Is it possible that the long-dysfunctional USOC has finally turned the corner, and is ready to begin the long-painful process of reinventing itself?

Selecting Scott Blackmun as the organization’s new CEO is a giant step in that direction.

Clausewitz’s first principle of warfare: secure your base.

Thanks to the infamous USOC deal between the city of Colorado Springs, LandCo and the USOC, the organization is literally loathed in its home town. Thanks to the many missteps of the organization since Blackmun served as interim CEO a decade ago, the USOC is loathed by its national governing bodies, by many of its athletes, by present and former employees, and by the International Olympic Committee.

That’s why neither New York nor Chicago will host the summer Olympics, and that’s why Blackmun’s appointment is so welcome.

The difference between Scott Blackmun and his immediate predecessors is like the difference between Tonya Harding and Michelle Kwan, or Michael Vick and Peyton Manning. Blackmun has the smarts, the skill and the experience to transform a demoralized, directionless enterprise into what it ought to be-a model nonprofit, admired and emulated, both exemplifying and promoting the Olympic ideal.

Blackmun has been and will remain an engaged, visible member of the community–not a self-important, remote CEO. He’ll do what he has to do to repair the organization’s relationships with the city and its residents, by giving back to the community–not taking.

And since Blackmun has long worked closely with Bill Hybl and El Pomar, his appointment probably means that Hybl will once again enjoy an influential role in the organization - and that’s good news for our city.

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Posted by John Hazlehurst on January 6th, 2010 :: Filed under Blog
Tags :: Scott Blackmun, USOC

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I suppose that we should be all a-twitter, eagerly anticipating the forthcoming announcement that we’ve all be waiting for. Who dat? Who dat? Who dat … gonna run the USOC?

According to a recent column by Phil Hersh of the Chicago Tribune, there are six finalists:

• Sandy Alderson, a former major league baseball vice-president and former CEO of the San Diego Padres
• Scott Blackmun, former USOC general counsel and its acting CEO in 2000-01
• Norm Bellingham, the current chief operating officer of the USOC
• Mark Lewis, who led the joint marketing venture between organizers of the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics and the USOC. Lewis is now president of Jet Set Sports, a global hospitality company with extensive Olympic sports business
• Chuck Wielgus, USA Swimming CEO
• The sixth candidate, whose name is unknown, is the only one from a corporate background with no link to the USOC or the Olympic movement.

Here’s a question - should we care?

Would any of the six make a difference in this city, as well as to the USOC?

As an organization, the USOC is in better shape than, say, Lehman Brothers or Bernie Madoff’s securities business, but that’s about it. During the last few years, the organization has managed to infuriate the International Olympic Committee, alienate the national Olympic committees of most other nations, and blow New York’s bid for 2012 as well as Chicago’s attempt to host the 2016 games.

Apparently acting on the theory that if the tough guys beat you up, you should turn on the weak kids and beat them up in turn, the USOC shook down its bankrupt hometown for $30 million. Result: the organization is actively loathed by most Springs residents.

Can this be turned around?

I don’t know about the national/international stuff. I suspect that a new paradigm is emerging, and that the United States will become less and less influential in the Olympic business (it’s a business, folks, not a ‘movement’) as more countries crash the party and demand a place at the table.

But for Colorado Springs, the best candidate is Scott Blackmun. He lives here, he’s deeply involved in the community, and he’ll know how to mend fences and heal the deep rift between the USOC and its host city. He’s smart enough to realize that it will take years, not months, actions, not soothing remarks.

Meanwhile, I have one New Years’ resolution: I will never enter the building at 27 South Tejon that the city is handing over to the USOC. The building perfectly symbolizes corporate rapacity, governmental incompetence, and bad architecture.

I can forgive the first two, but to go through all that grief and end up with a dismal piece of architrash -  that’s too much!

So to the architectural community, here’s a tip: yes, Virginia, it is possible to build elegant, beautiful, and functional six-story buildings. Just take a walk up Tejon Street, and look at the Hibbard’s building, or at the DeGroff Building … too bad the architects of those two structures died half a century ago, or you could have gotten some useful tips.

