Friday, May 24, 2013
Comment Archives: stories: News: Cover Story
Re: “How city attorney Chris Melcher can tip the scales of power toward the mayor, while still representing Council”
This Mayor - Council governing change was a railroad from the beginning. The initiative was rushed through without any of these conflicting situations in the Charter being properly discussed. I believe it was a deliberate power grab, knowing that conflicts were there because the City Charter was not written for mayor-council form of governing. They have taken every opportunity to undermine the council's authority. The ballot issue simply stated the new political mayor would perform the duties of the City Manager it didn't address specific duties be removed from council control. These blatant attempts by the mayor and his supporters to control everything including Colorado Springs Utilities day to day operations is nothing more than them trying to create a precedent moving forward. Then they can propose amending the Charter the way they want by simply saying - that is what has been happening anyway so this is only a housekeeping change. I hope the public is smart enough to see through this sham and vote for council candidates who are more concerned with the issues this community is facing and not just the mayor's political agenda.
Posted by
rms
on 03/06/2013 at 1:32 PM
Re: “How city attorney Chris Melcher can tip the scales of power toward the mayor, while still representing Council”
City councilman Val Snider stated - "We don't do anything as a group but fight". Looking forward to new city council members who can work together and with the Mayor to keep Colorado Springs growing.
Posted by
PlayInSnow
on 03/06/2013 at 11:15 AM
Re: “How city attorney Chris Melcher can tip the scales of power toward the mayor, while still representing Council”
The city has never been better...the city council is in their play pen being ineffective and putting off until tomorrow what they could do today, and the Mayor is getting things cleaned up without a whole lot of delay and run for re-election baloney. Colo Spgs is doing much better than the USA under Obama's style of organizing.
Posted by
TejonTech
on 03/06/2013 at 10:25 AM
Re: “How city attorney Chris Melcher can tip the scales of power toward the mayor, while still representing Council”
This Strong-Mayor format we have chosen, has become very damning to our City. We vote for City Council to represent our collective interest and manage our public assets and services. Mayor Bach and his henchman Melcher and others, appear to have a hidden agenda to undermine City Council, which is against our public interest as voters and citizens in our City.
Personally I will not be voting for Bach or any of his so-called Slate of council candidates. Both Bach and Melcher have done too much damage. I say it is time for them both to GO.....
Posted by
Brian Jackson
on 03/06/2013 at 8:04 AM
Re: “The new era of conspiracy thinking”
These folks claiming "rights" are imagining things. Pay them no attention.
Posted by
morlock
on 03/05/2013 at 11:48 AM
Re: “The new era of conspiracy thinking”
ALLAH FUBAR MULLAH BARRACK
Posted by
Gary W James
on 03/04/2013 at 10:34 PM
Re: “The new era of conspiracy thinking”
Years ago, I raised my right hand and swore to uphold and defend the Constution of the United States against al enemies; both foreign and domistic..... Now, the US Constution is an easy read; no legalise, just plane english that the comman man could/can understand. The meaning of the word 'Infringe':to break or disregard the terms of, as a law; violate. To transgress or trespass on rights or privileges.
Now Should the "Bill of Rights" be voided, or revoked as some would want. Oh wait one, you're suppose to be a journalist; because if you surrender one the rest will surely fall. Or did you forget that.
Posted by
Cletus
on 03/04/2013 at 9:34 PM
Re: “The new era of conspiracy thinking”
Nice "Marxist tool author"... you should skedaddle on over to dark side; oops, you already have ~
Posted by
Teresa Maes Koeckhoven
on 03/04/2013 at 7:22 AM
Re: “The new era of conspiracy thinking”
Methinks Mr. Dyer, with his specific smearing of Fox News, and throwing in Palin, Paul, and Bachmann for good measure shows me that he should remove the word journalist from his list of credits. Another left wing shill. By the way, cupcake, I don't hate Barack Obama because he is black, and apparently a large number of white people don't. I hate his politics. Ergo, I hate yours as well.
There will always be over the top maniacs such as McVeigh et. al. I should know, working at a state hospital. Most of the heinous crimes perpetrated on people by our patients (decaps, dismembers, etc.) were done without malice. The simply heard voices, God, you name it.
As for gun control, the one issue that is constantly overlooked is how many people with controlled mental illness can go looney toons when they stop taking their meds. Due to privacy laws, there is no database for those medicated folks, and with no prior record, they can buy guns. If you take a good look at the past mass murders, the common denominator is mental health. Newtown was the result of an idiot gun owner that left the shooter access to the guns. The shooter was known to be unstable.
Posted by
Sellars
on 03/03/2013 at 6:52 AM
Re: “The new era of conspiracy thinking”
Zen...you can just puff up in sophistication while the world crumbles around and you ignore everything from the developers in Colorado Springs to out America hating president rob and destroy for thei own agendas.
Posted by
TejonTech
on 03/02/2013 at 6:42 AM
Re: “The new era of conspiracy thinking”
Well there you go ... three comments three crazies. Go figure.
Tinfoil hats - two for a dolla!
Posted by
Zen
on 03/01/2013 at 10:58 PM
Re: “As civil unions move forward in Colorado, same-sex couples share their stories”
Tejon, i think your business will survive with the boycott, since gays only make up 2% of the population. Gays act like their being treated like the blacks in the 50's and 60's. Everyone has rights as Americans. They can join the military, which most service men i know hate this idea. I really dont care if your gay or not.
