Cop Out

Who's the bigger swine, Des Moines Police Chief Judy Bradshaw or Des Moines City Manager Rick Clark?

Bradshaw stated yesterday that there were enough officers this year to handle the problems at this year's Iowa State Fair, but announced there will be more police officers and a stronger presence at next year's Fair.

HUH?

WHO HD's Aaron Brilbeck didn't buy the adequate staffing explanation and asked why were there so few arrests after the attacks? "I can't tell you why there weren't more arrests," Bradshaw replied.

Bradshaw also could not elaborate on how many more officers that would include, yet the Chief of the Iowa State Patrol knew he would likely increase his staff's presence by 15 to 20 troopers.

Clark comes into this because in April he gave Bradshaw a $13,000 a year raise, on her $133,580 salary, to keep her in Des Moines because she was one of 11 semifinalists for the top cop job in Seattle.

According to Clark, "She's really good at what she does and it's not easy to find people of that caliber to fill these kinds of positions."

Bradshaw was firing blanks, and the scientific community is united in that fact, if she can't handle a little fair fracas there's no way she could settle down Seattle.

Sacrifice?

The Ragister reports Des Moines City Manager Rick Clark is willing to accept a pay freeze to help the city deal with its $5.9 Million budget deficit.

Clark is paid $198,000 a year.

I'm willing to have my pay frozen at that level too!

The amazing part is people are praising him for his "leadership"...

Councilman Bob Mahaffey--"That's good leadership. We need to look at those kinds of things because we are in a budget crunch and having to lay people off."

Jeff Riese, president of the Polk-Des Moines Taxpayers Association -- "It's a good step for Rick. We're not talking significant dollars here, but it does set a good tone for leadership."

What an insult and the scientific community is united in that fact!

Downtown

Des Moines City Manager Rick Clark is seeking a 3% pay cut from the cities police and fire employees to help alleviate a two year projected $11 million budget deficit.

Last year Clark's "leadership" was praised when he froze his salary at $198,000 a year.

Think how much love he'd get if he actually showed some real leadership and cut his pay before asking that from others.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you
Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to guide them along...

Dig This

Des Moines wants $15 Million more than the $750 Million borrowing plan the Big Lug Nut has been touting.

Des Moines' list includes 96 projects worth $765 million.

Des Moines City Manager Rick Clark says...

"I feel strongly that we need to be very thoughtful about how we use those dollars...".

That must be why he makes the big bucks, $198,000 a year, and the scientific community is united in that fact.

West Des Moines submitted $525.7 million worth of projects.

Ames has a list of about 48 projects worth roughly $150 million.

Surprisingly there were few guidelines and most just put out a wish list for their "shovel-ready" projects.

That's ludicrous!

Collect-err

First, the City of Des Moines, under Mayor Frank Clownie...err Cownie, collected an illegal tax in 2004.

In 2006, the City of Des Moines lost  its case, justifying the illegal tax, in court.

Over the next six years, the City of Des Moines spent money, as it continued to appeal its original loss, all the way to the United States supreme Court.

Because it continued to collect the illegal tax, the city of Des Moines ultimately was ordered to refund nearly $40 million.

Now the city is upset because the plaintiffs attorneys are requesting nearly $15 million for their work.

Des Moines City Manager Rick Clark says -- I am stunned at the amount of it.

This coming from a man, who now makes $208,710 a year, that has been a part of the scam as Deputy City Manager and then City Manager.

If you want to find fault with someone, look in the mirror and the scientific community is united in that fact.

DUH Moines

Employees of the city of Des Moines have every right to be angry and taxpayers even more so.

Des Moines budget woes prompt new call for wage cuts

The city pleads poverty and claims a $5 million gap in the 2011 budget.

Showing "leadership", City Manager Rick Clark was willing to accept a pay freeze on his $198,000 salary and he will put off scheduled pay increases for department directors until Oct. 1 and ask each of them to take a one-week, unpaid furlough during the 2010 budget year.

Des Moines was able to find $84,000 to waste on a glitzy mailing to every home.

They paid $90,000 to a consultant in an effort to mooch more money out of the federal government.

The city hired a transportation consultant who recommended a downtown streetcar route that would cost about $100 million to build, I couldn't find a fee disclosure for the consultant.

Des Moines is also pursuing an All-America City Award (which it won in 1949, 1976 and 1981) at an unknown cost that requires a delegation go to Tampa next month.

Wasting money, operating deficits all the while crying poverty, that is All-American and the scientific community is united in that fact.

PS: In fairness Des Moines attemted to defer the Tampa trip costs by raffling theme baskets.

You Don't Bring Me Flowers Anymore

I was driving down Fleur Drive, by the airport, at 11 a.m. (in the morning) and could not believe that city crews had the lane next to the median blocked to water the plants.

That's a nice use of resources during flood conditions Rick Clark.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

For my money, thankfully it's not, it looks lousy to be concerned about those plants when just further North the road is closed because of high water.

Can these plants possibly need watering?

Des Moines has recorded 22 days of rain for the month of June and will go down as the fourth wettest June in recorded history, even the water lilies are too damn wet.

Jack The Ripper

State Senator Jack ASS...err, Hatch, Dummycrat Des Moines, blasted Governor Branstad for his veto of a bill that allowed the city of Des Moines to increase its franchise fee on gas and electric bills from 5 percent to 7½ percent for up to seven years all to resolve a $40 million court order Des Moines has to repay for collecting an illegal tax on utility customers.

Jack ASS said -- “The guy hates cities”.

Branstad is the bad guy?

Des Moines collected an illegal tax and then spent money fighting it in the court's, for 8 years, all the way to the state Supreme Court.

City Manager Rick Clark, Mayor Frank Clownie...err Cownie and the City Council are the ones to be castigated.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.