Comments on: Fischer files response in USOC case; judge may rule tomorrow

By: John Whitten

John Whitten — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:28:42 +0000

Free rent on 90,000 sq ft of downtown office space looks a lot like a gift. In fact, if a private landlord offered such free space, there would probably be some significant tax advantage involved, since the market value of such a lease could be construed as a donation.

It is ironic that the city is offering up collateral, in the form of Police and Fire Department properties, while at the same time threatening the taxpayers (aka voters) with police and fire department layoffs because of budget shortfalls.

Maybe the city should issue the COPS to keep the police and fire departments adequately staffed. Does the USOC employ more folks than will be laid off in the police and fire departments.?….I’ll bet they don’t…….

Unfortunately, in the end, it’s a lot sexier to have the Olympic Rings on the city council’s business cards, rather than a police or fire department symbol……pretty sad, really……..

And did anybody catch the Chambers ‘neutral’ position on the mill levy increase? Maybe they’ll explain it to those of us who are ‘ignorant and uninformed’……..

By: Douglas Raskin, MD, DMD

Douglas Raskin, MD, DMD — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:08:16 +0000

At a time when the City Council is trying to convince the taxpayers that there is a need for increasing taxes (real estate mill levy), it seems irrational that the city council would place us more deeply in debt with this massive (certificate of participation) bond issue. If the city council really thought this was a wonderful idea, which would please the Colorado Springs citizens, they would have put this bond issue on the November ballot. Instead, they called the debt a certificate of participation. Ultimately, this is a public debt owed by the taxpayers.
I am amazed that there is not a louder outcry from the public. We all should be grateful for Mr. Fischer’s
legal efforts.

By: owleye

owleye — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:41:24 +0000

Don’t you worry, Lindsay, we’ll get that $225 covered for ya if need be. You go boy!!

By: mike finkbiner

mike finkbiner — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:10:00 +0000

As much as I like having the USOC headquarters here in the Springs, I am not sure I want to mortgage city assets for future generations to be burdened with over the period of time the USOC might decided to call Colorado Springs home.

Thanks to Mr. Fischer for being an advocate for Springs residents. I think all of us have had it with closed door, rubber stamped deals that have put this city in financial trouble.