Nelson Peters - Then & Now
I am never amazed at the hypocrisy of various politicos but I feel it necessary to point it out nonetheless. I think I’ve demonstrated that Commissioner Nelson Peters (and others) are trying to circumvent the referendum requirement recently signed into law by fast-tracking the $55 Million Maplecrest extension project before the law goes into effect.
What I find particularly interesting about Peters’ stance is that less than one year ago he called a major press conference to announce that he was requesting the state legislature pass a law that would allow a referendum on Harrison Square. So one must ask - what is so different about this project that Peters would feel it necessary to sidestep the referendum process? I guess he was for referendums before he was against them…
(Photo by Scott Spaulding of DFWB)
Sylvia Smith Continues Bogus NAFTA Reporting
Sylvia Smith has yet another fact-contorting NAFTA hit piece in today’s JG. Let me just say that her story is a prime example of what’s wrong with traditional media. Readers of the JG want to know they’re getting facts and analysis that are irreproachable and not just a regurgitation of spin from two sides of an issue.
Sometimes the facts actually support one side of the argument and it would be nice if Smith actually tried to discern the facts from the spin in this case. Her story today not only presents bogus statistics but it gives equal weight to opinions that are not supported by any facts.
Graham Richard Explains Why He Supports Obama
Former mayor Graham Richard took a moment during the Obama campaign’s grand opening to explain why he is supporting Obama for President.
Obama HQ Grand Opening
The Obama Fort Wayne headquarters officially opened this morning at 10am. Mayor Tom Henry was present and gave a brief speech (shown below) before yielding to the keynote speaker, former mayor Graham Richard. Richard’s speech (also shown below) got the crowd fired up and left no doubt that he was supporting Barack Obama. It was quite an event with over 200 people present, and I don’t think the campaign team expected that kind of turnout as part of the event was scheduled to be inside their headquarters but there just wasn’t enough room. However they quickly improvised and moved everything outside onto the street.
Obama Says He’ll Visit Fort Wayne
In an interview with WANE TV’s Mark Mellinger, Barack Obama promises he’s coming to Fort Wayne. You can see the full interview at wane.com
County Commissioners’ Plan To Avoid Referendum - It’s Worse Than I Originally Thought (UPDATE)
UPDATE: I got word from the Allen County Auditor’s office today that, contrary to what Commissioner Bloom thinks, this project WOULD be subject to referendum if it were approved after June 30
I originally reported that the commissioners were pushing a June 30 deadline for the approval of the $55 million Maplecrest Extension because if it were approved after that date then it would be subject to referendum. I’ve posted video of commissioner Nelson Peters using the June 30 deadline in his presentation to county council but without mentioning the referendum requirement.
However, the commissioners’ plan appears to actually be two-fold. To his credit councilman Darren Vogt pointed out that if the project was not approved by June 30 then it would be subject to referendum. Immediately commissioner Linda Bloom chimed in and said they didn’t think that was the case as “road and bridge projects are exempt”. Video of this exchange is also shown below but there can no longer be any doubt that the commissioners are planning to try and pass this without a referendum.
County Commissioners Attempting To Avoid Referendum On $55 Million Project
I read, with much dismay, the articles in today’s Journal Gazette and News-Sentinel (via DFWB) about the county commissioners’ plan to spend $55 Million for a 1.5 mile road on the outskirts of Fort Wayne. It is unfathomable in this fiscal climate that they would be pushing for such a project - make no mistake this is much worse than Harrison Square. For better or worse Harrison Square will actually create more than a few bridges and some asphalt.
I am happy to see that some of the county council is pushing back a little and asking commissioner Peters why he wants to fast track this plan. Let me help the council answer that question - something the JG and NS stories missed - they want the bonds issued by the “end of June” because HB1001, and thus the referendum requirement, applies to any controlled projects after June 30, 2008.
Yes, you read that right - they stated a couple of different excuses (shown below) but the real reason is they want to force this on to the taxpayers without giving them an opportunity to reject it via referendum. A complete subversion of the public will.
Details of Hillary Clinton Visit
Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton will be at Sara’s Family Restaurant in southwest Fort Wayne at 5:45 p.m. Friday for a roundtable session about the economy.
The restaurant at 5792 Coventry Lane will be open to the public, but space is limited.
Seating is limited? Yea, I’d say so…
Photo from Stephen Parker at
Around Fort Wayne
H/T: Scott Spaulding at DFWB
Obama Opens Up Shop In Fort Wayne
I stopped by Barack Obama’s Fort Wayne headquarters this afternoon to see what was going on. There were a few people milling about and the office looked like it was coming together. For those that are interested there’s going to be an official Grand Opening this Saturday at 10am. The Obama HQ is at 124 Columbia St - it’s across the street from Columbia Street West.
Feel free to show up Saturday or contact Sofia Rodriguez Mirwaldt (sof49er@hotmail.com) for more info…
Carol Coen Out at FWCS (UPDATE)
Fort Wayne Community School Board member Carol Coen will resign from the board this summer according to a JG story. It’s no secret that I wanted both her and Steve Carona to be ousted in the upcoming election - I guess we’re halfway to that goal now. In the article Coen says she moved out of the 2nd district and into the 3rd district that is represented by Jon Olinger.
What I find extremely odd is that Coen is resigning before her term is up. Typically if a public official decides not to fulfill their obligation then they give a reason for doing so, but Coen simply said she was “not interested in finishing her term”. She is an elected official and should not back out of that commitment she gave to the public without good cause. Simply deciding to take your ball and go home does not suffice…
(H/T: Mitch Harper)
UPDATE: A quick search of the Allen County Recorder’s database shows that Coen’s old property was transferred to the new owners on 6/7/2007 and the DLGF sales disclosure form has a date of 4/17/2007. That means she was working against the remonstrance after she had moved out of her district. I’m not sure what the rules are for school board members that leave their district - the Indiana code is littered with multiple school organizational statutes…
