Thursday, April 24, 2008

The ‘Virtue’ of Unintended Consequences

Selling one’s ‘birthright’ to Aurora.

Interesting report in the Chieftain today.

It seems that the recent fire out in Ordway—the one that claimed the lives of firefighters and destroyed a number of buildings—it appears that one of the contributing factors was that some farmers and/or ranchers had been selling their water to Aurora. Raking in the the cash while their fields withered from lack of water.

Then…some how a fire started and raced through the parched land causing the loss of property and life.

I hope these farmers are on good terms with forgiving neighbors.

However, I’ve seen a larger problem looming on the horizon….

More...

Saturday, February 02, 2008

Chieftain, My Chieftain X

Remedial geography lessons…..

....are available.

There’s an article in the Pueblo Chieftain today. It’s about some person, who was elected by the citizens of Colorado to represent them, behaving badly. He has, apparently in the face of overwhelming evidence—that has not been described in the article—decided to resign his high position in the Colorado Assembly, as a result of this reputed misconduct.

That’s not my point, here.

Rather, I’m concerned how the people who run the Chieftain, can’t seem to differentiate between Regional, i.e., Colorado, issues and National ones.

The article is listed in the National section of the paper; hard-copy and on-line.

Where did these people learn ‘geography’? Or is it a problem with their understanding of ‘English’?

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

I’m SOOOO Confused!

Is it too much to ask that it make sense?

An article in the Pueblo Chieftain today says that a developer is going to get a tax break for remodeling some apartments.

The Pueblo City Council and County Board of Commissioners both approved a measure this week that will give a private developer a break on property taxes in exchange for remodeling the Bethlehem Square apartments.

On Monday, council approved an agreement with Lucky Star LLLP that allows the company to make payments to the city and county in lieu of property taxes.

How, exactly, are “payments” different from property tax payments?

More...

February 2008 PNP Meeting

The 2008 Neighborhood Clean-Up Summit

This Tuesday, 5 February, will see the monthly Pueblo Neighborhood Partnership meeting.

We’ll be meeting and eating at 11:30 am, in the Pueblo County Conference Center at Santa Fe and 10th St.

The agenda is as follows:

• Brief Introductions

• Announcements by Officials (who have to get back to work quickly)
- TBD

• Primary Topic
- 2008 Neighborhood Clean-Up Summit

• Adjournment

Food and beverages for a working lunch will be available through the offices of the Pueblo City-County Health Department

Please call or e-mail Susan Finzel-Aldred at 583-4309 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to RSVP. Fee for lunch is $6 per person.

If you cannot attend, I suggest you send a representative.

Send announcements for the newsletter to Sandy Daff by e-mail at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Part 1: So What Was Going with that Historic District and Council?

I apologize for any errors in the following narration. I have been patiently waiting for the minutes of the January 14, 2008, Pueblo City Council meeting to be posted on the City’s web site, but they are still not there.

Monday, January 14, 2008, Pueblo City Council was presented with a proposed historic district to be called the North Side Historic District. It has approximately 35 properties. The district boundaries had already been redrawn to accommodate people who protested being included.

After “testimony” was heard, Council then discussed the issue and decided that before the District could be finalized, every property owner had to agree to be included with an affidavit. This is not in Pueblo’s Historic Preservation Ordinance.  This goes way beyond the noticing that the City was required to do and did do. This is called “changing the rules so your opponent can’t score.”

Personally, I think the whole thing was quite likely manipulated by parties with other agendas. I won’t say it was exactly pre-planned or orchestrated, but under the circumstances, it would be very easy to manipulate.

More...

Monday, December 24, 2007

What Should a Concerned Citizen Do?

When you’re watching City Council put their foot in it.

Last Monday, December 17, at a special meeting of City Council, Ted Freeman was in the audience while City Council proceeded to introduce an ordinance (or, several ordinances, judging from the Public Notices published later in the week). This was against the City’s charter (the equivalent of a constitution on the city level). Further, the ordinances were an add-on to the published purpose of the meeting, which was to reschedule the regular meeting that would have been held on December 24.

Mr. Freeman rose and challenged the actions of the City Council. He told them they were out of order. Council President Weaver told him he was out of order, gavel pounding and shouting followed, with threats to have Mr. Freeman removed, etc. I’ve been told the brou-ha-ha lasted about 30 seconds, although it probably seemed much longer.

Later in the week, Tom Jagger, City Attorney, said that Mr. Freeman was correct in that the Charter does not allow ordinances to be introduced at special meetings. So, given that the Council members, the City Clerk, the City Manager, and the City Attorney were all present, but none of them remembered that they couldn’t introduce an ordinance, just what was Mr. Freeman supposed to do?

More...

Monday, December 03, 2007

PNP Meeting December 2007

Discussions with City Officials.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, 4 December, will see the Pueblo Neighborhood Partnership meeting.

