The whirling circle jerk of jerks just never ends in Clallam County...
So now the County Commissioners want to vote on repealing their own previous vote moving towards giving $500,000 to the EDC...But King Jim is still talking about finding a way to give...$500,000 to the EDC.
And speaking of the EDC...Their board president, Brian Kuh, has resigned suddenly, without giving much notice. He cites his "current workload as a business leader" as the reason. Nice ego there, Brian - but why don't you tell us what's really going on, eh?
Maybe Brian is just hurrying to be the first in line for the reopening of the Lincoln Theater? After all, Scott Nagel only needs to raise something like $6000 a day for over a month to "buy" the theater.
Even more than before, Clallam County is becoming the place for bad ideas to blossom and crackpots to grab the mic. All these buffoons talk like they're riding to the rescue of the community, but all they really have is a stable full of dead horses.
So they just keep flogging those poor dead beasts...
Move, you nag, move! King Jim
will be late for the moving picture show!
IF we believe Nagel has raised the money he says he has, and IF we give him a break and say he's only been beating the bushes for funds for a month, then he's raised about $1000 a day.
ReplyDeleteOf course, we all know he's been flogging this longer than that, which means he's really, at best, raised maybe half that amount on average. Now we're supposed to believe he's somehow, magically, going to jump that up to over six grand a day?
Also, if there are these mystery backers, why are they so afraid of being identified? This shouldn't be a controversial idea, so why the reluctance to come forth and inspire others to do so as well?
Of course, the answer is that there are no backers, there is no money, and for the life of me, I cannot imagine why Nagel and Gase are going through this ever-extended charade. I know Dan Gase isn't exactly bright, but I thought he had enough of an ego to want to avoid such a flop as this is sure to be.
Does anyone have any insight into the whys and whats that might be driving this behind the scenes? Even by Port Angeles standard, this is a weird dog and pony show. Are they stalling and hoping a grant is going to come along? What gives?
There are no grants for a defunct theater. Not anymore. There WERE before the digital movie deadline, but now the country is swamped with derelict theaters that small, medium and large towns want to revive.
Delete5 years ago there would have been lots of funding. But, timing is everything, isn't it? Too bad that old fart who owned the theater didn't want to ride it into the dust (while opening a big fancy place in Wenatchee ---complete with cocktail service at your seat).
Watching McEntire's grubbing for all that public money, I can't help but be reminded of all the burglaries in the news lately - only McEntire's stealing right out in the open.
ReplyDeleteGod, what a bunch of morons we have running things here...
ReplyDeleteThe sarcastic comment about Brian Kuh is uncalled for. The article clearly says his term as President was scheduled to end in mid January, but was extended until April 1 due to the By Laws change process. He said he "...just didn't have the support of the day job to allot any more discretionary time beyond the end of January". Obviously, his BOSS didn't support any further time away from the office, so he had to resign. Thanks for all your (volunteer) work on behalf of the community, Brian!
ReplyDeleteI was keying in to his self-description as a "business leader," that's all. Given the sad and sorry state of business/the economy in Port Angeles, that's a pretty funny way to describe yourself. Funny or very sad - your choice.
DeleteFace it Kuh defenders. His track record as a "community leader" for "economic development" is BAD PRESS for CRART 4.
DeleteAnd, to top it off, they're based in ABERDEEN, WA, LOL! What a JOKE!
CK
DeleteURGENT!
Port Angeles needs more horses!
I'd like to know if Nagel is putting up a good chunk of his own money to show he really believes in this project.
ReplyDeleteWOW, today's paper must have given you ample fodder for several posts!
If you want more fun, here's a goody someone posted on facebook this morning listing Port Angeles as one of the 20 "coolest towns." Just....wow...
http://matadornetwork.com/trips/20-coolest-towns-us/
As was pointed out in the other thread, what happens afterwards, even if they raise the money to purchase the place?
ReplyDeleteOr, to phrase this realistic problem another way, if Nagel and the PDN are having so much trouble raising the money to purchase the building, what is going to happen if/when they can't raise the money each year to maintain and operate it?
Do all these donors get their money back, when this fails?
