Just as I was changing channels, I caught the words the City can't find 15 thousand dollars to bring intermodal jobs to the area. I immediately switched back. The report said that the City could not find $15,000 to help a project that will bring intermodal jobs. Joe McNamara was on saying there is a deficit and they are having a hard time finding the money. And I was just thinking you are such a hypocrite. How about cancel the 20 some thousand for a solar field or just work and get someone else to fund carenet, which was done last year. If I was the reporter, I would ask him straight up if you would rescind those two items or if you felt guilty voting for them. I guess with these priorities we should be fortunate that we have such brilliant "leaders" such as Joe McNamara in such troubling times. I will post a link once it is up on the Fox Toledo site.
Update:
http://www.foxtoledo.com/dpp/news/wupw_Intermodal_progress_on_hold
TOLEDO - An intermodal plan to bring hundreds of jobs to the region is on hold.
The City of Toledo is hoping to spend an estimated $15,000 on an intermodal project , but funds are not there due to the impacting recession.
pardon my french
good lord thats frustrating
All he did was ask for a two week delay until the budget issues is resolved. If you watched the council meeting there was a huge amount of focus on any possible spending item because of the recent news of the additional deficit. It was not said the city couldn't afford this, nor did he say that.
We don't remember days only moments...
"(The funds) come out of the general fund and we have an $8 million deficit in the general fund," the councilman said. "I think it's important that we figure how we are going to balance and close 2008 before we spend additional monies out of general fund."
Shouldn't the City council have figured out how to close out FY 2008 BEFORE they passed the budget for FY 2009? Just seems like once again they not only put the cart before the horse but shot the horse to boot!
Discussion here about this issue -
http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=5646
Chris, great catch on the report. McNamara made it very clear the money isn't there because of the deficit. The two week delay is just that, a delay that will become the "never". How many jobs will his solar boondoggle create? And how many jobs will his support of CareNet create? Anyone reading the link you attached can see that you characterized it properly.
Here's to the crazy ones, the rebels, the troublemakers, the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them.
seems very confidant.
that in troubled times like this the City has no business funding Carenet nor solar panels. Being those were already approved they could say let's cancel one of these and apply the money to this. Either would pay for it. Or how about pull out of ambulance service and instantly create new jobs when the private industry rehires. This is the perfect example of what is wrong with the area an Little Joe exemplifies it with his pushing his pet projects at any cost.
Rich is the most knowledgable person in this area on this topic. If he's confident, I'm confident. His interview with WSPD is posted under our podcast archives.
Here's to the crazy ones, the rebels, the troublemakers, the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them.
Well, my earlier point about him was that from the linked story, he didn't seem to think temporarily delaying funding on this thing was that big a deal. Maybe nobody else should either.
Had Council voted on this? OMG they spent $15,000 on a study? No one said the money did not exist, and considering I actually watched it? I'm fairly confident I have the correct context of how it was stated. I also listened to the Agenda Review meeting where this was discussed.
There were much larger issues discussed at last night's Council meeting that I'm surprised didn't end up being a much larger focus, such as spending 9.6 million dollars on garbage cans...
Or the news that 12.5 to 13 million dollars is being spent in increments of under $10,000...Evidently we spend quite a bit of money ordering pizza...
McNamara's suggestion to hold the funding decision for two weeks was not opposed by any of the other council members, so if you have an issue with this being held up? Logic would dictate you should also have an issue with all of those present. The same could be said for the solar field and CareNet, last I heard, McNamara doesn't have some magical powers to make them all bend to his will.
We don't remember days only moments...
as you often are at those meetings, I trust your take on this topic far more than anyone else's. I'm also sure you have no particular axe to grind or agenda to push.
McCaskey, you're only going to confuse Fred. Let's compare:
"The two week delay is just that, a delay that will become the "never".
vs.
"Rich is the most knowledgable person in this area on this topic. If he's confident, I'm confident."
Pink Slip
My comments on Rich refer to his knowledge of the Intermodal, not his working knowledge of council shenanigans. Having been the only one on this board to have actually interviewed Rich I can honestly say he is pretty naive when it comes to how council works it's magical ways.
As far as other council matters, they were all covered this morning including the trash cans, solar field, CareNet etc. etc on the only station that bothers to cover it at all WSPD.
And just for the record.....everyone has an agenda. Anyone who says they don't is a liar, or doesn't know what they stand for.
Here's to the crazy ones, the rebels, the troublemakers, the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them.
Everyone has an agenda, but the agendas can be quite different and some are really about what is best for our community. The problem is cutting through the B.S. and identifying those agendas that are about the individual above the common good.
Not every agenda is bad and not every agenda is about personal aggrandisement be it for prestige or money.
what would Lisa Renee's 'agenda' be, for example? She was at the meeting apparantly and came away with a different take on what happened than other people on this thread.
(meant as reply to Fred, not you, SFlagg)
I believe this is a simple misunderstanding.
Councilman McNamara is 100% supportive of the city contributing $15,000 towards the transportation and logistics economic study for the intermodal project. He asked for a two-week delay to explore whether there was another source of funds for the expenditure aside from the city's general fund, which faces an $8 million deficit. This move was approved by Council without objection.
The funding for the planning and engineering of the proposed city solar power facility came from the Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Fund, which does not have a deficit.
Ben Krompak
Friends of Joe McNamara Committee
Ben Krompak
Wilkowski for Mayor
regardless of his position on the intermodal study, he has a serious problem in supporting these other projects and anti-business laws which just can't be forgotten about. The City cannot afford Carenet, it can't afford a Solar panel plan, but he is front and center on all of this. Still if this is such a concern those two items should be delayed too.
Lisa has inspired me. This story is not finished ;)
Finally someone without an agenda answers for Joe.
Fred LeFebvre
Friends of Fred LeFebvre and the Morning News
Here's to the crazy ones, the rebels, the troublemakers, the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them.
I bring both an agenda and clarifying facts. Can I be a friend of the show?
Ben Krompak
Wilkowski for Mayor
Everybody is a friend of the show. I may not agree with everyone's agenda but I'm certainly willing to listen and be proven wrong. Just bring the facts not feelings.
Here's to the crazy ones, the rebels, the troublemakers, the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them.