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Posted by John Hazlehurst on December 16th, 2009 :: Filed under Blog
Tags :: 27 South Tejon, USOC

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Even my pals, The Coffee Shop Geezers, occasionally come up with worthwhile insights, despite their advanced age(s) and incipient senile dementia.

So it was yesterday, when one of ‘em offered these sour thoughts on the USOC.

“The USOC is loathed in this community, just loathed,” said Mr. X. “They’ve never really been involved in the city anyway. The execs are in the community, but not of the community. They don’t belong to boards, they don’t support local non-profits, they don’t really hire locally. The organization may make a big contribution just by being here, but no one sees that-all they see are the stories about the city closing parks, museums, community centers, swimming pools, and youth sports-and then handing the USOC $30 million. If they just left town and gave the city that damn building back, I think most people would welcome that - even though it’d just be another kick in the butt for the city.”

Mr. X has a point.

The USOC is currently accepting applications for a “Managing director-media and communications” (a fancy way of saying “assistant P.R. director”). It’s a position that any of the scores of experienced sports reporters, editors, and P.R. professionals currently resident in our fair city could easily fill - but none of ‘em will be hired.

That’s because one of the qualifications calls for “a minimum of 8-10 years professional experience in sports public relations or sports marketing environment.” Also, “prior experience within the Olympic movement (is) a plus.”

Well. I guess that disqualifies everyone who’s not already a member of the dysfunctional little club that feasts at that particular trough. Too bad, because the pay’s pretty good. According to the job description (read it & weep, all you employed/semi-employed/unemployed editors/journalists/PR pros) “Salary 131,000-167,000 U.S. Dollar (USD).”

Talk about an incoherent job description!! ‘A minimum of 8-10 years’? Does that mean a minimum of 8 years, 9 years, or 10 years? And ‘salary 131,000-167,000 U.S. Dollar (USD)? That reads like the “Nigerian letters,” which occasionally pop up in your inbox, giving you the good news about your latest lottery win.

Enough carping! Clearly, the USOC needs better PR-and here’s some free advice.

Guys, it really doesn’t do much for your image to scam off $30 million from a broke municipality and appear to give nothing back.

Consider Las Vegas casinos, which are not exactly famous for their generosity. If you spend a weekend there, gamble away tens of thousands, and end up penniless, the casino manager will usually front you a few bucks for a bus ticket home.

In the same spirit, you might offer to pick up the tab for keeping the municipal swimming pools open this summer. Good PR, not all that expensive, and who knows-there might be a budding Michael Phelps out there, with size 16 feet and double-jointed ankles. But unless he learns to swim, he won’t be around for Chicago-oops, I mean Rio-in 2016.

And isn’t that what the Olympic movement is all about-helping America’s kids to be fit and healthy? That’s the line, anyway-and it’s up to you to show us whether you actually believe in your own slogans.

So if you do, just give city council member Sean Paige a call. He’s trying to raise enough money from private sources to keep the community centers, the pools, the Pioneers Museum, and Rockledge Ranch open, and I know that he’d be delighted to hear from you.

Here’s his contact information:

P.O. Box 1575
Colorado Springs, CO 80901Phone: 385-5470
FAX: 385-5495

E-mail address: SPaige@springsgov.com

I know he’ll get right back to you … after all, he was once a professional journalist!

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Posted by John Hazlehurst on December 1st, 2009 :: Filed under Blog
Tags :: pioneers museum, PR, Sean Paige, USOC

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We all want to know who’s in charge, don’t we? And it’s always interesting to speculate about possible candidates for the two most significant job vacancies in our fair city.

Who will the USOC hire as the new CEO of that quarrelsome, dysfunctional organization? And who’s in line to run the nascent 6035 project?

The word on the street (translated: four different people told me at the Chamber dinner) is that the 6035 job has been offered to Rocky Scott, the former CEO of the Economic Development Corp.

Rocky left town a few years back to work on a big real estate project in Larimer County which, like most such projects, is in abeyance due to the recession. It’s a move that might make sense for him, and would certainly give 6035 an instant dose of credibility and gravitas.

Other candidates might include Susan Edmondson, now executive director of the Bee Vradenburg Foundation, Bettina Swigger of COPPeR, or Annie Oatman-Gardner, who now runs Senator Bennet’s regional office. But none of those three formidable individuals are likely to leave their present jobs, so Rocky’s the obvious choice.

