The First Suggestion To Come Out Of His Mouth, "The City Could Sell The Hospital."

[WillyT]

Don't know if you've been following the movings and shakings in Colorado Springs...

Background: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=7703565

But I guess David Sirota had Colorado Springs Councilman Sean Paige on his radio program for a debate, to which Sean Paige (Libertarian) responds on Huffington Post...

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sean-paige/dueling-with-this-david-m_b_459464.html

Which I found through here (which has a link to the audio): http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2010/02/david_sirota_makes_a_monkey_ou.php

Anywho... MSNBC had this councilman on for a few minutes this morning, and he kept telling the anchor how much she was misinformed about the situation in Colorado Springs. When she mentioned that the police helicopters were up for sale, his response was that they hadn't sold a thing yet. AND... that they could easily sell the city's hospital!

Because he was being annoyingly rude and unresponsive, the anchor shut down the interview while he kept lobbing talking points.

This is what the future will look like if these teabagging Neanderthals somehow get in charge.

********************************************************************************

Another story on this...

National Media Focusing On Springs Budget Cuts
February 11, 2010 6:22 PM
DANIEL CHACÓN
THE GAZETTE

<snip>

The national media are turning Colorado Springs into a poster child of government cutbacks, with reports of brown park grass, dark street lights, shuttered police helicopters and buses on scaled-down schedules.

The media spotlight is already causing headaches for the city’s chief tourism promoter — and it could get worse, as Colorado Springs announced another budget casualty Thursday.

The city government eliminated a 10-year-old program that calms traffic in neighborhoods by installing speed bumps and other devices to discourage motorists from using residential streets to avoid busier thoroughfares.

Six projects were cut because of a lack of funding and staff, 35 neighborhood applications for traffic help won’t be processed, and new applications will no longer be accepted, the city said.

The city said residents concerned about traffic safety still have options, including paying “for police overtime for targeted enforcement in their neighborhoods.”

The end of the neighborhood traffic program is the latest in a series of budget cuts.

The city, which let go nearly 200 employees through layoffs and an early retirement program, isn’t filling public safety jobs. The city put its two police helicopters up for sale. It turned off 8,000-10,000 streetlights to save $1.2 million. The City Clerk’s office and the Parks Department cut their office hours, and four local community centers face closure in April unless they can come up with the money to keep them open.

The cuts haven’t gone unnoticed.

ABC News, for example, recently featured the city in a report about what it called “extreme” budget cuts.

<snip>

More: http://www.gazette.com/articles/media-94050-springs-national.html

BTW - Sean Paige spent 5 years as the Gazette's Editorial Page editor.

:shrug:

[eleny]

1. I wish I had the energy today to refute Paige point by point

So I'll just say he's as much of an asshole as that other Libertarian, Douglas Bruce.

I listened to Sirota's interview the other morning. Paige even laughed as Sirota or callers asked him questions or made points. Paige comes off as an arrogant piece of work. Afaic, the right wing down in the Springs deserve what they suffer with this guy having any say in local matters. They ought to throw him out.

And, btw, Sirota is a treasure. We're so lucky to have him on local radio.

Edited to add: The interview with Paige is here, mid-page page http://www.am760.net/pages/DavidSirota.html

[WillyT]

2. I Agree... And Probably The Only Reason He's Out There At All Is...

that the Tourism Industry in Colorado Springs is scared shitless.

<snip>

The negative press has triggered concerns from potential visitors.

“It has prompted people who are planning meetings to query us and ask, will they be safe when they come to town,” said Terry Sullivan, president of Experience Colorado Springs, the city’s convention and visitor’s bureau.

“There have been, probably on a daily basis, an average of at least one consumer a day who has either e-mailed us or called us because they have witnessed some national attention being given to Colorado Springs,” he said.

Sullivan said bureau employees tell potential visitors that the budget problems here aren’t as dire as they’re being portrayed.

<snip>

Link: http://www.gazette.com/articles/media-94050-springs-national.html

:shrug:

:hi:

[MissMarple]

4. Bruce has an entire level of assholeness all to himself, his narcissism trumps any libertarian bent...

Paige is a real piece of work who is on the public stage in an entirely unfamiliar capacity. It will be interesting to see if he can survive an actual election, if he has the stomach for a campaign. He seems to be developing a penchant for tantrums. He had an opinion piece in the gazette railing against the head of the Council of Neighborhood Organizations. It was lame and obtuse, and now we have this. Oh, the joy of living in the Springs.

[WillyT]

5. He Really Is A Piece Of Work... BTW, MissMarple, How Is It In The Springs???

What's the mood, what's the reality???

Is the media exaggerating? Are people pissed? Are they mobilizing one way or the other?