We’ll be meeting and eating at 11:30 am, in the District Attorney’s Conference Room in their building at 701 Court St.

The agenda is as follows:

• Brief Introductions

• Announcements by Officials (who have to get back to work quickly)
- TBD

• Official Business
- Committee Reports
- Proposed Bylaws & Articles of Incorporation [Note: Bylaws (Draft) are available for download from Pueblog.us.]
- January 2008 Retreat

• Primary Topic
- Pueblo Planning & Development Department Plans for the Future Development of Pueblo; Mr. Jerry Pacheco, Assistant City Manager for Community Development presenting.

• Adjournment

Saturday, December 01, 2007

Help At Home, Anyone?

Senior Resource Development Agency’s assistance program.

Over 60 years of age?

If you need some help in keeping up with keeping up the household, SRDA seems to have a program in place to assist.

They’ve got people willing to do inside—laundry, mopping, vacuuming—AND outside—mowing, raking, grocery shopping—work for you at reasonable rates.

If you live outside of OHNO’s area, call SRDA direct at 545-8900.

If you live in OHNO’s area, contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)....she seems to be drumming up business along those lines in the area.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Not A Public Meeting???

Are Pueblo City Council Meetings Public Meetings?

I thought I’d take a moment to comment on recent remarks by Pueblo
City Council President Judy Weaver.  She continues to claim, “This is
our meeting being held in public; it’s not a public meeting.”

Not a public meeting?  How can this possibly be? Has she read
Colorado’s Sunshine Law?  This is the portion of the Colorado Revised
Statutes dealing with open meeting requirements.  It just so happens
that the opening three paragraphs tell us all that we need to know.

“Local public body” means any board, committee, commission, authority,
policy-making, rule-making, political subdivision of the state…

“Meeting” means any kind of gathering, convened to discuss public
business, in person, by telephone, electronically, or by other means
of communication.

“Political subdivision of the state” includes, but is not limited to,
any county, city, city and county, town, home rule city, home rule
county, home rule city and county, school district…

It is worth mentioning that I searched this document thoroughly and I
could not find a “This is Our Meeting” clause anywhere.  I think it is
fair to conclude that Pueblo City Council meetings are in fact public
meetings.

Our local government should be a government of the people, by the
people, and for the people.  Unfortunately, it seems that this
council is heading more towards government of the council, by the
council, and for the council.

Chris Nicoll
Pueblo Citizens for Open Government
http://www.pueblofreespeech.org

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Thanksgiving Casa Pelto Pueblo 2007

Miscellaneous thoughts on the holiday as I’m preparing the feast.

Sitting here at the kitchen counter, listening to great music [I Will Be There], while the guest of ‘honor’ has been thrust into the oven and all the sides are prepared for cooking, diddling on the laptop….I’m reviewing what’s in the Pueblo Chieftain and I was struck by a juxtaposition of todays editorial and other thinks that had come to mind over the last few days. [Ed. Note: Thank God for the internet and the [current] ability to see so much in so little time….without the filtering of the so-called ‘Major Media’.]

I am struck by the idea that the Chieftain thinks it is important to remark on the words of US Supreme Court Associate Justice Joseph Story. Especially his words to the young of this country….

Let the American youth never forget that they possess a noble inheritance bought by the toils, and sufferings, and blood of their ancestors; and capacity, if wisely improved, and faithfully guarded, of transmitting to ... posterity all the substantial blessings of life, and the peaceful enjoyment of liberty, property, religion, and independence.

What’s going on?

Is the vaunted American Public Education system failing to teach this message?

I wonder…..if I were to ask some high school student, in a man-on-the-street approach, something about Justice Story’s remark….what would I hear in reply?

Get this. I am a judge of Colorado high school debate. I specialize in Cross-Examination, Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum and One-on-One Value debates.

Admittedly, I’m very much impressed with the skills, thought processes and command of the English language of many of the contestants I judge in a round at an event. However, I have this niggling concern that these few that participate in high school forensics are a few ‘rare birds’, indeed. A problematic ‘minority’....in more ways than one.

The BIG problem, as my concerns point, is not that we are not raising up successors with the mental discernment that I and my contemporaries and peers enjoy today. I am certain that many I’ve heard over the last few years will surpass me. Seriously. I’ve heard some stunners just a couple of weeks ago. And I’m gladdened with the thought.

However, I have serious concerns that not ENOUGH young, future-voting citizens are as well instructed. [Note: The process has been referred to, over the last two decades, as the dumbing-down of America.]

Half of the time I sit in on the Pueblo 2010 Commission, I hear ‘concerns’ about how Colorado State University-Pueblo (CSU-P) has problems retaining students. They seem to drop out rather early and never complete higher education.

Ever time I’ve heard that, I’ve looked at the respresentative from Pueblo School District 60….if they are in attendance.

