Tuesday Night Smack Down at Sonny Brian’s

 

 

 

 

There were just a few items missing from last night’s mayor debate: Blood and guts, fat lips and bloody noses. It was a slugfest! It was just the opposite of the love-fest every Monday night at the council sessions where consensus seems to rule.

Both candidates came out strongly with their views. It was a good debate but could have been made much better with choices on the questions. Some were very lame softball questions and had nothing to do with the determination of whether the candidate is qualified to be mayor.

 

Offsetting some of the lame questions, there were some follow up question asked which really dug into the meat and potatoes of what was being spoken about. This is where both candidate elaborated and held firm on their positions.

On the Natatorium (for us old timers, a Natatorium is a $3 word for an “indoor Swimming Pool”)

Laura Maczka seems to back the idea that we need another bond election to build the indoor swimming pool at a cost of about $30 million. Amir Omar is forwarding the idea that we should work with RISD and share time between student and the general public at Berkner and Pearce high schools.

It is my thought that Amir’s idea would be a far better deal for the residents than Laura’s idea if it can be worked out. The city would share some of the costs associated with running the pool and pretty much none of the capital cost to build the pools.

Laura made the claim that the school pools are completely booked from about 4am to about 10pm every day. Amir made the claim that he has already made contact with some of the admin of RISD and think a deal may be able to be worked out. Laura came back with a comment that the city needs to go it alone on a pool because some of the seniors currently using the pool complain the water is too cold which seems to contradict her previous statement that there was no pool time available.

Amir’s idea is innovative and I think worth pursuing. It will not add to the debt like Laura’s proposition and may still give people yet another amenity in this town of amenities to enjoy.

The Agenda Setting Behind Closed Doors

Once again Laura said that for anything to be placed on the agenda at least 4 councilpersons must approve it.  This is not done in public, but behind the scenes. Every week it seems, the council members have meeting with city management. They discuss what ever and I think this is where lots of behind the scene work goes on. This also appears to be where lots of tax payer money gets spent on food and booze. The city managers credit card shows almost daily expense for food, sometimes $20 dollars for grub and sometimes $700 or $800 in feed. If you have never seen the credit card statements for the city management, you should do a Freedom of Information Request and take a peek. The amount of food, booze and gas will probably shock you.

I think a better idea for setting agenda items would be an agenda item at toward the end of the agenda where the council people make suggestion for the agenda items for the next meeting and approve or dismiss the items in a public vote.

RPD Narcotics Unit

Apparently,  a former police chief with wondering hand syndrome  disbanded the old narcotics unit. We don’t have a drug problem here in Richardson (not one bad enough for a narcotics unit, apparently). It came to light in this debate that there was a home in the panhandle of Richardson being used for growing pot. Apparently to keep off the grid, they plug directly into the grid, electrically I am thinking. Who said the dope growers were smart.

Laura made the argument that the police already have trained officers to deal with drugs without the need for a dedicated drug unit. Amir pointed out that all of the cities surrounding Richardson have their own drug unit.

Laura has a recurring theme for Amir’s suggestion, “How do we pay for it?” My answer would be to start with limiting how much money we allow the city management to spend on food and booze with maybe a $10 limit per meal or let feed himself with his own money. That would be a good start. Amir also pointed out that many narcotics units usually pay for themselves with fines and forfeitures.

Donation Source – Where Did the Money Coming From

Financial filing will be available very soon at the city secretary’s office and some questions will be answered. Laura claims she has taken no pack money. Technically she may be correct. I think what the financial support will show for her is that individuals members of the Richardson Coalition donated directly to her or made in-kind donation. She will probably have fewer donors that Amir who gave an average high amount than Amir.

Amir will probably have a few large donors also. But based on the last financial report I am willing to be that Amir had many more donors than Laura.

Laura claims to have raised about $55k. Amir claims to have raised about $70.

Overall Impression

Overall both candidates did a great job. Richardson residents will win with either of them as mayor. They are both a step up from where we have been.

From my point of view there are some shortcomings with Laura and her not being tenacious enough through her first two years. There are problems that have been going on for a long time in Richardson where I have seen little initiative taken on her part. Fund Sweeps, what I look at as credit card abuse from the city manager’s office, and a few other things.

I have not agreed with Amir on everything and some things I have been against that he has done and wants to do. He has probably been more active that all the rest of the council combined in his efforts to improve Richardson. He has come up with some unexpected and novel viewpoints and creative initiatives. He has demonstrated that his is willing to work on solutions for problems even though some of the other council members don’t see the need. For example, Mark Solomon said he had not heard from the citizens they wanted direct election of the mayor, so dismissed the idea when it came to a vote. 75% to 25% tells me Solomon didn’t have a clue what the citizens want.

It comes down to this for me: Amir has shown he will lead, even if he has no consensus from the other council members while Laura seems to want to lead only if there is a consensus to do so. Maybe I am wrong about that, but it is the impression I have.     

The room was filled to standing room only. Here are a few pictures of the night. Click on any of the images to enlarge (and no, your vision isn't blurry, my phone camera is)

 

 

Cheri and Casper