Here's something you haven't and won't see in the PDN, that happened at the City Council this week. It's a seemingly small event, but one that signals another potential bank-breaking boondoggle in Port Angeles.
The Mayor, Dan DiGuilio, during the Council reports, explained that he had just visited the city of Ocean Shores to see how they run their Convention Center. He further stated that he will soon be visiting three more cities north of Seattle to see how they manage their Convention Centers.
Hey! It's fun to spend your money!
That's a lot of time and travel by the Mayor, don't you think? I'm sure he wouldn't spend his time doing all this without knowing...something. Sounds to me like the City still has the Convention Center bug.
Hey, Dan, here's something I can tell you, and you don't have to leave home to learn it. Ready? The fact is, Dan, something like 95% of Convention Centers RUN IN THE RED. In other words, they are NOT moneymakers. They are, however, very expensive to build, promote, and maintain.
It makes no sense for a remote, rundown and broke City like Port Angeles to want to build a Convention Center - especially giving our glaring lack of quality of life, as noted by NOAA and others. (Translation for City Council members: WHY would anyone want to come here?)
The trouble is, because it makes no sense, it may seem to make perfect sense to the yahoos on the City Council. (Pat Downie talks about it incessantly.) And doubtlessly some key staff members are helping fan the flames as well.
Do you think a Convention Center here makes sense? Do you want the City to spend more money it doesn't have to pursue this pipe dream? We'll hold an online convention right here - tell us what you think.
Oh Christ, here we go again.
ReplyDeletePlease tell me he doesn't get reimbursed for mileage when he makes these fools errands...
CK, you're exactly right.
ReplyDeleteIt is well known that convention centers lose money. The arguments for them include the "spin-off benefits" to area hotels, food joints and bars.
But, as you also point out, successful convention centers (not necessarily as money makers, but in supporting the local economy) are located in cities that have something for convention attendees to do, when not convening.
Oh! That's right. They'll swarm over to the new concrete sidewalk to enjoy the stunning views of the oil tankers in the harbor, and of the smoke pouring out of the stacks at Nippon.
How fast do you think the convention organizer would get fired, if they booked their clients here, instead of Las Vegas or Honolulu? Or, Victoria.
I forgot to mention that the 95% of Convention Centers that exist lose money - but those are the ones that "made it" past the first year or two of operations. Many Convention Centers just outright fail in their first couple of years. FAIL. OUTRIGHT. Sounds like something this Council could do, doesn't it?
DeletePort Angeles couldn't even keep a small movie theater in business. Does anyone REALLY think that a convention center here would be anything other than an enormous money pit?
ReplyDeleteI don't wish to sound overly rude or sarcastic, because the following is intended as an actual question: How did we end up with so much stupidity in City Hall?
If Downie and DiGuilio want a convention center so badly, and think it's such a great idea, I suggest they pay for it out of their own pockets, and stop trying to pay for things out of ours.
Exactly! I doubt that either of these dolts would be so gung-ho if it was THEIR money on the line.
DeleteWhy is DiGuilio doing this? Why is he making these trips? Is there a proposal on the table? Has there been a market study done? A feasibility study? Or is this another City Council equivalent of "Hey, let's put on a show"?
It's a world full of studies, reports and information of all kinds. It's just a shame that the people on the City Council don't take advantage of these free educational resources, and instead depend on the say-so of dead-end staffers and do-nothing "business leaders" who don't know what the hell they're talking about.
You mean, research and actually THINK? Of course, this hasn't been done. Duh...we don't do that, we HIRE expensive consultants to do that.
DeleteTo correct you...We HIRE expensive consultants FROM OUT OF THE AREA to do that.
DeleteAnd those consultants generally get the picture pretty quickly.
Result: Either cheapo sawblades or $25 million dollar park makeovers.
Correction Noted, CK. Yes, indeed, they MUST be out-of-the-area because the powers that hire don't trust anyone in town, but their greedy little cronies and minions.
DeleteOh, I guess you missed out on the part of the current project down on the famous "Oak Street property". Remember, the one where the current sitting city council person, who is a real estate agent, is working on the sale while in office?
