January 2013

UPDATED: So how long will it take the SF media to manipulate this survey?

As I pointed out the last time the city did a survey, the media and the city council used the results to go on a campaign of half-truths to push their agenda;

A recent survey by the Parks Department reveals community interest in an indoor pool. Sixty percent of the respondents said the city needs indoor swimming opportunities.

Another partial fact the ED Board throws out there. If you look at the ratios of that survey, 1 in 7 of that 60% support an indoor pool subsidized by taxpayers, the other 6 want it paid for by user fees. We know how the city operates these facilities, they will NEVER be self-sustaning.

But the mayor wants you to know he is listening to the little guy;

“This is good old fashioned government, I think at its best. It is where you can actually pay more attention to the citizens of your community than those special interest groups or those power players, in terms of prioritizing your government,” Mayor Mike Huether said.

Is this the same Mike Huether I know? Who took our mayor and replaced him with Kermit Staggers? Mike has said some pretty hypocrital things, but that above statement takes the freaking cake.

You can see the survey here.

UPDATED: I just caught this little tidbit on the survey.

What a crock. What is the ‘higher fee’ we will be paying for snowgates? I do not ever recall getting a bill in the mail for snow removal from the city. It seems the city doesn’t even understand that you BUDGET for snow removal out of the 1st penny. There are NO fees involved with that budget, except for the penny you pay in taxes. It is unbelievable that while city hall says the sky is falling because we have to spend a couple of extra million a year on snowgates but when it comes to an Events Center the talk was NO NEW TAXES.

How much do municipal outdoor pools cost taxpayers during the winter?

I have had it with this talking point from city councilors and people in our local media;

“It just makes me sick when I drive past Drake Springs pool during the winter and see it sitting empty.” (sic)

First off, get over your sour grapes already. Voters CHOSE and outdoor pool over an indoor pool. It’s a done deal. Secondly, an indoor municipal pool will cost $$$ to operate year round. How much do our outdoor pools cost us during the winter when they are closed? NOTHING.

“It just makes sick when I drive past Elmwood in the middle of January and don’t see anybody playing golf, what a waste of a good golf course.”

Mayor Huether takes his Listening & Learning session to church & talks snowgates

I was a little surprised when I heard that Huether held his last L & L session at First Lutheran church. Someone in attendance told me that Huether talked about snowgates, and he will be making a ‘surprise’ announcement in March about them. I am not going to make any predictions as to what that announcement may or may not be, but I have said that the mayor does want to take credit for implementing snowgates. God forbid a citizen advocate like Stehly, or the citizens voting for them get the credit for implementing them. As Stehly has said to me, she thinks it would be ‘fantastic’ if Huether implemented them before the 2014 vote, because the ultimate goal all along was to get snowgates. I do see two hiccups with Huether implementing them. First he will have to get a majority of the council on board, because they will have to vote on it, or at least approve the budget to purchase them. The other issue I have with it is that Huether and his directors will be writing the ordinance, instead of citizens. In other words, they will be able to use them when it is convenient for them, not for us.

I guess we will just have to wait until March to hear his BIG announcement. I am not holding my breath until then.

This isn’t the L & L session, but in this episode he teaches the kids how to shake hands;

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LshotE9Qo-0[/youtube]