We note Nagel isn't putting up any money, but will be happy to get paid to be a director.
We note Dan Gase is happy to promote other people donate to this nice but unrealistic idea, and he will be happy to get the commission if these efforts succeed.
Other peoples' money.
Dan Gase is the one who proposed a flat rate for water use instead of the current tiered system where the more you use, the more you pay. Because he saw so many brown lawns. I guess green lawns make it easier to sell houses and get those juicy commissions, right?
ReplyDeleteToo bad we have 3% of normal snow pack in the Olympics right now. Maybe it's time for the council to reconsider Nippon's sweetheart water deal. Yeah, like that'll happen!
Is anyone actually going to run against these clowns this time? Maybe we can help by coming up with a list of issues they can campaign on...
Interesting clip at Porto Call site. An article based on FBI reported crimes, listing the 15 "Most Dangerous Cities in Washington".
ReplyDeletePort Angeles doesn't even make the list. But Sequim does, at number 14!
http://portocallpublishing.com/2015/02/24/15-most-dangerous-cities-in-washington/
The Peninsula Daily News should be ashamed of themselves for what they've done over the last week.
DeleteWhere was the research, before they published headline grabbing stories making people think Port Angeles is so crime ridden?
They just took the word of city staff, just like they always do, without question.
But, look at the real situation. Police enter information from 911 calls into the system, which goes to the FBI. This isn't new. Yet people here believe Port Angeles has a big crime problem, because of people with agendas. City staff, which includes the police Chief, it looks like.
This is so crazy!
Port Angeles *is* so crime ridden? I agree that the PDN doesn't need to sensationalize it but we can't hide our heads in the sand and ignore the problems we have here, primarily caused by rampant drug abuse.
DeleteYes, every community has problems. That is the way of humanity. But, the PDN has been very complicit in creating a semi-hysteria, that was started last fall by Revitalize Port Angeles. Remember? With them blaming the residents at the Lee hotel after some burglaries?
DeleteBut, it is a bit like saying because there are 100 people out of 300 MILLION with the measles, that it constitutes a medical emergency on the scale of a pandemic, and the whole world has to spend billions to protect themselves. ( Yes, I use my analogies recklessly!)
Actual statistics of crime events, despite our (created) perceptions, show that crime in Port Angeles has actually been decreasing. Consistently. For years now. That "rampant drug use" isn't significant enough to show up in the stats in a meaningful way.
Even the Port Angeles police department says so.
But, in order to appear to be responsive to the PDNs darling, that Revitalize group, the Chief had to do a 180 in the press, and say he was understaffed.
In fact, the Port Anggeles police department is NOT understaffed.
Haven't we learned by now not to take what city staff, or the PDN says without question?
I certainly don't succumb to the hysteria. I'm not afraid to walk around at night or anywhere around here. The only thing that really bothers me about the drug use is how it fuels petty theft. Non-drug fueled criminals will somewhat assess a situation to determine their risk in which case I feel pretty good about my car or home security. However, the heroin and meth users don't have enough brain cells left to rub together to do so and it is those that just cost us time, money and other resources to deal with. It's just petty theft but with these losers it could be your house or my car at any time without warning. Living in a good neighborhood doesn't matter, and while material things are generally replaceable, I would just be sick if any family items were stolen just because some meth-head thought they could make a few dollars on Craigslist.
DeleteFunny. When people around here have "ideas" they never seem to have a clue. So now, let's say they get the funding and actually buy this theater. Do the digital upgrades, get the thing gutted and retro-fitted, pay all the taxes and user state fees, etc...Will it be a shining monument or beacon of hope of community and accomplishment? Will they invest in some "period related" art deco and neon? Will they involve the local downtown businesses in "fun" tickets? Such as, 1/2 off on movie price if you shop at so and so? Parking? Summer movies for kids, like they used to have in the "old" days? Think Admiral Theater in Bremerton. That has been a success with community businesses involved as benefactors with donations as tax deductibles. Or why not, like the Green Bay Packers, make it a community held stock ownership? NO? Too philanthropic for Gase? Let's make it a real estate offer and have the little brain trust here do as they have always done. Sell the thing to the highest bidder to make a profit at their whim. No. Let's have the the thing involved with the local pawns of supposed community service and have them to a half-ass job. I can see something like the old Chinook Hotel...only with a couple of new screens showing "not" first run features and let the new movies go to Deer Park..this town amazes me.
