Issa Letter to Obama

Skip the News - Read it yourself, (Link to the letter) Understand what is happening and why. Draw your own conclusion.

From Letter:

In addition, even if the presidential communications privilege did apply to some of these subpoenaed documents, Espy made clear that “the presidential communications privilege is, at alltimes, a qualified one,” and that a showing of need could overcome it.

Such a need — indeed a compelling one — plainly exists in this case.The Justice Department has steadfastly maintained that the documents sought by the Committee do not implicate the White House whatsoever. If true, they are at best deliberative documents between and among Department personnel who lack the requisite “operational proximity” to the President.

 Truly an interesting week for our country. Tomorrow could be the most important day for our country in a long time. Not because of a war or an election, tomorrow we will see a test of the executive branch as well as some interesting tests to the constitution.

 

Terry Grewe

When I heard Mr. Grewe had come back to town I was curious to hear what he had said. I FOIA'd the city and here's the audio. If anyone wants the whole meeting posted shoot me an email. It seemed to me that the feeling of those who spoke that are elected officials is that a development of some kind makes sense.



This meeting was pretty generic. No specifics were talked about. If I owned land in that area I would be pulling for a Grewe return. I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about any development. I do know that if things start to proceed the public had better voice concerns and opinions earlier in the game, I know I will.

Let the tif argument begin.

Update: Schedule for March 26th
8:30 PM – Columbia Crossing Litigation Settlement Special
Committee
1. Executive Session

Underwater Loans

AG Lisa Madigan Says Fannie and Freddie Borrowers Deserve Debt Reduction

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this. A couple of conditions would have to apply for me to feel like we weren't just rewarding bad personnel choices people had made in life.

Tonight on the Councils Committee agenda is an item of interest under Committee of the Whole.

7:00pm - Development Potential Discussion concerning the I-255 Development District. (American Bottom)

I was offered the following explanation from my alderman when I asked, "Is there any information regarding proposed developments in the "American Bottoms"?"

"No. This is the first meeting to explore the possibilities of a possible development area along 255 at fish lake. The land owners and all parties with interest were invited to review the past history and timeline of past events. I have a timeline that began in the 1970's for that area that was prepared for the aldermen. Would you like me to make you a copy of it? That is all the info we have for tonight. Let me know and I will get you the copies made before the meeting."

That time line will be posted here when I get a copy. This sounds like the landowners who were expecting Grewe to purchase their land are looking to see if Columbia is going to do something. I know I have heard grumblings in the past of if Columbia doesn't do something the land owners might see if they can get another community to.

Capital Development Fund

I went to a city committee meeting in December and the city is still toiling with how to manage the capital development fund after the eye opening analysis presented near the end of 2010. Projects seemed to have been slated for years without no one really ever running the numbers.

Everyone seemed to know money was being spent from this fund but nothing was ever really done to stop its decline. The "excuse" was that the money was there to be spent.

Here is the capital development projection from 2010.

Here is the most recent capital development projection from 2011.

As anyone can see from either projection things will actual need to start changing for this fund to stay viable. I suppose we could always pay more taxes...

I spoke my viewpoint on the capital development fund in April of 2010. My post from April 20, 2010 shows how I voiced my opinion to the council. I'd suggest people start calling their aldermen and ask them how this problem gets fixed, or at the least how it will be addressed.

A good start would be an itemized list of things supported by the transfers to the general fund.

Well its been quite sometime since I have posted anything. I'll be honest and explain why. Being a father is more rewarding than anything I could have ever imagined.

I saw today that the city has a new web site layout. It looks better and is easier to navigate than the old one. Its far easier to find the most useful portion of the website.

The only beef I have with the site is that it seems to depict Columbia as being a river town and that the JB Bridge is part of our community which I have to admit are not the first things that come to mind when I think of Columbia.

In the coming months I plan to tackle the upcoming 12th Congressional District race in the same manner I have our previous city elections. It looks to be good race with some new faces and for the first time in a long time someone other than Jerry Costello will be elected.