capital Improvement Plan to remove authorization and funding for the 1.25 million gallon tank. This would save water customers $1.6 million. If future development, either by WSU or elsewhere, makes such a tank necessary, let the developer pay for it.

The proposed site for the 1.25 million gallon tank may be obsolete, based on what we heard at the work session. Instead they're now talking about putting it farther south, on WSU land, to be accessed from the top of Beus Drive. However, nothing is final so the location could easily change again.

And what say our gentle readers about all this?

Edwards Removes His Offensive Signage

Historic 25th Street Association intervenes and offers to mediate

As a followup to Saturday's story, this morning's Standard-Examiner announces a tentative solution to the Bruce Edwards/Ogden City F-bomb signage stalemate, which has filled our lower comments section with 133 highly intense comments during the past week. Thanks in part to the efforts of a member of the Historic 25th Street Association, who has offered to mediate with the city, this unfortunate chapter in 25th street squabbling may well be on its way toward reaching a cooperative and relatively friendly final conclusion. Read Scott Schwebke's encouraging writeup here:

• Owner removes offensive sign

We'll be keeping our fingers crossed that everybody involved will continue to behave like grownups, and that this unfortunate tempest in a teapot will soon fade away as just another colorful story in the long annals of colorful Two-five Drive.

Reader comments are solicited, as always.

Godfrey Is Still Up To His Old Lying Tricks

Godfrey hasn’t changed his tune one half note and is just as devious as ever!

By George K.

Schwebke’s article in the Standard Examiner this morning tells about Godfrey’s denial of trying to sell the Marshall White Center or turn it over to an organization to manage it. Here's the lede:

OGDEN — Mayor Matthew Godfrey assured several concerned Marshall White Community Center patrons Tuesday night the city has no plans to close the facility.
“Rest assured, there is no conspiracy to shut the doors of the Marshall White Center,” Godfrey said during a city council meeting.
However, Marion H. Duffy, an Ogden resident, told the Standard-Examiner that City Councilman Jesse Garcia presented a different picture of the Marshall White Community Center’s future when he met with her and about a dozen of the center’s patrons Monday.
Garcia said he told the patrons its his understanding that negotiations are under way by the city’s administration to turn the Marshall White Community Center over to another agency.
The city council asked the administration in a meeting more than month ago about repairs to the boiler at the Marshall White Community Center, at which time John Patterson, the city’s chief administrative officer, indicated negotiations are taking place with another agency to run the facility, said Garcia.
Patterson was not in attendance at Tuesday night’s city council meeting to offer an explanation regarding the purported conversation. [Emphasis added].

Schwebke reports that “several concerned Marshall White Community Center patrons” were assured there were no plans to unload the Marshall White Center. The middle section of the Council chambers was filled by these “concerned patrons” last night; and close to a dozen of them spoke in defense of the Center. To me that is more than “several.” Some gave testimony as to how the “water aerobics” program had helped them and how much they depended on it. One gentleman from Weber Human Services told how he had taken some mentally ill people to the Center and how much it helped them and he really depends on it to help those with whom he works. Others spoke highly of the other programs for youth to seniors and all mentioned that it was the ONLY community center in Ogden or any of the surrounding communities and a number of the patrons are from surrounding communities bringing their shopping dollars to Ogden.

Godfrey hasn’t changed his tune one half note, and is just as devious as ever! The only thing that has changed is that more people now are more aware of his lies and deceit. We have also learned that we need to keep our eyes on him every second and have hundreds of ears listening throughout the city, since he does everything behind the scenes, in spite of his claims that he would tell those patrons, the press and the Council if he ever did anything . I wonder how long he thinks people will fall for his lies!

Std-Ex; Missions Fulfilled

Families remember teens, urge crowd to hold no ill will, say 'loss is temporary'

By Democrat

Very good article by Deanne Winterton and Scott Schwebke today:

• Missions fulfilled / Families remember teens, urge crowd to hold no ill will, say 'loss is temporary'

May God Bless the Jasper and Strebel families; the victims of a high speed crash.

Comments?

Envision Ogden: The Standard-Examiner is Lured Down A Money Laundering Scandal Blind Alley

Hopefully Mr. Schwebke will soon get back on track... Follow, the money, Scott!

To kick off the morning discussion, we'll shine our Weber County Forum spotlight on a remarkable Scott Schwebke story in this morning's Standard-Examiner. It's remarkable, we believe, because it misses the two main issues of the Envision Ogden/FNURE money laundering scandal, which has been the subject of at least four Std-Ex articles and stories over the past few weeks.

Somewhere along the way, Mr. Schwebke has allowed himself to be distracted by the always highly vocal Godfreyite Mr. Geiger, and has let his reporting be led down an insignificant blind alley.