ReplyDeleteexcept, there is a codicil on the sale that one cannot compete with Deer Park, and I don't know if just not running first-runs would satisfy it.
DeletePlus, movies aren't making money, anywhere. Revival-only theaters are closing faster than regular theaters.
While your ideas are great....if we're going to pie-in-the-sky, why doesn't the old bastard selling it (the one who has exploited the building and the town for decades, crying poor-mouth while funneling all the profits to open bigger, nicer theaters elsewhere). The old coot should have donated it. It's a white elephant, but he thinks he can make a buck off it. Maybe he could severely lower the price, take a loss on the building, and hold the note for a non-profit?
But, no, the greedy old F*ck, wants too much for an unkept building that has gleaned any, and all charm from it (and sold the parts on ebay). Nothing like no city pride. And, he partners up with what might be the dumbest real estate agent he could find, who cares even less about civic pride, and now he teamed up with a flim-flam-man.
I'm going to make a prediction: this purchase will find a way to happen, but it will bankrupt the Juan D'F festival.
It will also never be complete, and end up languishing, calling out pathetically for spare change, like an old crippled whore. All it will be lacking is more money, and more money, and keep offering empty promises
Tear the eyesore down. Put in another parking lot..
I second the cheap shot at Brian Kuh. I think he said "business lender" not "business leader". He volunteers a lot of time and does his best to help - and he's not an idiot.
ReplyDeleteDo any of these idiots who "invest" get their money back if Na-Ga don't actually get the building purchased/sold?
ReplyDeleteOr is it just a big foolish scam?
I think you may have hit the real scam here. Raise some money - not enough, but some - to "buy" the Lincoln. Then, when it turns out to not be enough, well, good luck getting your money back. Some version of this would not surprise me at all.
DeleteSo, we see from that 15 most dangerous cities in Washington list that Port Angeles isn't as crime ridden as we've been lead to believe. Big surprise there. We were intentionally mislead, again.
ReplyDeleteI find it depressing. Yeah, I shouldn't be surprised to see such blatant manipulation by the PDN, and Port Angeles city staff. We know the city staff tell the so-called leadership what ever they feel like, to get support for what ever project they want. We saw that with Cutler, Puntenney and the PDN when they wanted that Turd Tanked CSO project.
But the Police Chief?
Sigh.
If that building is still insured I predict a fortuitous fire. I'd hate to own the furniture store next door.
ReplyDeleteIf one goes up, they all go up. There are no fire walls in the basements of any of those buildings, and few on the street level, either. Seriously, a tinderbox. Nothing is to modern fire code, no sprinklers.
DeleteBut, my question....how do you burn a building that is mostly layered cement?
The back wall of the theater is the stacked, layers of cement, the original retaining wall for the bluff of the city. No building inspectors back then, so -- who knows if there is enough (or any)structural steel rebar. Add to that questionable structural integrity of the cement, itself. If the first layer of concrete is allowed to harden before the next layer is poured (as was the case of each layer of pours along that back wall) the next layer doesn't fully adhere, or bond. It's known as a "cold pour". Water can get into the cracks, and subsequent freeze-thaw action can cause the joints to move. Dirt packed in the joints allows weeds to grow, further opening paths for water.
With water infiltration, cement can degrade, over time -- especially with a layered pour like that.
Early builders sometimes (inadvertently) compromised concrete by using seawater or beach sand in the mix or by using calcium chloride or a similar salt as an additive to make the concrete more "fireproof." A common practice was to add salt to strengthen concrete, and to keep it from freezing in cold weather. Back then, concrete was not vibrated when poured into forms as it is today, which left air gaps.
Other junk was added to cement to bulk it -- so, who knows what we have there.
The biggest problem with that old building is that it is not to seismic code, the building is fraught with issues. Anyone "investing" might as well stuff their money down a rat hole.