DeleteThe "out of town" developer, from Alaska, has been negotiating with the City for 3,000 sq ft of "convention center" space. I suspect this is why "Danny Boy" is doing this investigation.
Sweet deal, that. Guaranteed rent from the City for a project not even built yet?
So nice to see our two Dans working as one cohesive, corrupt unit, isn't it?
DeleteSo I see that the Smart Meter people were out picketing and protesting at City Hall last Tuesday. Good for them. They join a long, long list of dissatisfied Port Angeles residents.
ReplyDeleteSo here's an idea.
Smart Meters. The Lincoln Park trees. The CSO Turd Tank and our skyrocketing utility rates. The totally dysfunctional PADA. The multi-million dollar bus stop. The multi-million dollar waterfront. Nippon's biomass project and air monitors. Failure of the city to support the PAFAC. And now the convention enter idea, and on and on and on.
In other words, the city has managed to initiate projects that have actively alienated or pissed off the vast majority of the people who live here. It never seems to end. So what if this blog became a place to organize ONE BIG PROTEST or protest movement aimed at City Hall, with the goal of getting the city council to just shut up, sit down, and actively listen to their upset citizens for a couple of hours straight through. No more of this piecemeal stuff - let's drop one big ENOUGH bomb on them.
If nothing else, it would feel good to be part of a large group, venting our frustration, and doing so to the people actively causing it. I'm not quite suggestion a revolution, but rather making sure it's understood that we're revolted.
Can we set a date? Please?
As much as I completely agree and sympathize, I'm not sure you could get many people to actually show up. Resignation runs pretty rampant.
DeleteI was laughing to myself last night as I mulled over these issues. Back to that definition of "Crazy". Doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. Sounds like voting for City Council candidates here.
If you do organize a protest event, what will be the goal? Fire the City Manager?
I don't think just saying "Listen to us" will get you anywhere. Every one of them will tell you how much they care about our views. That hasn't gotten us anywhere.
Not saying no.. just wanting to think about 'the goal".
I LOVE THIS IDEA.
DeleteIf something like this happens, it'll be interesting to see how many City Council members are absent that night. They might have trouble getting a quorum.
If this happens, there have to be press releases sent out to the media across the peninsula, across western Washington, and even in Victoria. The only hope of maybe possibly moving these peoples finger off the stupid button is widespread shaming.
Delete"Gosh, I'm just so glad you all came out tonight to share your concerns with us. I want to thank each and every one of you, and assure you that your voices have been heard."
DeleteThe next day: business as usual.
Nothing will change here. Well, nothing will change here for the better, that it. The changes that occur will be negative - the further ruination of the town, further degrading of infrastructure, rising utility rates, rising retail vacancy rates. In Port Angeles, that's change I can believe in.
Reading the PDN in any form is always pretty grim. Reading the totally clueless comments that make of 99% of the responses on their website is even more depressing. Thanks, CK, for providing not only an alternative source of information, but also another forum for a more rational, informed conversation.
ReplyDeleteIt's not negative to be opposed to bad ideas. The problem is that here in Port Angeles and Clallam County we are rich with bad ideas being imposed on us from the top down, and that makes for a restless and angry populace.
Hey, Mayor...You know, those cities north of Seattle? They are, um, close to Seattle. Right? In other words, they are close to a major city, a major airport, and many major attractions. You know, the kinds of things that help facilitate attracting conventions.
ReplyDeletePort Angeles? Well, we're close to Forks. But the Twilight thing is played out, so...Other than that, I can't see why anyone would want to come here for a convention or anything else. Conventioneers don't generally go out hiking, so even the ONP isn't a help there.
Of course, if the theme of a convention was something like "Close-Up Studies of Dying Communities," well then, we'd have a reasonably good shot at it.
Is Mayor D'G required to write up or otherwise report on his findings when he takes these junkets to convention centers in other places? If not, he should do so. Regular citizens should be allowed to benefit from his research.
