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| Image: State of the city. I ran into the Mayor yesterday while walking my bike through campus. When I asked her how her day was she stated that it wasn't going terribly well. She cited Robert Speer's review of the State of the City in the latest episode of the News and Review as a reason for her chagrin. In part, Speer writes (see here for entire CNR editorial)... That was quite a love-in Tuesday night (Jan. 26) at City Council chambers, when the city of Chico staged—I use the term purposely—its own State of the City gathering for the first time. It wasn’t at all like past State of the City events. Heretofore these annual exercises in municipal self-accounting and self-promotion have been sponsored by the Chico Chamber of Commerce and presented before a breakfast crowd of business owners, people who aren’t shy about asking sharp questions. The events have also been formatted to allow each of the seven council members time to speak, which has usually led to some spirited back-and-forth about city policies and practices. Councilman Larry Wahl, in particular, has been famous for calling his more-liberal colleagues to account for what he sees as their anti-business and anti-libertarian stances. There was none of that Tuesday night. The whole thing was carefully scripted, beginning with a slide presentation—prepared by City Clerk Debbie Presson and narrated by Mayor Ann Schwab—touting the city’s accomplishments during 2009, from finalizing the Bidwell Park Master Management Plan (no mention of the $600,000 cost) to winning an award of excellence for the new City Plaza (no mention of cost there, either). There's more to Speer's review and I would encourage people to read it. As someone in the news business he noticed the lack of critique involved in the event. Little honest introspection and dialogue was presented. It came off as a marketing vehicle. Had I watched the entire event I probably would have bought into the Chico time-share unveiled at the end. I myself didn't watch the entire State of the City. An adjacent channel was covering the purchase of a new "Man-Cave" by Brad Pitt. Whether or not this is indicative of a Brangelina divorce I don't know. We can all hope that they stay together, otherwise I'm not sure who will adopt and raise Haiti. Possibly Madonna. When I did watch the State of the City I vacillated between mild approval and feeling like I drank a six-pack of cream soda (if you've quaffed that much cream soda you understand what I mean). However, on the Mayor's behalf, I'm going to offer a positive review of the State of the City. I'm going to give it 2-Smiley Face stickers and 1-Frowny Face sticker. 1 Smiley Face: I thought Mayor Schwab's narration and description of city accomplishments was well done. It's very easy to criticize the cost of large projects. It's very easy to find fault with specific portions of projects. I do it all the time. It's also easy to point at the high pay some city employees receive and just demand that they do a great job for great pay, with no recognition. They have balanced the budget during tough economic times. In all likelihood they have even tougher times ahead. It is worthwhile to look back at their accomplishments, let go of the criticism, and recognize the contribution they make to the community. Our city's employees and our public servants deserve a pat on the back every now and again. Mayor Schwab did that. She took the high road and put a happy face on the city. That should be okay. I think if we billed the event a "State of the City Employees" we'd better understand why it was produced the way it was. 1 Smiley Face: Whether it be the draught downing democrats at Duffy's, or resource raising republicans at Rotary, the people of Chico are good people. We should try to have a positive outlook for the future of our town. We should try to work together so solve our problems. Mayor Schwab made these points. Since I've started writing this blog I've met so many great people. That includes the people that work at CARD, the many non-profits in our town, the young people from CSU Chico, and our hard-working, clean-cut, police force. It also includes our park users... the horse people (not centaurs), hikers, dog-walkers, swimmers, rock climbers, mountain bikers, runners, hangliders, and frisbee flingers. All good people. I get where the Mayor and the City Clerk, who put together the State of the City video, were coming from. They wanted to display the positive aspects of last year's accomplishments. There is a place for that. 1 Frowny Face: A number of our elected officials work in jobs funded by the taxpayer. Our city workers definitely work in jobs funded by the taxpayer. Unemployment nationwide is over 10%, and closer to 13% in our town. In contrast, government worker unemployment is estimated to be around 3.6%. I think I could make an argument that City of Chico employee unemployment is pretty much 0%. The public mood is somber, and could be fairly described as fearful of our economic future. The "State of the City" meeting failed to reflect the public mood, and seemed out of touch. The rosy picture seemed more appropriate to a corporate retreat than a public presentation. There is a place for celebrating the accomplishments our city workers string together over the year. I think Mayor Schwab did a fine job with that. In the future they should avoid the "Yeah Me!" appearance, especially when the rest of us are stocking up on Top Ramen. |
State of the City
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Lon
About Me: Fasten your seatbelts for an exhilarating trip through Chico's public policy; I guarantee it's marginally better than public access TV.
