What is Mayor Tom Henry thinking?
Earlier this week the Mayoral candidates had a televised debate.
In this debate Mayor Henry said he would support the City buying the North River Property (Where Omni Source used to) along the St. Mary’s river. He said he did not want the City to develop the property; however, he wanted the city to own and control the property.
What is going on in the mind of Mayor Tom Henry?
Graham Richard the prior Democratic Mayor of Fort Wayne spent wasted $25,000 on an option that would have allowed the city to purchase the property for the inflated price of 4.3 million dollars. Mayor Tom Henry took office in January of 2008 and let the option expire in June of 2008. There is no doubt that Mayor Graham Richard wanted the City of Fort Wayne to purchase the property; that is why he wasted $25,000 on the option.
There is a lot of speculation that there are environmental issues at the North River Property. The City had an environmental study done and will not disclose the results so the public does not know the results.
Mayor Henry could have tried to purchase the property before the option expired in June of 2008. Further he could have tried to purchase it anytime since then. Further any private buyer could have purchased the property as well. No one has purchased the property.
As I have previously stated on this blog I was glad that Mayor Henry let the option expire and did not pursue purchasing this property.
So why has he changed his mind and announced it in a televised debate in the middle of a heated Mayoral race?
This makes no sense…
I swear that Mayor Henry is doing what he can to make me vote for Paula Hughes…
Mike Sylvester
Fort Wayne Mayor’s race, update
In a previous post I discussed the Fort Wayne Mayor’s race. In my previous post I predicted Henry would beat Hughes by a margin of 52/47/1. John Kalb and I have bet dinner on the outcome of this race. I pay if Hughes wins, he pays if Henry wins.
In my previous post I said I was planning on voting against Paula Hughes; meaning I would vote for Tom Henry.
I have received several very negative adds from Mayor Henry attacking Paula Hughes in the last two weeks. Some of his points are fair and some are not fair.
Neither candidate is willing to discuss the issues and both are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars attacking each other. This race has been painful to watch and helps demonstrate why the majority of Americans are sick of both politics and politicians.
Mayor Henry has done two things in the last two weeks that have made me change my mind. I now currently plan on not voting for ANY Mayoral candidate. I just cannot support any of them…
The first reason that I have now decided to not vote in this race is that the Henry campaign has recently ran a very negative campaign. I just hate negative campaigns and I actually thought Mayor Henry was a better person then that. The Hughes and Henry campaigns are as negative as ANY campaign that Mark Souder ever ran. That is certainly not a compliment.
The second reason is Mayor Henry’s unreasonable decisions involving Occupy Fort Wayne. He does have the authority to allow the protesters to violate the normal rules at the Rothschild Pavilion; however, he has trampled on the Headwaters Group Alliance Board and he has set a terrible precedent. By allowing the protesters to use the facilities for free he has set a dangerous precedent and his decision will cost the City of Fort Wayne money since the City of Fort Wayne will have to pay Headwaters Park for the expenses incurred by Occupy Fort Wayne. Over time these expenses could become significant.
Over the winter if one of the Occupy Fort Wayne Protesters is injured that could really cost Fort Wayne taxpayers…
So on next Tuesday I will not be voting for any Mayoral candidate.
Mike Sylvester
Beggars invade Fort Wayne
I have previously posted about beggars I have seen in Fort Wayne.
I have seen several well dressed beggars who appear able to work and in good health begging in the last couple of months. Some of these beggars I have seen on and off for the last three months.
I have seen several people stop and give these beggars money.
I have seen more beggars in Fort Wayne in the last six months that I saw in Fort Wayne in the prior eleven years…
Maybe Tom Henry and Paula Hughes should stop spending hundreds of thousand dollars lying about each other and give their money to these beggars?
Mike
Rothschild Pavilion and Occupy Fort Wayne
I wrote about this yesterday in another post. This post will just serve as an update to my earlier, more detailed post…
The Fort Wayne Public Information Officer (Frank Suarez) did return my call after about 24 hours. We talked and then he went to do some research and quickly called me back. Mr. Suarez was very professional and answered my questions quickly and promptly. Mr. Suarez did a good job!
According to Mr. Suarez Headwaters Park is a City Park. He further said that the management of the park is leased to the Headwaters Park Alliance.
Mr. Suarez told me on the phone that City Code allows the Mayor power over the Rothschild Pavilion. He said that back in the 90’s City Council inserted a provision to give the Mayor some leeway involving the operation of Headwaters Park. I will likely go and read this section of City Code and put a post up about it.
I asked Mr. Suarez what would happen if a protester broke their arm this winter; whose insurance would cover this? He then told me that Headwaters Park and the Rothschild Pavilion are a City Park and so would be covered by city insurance…
I pointed out that in order to use Headwaters Park you have to get one million in liability insurance. He pointed out that was a rule put into place by The Headwaters Park Alliance and that you can rent and use other pavillions in other City Parks without insurance.
So this begs the question:
Why does the Headwaters Park Alliance REQUIRE people who use the Pavilion to get one million dollars of private insurance in order to hold an event at the Pavilion? Is it because there is sometimes alcohol involved?