And, unfortunately, it's probably too full of asbestos to burn well.
Brian Kuh is a good man who got caught up in a pit of vipers. I'm glad he is out of it with his reputation in tact. Bill Greenwood is a good man. I hope he sees the light before they drag him into the rabbit hole.
ReplyDeleteBrian Kuh is a pudgy hack, the sort we have an abundance of around here. The fact that someone so mediocre is seen as a "leader" is part of the problem. The fact that middle-aged Brian is seen as being part of the "young professionals network" is part of the problem. We are old, fat and out of touch here in Port Angeles. Brian Kuh? Fits the profile pretty much perfectly, sorry. Not trying to be mean, just stating the facts as I see them.
DeleteI'm guessing Brian at age 35 and he referred to himself as a
DeleteBusiness LENDER. I'm guessing he can outrun you so he's still pretty spry. Pull out the specs old man and see what you're missing.
And all I'm seeing is photos of a fat, balding guy who looks middle aged to me. Can't we agree to disagree?
Deletehe is under 40, and in decent shape. Leave Kuh alone. We have better targets of our wrath.
DeleteSpeaking of "Funny Money" rolling around town, check out the new contract let by the port to simply "design" the interior of a building for which there is no guaranteed need nor decided upon use. Yeah, they promise to land a composites recycling company but they have no contracts in place, no guaranteed supply of waste composite material. If they do find a source it will have to be flown in or shipped in somehow. This plan is goofy on so many fronts and it was approved by all three port commissioners. Now, let's flash back to the recent past. The port assured everyone that as soon as those damn trees came down in Lincoln Park the FAA has a check to present to the port for $4.5 million. Now the trees are down. Where's the check? Where is the state auditor? Where is the public outcry? Where is the common sense? Oh, this is Port Angeles. Nevermind.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen the latest Port O Call? Front page article about the Port Angeles Police department showing they have twice the staff of other cities of similar size in Washington.
ReplyDeleteAnd, has the quotes from the Chief and their records officer from back in November, saying there was no increases in crime. Then a couple weeks later, a complete turn around.
Shows what we know. The city won't pass up an opportunity to beg for more money.
As we saw in the recent PDN article, the Mayor says they don't have money for the additional officers the Chief wants because of the shutdowns at Nippon.
Should we expect to see them asking the State or Feds?
How are all those surveillance cameras downtown working, that the city got that grant to install?
They only got a grant to install them. They probably need another grant to operate them.
DeleteHow many of you knew we had a fully functional Community Access Television in town. Anyone can upload non-commercial programming with the city's blessing. This has been available for 12 years and no one knew. The city receives 5% of the 50 million dollars paid to the city by Wave Cable yet this goes into the general fund and everyone was told to be hush-hush about programming on Channel 3. They really don't want any transparency no matter how many times they lie and say they do. Get your friends together and put together some youtube worthy videos, must be original music or have permission to use whatever music you use.
ReplyDeleteI did not realize that was still around. I knew it was there before Wave Cable came along, there was news programming with one of the Braggs, but since that was taken over I haven't heard anything about it.
DeleteI want to remind folks to thank Ron Richards. You know, the reason for the origins for this very thread.
ReplyDeleteWhy is the Board of County Commissioners repealing the ordinance King Jim wanted to enact? Because Ron Richards stood up, and took action.
It is SPECIFICALLY because of the issues Ron brought to attention, challenging Jim directly with ACTION, that the Board is now backing down, and repealing the ordinance.
So, THANK YOU, Ron.
I'll say it, with heartfelt sincerity, even if others here can't find it within themselves to acknowledge what you did.
Now, to see what the next bag of dirty tricks Jim McEntire comes up with. Maybe more in the community will step forward as Ron Richards did, and take action.
We didn't have a good experience with Brian with craft3. Cost us wasted time, lots of money and hurt a lot of people. Won't recommend and haven't.
ReplyDeleteEVERYTHING, and I mean e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g, goes into the "general fund". It's how the city can mismanage and hide the b.s. that they do.
ReplyDelete