Clearly, the 6035 folks will be pilloried if they bring some smarty-pants hotshot from out of town to tell us recalcitrant locals what to do, so we can expect that the search (if there is one) will be confined to folks with deep roots in the community.

Among locals, Scott Blackmun is the only person who has any shot at being considered for the USOC job. Scott’s well-qualified and highly competent, but it’s an impossible position.  The USOC is no ordinary national non-profit, such as, for example, the Ford Foundation. It’s the Afghanistan of nonprofits, a bunch of feudal chieftains fighting over money, power, and territory.

Other than Bill Clinton or Dick Cheney, it’s hard to imagine a new CEO who could crack heads and repurpose the organization, and rebuild the Olympic brand. Both of those gentlemen are otherwise engaged, but I know someone who might be available-and she’ll be right here in town, ready to be interviewed, during Dec. 8. She’s an author, but she has some other relevant experience.

The fierce and formidable point guard herself, Sarah Barracuda!

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Posted by John Hazlehurst on November 25th, 2009 :: Filed under Blog
Tags :: 6035, USOC

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But one I received yesterday, originating from our very own United States Olympic Committee, and provided by a helpful reader, is a minor masterpiece of the art.

It contains all of the elements of the classic press release, i.e.:

• Fake enthusiasm. Does anyone seriously think that our Olympic ath-a-letes are quivering with joy at the very thought of oinking down some li’l pink pills for acid indigestion?
• Frequent product mentions. 11 mentions in less than 400 words-that’s right up there with with the most annoying TV pitchmen.
• Endorsement from C-level celebrity. Sasha Cohen.
• Fake news. Disaster avoided as chewable tabs arrive just in time!

And although the unfortunate writer of the release may not realize it, so inherently bizarre that it could be a Saturday Night Live routine. Can you imagine Tina Fey archly reciting the fourth paragraph-especially the diarrhea, gas, and belching part?

Here’s the release. Read it for yourself.

“Pepto-Bismol® Helps Team USA Keep Their Cool at 2010 Olympic Winter Games In

Vancouver; New Pepto-Bismol Chewables with InstaCool^TM Arrives Just In Time to Send U.S. athletes on their way to competition.

by Lindsay DeWall - U.S. Olympic Committee (719) 866-4529)

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. - As part of Procter & Gamble Co.’s sponsorship of Team USA at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Pepto-Bismol® announced today it will provide all Team USA members with new Pepto-Bismol Chewable Tablets with InstaCool^TM.

Pepto-Bismol Chewable Tablets with InstaCool technology is an innovative new product that provides an instant cooling sensation to signify relief is on the way.

“We know that no one wants to be slowed down by stomach upsets, especially these athletes who may only have a few minutes to execute a medal-winning performance,” said Brand Manager Nathan Fox. “Pepto-Bismol Chewable Tablets with InstaCool technology will help these athletes keep their cool, focus on the task at hand and not let common stomach issues get in the way.”

Pepto-Bismol is the leading choice for people who are looking for one solution to multiple common stomach symptoms such as nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea, gas, belching, and traveler’s diarrhea.

“There are many reasons an athlete may suffer from stomach upsets,” said Dr. James Moeller, USOC Chief Medical Officer. “Travel and foods can cause stomach upsets that may keep our athletes from achieving their goals during competition. It’s comforting to be able to offer them a quality product that combats their stomach symptoms and helps them live their dream.”

Pepto-Bismol is also partnering with Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen as she returns to the ice with the hopes of joining Team USA in Vancouver.

“I’ve got so much going on everyday with managing my hectic practice and competition schedule as I prepare to qualify for Vancouver, so when stomach problems hit, I need a product that I know is going to work,” Cohen said. “The cooling sensation of this new Pepto-Bismol lets me know relief is on the way so I can get back to my busy schedule.”

Cohen and Pepto-Bismol encourage consumers to enter the Pepto InstaCool Sweepstakes* for a chance to win a 5-day/4-night trip to Vancouver to cheer on Team USA with some of the most sought-after event tickets at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.”

Thanks, Lindsay - it brightened our day! And how ‘bout a nice press release highlighting the benefits of your urban sponsor, Colorado Springs ^TM? I’ll even help you write it, and here’s a start!