I emailed some questions to Mr. Paddock a few minutes ago. After I read through his answers I will put a 3rd post up; likely tomorrow if he gets back to me today or tomorrow.
Mike Sylvester
Occupy Fort Wayne
Kevin Leininger has an article you really should read in its entirety. It discusses how the City of Fort Wayne is bending over backwards to help the Occupy Fort Wayne movement. I spent some time on the phone today with Geoff Paddock because I wanted to confirm Kevin Leininger’s article. I also left a message for Frank Suarez the Fort Wayne Public Information Officer at noon today. I let him know that I might rent the Rothschild Pavilion myself for a tax protest in the next week or two. In my message I mentioned I might like to hold a protest for the 53% of Americans who pay Federal Income taxes…… So far he has not taken the time to call me back… If I do not hear from him tomorrow I will get back on the phone…
Geoff Paddock was very helpful and professional in our conversation; he provided me with all of the information I asked for in a timely manner. In short, I was impressed with Mr. Paddock.
I went down to the Rothschild Pavilion around lunch time today. I spent some time talking to two of the “Occupiers.” I have absolutely no problem with people who peacefully protest and who follow the rules. To date I certainly feel that Occupy Fort Wayne has done both and should be allowed to continue their peaceful protest; just not from the Rothschild Pavilion. I will put up another post about Occupy Fort Wayne in the near future. While I was down at the Pavilion City Employees were winterizing the bathrooms…
I have several thoughts about the mistakes the Henry Administration has made by allowing the Occupy Fort Wayne Protesters to “Occupy” the Rothschild Pavilion:
- First off the Pavilion is in Headwaters Park. Headwaters Park is run by the Headwaters Park Alliance. This is a not for profit group that raised private and public money to accomplish their goals. This not for profit is controlled by a Board of Directors and Geoff Paddock is the Executive Director. Mayor Henry has no authority over The Headwaters Park Alliance to my knowledge. I am not sure if it was legal for him to impose his new rules on the Rothschild Pavilion.
- The Board of Headwaters Park Alliance and its Executive Director should make all decisions regarding their property; not the Fort Wayne Mayor.
- There is a set of written rules that apply to all events at the Rothschild Pavilion. The list is specific and posted. Mayor Henry has arbitrarily decided that the Occupy Fort Wayne protesters can ignore all of the rules including: The $500 per day fee that has been charged to all other groups, the fact that overnight camping is not allowed at the Pavilion, the fact that the other groups using the Pavilion have all been required to carry one million dollars of liability insurance, and the fact that the other groups using the Pavilion have had to pay for their own utilities. Mayor Henry has arbitrarily created a new set of rules that seem to apply only to this one special group.
- I think Mayor Henry has put the taxpayers at risk. What will happen if this winter one of the “occupiers” falls down on the ice and breaks their leg? I would expect them to potentially sue The Headwaters Park Alliance, its Board of Directors, Mayor Henry, and the City of Fort Wayne. Was the City Attorney consulted on this matter?
- I think Mayor Henry has set an awful precedent. I think that ANY peaceful protest group can at this point use the Pavilion for free as well. Further I do not think they will need insurance or to pay for utilities and they should also be allowed to camp overnight. Maybe the pro life movement would like to stage a protest there? Maybe the pro choice movement would like to stage a protest there? Maybe the American Nazi Party would like to stage a protest there?
- My kids are both in scouting. What will happen if the boy scouts or girl scouts want to hold a camp out in Headwaters Park? Should they not be allowed to camp there overnight? Should it not be free for them? Should they not be required to have insurance?
- The City employees were winterizing the bathrooms at the Pavilion today. They are turning off the water which renders the public bathrooms inoperable for the winter. I think they will likely be locking the doors as well since they do not want anyone to use the bathrooms with the water off. So now the Occupy Fort Wayne people will not have access to a bathroom. Will they bring in a portable bathroom? Who will pay for it? Who will clean it? How many will they need? Will people decide to “pee in the park?”
- If the protesters do spend the winter in the Pavilion is there any doubt that Headwaters Park will sustain some damage over a several month time period? Will the park smell due to the sanitation facilities?
- What do the people who paid the fees, obtained the insurance, and followed the rules think of this? Should they all get their money back? Will this make it harder to rent the facilities in the future?
- I wonder what our current nine members of city Council think about this?
Who I am voting for, Fort Wayne City Clerk
In a previous post I discussed the Mayor’s race and the fact that I am voting against Paula Hughes; which means I am voting for Tom Henry.
In the City Clerk’s race I have been planning on voting for Zachary Bonahoom in his race to unseat Sandra Kennedy. Mr. Bonahoom has made a couple of ill advised comments on Twitter and has shown a fair amount of immaturity in this regard. I will be voting for Zachary Bonahoom in the City Clerk’s race; however, the truth of the matter is I am voting against Sandra Kennedy.
Sandra Kennedy needs to be replaced for several reasons:
- The first reason is that she has served as the City Clerk for 28 years. It is absurd to have the same person fill this elected position for so long.
