By Jerry Haferkamp
Well, from reading the last issue of FCN, it seems we have a candidate for Chief of Police I’m sure the Mayor will support. His background has all her essentials. He served in Peoria for a short time (before he was apparently told to get out of Dodge) during which it is reported anonymous letters were sent to harm the reputations of innocent people and police were apparently used to spy on some of the opposition. He has also been away from Police work long enough that he probably isn’t capable of wrenching control of the our Police Department from the F.O.P. Sounds like Patti found her perfect “fit”.
All are welcomed to attend the gala at the Convention Center showcasing the new facility. No, this is not the same “invitation only” event that was held some time ago so the “losers and takers” could pat themselves on the back for building a building. Also, it is not going to be the next one they use to pat themselves on the back for the same thing. Not the one after that, either. Actually, it will be the fourth such event, where the folks who are footing the bill get to come in and pat the contractors on the back for doing what they were paid to do. How many of you “commoners” out there have had your employer throw you a party every time you completed a task you were hired to do?
It seems strange there couldn’t be a one time, all invited gala so we could all rub elbows with the folks who are benefiting from our spending. By doing four separate events, the Convention and Sports Authority, hand in hand with the equally inept Convention and Visitors Bureau, will spend nearly one half of a million dollars to pat themselves on the back for getting a building built. This also comes out of a budget that even the “losers and takers” say won’t be in the black the first 10 years.
This is just the beginning, folks. I’m sure it will follow the Convention and Sports Authority’s other venture, the enormously successful Family Arena. They’re off to a great start. Half a million in the hole is a great resume enhancement for the type of people who are “in charge” of your money. I think the ability to blow literally millions of your money with no feelings of remorse is a prerequisite for the job. It wouldn’t surprise me if they threw themselves a party every month to celebrate the fact the building hadn’t fallen down in the previous month. This party throwing is the epitome of how Ronald Reagan described government when he said government is like a baby—a voracious appetite on one end and no sense of responsibility on the other.
The structure has been described as “beautiful” and “warm”. It, unfortunately, has never been described as “profitable”. Nor, in the opinion of most who have read the studies on centers of this size, will it ever be.
Jay Underdown of the NICE organization has asked that I mention he could use some helping hands at the polls next election to get signatures on the petitions to recall Mayor York. Judging by the public outcry at the recent combined ward meeting concerning her bullheaded actions and lack of honor in the matter of not getting the best candidate appointed Police Chief, there should be plenty of folks willing to volunteer. If you want to help clean up the mess at City Hall and get this City back into the hands of the people who pay the freight, call Jay at 723-4200. Bad government occurs when good people do nothing.
While Stevie may not be able to be fired, one resident at the multi-ward meeting suggested making his salary low enough that he would quit.
I’ll drink to that!