Come to Colorado Springs^TM and you can forget diarrhea, gas and belching! Thanks to our carefully formulated High Altitude Air^TM…well, you figure out the rest.

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Posted by John Hazlehurst on November 18th, 2009 :: Filed under Uncategorized
Tags :: belching, Colorado Springs, diarrhea, gas, Lindsay DeWall, pepto-bismol, press releases, Sasha Cohen, TV pitchmen, USOC

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The Sports Business Journal reported yesterday that the United States Olympic Committee moved in to new office space yesterday-no, not into the still-unfinished building at 27 South Tejon, but into a cozy little suite at 521 5^th Avenue…in New York City.

And no, it’s not all of the USOC-just the marketing department.

From the SBJ:

“The 3,500-square-foot office, located at 521 Fifth Avenue, will be home to seven full-time employees. It also will be used by USA Track & Field, which will rent an office suite from the USOC large enough to accommodate three to four employees. The USOC marketing department plans to open it to corporate partners and other USOC departments when they visit New York.”

“New York real estate is challenging even in this environment,” said Lisa Baird, the USOC’s chief marketer. “We really wanted to find the right place with the right length of term and something really turnkey and ready for us to move into.”

The office space won’t require any construction. Consumer products head Peter Zeytoonjian is charged with decorating the office space and will establish an office that mirrors the style of the USOC’s headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo., Baird said.

The USOC signed a multiyear lease for the office space.”

Just uninformed speculation, but I wonder whether USOC chief Stephanie Streeter met with Mayor Bloomberg and asked him for free space…just wondering.

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Posted by John Hazlehurst on September 22nd, 2009 :: Filed under Uncategorized
Tags :: New York City, USOC

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Last night’s “town hall” meeting, wherein the hapless public was invited to come to City Hall at 7 p.m. and comment about the U.S. Olympic Committee deal, had all the elements of Kabuki theater.

Councilmembers (excluding Messrs. Glenn and Heimlicher) drifted slowly to the dais and, stone faced, took their seats. The mayor opened the meeting by announcing that members of the public who wished to comment would be allocated a generous six minutes, instead of the miserly three minutes usually permitted to folks who speak about non-agenda issues.

Assistant City Manager Mike Anderson then made his way to the microphone and proceeded to give a 25-minute overview of the deal, aided by a PowerPoint presentation, copies of which were unavailable to the public.

In his presentation, Anderson said that the USOC’s annual economic impact is more than $350 million, and that it and related sports organizations account directly for 910 jobs and indirectly for 2,600 more.

He emphasized the dire consequences that would, in a worst-case scenario, result from the departure of the organization. These consequences include the loss of all USOC-related jobs, as well as the disappearance of the sales and property tax revenue associated directly and indirectly with the organization.

I’ve never been comfortable with so-called “economic impact analyses.”  At best, they give you a crude, but useful, snapshot of the economic impact of a particular business, class of business or economic activity. At worst, they’re deliberately designed to overstate economic impact and benefit organizations which seek preferential treatment from government entities that can hand over the goods.

The problem with Anderson’s analysis is that it presents a static, deterministic view of the USOC, and an equally rigid view of the possible consequences of its departure.

Anderson stated, for example, that the city might lose all of the 910 “direct” jobs, and that most of the folks now employed by the USOC and other sports-related organizations might leave town.

In the real world, individual behavior is much more dynamic and unpredictable.

People who lose their jobs (particularly those lucky enough to live in the “Best City in America”) are as likely to look for new employment or start their own businesses as to pull up stakes and leave town. And it’s worth pointing out that the USOC deal, if approved by council, guarantees only that the USOC will keep its headquarters in town.

It’s silent concerning the national governing bodies and the Olympic Training Center, which together account for most of the direct jobs.

Moreover, regional economies are far more resilient than such models indicate.

Schumpeter’s classic description of capitalism as a process of “creativedestruction,” wherein new business and business models shoulder aside the old, applies regionally as well as globally. Businesses, be they Intel, Apple or MCI, grow, thrive and fade away, and others arise to take their place.

