Comments on The Bainbridge Island Postscript: Undoing the People’s Work

Wait a minute Owl. You said: "Owl said... "Karl R...

2008-04-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

Wait a minute Owl. You said: "Owl said... "Karl Rove is alive and well on BI." This isn't fair to Mr. Rove. He may be you idol but . . . If you want a scoundrel, use Clinton's Sidney Bluementhal (Sid Vicious), Jimmy Carter or Hillary. Mr. Rove is the wrong party. This island is pure Democrat -- sad but true.

April 17, 2008 12:16 PM

Having been a member of a couple of citizen adviso...

2008-04-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Having been a member of a couple of citizen advisory groups in recent years I would agree that the current system is dysfunctional. I'm not sure the structure is entirely to blame, I'd say the problem is primarily in the personalities.

That said, I will sign the petition as it appears that the existence of multiple fiefdoms is what gives rise to the internal struggle. Additionally and unfortunately, I honestly don't see what value this mayor brings to the table.

Time to not merely change to a city-manager form o...

2008-04-18T02:40:00.000-07:00

Time to not merely change to a city-manager form of government - but as well to call for an investigation by the WA State Attorney General with a firm commitment to reveal the entire truth, all the players and hold all legally accountable - i.e., "no immunity."

Another petition passer here. I found that people ...

2008-04-17T22:00:00.000-07:00

Another petition passer here. I found that people in the community are hungry for information. Most of those I have approached won't sign blindly. They usually have concerns already about the city and want to know why a council manager system would be any better. I have yet to have a single person not sign after a thoughtful conversation. The issue really sells itself.

Karl Rove is alive and well on BI.

2008-04-17T12:16:00.000-07:00

Karl Rove is alive and well on BI.

Obviously the council person you’re talking about ...

2008-04-17T11:44:00.000-07:00

Obviously the council person you’re talking about is Barry Peters. Anyone can see he has mayoral aspirations. My guess is that John Waldo, another aspiring mayoral candidate, is the real architect behind these rumors.

Yes, I am one of those “liberals” collecting signa...

2008-04-17T10:34:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am one of those “liberals” collecting signatures for “the petition.” Why? Because I’m no longer deluded that our Mayor-Council form of government has ever provided essential “checks & balances.” It’s all in the numbers for me, and Carl Neu, a national expert in performance of local governments, explained it well, noting how the problems of “corruption, collusion and cronyism” in Mayor-Council governments have driven the shift to the popular Council-Administrator “reform” option early in the 20th century.

Far from being a “power grab,” as one Council member described it, this is merely a necessary step for getting this issue on the ballot this November so the community discussion of all the pros and cons can begin. Curious that when all else fails, the Council gets the blame. Don’t believe it. Neu explains how the Council can feel “powerless since the mayor in the mayor-council model has control over the city staff” upon whom the Council depends for information to do its job. I’ve personally witnessed how little power Council has.

“Trust me” does not equate to good government. Attempts to silence dissenters is not good government. Let all voices be heard about what’s best for OUR island for the long-term. And check out bainbridgeislandinstitute.org for more details about the petition.

I guess I’m one of the liberal backers of this pet...

2008-04-17T10:22:00.000-07:00

I guess I’m one of the liberal backers of this petition drive. I’m also one of those who are afraid enough about retribution from the mayor’s regime that I’m not willing to use my name. I wouldn’t call myself a prominent local liberal, but I have been amazed to hear from many prominent citizens (who I’m sure will never publicly admit their support) that they want a Council-Manager system. Thanks for defending our work and creating this forum.

Oh, McCoy! Your story has a refreshing gust of tru...

2008-04-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

Oh, McCoy! Your story has a refreshing gust of truthfulness. Or as that sage Stephen Colbert likes to say “truthiness”.

I have to wonder at the use of our city attorney’s time (paid for with our money) to question the legality of a petition for change of government that’s still in process. For a mayor to use city resources (her city attorney) to determine or even defend the mayoral office feels wrong since it is self-serving. If the shoe was on the other foot, and city council was asking the city attorney to prepare a defense of the petition, wow, would the mayor come unglued over that one. But, that is not what’s happening. It’s the mayor’s own actions that demonstrate an abuse of power.

But, maybe abuse of power has been the problem all along. Island mayors have historically operated with agendas well outside of the greater public good. Sure, they present well in public and seem like generally nice people. But, as City Hall insiders know there’s been enough mayor-induced cronyism over the years to choke even a swamp ‘gator.

In fact the island is flush with fat political favors the likes of the mayor-initiated Winslow Tomorrow-Streetscape scheme, which proposes to use public money to benefit about 12 commercial property owners. Stay on it McCoy, we need you buddy!

The ground swell to replace Mayor K. with a City M...

2008-04-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

The ground swell to replace Mayor K. with a City Manager is reminiscent of the recall of Gray Davis, California's 37th governor, who refused to do the people's business, running the State into the ground and near bankruptcy. It's time for our community to make the transition as well, before the Mayor and her clutch spend us into oblivion. If you have any doubts I encourage each of you to read the bogus survey recently sent out by the Administration which is an obvious attempt to skew the results in the same way as any agenda-drive political poll. I guarantee that Mayor K. will use this poll like a de facto initiative to justify her tax and spend agenda while pandering to those who are determined to stop growth at any cost.

Jeffrey Sneller