- The second reason is that she is extremely adverse to any change in her office. She does not seem to understand the new technology that is available and this causes her office to waste taxpayer money.
- The third reason is that she has a reputation for being difficult to deal with. Over the years several people have told me stories about how difficult she is to deal with.
I will be voting for Zachary Bonahoom for City Clerk.
Mike Sylvester
Who I am voting for, Mayor of Fort Wayne 2011
Many people vote early. I am generally not one of them. I generally vote on election day.
The top of the ticket race is Mayor. There are three candidates this year:
- Paula Hughes, Republican
- Tom Henry, Democrat (Incumbent)
- D Haley Ahrendt, Independent
- I do not care for her negative campaigning
- She is a large Government Republican who supports all of the failed downtown projects
- I do not think her campaign has been honest
- She helped defeat Jon Olinger for School Board and replaced a good small government type with big government liberal Becky Hill
- Henry 52%
- Hughes 47%
- Ahrendt 1%
Another mailer attacking Mayor Tom Henry
I just got another mailer from the Indiana State Committee attacking Mayor Tom Henry. It is the third I have received…
Basically the mailer makes six points (My thoughts in bold):
- “Tom Henry’s nasty campaign can’t cover up his record of failure.” It is hard to believe ANYONE supporting Paula Hughes can accuse Tom Henry of running a nasty campaign. This point is absurd…
- “Tom Henry has lost thousands of jobs.” I am not sure how many jobs have been lost in Fort Wayne, however, the economic downturn has certainly caused many jobs to be lost here n Fort Wayne. This is mostly fair.
- “Tom Henry has grown our city debt to half a billion dollars.” The exact amount of debt accumulated is debatable; however, there is no doubt the Henry Administration with the backing of our Republican City Council has created too much debt.
- “Tom Henry raised our taxes and want to raise more.” This is true.
- “Tom Henry pays himself more than the Governor.” This is true.
- “Tom Henry wastes tax money on Chicago and Indianapolis consultants.” This is very true as well.
Fort Wayne Tax Abatements
Tax abatements have been a common topic on this blog. They are a good example of what is wrong with our Government. Tax abatements allow companies to have a portion of their taxes on new equipment and property forgiven over a 10 year time period.
When tax abatements were first used they were very controversial and used very rarely. They were used on projects that would CREATE new jobs with wages that were significantly higher than the norm. Now tax abatements are granted for ANYTHING.
I pretty much oppose all tax abatements; however, an argument can be made for tax abatements that meet the following basic criteria:
- Actually create new jobs that did not exist before WITHOUT causing the loss of already existing jobs that currently exist.
- Create new jobs that pay significantly better than the local median wage.
- The tax abatements are then tied to actual performance and the company only gets the tax abatements if it proves that it actually created and maintains the new jobs it promised in its application.
One of the major problems with tax abatements is they only are granted for medium to large sized projects. That is because the approval process takes time and time is money. Also the annual filing of personal property tax returns takes time and money; heck I prepare quite a few of these for my clients each and every year.
My firm handles well over two hundred small local businesses. Not one of them have applied for or received a tax abatement that I can think of off the top of my head. Our firms clients employ about a thousand people locally. Our clients tend to be small and really do not qualify for tax abatements…
I would be far happier if tax abatements were abolished entirely and the tax rates that all business owners paid were lowered. This would prevent the favoritism that tax abatements foster. This would also allow us to eliminate some government employees and would be a far more fair system.
The Journal Gazette has a disturbing story that you should read. Per the story a firm is planning a 5.3 million dollar expansion that will create no new jobs. Zip. Zero. Nada. None. Per the story the tax abatement would cause the company to pay $483,252 less in taxes than they would otherwise pay.
You cannot make this stuff up and it shows how absurd the local tax abatement system really is.
Consider that our local tax abatement system is so bad that tax abatements are now granted to firms that create no new jobs, create a single part time job, create jobs that pay minimum wage, etc.
I wonder if this abatement will pass with another 9-0 vote of our supposedly Republican City Council?
Good Grief…
Mike Sylvester
Paula Hughes and the Wheel tax
Based on a disagreement John Kalb and are are having about Paula Hughes and her position on the wheel tax I thought I would post a summary of what I think happened in regards to the Wheel Tax. This all happened a couple of years ago and after some research here is what I think happened:
While Paula Hughes was a member of our County Government:
- Allen County decided to stop maintaining the Bridges in Allen County as a way to save some money.
- Allen County Government (Paula Hughes herself) went to the Fort Wayne City Council and asked the Fort Wayne City Council to agree to allow Allen County to keep 65% of the revenue generated by the increase in the wheel tax. Fort Wayne would keep the remaining 35%.
- The Republican Fort Wayne City Council and the Democratic Mayor agreed to allow 65% of the additional revenue to go to the County.
- The Republican Allen County Council in a 4:3 vote then agreed to raise the wheel tax. They likely would NOT have agreed to raise the wheel tax if the County would not have gotten the increased revenue in order to maintain the bridges.
- Paula Hughes voted AGAINST raising the wheel tax in this 4:3 vote.
John if any of my facts are wrong in this post please let me know… I do not understand your thinking on this at all!