In his presentation, Anderson also attributed $4.6 million in annual property tax revenue to the USOC and associated entities. That might be true, but remember that property tax collections do not depend upon ownership. Real estate is real estate — and whoever owns it pays the bill — or doesn’t.

In fact, all the land and improvements that comprise the Olympic Training Center at 1750 E. Boulder, which have a 2008 assessed valuation of $44,154, 258, are classified as “exempt charitable,” and are thereby exempted from those pesky property taxes.

As the evening wore on, it seemed clear that city officials see no alternativeother than to approve the deal. Councilmembers, it appears, believe that the USOC holds the whip hand, and that they have little choice but to vote “yea.”

So, after so many months of “sturm und drang,” it’s almost time for the play to come to an end.

Will LandCo, the city and the USOC go off into the sunset, hand in hand in hand, and live happily ever after?

Will Mayor Lionel Rivera, as a senior councilmember predicted last night, just get “a slap on the wrist” from the ethics commission and walk away unscathed?

Will Ray Marshall dodge the district attorney’s bullet and remain unindicted?

And will USOC boss of bosses Stephanie Streeter show up for the final act on Tuesday afternoon, and at least smile gracefully as council hands her organization $40 million or $50 million?

I’ll be there — at least until the ADD kicks in …

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Posted by John Hazlehurst on August 7th, 2009 :: Filed under Blog
Tags :: Apple, Council, Intel, MCI, Mike Anderson, NGBs, OTC, property taxes, Ray Marshall, Rivera, Schumpeter, Stephanie Streeter, USOC

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Finally playing two long-postponed games, the Colorado Springs nine failed to score a single run during 18 innings, playing both LandCo and the USOC at Imaginary Field in downtown Colorado Springs.

While most pundits gave the nod to the powerful USOC team, the Springs had been expected to dispose of LandCo fairly easily. Since the last meeting between the two, LandCo had been riven by internal disputes, and by the off-field problems of star pitcher Ray Marshall.

Long suspected of throwing spitters, Marshall was both feared and despised by both opponents and former teammates. Rumors have swirled around Marshall for months, as anonymous accusers have alleged that he conspired with Colorado Springs manager Lionel Rivera to fix games, and even bet on the results through secret bank accounts. As a result of these allegations, which are reportedly under investigation by Commissioner Dan May, it was though that Marshall’s career had come to a sad and ignominious end.

Neither Marshall nor Rivera have commented on the allegations, although some of their teammates have publicly supported each man. Recent additions Steve Long and John Stinar, both acquired in mid-season to shore up the top of LandCo’s batting order, have been Marshall’s biggest fans and most valuable teammates, coming with game-winning hits and sparkling defensive plays.

Eagerly anticipated by fans of all three teams, the two end-of-season games would decisively affect the standings in both leagues. Two teams would advance to the playoffs-and one would stay home.

LandCo’s Marshall took the mound against a visibly overconfident Colorado Springs team. The leadoff batter, player/manager Rivera, was caught looking at a called third strike, as Marshall threw one of his famous sinkers. Rivera protested bitterly to umpire Mike Moran, but to no avail. Moran pronounced the ball clean, as Marshall smirked at his one-time teammate from the Class D Monument Mudlarks.

Subsequent batters fared no better. Cleanup hitter Mike Anderson seemed to lack bat speed, as he failed to connect on three straight swings. First basewoman Pat Kelly fared no better, hitting a weak grounder back to the mound, which Marshall contemptuously tossed underhanded to first base for the out.

Final score: LandCo two free & clear floors in a downtown building, Colorado Springs zero.

While Marshall, Longand their LandCo teammates celebrated, the Springs had to take the field immediately against the USOC’s fearsome lineup.

Some observers predicted that the USOC’s frequent lineup changes had created a team that, although talented, didn’t have the cunning or guile to defeat the city. That wasn’t the case.

To the surprise of many observers, Rivera had let the trading deadline pass without acquiring any new players. Perhaps, as seasoned sports observer John Whitten claimed, that’s because no one wanted any of the players whom Rivera had repeatedly tried to trade. Fireballing lefty Tom Gallagher has been in the manager’s doghouse for months, and seems certain to leave the team when his contract is up. Kelly, Larry Small, and Randy Purvis are veterans at the end of their careers, and promising youngsters such as Bernie Herpin need a few more years in the league to realize their potential.