I get the distinct impression that most people think it is the fault of CSU-P that these aspiring young adults fail. I see it as a totally different problem…..something in the realm of K-12, i.e,. District 60.

And this Chieftain article makes me want to ask the D60 rep, “What is taught in civics, these days?” With follow-on questions about Math, English, Life Sciences, Hard Sciences, Art, Theater, etc., etc., etc…..?

TO: Kitty Kennedy
RE: Next Time….

....I hear comments at 2010 Commission about CSU-P and drop-outs….‘Be Prepared’. [Note: Yeah….I know….It’s a Boy Scout, i.e., guy, think. But still and all…..]

 

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Pueblo Neighborhood Partnership Bylaws — 071106

First cut on the proposed bylaws for the organization.

We’ve felt there was a need to formalize our organization by getting it recognized as a non-profit corporation by the Colorado Secretary of State.

In order to do that, we need two things (1) Articles of Incorporation and (2) bylaws to govern the organization’s activities.

The PDF document you can access HERE is a first draft of bylaws. It is based on a neighborhood association’s bylaws. It is a PDF document that can be opened and marked-up with Adobe Reader. Just use the Commenting and Highlighting tools. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can get it HERE....for free.

If you do mark it up and offer suggestions on how to improve it, please e-mail it back to me so I can include your comments and suggestions in the development process. Just click on my name (below) to send me an e-mail with your marked-up copy as an attachment.

Friday, October 12, 2007

The Ballot Issues of 2007

Observations on the ballot issues by the League of Women Voters.

As usual, the League of Women Voters has come out with a brochure to help people better understand the issues that will be on the November 2007 ballot in Pueblo. And it is much appreciated. Especially when your eyes get ‘crossed’ and your brain scrambled like eggs in a frying-pan trying to read item 2C. [Ed. Note: Sheesh! It is (1) worse than trying to read Dickens in high school, (2) one long sentence, the longest I’ve ever seen in all my life, and (3) ALL CAPS, WHICH GIVES ONE THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY ARE SCREAMING AT YOU.

On that last item, the SCREAMING, one might get the impression they didn’t WANT you to ‘understand’.]

Click on ‘More….’ to see the text of their brochure.

I will point out that, contrary to their statements in the brochure, there IS ‘opposition’ to Questions 2C and 2D. See the items here and here.

There is ALSO opposition to Question 2A. It’s from the Pueblo Chieftain and you can read that organ’s opinion here.

Also, if you wish to visit the League of Women Voters web-site, go HERE.

More...

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Pueblo Neighborhood Partnership Meeting — October 2007

And now for something completely different….a group of people running for City Council.

The October 2007 meeting of the Pueblo Neighborhood Partnership will be a public forum debate of candidates running for the Pueblo City Council.

Here are the details:

Date: Tuesday, 16 October 2007
Time: 7-9 pm
Place: SRDA cafeteria at 230 North Union
Agenda: Questions relating to neighborhood issues put to candidates running for City Council.
Refreshments: Coffee from SRDA. Cookies or brownies or other finger desserts from YOU. Bring about a dozen of such to share.

What we need from YOU are the following:

[1] Questions to be put to the candidates.

These questions should relate to neighborhood issues.

Send the questions via e-mail by clicking on my name, below.

[2] Cookies or other finger food desserts.

About a dozen.

[3] Communication of this event within your neighborhoods.

Tell your friends, neighbors and associates about this event.

[4] Don’t fill-in and send your mail-in ballot until AFTER you’ve heard all you need from the candidates.

That includes THIS event.

Looking forward to seeing all of you and your neighbors there.

Monday, October 08, 2007

DEFEAT the Convention Center expansion

The expansion to the Convention Center would create low paying jobs and do little to impact the economy of Pueblo

DEFEAT
the Convention Center Expansion

A group of Pueblo civic activists has organized to oppose the city’s ballot questions 2C and 2D to request the voters to approve an expansion of the Pueblo Convention Center. The Citizens Against the Convention Center Expansion is comprised of a committee of a cross-section of progressive thinkers and fiscal conservative community leaders questioning the wisdom of any expansion of the Convention Center, and calling on voters to defeat both questions, 2C authorizing the expansion, and 2D financing it. Ted Freeman and Alvin Rivera are the co-organizer of the effort. Now, let’s look at why it would a mistake to approve the Convention Center expansion:

More...

Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting — 071010

A reminder….

This Wednesday afternoon, 3:30 pm, 10 October 2007, the Pueblo Planning and Zoning Commission will be holding a public hearing on a number of different matters.

One of those matters will be whether or not to recommend, with approval or disapproval, a Planned Unit Development (PUD) for an expansion of Parkview Medical Center.

The hearing will be held in the City Council Chambers.

All are invited to attend and participate…..