Here we go again! The city's recent announcement of plans to convert an old warehouse into a new police station are alarming and ill-timed. Taxpayers should consider the following:
First, by Chief Johnson's own definition a new station is no longer needed. When he first proposed a new station in 1999 he cited two reasons for its need. One, the fire department needed room for their new laddder truck and it would cost less for the police to move than the fire department. Well guess what, at considerable expense the city added space for the new truck onto the side of the building. So this reason is no longer valid!
Johnson also cited a need to be located on Washington Street. He and Assitant Chief Plunkett felt it was just too difficult to find the current station. Now they are proposing a new station that isn't on Washington either. Perhaps they are overestimating our intelligence. They didn't think we were smart enough to find a station 2 blocks from Washington, what makes them think we can find one 1 block from it?
They have also cited a need for more space. If you have ever toured the current station you know that they have a large open area that only contains some pictures on the walls and a hand-painted emblem on the floor. If they are really in need of space why don't they convert this ''shrine'' into usable space?
Secondly, things have changed since this project was originally approved by an outgoing council. Mayor Gentry proudle boasts that further approval isn't needed. Wake Up! Money was approved for a different plan than is now being proposed and it was approved during a much different time. Are they oblivious to what is going on around them? In 1999 we had a very strong economy. It has now cooled off and we are begining to see lay-offs that could inflict considerable financial hardship in our community. Why would you even consider going ahead with a questionable project such as this? To suggest, as the mayor has, that we must proceed with this because the expenditure has already been appproved sounds more like the financial logic of a child than that of city elders.
Also, past experience tells us that this project will cost much more than we are originally told. Genty himself admits that the original project was seriously under funded. For example, there were no provisions for furnishing the building upon completion. We would have an empty building with Johnson & Plunkett holding their hands out for more money. Now I realize that Gentry wasn't mayor at the time but if Johnson & Plunkett were that deceitful the first time why should we expect anything different this time? Anyone can see that the old warehouse on Green is in a state of disrepair and this isn't going to be cheap. Do they think were a bunch of fools?
Furthermore, their motives must be questioned. If they have nothing to hide why did they skirt open-door laws and exclude the public from the process? You don't do this unless you have something to hide. For example, they have now disclosed that this warehouse is owned by someone involved in the project. Wasnt it just last year that in a similar case the county purchased several downtown buildings above market value from a long-time GOP leader? Wasn't Plunkett involved in that case also? We must try to find out who really wants this project to proceed and what they stand to gain from it.
We need to contact council members and express our outrage over this fiasco. We have already lost hundreds of thousands of dollars on Washington Street and stand to lose much more if this isn't stopped immediately. In addition, Mayor Gentry should take a serious look at the people within his administration that are leading him into making such pooor decisions.
First, by Chief Johnson's own definition a new station is no longer needed. When he first proposed a new station in 1999 he cited two reasons for its need. One, the fire department needed room for their new laddder truck and it would cost less for the police to move than the fire department. Well guess what, at considerable expense the city added space for the new truck onto the side of the building. So this reason is no longer valid!
Johnson also cited a need to be located on Washington Street. He and Assitant Chief Plunkett felt it was just too difficult to find the current station. Now they are proposing a new station that isn't on Washington either. Perhaps they are overestimating our intelligence. They didn't think we were smart enough to find a station 2 blocks from Washington, what makes them think we can find one 1 block from it?
They have also cited a need for more space. If you have ever toured the current station you know that they have a large open area that only contains some pictures on the walls and a hand-painted emblem on the floor. If they are really in need of space why don't they convert this ''shrine'' into usable space?
Secondly, things have changed since this project was originally approved by an outgoing council. Mayor Gentry proudle boasts that further approval isn't needed. Wake Up! Money was approved for a different plan than is now being proposed and it was approved during a much different time. Are they oblivious to what is going on around them? In 1999 we had a very strong economy. It has now cooled off and we are begining to see lay-offs that could inflict considerable financial hardship in our community. Why would you even consider going ahead with a questionable project such as this? To suggest, as the mayor has, that we must proceed with this because the expenditure has already been appproved sounds more like the financial logic of a child than that of city elders.
Also, past experience tells us that this project will cost much more than we are originally told. Genty himself admits that the original project was seriously under funded. For example, there were no provisions for furnishing the building upon completion. We would have an empty building with Johnson & Plunkett holding their hands out for more money. Now I realize that Gentry wasn't mayor at the time but if Johnson & Plunkett were that deceitful the first time why should we expect anything different this time? Anyone can see that the old warehouse on Green is in a state of disrepair and this isn't going to be cheap. Do they think were a bunch of fools?
Furthermore, their motives must be questioned. If they have nothing to hide why did they skirt open-door laws and exclude the public from the process? You don't do this unless you have something to hide. For example, they have now disclosed that this warehouse is owned by someone involved in the project. Wasnt it just last year that in a similar case the county purchased several downtown buildings above market value from a long-time GOP leader? Wasn't Plunkett involved in that case also? We must try to find out who really wants this project to proceed and what they stand to gain from it.
We need to contact council members and express our outrage over this fiasco. We have already lost hundreds of thousands of dollars on Washington Street and stand to lose much more if this isn't stopped immediately. In addition, Mayor Gentry should take a serious look at the people within his administration that are leading him into making such pooor decisions.