DeleteMaybe a comparison with what the Alaskan developer is proposing for the Oak Street property would help people oppose the city's foolish plan to help pay for it with guaranteed rent money.
the "small" conventions don't make money, and we don't have adequate hotels for most conventions, anyway. This is stupid. It's been a stupid idea for years. If the city WANT to try their hand at convention-ing, tell them to use a building that is already in existence. Rent the closed Walmart Store. Use one of the Safeways that will ultimately close down (after their merger with Albertsons) The problem with conventions is you need to have someone who KNOWS the business, and those people aren't going to relocate to this out-of-the-way place. And, might I add, building a convention business takes time, lots and lots of time -- and we're too myopic and ADD around here. Plus, you need to have a very, very STRONG and "together" Chamber, which we do not. We have a moron in charge, with about as much together as a meth-addicted inbred family fighting over a dollar.
ReplyDeleteAll good points. But I have a question for you. Do you think that Russ and the Chamber crowd are aware that they'd be out of their league if something like this got built? Or would they give it their "best" shot and totally muff it?
DeleteI have to tell you, personally, I think it's the latter.
I could not agree more. They would blame and blame and blame other things, and still try and promote that it was a success even if it was not.
DeleteThe Smart Meters are going to be a wonderful way for the city to totally fuss with the bill, for the maximum fees for everyone. However, they are prone to viruses, hacks, and other insecurity so that homeowners can also adjust the bills. That part scares the city to death...that we could adjust our bills, and lower their revenue. They also chose a "dog" of a vendor. Typical...took the money and ran. But, we all saw that coming.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that this town has no vision. The problem is that people WITH vision don't trust the town. The key players are lacking...without a visionary in the Chamber job, and not having a scarecrow (needing a brain) in the PADA job, and without people in other key positions who won't back stab, and backroom deal, and not "committee things to death" we have no leadership. We have a WEAK MAYOR government, a city Manager position that is mostly busy with clerical, and city council that seems to want to spin their wheels. I don't think anyone actually "gets it" that new ideas are good. All the people with vision and spirit have, long ago, left the building.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has also left the building, I'd urge all the remaining people with vision and spirit to also get out, and get out ASAP. Life really is better outside of Clallam County.
DeleteI check in here from time to time to see how the rot in Port Angeles in proceeding. It's a good laugh, and a good reminder of how right it was to leave. That place is utterly hopeless and completely poisonous.
Really, there is life - GOOD LIFE - beyond the confines of Port Angeles and Clallam County. Then you too can look back and laugh.
Somewhere, over the rainbow...
DeleteI think there are a fair share of us who want to leave, but can't sell our houses or otherwise feel trapped here. I know if mine wasn't so unbelievably underwater mortgage-wise, I'd sell and be out of here in a second. But right now, I can't afford to take that loss.
DeleteAll I can say is that getting out of Port Angeles is worth whatever it costs. It is money well spent.
DeleteThere are TEN events that I can see the city doing, that would bring in crowds. The problem is getting any one of them funded. The are no funding opportunities, unless you dig into your own pocket. Large corporations do not want to sponsor anything out this way, because there just isn't enough perceived bang for the buck. Individuals don't want to invest because most people around here have been burned, and badly, in the past. The city has no money. The chamber, who SHOULD be backing some of these things don't really care about NEW IDEAS, and don't want to work. Meanwhile, any energy the PADA has, they want to use on "girls night out" and other lame, lame, lame ideas. The PDN, who could also throw some weight behind an event, doesn't. They'll write one lame article by a woman who cannot write, or perhaps you just can't read her articles without losing a few IQ points in the process. So, what do we get? A lot of small events, for locals, and never one BIG event to draw in tourism. This town needs to look at what some towns in Maine, Michigan's UP, and other "quasi-rural" far from the maddening crowd places have done. It's not about a convention center, it's about deciding what direction we should go to attract "destination dollars". Businesses don't like us, but tourists would come. However, the underlying attitude in THIS TOWN is akin to what greeted me 20 years ago when I moved her....big pickup truck pulled up next to me and spit on my car. Those inside said "get the f*ck out of our town" (I had out-of-state plates, still.) I followed the two yahoos home and confronted them. They couldn't have been more than 18, and both of them told me what "their daddy's said". They were just spouting the crap their parents had instilled in them. This xenophobia runs very deep.
ReplyDeleteSmall events dreamed up by small minds.
