The amount of money going to public officials for their possibly criminal performance is disgusting. This goes for the City Administrator, the City Attorney and all of the protective cadre involved who, not coincidentally, are leaving soon. We are citizens need to find a champion who can pursue this supposedly negotiated decision and see to its recension.
I completely agree with you, Ed! It is hard to imagine anything like this going on "back in the day" when as a young alderman I worked with both Republican and Democratic mayors -- Jebens and Kirschbaum. Moreover this doesn't meet the ethical standards always maintained by former Mayor Gluba, either. What in the hell has happened to Davenport politics?
This is a classic example of why journalism is so important to democracy. I admire Ed "blowing the whistle" but his audience is small compared to the newspaper or TV stations. Our elected officials are getting away with a dereliction of duty. Their secret decisions and complete lack of transparency is egregious. The fact this was withheld from the public until after the election leads me to believe it was no accident. I have supported 4-year terms with terms limits for years. With this recent display of inappropriate governance, anyone that was on the council and the mayor before the last election, need to be replaced in two years! I support the state investigating!
…and, if all it takes is the threat of a law suit to get the councilors to dole out tax dollars a million at a time, shouldn’t they be paying those injured in the building collapse similar settlements?
Literally one of the most egregious public sector performances I’ve ever seen and I covered many in my career. Davenport politics has hit a new low, and it was an already nearly sewer-level bar. We deserve better.
How egregious were the comments that Spiegel was subjected to? Was she traumatized to the extent of $1.6 million?
As a member of a local Board of Education I have been confronted at the grocery store, the hardware, at church, and at a funeral visitation (yes, really). I have been vilified by email and on social media. And I get to enjoy all this for free, as a volunteer.
And isn’t it interesting that she took this harassment for 8 years? I’d like to know if she was applying for other positions during that time. I was on the city council of a town of less than 3,000 people. The verbal abuse you speak of is real. I was accused of making a mess of things even after I was no longer giving my time for free, by an ill-informed citizen who was certain I was someone else.
Ed, My understanding from an in person meeting with Rob Sand over a year ago, is that his office can only investigate upon a request to do so. I don't know how that works, but I would hope that a " normal( unelected, unappointed, non public)" citizen could make such a request. Is it possible for you to follow up with his office?
There seems to be better alternatives to settle such matters. Davenport apparently chose the least attractive method but presumably the most efficient. We shall see...
When you step in the dog's business it smells for a long time and tracks to so many places.
Excellent insight into Davenport city government's vagaries around its latest top paid official. Would like to publish your column in the Reader's December edition out this Thursday Nov 30... can't find an e-mail that goes to you directly.
Many of your columns are re-published at Iowa Capital Dispatch
The amount of money going to public officials for their possibly criminal performance is disgusting. This goes for the City Administrator, the City Attorney and all of the protective cadre involved who, not coincidentally, are leaving soon. We are citizens need to find a champion who can pursue this supposedly negotiated decision and see to its recension.
I completely agree with you, Ed! It is hard to imagine anything like this going on "back in the day" when as a young alderman I worked with both Republican and Democratic mayors -- Jebens and Kirschbaum. Moreover this doesn't meet the ethical standards always maintained by former Mayor Gluba, either. What in the hell has happened to Davenport politics?
This is a classic example of why journalism is so important to democracy. I admire Ed "blowing the whistle" but his audience is small compared to the newspaper or TV stations. Our elected officials are getting away with a dereliction of duty. Their secret decisions and complete lack of transparency is egregious. The fact this was withheld from the public until after the election leads me to believe it was no accident. I have supported 4-year terms with terms limits for years. With this recent display of inappropriate governance, anyone that was on the council and the mayor before the last election, need to be replaced in two years! I support the state investigating!
…and, if all it takes is the threat of a law suit to get the councilors to dole out tax dollars a million at a time, shouldn’t they be paying those injured in the building collapse similar settlements?
Literally one of the most egregious public sector performances I’ve ever seen and I covered many in my career. Davenport politics has hit a new low, and it was an already nearly sewer-level bar. We deserve better.
worse than the Push Pin?
https://qctimes.com/news/local/push-pin-sculpture-gets-cold-shoulder/article_1f8fc266-e089-5bd0-91ff-607a10650ec5.html
Almost!
How egregious were the comments that Spiegel was subjected to? Was she traumatized to the extent of $1.6 million?
As a member of a local Board of Education I have been confronted at the grocery store, the hardware, at church, and at a funeral visitation (yes, really). I have been vilified by email and on social media. And I get to enjoy all this for free, as a volunteer.
Guess I'm tougher than Corrie Speigel.
And isn’t it interesting that she took this harassment for 8 years? I’d like to know if she was applying for other positions during that time. I was on the city council of a town of less than 3,000 people. The verbal abuse you speak of is real. I was accused of making a mess of things even after I was no longer giving my time for free, by an ill-informed citizen who was certain I was someone else.
Well you likely aren't a grifter at heart, so . . .
Well-placed outrage, Ed. It smells to high heaven.
Ed, My understanding from an in person meeting with Rob Sand over a year ago, is that his office can only investigate upon a request to do so. I don't know how that works, but I would hope that a " normal( unelected, unappointed, non public)" citizen could make such a request. Is it possible for you to follow up with his office?
There seems to be better alternatives to settle such matters. Davenport apparently chose the least attractive method but presumably the most efficient. We shall see...
When you step in the dog's business it smells for a long time and tracks to so many places.
I need to send you some documents that I just received via FOIA. I can't find an email for you. Mine is Ezra@RiverviewAI.com
Hello Ed,
Excellent insight into Davenport city government's vagaries around its latest top paid official. Would like to publish your column in the Reader's December edition out this Thursday Nov 30... can't find an e-mail that goes to you directly.
Many of your columns are re-published at Iowa Capital Dispatch
https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/?sfid=19996&_sf_s=tibbetts&authors=edtibbetts
and have a Creative Commons 4.0 reprint license and terms.
May we publish your essays about the Stench at City Hall in the Reader under such licensing?
Of course, we are on last minute deadline, sending files to the printer at 12pm tomorrow (Wed).
My cell phone is 563=650-0120 and email is todd@rcreader.com
Thanks!
Todd
Amen!
How do we go about getting an investigation? I'd also like to know how her salary became $3??,000.00/year.