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my son wants to know why "drought" is pronounced "drowt" but "draught" is pronounced "draft." got anything? I always take the fifth with spelling questions, you know, I hate to be negative.
I started to read Speer's piece, but I couldn't believe he agreed with me, figured it was a sign of imminent disaster and put the paper back on the rack. I always read the N&R right before a hockey game, so I forget everything I read anyway.
Doodlebug, if that's who you really are,
In the 18th century there was a dramatic reduction in precipitation worldwide. This coincided with the invention and use of the steam engine. Since these engines ran on steam, there was much less water in the atmosphere. You can read more on this topic in the UN's Intergalactic Panel on Climate Conundrums report.
During this time little surface water was available and people began to substitute beer for drinking water. The terms draught and drought both originate from that time period. At the time "f"s and "w"s had not yet been invented. In fact, the alphabet of that era only had 22 letters.
It wasn't until much later when "fast writing" became fashionable (just before the invention of "fast food") that the letters "f" and "w" were added. "Z" and "i" also became part of the lexicon at that time. That's the reason why xylophone is not spelled zilofone. You'll sometimes still run into old spellings of words like xyebra and xyoo as well.
I'm pretty good with history as well as spelling, if your kids need any more help.
Lon
(theme song to Rawhide playing in the background)
Bob Speer's been around these parts long enough to know who's doing who, what's going down and whaz up. He knew these people when they were all whipper snappers and juvenile delinquents.
Well, my kid will love your take on the spelling game - when can you start?
Meanwhile, I been checking around, snoop, snoop, down at the city, sniff, sniff, and apparently, somebody is rattling your chain. I talked to some of the biggest gossips down there, and they ain't heard nothin about no memo about no park commissioners houses being shot at. The other one that had told me suddenly denies knowing anything. Hmmmm.
And I mean, these are people who live with their ears to the wall, it's the only thrill they get down there, all packed in pencil shavings all day. You notice how fast that "takes three parking spaces" stuff got back - I mean, they wiped their chins and did a 3 Stoodges getting out the door. All I did was mention it on your blog. WHAM!
I know, you get bored down there too. I try to keep things as lively as I can, but you know, got laundry, got active reading exercises, got ALGEBRA! Can't entertain people 24-7.
And now, it is time to go to the grocery store, do some hunting and gathering. Yesterday my husband and son took our sheep dog out to Corning (he thinks he's a bird dog, it's the craziest thing, the birds seem to believe him). They got me some wild chickens - which will be very nice under some apple pulp and garlic. See, I'm from Glenn County, I was taught, "you shoot it, you eat it."
Can't you just see me trying to shove a park commissioner into my oven?
Unfortunately, your sources are wrong.
Lon
wow, Gladys, you are just determined.
"Unfortunately, your sources are wrong."
Wow, you are the master baiter. What the hell is that? You know something, but you are determined to squeeze as much as you can get out of it? Are you having fun? What, you want me to beg? you remind me of my brother, holding the key to my bike lock over my head, daring me to hit him in the mouth. I kicked him in the nuts. My dad laughed so hard he had to go sit down.
I'll tell you what the one guy said - "all I know is what I read in Lon's blog."
You know, my grampa used a machine to spread manure - he would have loved to have a guy who could just spray it out of his mouth.
Did you just insult me? No more blog for you Juanito.
I have a FOIA request in to the city. They have something like 10 working days to honor it. That means I should have it back this week. I have plenty of documentation showing who made an accusation, when they made it, and who they accused. I have the call number for the police response. I've spoken to the police department.
What I don't have is confirmation that this was just one out-of-touch individual accusing people of ridiculous things, or whether there's more to it. I'm going to wait for the FOIA to come back before I decide what to publish or how to publish what I do know.
Patience grasshopper...
Lon