DeleteAnd this thinking small is really starting to pay dividends. The number of businesses in Port Angeles is smaller. The number of tourists coming through town is smaller. The number of people willing to run for elected office is smaller. Of course, going along with all that, the number of people actually living in Port Angeles is smaller. While Sequim and Forks and even Beaver saw increases in population in the last census, Port Angeles was the ONLY town on the peninsula that saw its population shrink. Smaller!
Soon the whole town and its economy and everything else will be so small that Barb Frederick and Karen Rogers can take turns putting their hands up each others asses and playing puppet master. Won't that be fun?
I guess that this all speaks to the fact that, despite their seemingly huge egos, crummy dopes like Rogers and Russ Veenema and Jim Hallett and Edna Peterson know, somewhere deep down inside, that they can't compete in the real world. So they conspire to make the small world, one they can manage.
And haven't they just about managed it into oblivion?
Convention center ? Sure! Why not an NBA or NHL franchise too while we're at it! Yeah, THAT'S the ticket!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget Peter Ripley's manmade island with a year-round carnival on it. You bet! Why not? It's only money!
DeleteIt's SO depressing having DiGuilio as mayor again, and now he seems to be pushing the convention center idea again. Our leaders are recycled from the past, and their ideas are, too. Port Angeles will never move forward so long as everyone in charge is charging backwards.
ReplyDeleteHere's what I'd like to see happen.
ReplyDeleteOne, fire the current city manager, and replace him with someone with a lot of economic development and management background.
Two, have the new manager fire a third of the city staff immediately.
Third, next election, vote out every incumbent we can and replace them with new blood.
Four, once the above is done, fire the new city manager and replace them with someone even better, who will fire the rest of the dead wood on staff, AND who will actually help lead the council into the 21st century, and away from things like giant buckets of shit on the shoreline.
That's what I'd like to see happen.
But I know what will happen in reality. No one new will run for city council. Dan McKeen will get a raise. Pat Downie will be mayor. Repeat this until the town finally sinks into the ground.
Well said. What you suggest needs to happen for anything to really change around here. I hope more people adopt your suggestion as a goal for the community.
DeleteNo, I'm not holding my breath.
Part of the problem is that so many members of the Deadwood Society have spouses, siblings, children and cousins who all are next in line for positions of any authority. When no relatives are available, well-connected cronies will do.
DeleteThis is how we end up with Russ Veenema hiring his unqualified niece, Lindsay, for a paid position at the Chamber of Commerce. This is how we end up with Rich Sill, with no human resources experience, as head of HR for the county.
There are no roads forward in Port Angeles. The only roads are circular, and they always lead right back to where they started.
Circular firing squad ring a bell for anyone?
DeleteIt was so wonderful having Max Mania on the City Council, because he was always informed and was young. Sissi strikes some of the same notes. But having these dinosaurs like DiGulio and Kidd in charge just means that the same old ideas will stay around forever.
ReplyDeleteConvention center? In Port Angeles? It's a joke, a sad, tired joke, and I fear the mayor wants us to pay for it.
Even Sissi has been towing the party line pretty good lately. Max was a great advocate for the people, but he got hammered for it and saw there was no point in staying. I suspect Sissi will get to the same point, if she hasn't already. I'd be very surprised if she went for a second term. Really, what would be the point?
DeleteBetsy Wharton was so stupid as to be taken in by Karen Rogers "friendship" and stopped voting sensibly. Max always voted sensibly, but got driven out of town for doing so. Sissi is kind of in the middle right now. Sort of being a patsy, and sort of acting up and getting close to where the powers that be will have to destroy her, too.
DeleteEither way, though, I agree with you. I'd be shocked if she was so stupid or masochistic enough to sign up for a second go-round.
Sissi is too smart to be on the Port Angeles City Council. The guy she knocked out of there, Don Perry, is a totally uneducated caveman loser. And sadly, Don is much more in line with the typical local elected official.
DeleteWhile I agree that Sissi is too bright for our very dim City Council...and that she would be foolish to go for another term...and that there doesn't seem to be anyone of note waiting in the wings, so to speak...I have to ask: Does this mean we have effectively given up on there ever being good/smart/honest people on the Council? And if we have given up on that, haven't we given up on the town entirely?
DeleteSissi will do one-term then leave.