First, both Mr. Schwebke and Mr. Geieger seem to be entirely missing the main point of the campaign finance ordinances of Ogden City, which are intended to provide a transparent money trail for the lumpencitizens to objectively determine sources and expenditures of campaign donations, and NOT to provide campaign donors some fail-safe protection for their donative campaign contribution expectation interests, like those of Mr. Gullo. Gentle reader Dan S. does a nice job of explaining this issue in a comment under this morning's Std-Ex article:

This article fails to mention the most important difference between Youngberg's contributions and FNURE's:
Youngberg's contributions were completely open and transparent. They were reported on his disclosure statements in a timely manner, and everyone had access to these statements well before the November election.
FNURE was created for the sole purpose of concealing Envision Ogden as the principal source of campaign funds for Johnson and Eccles. It never filed a disclosure statement with anyone, and we still don't know who controlled this "organization". Envision Ogden eventually did file a disclosure statement with the IRS, but that happened several months late, well after the election.
The whole point of campaign finance disclosure laws is to let the voters know who is paying for campaigns. Johnson, Eccles, FNURE, and Envision Ogden apparently consider these laws an annoyance, rather than a legitimate part of a democracy.

Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, the Standard has entirely neglected, and the various individuals who've commented on this story have for the most part failed or refused to address what ought to have developed to be the main issue of this story, namely whether it was ethically proper and/or lawful for Boss Godfrey to have "loaned out" the Salomon Center to one political cohort (the Envision Ogden PAC) for what turned out to be a political fundraiser which provided $20 thousand in campaign funds to two other Godfrey cohorts (Eccles and Johnson.)

Utah Code Section 10-3-1108, which specifically provides that "a municipal officer or employee may not use municipal equipment while engaged in political activity," would suggest that this action may have been a violation of Utah law. Such a violation, of course would be subject to relatively harsh penalties (given the large dollar amount in question), pursuant to the provisions of Utah Code section 10-3-1013.

We find it disappointing to stand by and observe as the Standard-Examiner "takes the bait," and allows its reporting to be diverted to what we deem to be a minor wrinkle in this story at most, as it has done with this morning's Scott Schwebke writeup. Hopefully Mr. Schwebke will soon get back on track.

Follow the money, Scott!

Don't let the cat get your tongues, O Gentle Ones.

Ogden Razes Houses for Riverfront Project

Silver-tongued spokesman forBoss Godfrey's broke-ass Leshem "moneyman" insists his client is "working closely with Ogden"

By Curmudgeon

Interesting story up today in the SL Trib today. Here's the lede:

Ogden » Growing impatient with the California developer of the proposed Ogden Riverfront Project, the municipality began demolishing eight rundown houses this week along Grant Avenue.

Most of what's in the story is what the Standard-Examiner reported long ago, but there are a few little tid bits worth noticing. For example, Keith Morey, Ogden's community development manager, said Ogden is hoping to "keep something happening" on the River Project, "for Leshem or, perhaps, another developer." Perhaps another developer? Do tell. Reporter Christopher Smart also noted that:

In January, Morey had said that Ogden was looking for a partner for Leshem so that demolition could get under way.

Ah ha! In January Ogden was trying to find Lesham a partner so the demolitions could begin. It is now April and the city's going ahead on its own nickle. Evidently, no partner was found willing to put the albatross of the stalled River Project around his own neck.

Mr. Alex Auerbach, described as "a spokesman for Leshem," said that "Leshem was working closely with Ogden" and that Ogden was going ahead with the demolition only because it was "more cost-effective" to do it that way. Then, donning his Official Mr. Rogers sweater, and humming "It's a Wonderful Day In The Neighborhood," Auerbach insisted "The city has not grown impatient with Leshem."

And the beat goes on....

Transit Project Detours Washington Improvements

Boss Godfrey's dilatory tactics delay important safety-oriented street repair project

Interesting front page story in this morning's Standard-Examiner, reporting that a $10 million UDOT road improvement project, which had been planned "to improve safety and travel along Washington Boulevard from 26th to 36th streets," has been put on indefinite hold. From this morning's Scott Schwebke story:

OGDEN — A Washington Boulevard road improvement project costing at least $10 million that was slated to start next month has been delayed pending a decision on a possible streetcar or bus route from downtown to Weber State University and McKay-Dee Hospital Center.
The Utah Department of Transportation project was scheduled for completion in October to improve safety and travel along Washington Boulevard from 26th to 36th streets. But UDOT has decided to put the project on hold until a combined alternatives analysis and environmental impact study is completed by the Utah Transit Authority, the city and others to determine the preferred mode of transit and location of a route between the intermodal hub at 23rd Street and Wall Avenue and Weber State and McKay-Dee on Harrison Boulevard. [...]
It’s prudent to delay the road improvements until after the selection in July of a transit mode and route for the five-mile corridor between the intermodal hub and Weber State and McKay-Dee, said Randy Park, a special projects manager for UTA.

The impediment? Boss Godfrey's proposed 30th and 36th street east-west public transit corridor "legs." “Rather than put it (the improvements) in and then have to undo it and tear up the street, we have decided to let Ogden decide where the streetcar or bus rapid-transit system should go,” Vic Saunders, a UDOT spokesman remarked.

So in addition to the 3-1/2-year delay on the street car project that Boss Godfrey caused by his foot-dragging after the 2005 release of the Baker Study, (which already picked a 26th Street east-west corridor as the preferred route,) important safety-related Washington Boulevard repairs are also now being put on the back burner because of the further dilatory actions of Ogden City's gondola-obsessed mayor.

Nice work, Boss Godfrey!

Special thanks to the 7,247 Ogden citizens who voted for the little feller in the 2007 election.

Reader comment are invited as always.