Recent Comments
Re: “Putting the 'tea' in trouble”
I can't imagine why any group whose acronym stands for "Taxed Enough Already" would be investigated by the IRS.
Posted by
bill.guman
on 05/22/2013 at 11:13 AM
Re: “20- and 30-somethings find little hope, hospitality within recent city politics”
LivesLocally - "This city has been mismanaged since Bob Isaac stepped down as city manager."
I'm guessing you have not lived locally that long. Isaac was the mayor for 23 years, not the city manager.
Posted by
bill.guman
on 05/02/2013 at 9:57 AM
Re: “Pitching City Council! to HBO”
John, obviously you're not a member of the CSA! ;-)
"City Council" would probably play well here in COS as a reality show, but I don't think the rest of the country's viewers would get our sense of humor.
Posted by
bill.guman
on 05/01/2013 at 9:39 AM
Re: “Steve Bach's latest victim”
I returned from a trip to NYC yesterday. On a rare occasion, I had the opportunity to fly out of COS (to CHI then to LGA) instead of leaving from DIA. I also returned to COS. United Airlines was actually $70 cheaper from COS than DIA for the round trip, not including the drive time hassle and parking expense associated with DIA.
COS airport was a breeze. No rude TSA agents as reported here. No lines. Friendly gate staff. Flights were on time, no waiting for taxiing to leave or waiting for an open gate upon arrival. Unfortunately, there were numerous vacant gates at the airport. United and Delta appear to be the only two major airlines left, with Allegiant being the third regional airline (there was a gate or two for Frontier, but no traffic).
The COS airport is a jewel - one we are at serious risk of losing if one of the two remaining major airlines pulls out. I can't believe we are having such difficulty recruiting new airlines. Is it Mark Earle's fault? I cant say, but I am stunned that someone with Earle's background isn't considered "good enough" to run the airport. But I am also having a hard time believing that we can't seem to sell our airport to bring in the kind of service envisioned when it was dedicated in '94. This is a deal breaker for any major business considering Colorado Springs.
Posted by
bill.guman
on 03/28/2013 at 2:21 PM
Re: “How city attorney Chris Melcher can tip the scales of power toward the mayor, while still representing Council”
Native1980; With CSU being an enterprise similar to Memorial Hospital, Regional Building, etc. it would be hugely difficult (i.e. impossible) to sell off Utilities and use the proceeds to fund the city's shortfall in revenue. If the city attorney has advised the mayor and/or council that this is even a remote possibility, then there is a problem much more significant than what has been reported here.
Posted by
bill.guman
on 03/07/2013 at 10:50 AM
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.
Posted by
bill.guman
on 03/06/2013 at 1:56 PM
Re: “Putting the 'tea' in trouble”
Yes Siggie, my post was in jest. IRS profiling and discrimination of any kind should never be tolerated.
But while we're at it..."I believe it is the systematic denial of "tax-free" status."
Actually "systematic denial" is somewhat of a misnomer. Of the 97 "conservative" groups whose applications for tax exempt status were delayed by the IRS, zero were actually denied. Of the 3 "liberal" groups whose applications for tax exempt status were delayed during the same time period, all three were denied.