DeleteWent to the gym today, and a woman there had on a t-shirt that said "Some wish for it, some work for it."
ReplyDeleteI immediately thought of Port Angeles as a whole. This is a town that is always wishing for it, but hardly ever works for it.
Think about it: ONP has been RIGHT THERE for decades, drawing hundreds of thousands of people a year through town. Yet Port Angeles has NEVER figured out a way to maximize that, or take advantage of it in any meaningful way. Now the numbers of people visiting ONP are down, which only adds insult to injury.
For years and years the multiple ferries to Victoria have been RIGHT HERE. Historically they also drew hundreds of thousands of people a year through town. Again, there was never a successful attempt made to engage those travelers, or to get them to actually stop in Port Angeles. Nor was there ever a real or meaningful relationship built with the city of Victoria. Now we're down to one ferry, and the numbers of people passing through for that has also dropped significantly. As someone else pointed out, with the visa changes that went through - and that were announced well in advance - this was not an unforeseeable outcome. But no one here ever looks into the future, so the drop came as an unpleasant surprise.
Finally, Port Angeles even had the spillover bonus of being near the whole "Twilight" boom. Forks is, yes, RIGHT THERE. Amazingly enough, this brought thousands of people from around the world through town. Not amazingly, once again, there was no successful attempt to capitalize on that pop culture bubble. Other than one trinket store that came and went, the total effect for Port Angeles was...nothing.
Put simply, we have literally had several golden geese here for years - but the best that the local yahoos in charge can do is cut off their heads. With that being the case, does anyone really and truly think Port Angeles can have any success with a convention center?
Such a notion is insane. This is not an opinion, it is a fact.
Wow. Good assessment of where we are - nowhere - and how we got there. I'd never thought about it in quite those terms before, but you lay it all out.
DeletePort Angeles is like a kid out trick or treating who actually asks to be given a lump of coal instead of candy. This is a town that has turned its back on opportunity and success so many times!
Amazing.
the Twilight store was about as long lived and novel as the popcorn store fad that went around for a while. The downtown shot itself in the foot by a few nasty, nasty ol'timers complaining about the terrible Farmers Market downtown. I suspect this was pushed by Cutler, who didn't like streets closed, period. To have a thriving, trendy Farmer's market brought foot traffic downtown. To get rid of the festivals and parades downtown (aside from July 4) would bring people there. Now...what is the draw? A few junque stores, a couple of restaurants, a bookstore, and...a hippy food store (that is nice, but, it's a lot of space for what it is). We've lost all the clothing stores. We've lost furniture stores. We've lost a theater. We've lost some of the cute retail stores. We've lost a quilt store. I'm sorry....but, this is directly to blame on: a.) the city, and b.) the out-of-touch greedy old men (and woman) landlords who are charging insane prices because they can. We need to dump the city attorney, first (as he's been around much too long), retire out most of the long-time city workers, and flush the system. As for new city council members...lets all run. If we had 5 candidates for each opening, we'd dilute the pool enough that someone different MIGHT get in. The problem has been "newcomer v.s old-timer". Who wants to throw their hat in the ring? Who wants to volunteer for the openings on the various boards?
ReplyDeleteI lived through that Laurel St/Farmers Market battle. One name. Edna.
DeleteShe was, without a doubt, the primary whiner. She was the one that organized to get the Farmers Market moved out of Downtown, and up to County Court house.
Poor stupid, stupid Edna. Too stupid to even be greedy effectively.
DeleteEdna...You sell cooking supplies at your store. The Farmer's Market sells things for...people to cook. You know, there might be some overlap there that you would have benefited from.
But no. You just kept crying about how the parking on "your" street was being affected. Stupid, stupid Edna.
Certainly not someone who would want to open a fad biz, a bookstore, a "junk shop", a restaurant, or a "hippy" shop! Not in a town full of DICKS like you!
DeleteDon't publish this CK - I'm too bitchy and troll like and will never be in your click. Great moderation, btw, removing all sarcasm and humor from posters you don't know in person makes this site seem so non-troll like and really paints a positive image of PA! ...NOT PS - I do get it about the old timer vs. new-comer argument, but seriously, you really think they are all bad? You think 70% are bad? 80%? 90%? Is it worth it publishing comments that slam all of them? Idiot....