Rookie pitcher Stephanie Streeter, in her first appearance in Colorado Springs, utterly overpowered the hometown boys (and girls), throwing a dazzling array of fastballs, tightly-breaking curves, and a particularly devastating splitter to silence Springs batters.

Rivera, who has been criticized for staying with the same lineup throughout the season, stuck to Anderson, Kellyand Scott Hente at the top of the lineup, inserting himself into the cleanup spot.

“That’s an incomprehensible decision” said seasoned baseball observer Freddie W., who proudly wears his own World Series ring, “Rivera can’t hit, he can’t run, and he can’t even see the curveball, let alone hit it. He should leave the game, and get a job at a bank.”

Final score: USOC 53 million, Colorado Springs zero.

It’s about what we expected,” said Streeter, “we came here expecting to score 53 million or so, so we’re happy with the outcome.”

After the game, Rivera and his players dodged the press, scheduling an end-of-season press conference at 4 p.m.

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Posted by John Hazlehurst on July 31st, 2009 :: Filed under Blog
Tags :: LandCo, USOC

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As the new USOC deal, like some cawing raven of doom, figuratively flaps from one group of lawyers to another, from one dithering board to another, eventually to settle on city hall, what will we see? With yet more apologies to the restless spirit of Edgar Allan Poe, here’s what we may see.

Once upon a closed session dreary, as Council pondered, bored and bleary
Over many a quaint and curious ordinance and law
While they nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at the council door.
“Tis some reporter,” Lionel muttered, “tapping at our council door -
Only this, and nothing more.”

“Surely,” said he, “surely that is some impudent intruder:
Let me expel the fool, so we can explore -
Let Gallagher be still a moment, and give the USOC more -
It’s taxpayer money-nothing more.”

Open he flung the Council door, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

“Prophet!” quoth Gallagher, “thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether Marshall sent, or lawyers willed thee here ashore,
Tax revenues have shrunk on this desert land enchanted -
On this city by Bruce haunted- tell me truly, I implore -
Must we pay? Wilt thou stay, even without money more?”
Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

Deep into that darkness peering, council cowered, wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming of revenues gone forever;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And councilmembers, promises broken, still sought a reassuring token:
This Small whispered,,barely murmuring, “We have no more!”

“Wilt thou stay? For only love, and nothing more?”
Quoth the Raven: “Nevermore!”

“Lawyer!” said Herpin, “thing of evil - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by the USOC that we adore -
Tell this pol with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
We shall clasp that radiant maiden whom the angels name USOC -
Poor and penniless, we still love her, but we must retain our money

Will we yet clasp her, she whom angels name USOC?”
Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

“You shall have our money, bird or fiend,” Council promised, now voting -
Take it to Stephanie on her sunny Olympian shore!
Leave five rings as a token of the half-truths thy lawyers have spoken!
Do not leave our loneliness unbroken!-take the money beside the door!
Take thy hand from out our wallet, and do not ask for any more!”
Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

The city, like some forlorn, about-to-be jilted suitor, is not negotiating with the USOC-they’re begging. As we’ve often predicted in this space, the USOC knows what it wants, and the city is clearly afraid to challenge the grand poo-bahs of that august organization. Instead, they’re simply scrambling to find a face-saving way of giving their Olympian majesties what they want.

It’s also clear that councilmembers, like so many scrawny hounds frantically digging for a long-buried bone, are utterly fixated on the deal. Is it a good deal or a bad deal? Is it really likely that the USOC and the OTC would close up shop and leave town if they don’t get exactly what they want? Is the pre-recession eco-devo model of “give them money and they will come (or stay)” still relevant? And if we are, as Outside magazine suggests, the best city in the nation, do we need to act as if we’re some nasty, godforsaken burg sweltering through another Midwestern summer?

When the city unveils the deal, we know one thing that it will surely contain: a pricetag. It’ll be a big, fat pricetag, and all those silly little laws that require voter approval of new debt and/or taxes are once again inoperative. Certificate of Participation-not debt!! New fees-not taxes!!!