:shrug:

:hi:

[MissMarple]

7. Economically, things are not at all good. The Dems are continuing to organize.

We have more candidates running for local office. We'll see how that works. A more moderate gopper was elected to Bruce's former seat. He has so far gotten his bills out of committee. So that is interesting. We'll see how he holds up over time. I think the business community may have to recognize that pragmatism is in their best interests. I'm going to talk to few people who may know more in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, if you have any spare change El Paso Dem candidates need a lot help. Thomas Mowle a retired Air Force major, academy professor, and author is running for County Clerk to replace Bob "big public crush on Sarah Palin" Balink. Michael Merrifield is going for county commissioner against Peggy "way too much make-up, narrow minded, I deserve this twit, and why is he even running?" Littleton, and Pete Lee is running for Merrifield's now vacant seat in the House against some strange "run for something until I get elected by true believers" woman from Manitou. The GOP is putting money into all these races, they want to dominate the county. They think they own it. Dems here, though, help swing Colorado blue. We are getting more and more organized, stepping out of the shadows. We will see how far we can go. :)

But, yes, street lights are going out, safety officers are not being replaced to where they need to be, the helicopters are for sale, snowplows will plow fewer streets, The parks took a big hit last year with less watering, seeding, and maintenance. There will be no to little watering this year with priority given to the park systems "jewels". Grass cutting? Bring your own mower. The city said this. Pot holes will be fixed even less than last year. Last year the 4th of July celebration in Memorial Park was funded privately, (a libertarian wet dream). At least I think so. We weren't here. And, yes, a committee was formed to recommend whether or not to sell Memorial Hospital, another little dream for libertarians. Bus service continues to be cut, as more people are dependent on it. We did scrape up enough to keep the FREX buses running between here and Denver by selling some the the "extra" buses. The homeless camps along Monument and Fountain Creeks, Shooks Run, and near Dougherty Park on South Tejon seem to be in the news all the time. I do think we are track for looking like the city in "The Running Man", can post apocalyptic be far away? No apocalypse is needed, thank you very much, just a strict adherence to a shallow, bankrupt ideology that benefits the wealthiest 1%.

Sean Paige is now on the City Council. He was an editor of the gazette and was appointed to replace a relatively moderate Jerry Heimlicher who resigned just before things really started roiling and headed back home to Kentucky. But, we seem to be on track to retain the Olympic Committee, to the tune of 4+++million dollars. That is causing a huge controversy...HUGE! In this particular regard the freeps are turning on themselves. It's interesting, if a bit unpleasant. The announcement of the +++ came just after Jerry lit out for other parts.

So, we live in interesting times. :hi:

edited for a point of clarity.

[WillyT]

10. Thanks For The Report, MM !!!

I really do appreciate it.

Good luck with all the campaigns, and I'd love to see some sanity come to the area, for the sake of everyone that lives there.

Keep up the good work!

:hi:

[eleny]

6. You have my sympathy

Really. It's such a beautiful place with the mountains right there. And then you have to suffer with the right wing side of things.

Btw, hi from Lakewood! :hi:

[MissMarple]

8. Hi, eleny!

:hi: I have a friend in Lakewood. She is a very nice person, but conservative, whatever that mean nowadays. She works for the State and is quite unhappy with all the unpaid days off the must take. I have no sympathy for that. I just told her, "Well, no one wants to pay for anything." There really was no response to that.

I responded to WillyT above, about what is going on. I don't outside perception is far off the reality. I'm getting another dog, one of the big ones, I think. They are sweet, but look imposing and bark really loud. :)

edited for misplaced apostrophe.

[eleny]

11. I'm retired from the State...

We aren't getting our yearly raise next month. Everyone has to do their part. It's the only way.

This past Friday was a furlough day for current employees. I wonder if your friend voted for TABOR way back when. We still would have problems given the enormity of the current problems. But we might have had a cushion to help the financial blow.

P.S. Are you "Miss Marple" because you like cozy mysteries? They're my favorite read for many years. :D

:hi:

[MissMarple]

12. I love cozies, among others. I like Jeanne Dams, Shirley Damsgaard, and Madelyn Alt.

The last two have wiccan characters, what fun. I also like the "Miss Julia" books although they are not strictly mysteries. Favorites are Lincoln and Child's with Pendergast as main character, they and Jeffrey Deaver can really draw you in, in a dark way. During the day I usually read poli sci, or history... if I read something other than the papers and stuff online.

:hi:

[Blackhatjack]

3. Sounds like a preview of Republican Rule if they win in 2012....

... of course gated communities will have their own streetlights, police forces, and in many cases onsite healthcare.

But Hey! ... at least the residents of gated communities won't suffer!

[MissMarple]

9. But they will be very afraid. For a lot of them, their money will run out or not be enough.

Their lifestyle will become quite expensive. Private compounds are difficult to maintain.