PSS - To slam Tom and his site, and then troll his site for ideas, PATHETIC. I don't agree with everything Tom says, and once, he even offended me, but that's sort of a normal thing in human interaction, not agreeing all the time. NO ROOM for debate in this town, especially with the young'uns. I swear, the one thing I'd say about this town, is that men under 40, especially if they are sober and not loaded up on half a keg of local micro-vomit, will not speak to men over 30. No, that's not a typo. That's the main reason young people in Seattle, Victoria, etc. do not come here to hike anymore, way way way too many rude young locals.
Okay...First of all, the word you're searching for is "clique." Not "click."
DeleteSecond...Seems to me that there's quite a bit of healthy sarcasm here, and humor, too.
Third...Since people are posting here ANONYMOUSLY, I don't know whether or not I know anyone posting here. (Hi, Mom?)
Finally...I don't troll anything other than the County Courthouse and City Hall, and the occasional Port Commissioner's meeting, for ideas. So I think you've got the wrong end of the stick there.
From the way you write, I'd say that's not all you've got there, but since I can't smell your breath via computer, I'll just leave it at that. Thanks for writing. Sorry I'm a dick and an idiot. I guess that's one of the hazards of being sober, eh?
P.S. - I just checked. There have been 524 comments approved so far on this blog. I have chosen to not approve less than half a dozen, due to their being totally illiterate and nonsensical, hatefully sexist, homophobic, or really libelous/slanderous. That seems like a pretty good record to me - and certainly a better participation average than the PDN.
DeleteAnon 9:04PM...Sounds like Andrew M. has been in the liquor cabinet again. Andrew: Please don't drink and post. It's embarrassing.
DeleteOr maybe Andrew is back on the "hose randy." He and his buddy Paul Gottlieb used to do a lot of "hose randy" together. It probably made them "hose randy" with each other, too. Which is a truly disgusting thought.
DeleteCK: Most of us appreciate your desire to keep this blog troll-free and at least somewhat...productive? Grown up? Whatever you want to call it, thanks. If you've had to weed out a handful of crackpot comments out of hundreds posted, that seems like a good batting average to me.
DeleteFunny, usually BBC doesn't post anonymously. Was that YOU, BBC?
DeleteSo, the main complain (Anony 9:04) is that no one will talk to you in bars, and this town is too full of dicks?
I do think, that after 20+ years here, I would lose my "newcomer" status. But nope. If you weren't raised here, you will always be an outsider to some groups. This is a very divided town. Further divided by churchy/not. It gets old.
"Hose randy"? I think I know what it's a euphemism for, but god, it sounds really nasty.
DeletePaul Gottlieb? Substance abuse? Perish the thought!
DeleteHose Randy would be a good name for a band.
DeleteOops too late, board vacancies too late to apply for. So how many of us applied? That is the issue. in a nutshell.
ReplyDeletethe other "gotcha" is that: "current board members with expiring terms are encouraged to re-apply" This shouldn't be. It should be a 3 year (2 year, 1 year) term and then "see-ya". Our city encourages the same idiots to sit on the same boards, and do nothing. All these various boards around this city are against actually DOING anything. It's all about doing nothing, and bragging or whining about how pained you've been, and how much you've done. We need to petition some changes to the City Manager, because with a weak Mayor government, the city council are just window dressing and hand wringers.
ReplyDeleteYes, but...We've all seen how the actual vacant positions get trotted out over and over again, only to find no takers. Which is no surprise. Why would anyone with any sense volunteer for a position that is designed to be ignored?
DeleteCrackpot idea? APPROVED.
Doing the same thing we've always done? APPROVED.
New idea or better way of doing things? EJECT! EJECT!
First on the list to go should be anyone and everyone from the "PA Forward" committee. It is a sad and pathetic joke. Next, redo the Parks commission. Then add more citizen input to the Utility Advisory Committee.
DeleteThen let the people of Port Angeles chose the new city manager. Do all that, and you might have something.
These groups don't seem to do much, which is probably why no one wants to sit and spin try and stay awake.
DeleteBecause of the way the political system is set up ( hear "Ego Fest") , most think the elected representatives make things happen. Think of how many people who voted for Obama are now disappointed.