That may be one of the reasons that our otherwise reasonable electorate has become even more obdurately anti-tax of late. It may be that they’ve figured out that, whether or not they approve taxes at the ballot box (or, in our case, at the mail-in envelope), our elected officials will figure out ways of getting the dough anyway. So we might as well slow ‘em down, or our taxes will be raised…forevermore!

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Posted by John Hazlehurst on July 29th, 2009 :: Filed under Blog
Tags :: certificates of participation, Edgar Allan Poe, Herpin, Outside, Rivera, Small, Taxes, the Raven, USOC

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“History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.”- Karl Marx

Last week, councilmember Jerry Heimlicher vowed loudly and publicly that, joined by a majority of his colleagues, he would insist that council be updated on the USOC deal in open session.

That didn’t happen. 

Yesterday during the informal City Council meeting, avisibly chastened Heimlicher made only fleeting reference to his former devotion to the public’s right to know,  saying that “the press has reported that we’re within days of a new EDA (economic development agreement), and we promised the public that it wouldn’t be done behind closed doors.”

Assistant city manager Mike Anderson, who introduced himself as “assistant city attorney Mike Anderson,” gave a brief presentation on the progress of the deal.

A grim-faced Anderson characterized the negotiations as “complex,” involving as many as 13 lawyers representing the interests of the city, LandCo, and the USOC.  He noted that the USOC had not yet “staffed this to their board,” and that, since the organization’s board members are dispersed throughout the country, meetings are more difficult to plan than those of city council.

Mayor Rivera chimed in, saying that “I’ve been very cautious (about forecasting the date of a new EDA).  (But) the intention of Scott (Hente) and myself and Mike is to have a very public (process).”

Anderson finished his presentation by, in essence, saying that the “finalized agreement” would be brought to council for a public unveiling as soon as it was…well, agreed and finalized.

Councilmembers, having nothing of substance to talk about, then ruminated at length on what to call the document that they so yearn to see.  “Finalized agreement” sounded too much like a take it or leave it backroom deal-how about “finalized draft”?  Or maybe “coordinated draft?” 

Then, as if actors in Kabuki theater, councilmembers fell into long-practiced rituals, praising city staff, and condemning the evildoers of the media.

Vice mayor Larry Small sorrowfully sympathized with Mike Anderson.

“I see the anguish on your face,” he said, “and I hope when this is over you can go back to looking 20 years younger than your age.”

And councilmember Tom Gallagher’s often-tangled rhetoric reached new highs.

“So we need to mitigate the malcontents,” he said, referring to the ink-stained wretches of the fourth estate, “you ignore ‘em, they just grow and fester.”

“Growing and festering”- that’s us! 

Despite the happy talk, it seems clear that the proposed deal has hit some major snags.  If your mortgage broker tells you that your application is “very complex-but we’re making very good progress,” that means you’re not getting the loan.  If your attorney-or your assistant city manager-looks like death warmed over as he announces that 13 attorneys are working on your “very complex” business deal, you’d better hire a bankruptcy lawyer.

What’s holding up the deal?  We don’t know, but we can guess.

Holdup # 1: LandCo can’t perform according to the terms of the original EDA, but they can prevent a new deal from being done.  It’s simple: pay ‘em, and they’ll go away.

Holdup # 2: The original deal called for LandCo to give the USOC  16 million big ones.  LandCo can’t do it-but the USOC still wants the $-show us the money!!

Holdup # 3: The city is broke, and getting broker by the week.  The usual suspects-El Pomar, the state, local philanthropists aren’t stepping forward.  So where’s the money?

Holdup # 4:  The city doesn’t want anything in writing when it comes to the $16 million-no use getting those unmitigated malcontents all riled up!  The taxpayers just wouldn’t understand…but the USOC wants cash, or a firm commitment to provide the cash at a date certain.  Money talks, BS walks.

Actually, the deal’s simple.  Just find lots of money, and give everybody some!  That’s fine-but don’t ask the taxpayers.

“Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them… well, I have others” - Groucho Marx

 

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Groucho Marx

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Posted by John Hazlehurst on July 14th, 2009 :: Filed under Blog
Tags :: Groucho Marx, Jerry heimlicher, Kabuki Theater, Karl Marx, LandCo, larry Small, Lionel rivera, Mike Anderson, Scott hente, Tom Gallagher, USOC

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