Theres not a single benefit to being married, not one. Or do you just want the state to say they love gays and heres your piece of paper saying so, WTF. I really dont understand the point of all the gay right arguments, is there nothing better to do in your free time. You already ruined the image of a rainbow.
Im not trying to be a total ass here, but can someone enlighten me on what your fighting for and why. I would like facts not feelings.
And boycotting someones business for their opinion is stupid.
Posted by
Robert a m
on 03/01/2013 at 7:22 PM
Re: “As civil unions move forward in Colorado, same-sex couples share their stories”
STRIKE DOWN CAL PROP 8 Marriage only between man and woman- "As a Republican, I believe in protecting individual freedoms and that everyone, including gay and lesbian Americans, has a constitutional right to be treated equally under the law," said former Rep. Jim Kolbe.
Also among the prominent conservative names lending their view: former Utah governor and presidential candidate Jon Huntsman, Hewlitt-Packard chief executive and former California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida), and actor Clint Eastwood.
Posted by
gurudori
on 02/28/2013 at 6:43 PM
Re: “Keeping Up with Ed Jones”
Had he wanted to,how hard would it have been to rip off campaign funds like Jesse Jackson Jr?The same blacks that voted Obama in are targeting Jone's not because he's black,but because he doesn't fall for thier entitlement demands,as well as affirmative action and reparations nonsense!
Posted by
Rick Thurston
on 02/28/2013 at 4:50 PM
Re: “The new era of conspiracy thinking”
Interesting rant, wait, did I say interesting? I meant the opposite of that. Perhaps your next article should be about how whenever Democrats are in charge of law enforcement the police code words change. An example would be how the phrase "okay we have them surrounded, let's just wait them out" somehow magically becomes "let's burn this mother f#%^er down". I know police codes can be tricky, but this change occurs with alarming regularity during Democrat administrations. Another example would be the 16 year old Denver boy that was killed without due process in Yemen. A drone came by and blew his father up for being a terrorist. Then later on, another drone comes along and kills his 16 year old son. His 16 year old American citizen, Denver born son. No trial, no proof, just carnage. I would love to know how this 16 year old was a terrorist mastermind, and immediate threat to this country. So to sum up, you have it all backwards. The government kills American citizens, then people freak out. And with "journalists" such as you being nothing but a toadies carrying water for an American-murdering President, they might be onto something.
Posted by
Stacy in Woodland Park
on 02/28/2013 at 11:01 AM
Re: “The new era of conspiracy thinking”
Obama has proven beyond a shadow of doubt that conspiracy theories now make sense...
Posted by
TejonTech
on 02/27/2013 at 3:15 PM
Re: “The new era of conspiracy thinking”
Wow, look who's calling the kettle black, I hope normal people will not take his fears as serious as he does. This has nothing to do with race, creed or color. It has to do with our constitution rights (not privileges). Stop scaring the children and dividing our country into normal like you and crazy like me. I’ve seen our country through the eyes of others all around the world and the majority marvel at our freedom, please don’t try to take any of it away.
Posted by
Don Bennett
on 02/27/2013 at 2:35 PM
Re: “How the county's Child Welfare team identifies the calls that must be answered”
Yikes...the pony tail on that guy in the picture makes him look suspect...
Posted by
TejonTech
on 02/26/2013 at 7:35 PM
Re: “How the county's Child Welfare team identifies the calls that must be answered”
I don't know about the "Hardy Boys" but Mr. Hardin did a much better job than Mr. Czajkowski!
Posted by
Mr. K--
on 02/26/2013 at 4:09 PM
Re: “How city attorney Chris Melcher can tip the scales of power toward the mayor, while still representing Council”
Very informative article & probably not something we would read in the local daily paper. I would guess the Colorado Municipal League (CML) has an opinion on the city attorney situation as well, given that it includes dozens of member cities throughout CO and keeps itself updated on how these and other cities across the country handle similar council/mayor/city attorney relations.
When voters approved the changeover to a Council/Mayor form of government, it's doubtful that many had an idea of the kinds of "holes" that would subsequently surface that were not addressed within our city charter. The city attorney situation is just one of these holes that we should recognize needs to be addressed. The conflict of interest the attorney has regarding his allegiance is not a perceived one, it's an actual one. He simply cannot serve two masters to whom each is owed his equal allegiance (and especially client privilege). The fact that Wynetta Massey has been appointed as council's own attorney is of little consolation given her direct accountability to the mayor-hired city attorney. If Massey's opinion differs from Melcher's on municipal and utility matters, the smart money is on Melcher telling Massey what her opinion should and will be. Ms. Massey has proven to be a very capable and intelligent assistant city attorney over the last few decades - but if she values her job she will have little choice but to accept Melcher's opinions as her own.
With 6 of 9 counselor seats up for election next month, attendees to the various candidate forums would be wise to ask candidates of their opinion on the current city attorney arrangement. Those who respond and indicate there is no problem most likely have been coached by "insiders" to say this. Those who agree there is a conflict likely already realize what they're going to be up against if elected, and will probably work to address the situation so council and the mayor have equitable access to legal opinions (ask how these candidates propose to do this!) And those who have no clue either way are not the ones who deserve your vote, because they will be eaten alive by this new system we have created.