ReplyDeleteThis happens in local government, too. The candidates parade around with their handlers to the various events (that few bother to attend), and they recite their "position on the issues". These usually are generalized comments like " I support family wage jobs".
But, as we see over and over, those elected go through their terms with very little "change" having been accomplished. Look back at how many cycles of city council members, mayors and even city managers Cutlers' Turd Tank worked through.
Port Angeles is not alone in this. Hired "staff" at all levels of our government are the ones that dictate what happens. They are the ones that do the research on a topic, are wined and dined by those with special interests, they have personal allegiances with other long time employees, bring their own personal perspectives to any issues, write the reports, summaries and speeches for Department heads, elected reps, etc.etc, etc.
They know they can't be fired unless they do something really outrageous. And they're there until they retire with bennies.
As has been said before, the community has to speak very loudly and clearly for what it wants the city to do, and then keep close watch on the city manager to see that those things are undertaken, and carried out in the way the people want.
The candidates need to understand their roles in these things. They have to listen to the people, and the people HAVE to hold them accountable. To show up at meetings, and be willing to clog up the "business as usual" processes with numbers, when needed.
You know, " We have the government we allow, and the community we create".
Your comments are a good follow up to the comments about how Glenn Cutler (for whatever reason) didn't like streets being closed; therefore the Farmer's Market had to go, parades had to go, etc.
DeleteNow, as you point out, the chain of causality/control isn't always what people think it is. The decision about whether or not to close a street should never have been something that Cutler had a say in. That's a public safety issue, possibly, not a public works issue. But apparently Cutler had a great deal of say or sway, so the process is corrupted, and the people of the community suffer because of it.
The circle between STAFF...ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES...and THE PUBLIC is straightforward, yet fairly complex. The Public (in theory, recent Democratic Party activities notwithstanding ) gets to elected the Elected Reps. They, in turn, do rely on Staff to help inform them. (Help inform them; they should NEVER be the only source of information. Ever.) When Staff lead the Elected Reps down a deadend path, it is up to the Elected Reps to hold staff accountable. When that doesn't happen, it is up to the Public to hold the Elected Reps accountable - and not vote them back in.
Of course, when one part of this system breaks down, the whole thing breaks down. Starting from at least the Karen Rogers years, there has been an active campaign to disenfranchise local voters, and feed their cynicism about the political process. As stated above, this breaks the system down, and makes it easier for crooks and thugs to game entire system.
From the perspective of someone like Karen Rogers, it goes something like this: The fewer people that vote, the fewer votes I need to win an election. The fewer people that vote, the fewer people there are paying attention to anything I do. Then, when I do wrong, and nothing happens, the number of people participating in the process shrinks even more. This in turn means I have even fewer people to worry about going forward.
Or, more accurately in the case of Port Angeles, going backward.
there are so many back-room deals, and parking lot meetings between old high school buddies, between various cronies, and old timers -- ex wives, old lovers, whatever -- that I doubt that anything really gets done in any public meeting.
DeleteClearly the corridors of (real) power here in Clallam County are, as you point out, pretty mobile. And yeah, part of the problem is that all the old timers are related to each other in any number of ways - including all having skeletons in their closets that they're afraid someone else will expose. It's a sick combination of distrusting outsiders, and being afraid and not really trusting the old guard, either. Paranoia is common. So is betrayal.
DeleteNot that they don't have troubles of their own, but...According to the info that Google provides on how many people have viewed this blog, and from where, we've had five pageviews from the Ukraine.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they're looking for a place that's worse off than them?
Yeah sure, we're being swallowed whole by Russia, there are armed Russian thugs roaming the streets, and the world is sort of standing by watching...But at least we're not in Port Angeles. Whew!
DeleteIn most citiesd the Convention Center is a loss leader designed to bring in people who spend a lot of money on Hotels and restaurants. The city gets its money back from the taxes collected there. The local businesses benefit th most and they tend to subsidize the convention center in various ways. whatever arrangement it does not matter since Port Angeles has a few motels and a few restaurants -- none of which could actually handle a crowd. There is no reason for a Convention Center in PA. The numbers do not add up.
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