Steve Clark endorses Lioneld Jordan
We received a tip from an anonymous commenter yesterday about a “major endorsement” in the Fayetteville mayoral race that was to take place today at 1:30pm at the Town Center.
One local blogger, aubunique (aka Aubrey Shepherd) was on hand to document the action and thus we now know what all the fuss was about.
The mysterious “major endorsement” was in fact former mayoral candidate Steve Clark.
Clark was one of 4 candidates who were eliminated from the race during the general election and with his endorsement for Lioneld Jordan, it is now clear that incumbent Mayor Dan Coody has no support from any other former candidate. Walt Eilers, Adam Fire Cat and Sami Sutton have already officially endorsed Lioneld Jordan as well.
Early voting for the runoff election continues from 8am to 4:30pm tomorrow, Friday and then on Monday. The official runoff election date is Tuesday (Nov 25).
[Via aubreyshepherd.blogspot.com]
Comments
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Goods News for Fayetteville
November 19, 2008
Lioneld did it again! Honesty really goes a long way. I love how Steve Clark addressed all of the false statements made against Lioneld Jordan and stated, “That just isn’t true.”
R.E.M. fan
November 20, 2008
This endorsement has finally pushed the Coodys over the edge. They are sending a vituperative interminably long fearmongering prevaricating email around saying the world will end should Lioneld win.
Well, if it’s the end of the world as we know it, I want them to know that I feel fine.
I love that song. Hope they play it at Lioneld’s victory party Tuesday night. It’ll be going through my head until then.
Sardon
November 20, 2008
Coody has resorted to the same desperate and shameful tactics used against Obama. Lies and insinuations. “Lioneld is a socialist. You can’t trust him. You really don’t know what will happen if Lioneld is elected.”
Horse****.
If I already didn’t have a trust problem with Coody, these end days politics of fear would have turned me against him.
Total Bastard
November 20, 2008
If Lioneld had expressed any vision whatsoever for the future of Fayetteville, maybe we’d all “know” what will happen if he’s elected.
All I know that will happen when Lioneld becomes mayor is that development will become even more difficult in Fayetteville, and he will do whatever the loudest people at council meetings want.
He hasn’t expressed any vision for the future of Fayetteville, short of parrotting all the sustainability stuff he learned from Dan.
Lioneld isn’t a leader. He isn’t a visionary. He talks like a hillbilly.
Watching the first runoff debate, the moderator asked the candidates if they were elected, would they open an office of Diversity Affairs. Lioneld said yes, because diversity is good.
Dan said, “Well, I’ve hired the first black fire chief and first black chief of police. If diversity were a big issue here, then maybe it would be a good idea. I don’t think it is. We don’t have a problem with diversity. We already hire the best people for the job.”
That showed me how gutless Lioneld is. You HAVE to say yes to diversity. Hell, start an office of Diversity Affairs. Even though your police chief and fire chief are both minorities. Spend that money!
Lioneld was behind renaming 6th Street MLK, which I thought was gutless groveling to an outside guilt group. Why not name is Silas Hunt Boulevard, and honor a local civil rights hero?
Thats why the liberal fringe love him. He’s easily swayed. He’s naive. He’s not a leader, he is a puss.
vote lioneld!
November 20, 2008
TB, your ignorance and blind sheep mentality are showing again. We HAD a highly competent black Police Chief but he left after a short stint quite a while back. He and the current fine Fire Chief Johnson were hired with the recomendation of the FOP and IAFF. Wait, Dan listened to and relied upon liberal fringe union thugs you say? You betcha he did.
His campaign tactics would make Karl Rove cringe.
As for spending that money, Lioneld has balanced a city budget. Coody never has. I trust Lioneld.
Just because Coody says something it doesn’t make it so. Especially lately you can assume the opposite and be correct more often than not.
D. Lee
November 20, 2008
If Steve Clark’s supporters are smart voters, they’ll vote for Dan Coody. Jordan has no vision, no experience, no leadership ability, no savvy to deal with the outside business world. His idea of lettng the people make the decisions is easy to say since he doesn’t have the smarts to make decisions on his own. Read the editorial from The Times on Sunday, Nov. 16–that capsulizes all rhe reasons that Jordan should not be Mayor. Dan’s not perfect, no one is. But if anyone thinks that Jordan will be a competent and professional Mayor, then go ahead a vote for him and Fayetteville will be thrown back at least 8 years.
i like lioneld
November 20, 2008
The Times and the Board of Realtors are the only endorsements Coody got. Lioneld has a long string of endorsements conveniently linked on his website: http://lioneldjordan.com/ for your reading pleasure.
The Coodys shouldn’t be rewarded for their despicable and divisive behavior they have displayed in this campaign. Former supporters are now “dangerous extremist radical liberal fringe forces” out to ruin our city because they support Lioneld.
If you haven’t been categorized and called a name yet your time may come any minute now…unless you are a devotee. Is this the kind of leadership you want? Not me.
Vote for Lioneld–He’s not a hater.
yrfuneralmytrial
November 20, 2008
“and Fayetteville will be thrown back at least 8 years.”
-God, that would be AWESOME!!!
D. Lee
November 21, 2008
Maybe you don’t remember what Fayetteville was like 8 years ago. Fred Hanna was a nice guy but certainly not a good mayor. Like I said, Dan’s not perfect but who is? He’s ability to put Fayetteville in the forefront of sustainable cities is something Jordan wouldn’t have a clue how to do. I’m not saying Jordan is a bad guy, he’s not. Just not the guy that needs to be mayor–now or ever.
good read
November 21, 2008
Public Safety Workers Support Jordan
Earlier this month The Fayetteville Fire Fighter Association and the Fayetteville Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Lioneld Jordan for Mayor of the City of Fayetteville. We believe strongly that the time has come for positive, effective change, and it is our position that the person best able to drive that change is Lioneld Jordan.
For the past four years, the city governmental bodies have been hampered by misinformation and excuses. We have seen a city council and a city administration that once worked well together deteriorate into factions that no longer seem willing to cooperate or take actions in the best interest of the city. Blame for failures seems generally placed with others, and the result of this quagmire has been that important projects go undone or are delayed, employees suffer, and services provided to the citizenry are scaled back.
Amidst the finger pointing, the belief that Lioneld Jordan could unite the council and administration has remained constant. Jordan was elected Vice Mayor by his colleagues for a number of reasons, though we believe one of his strongest attributes has been his no nonsense approach. Jordan has been a man of his word and he gets things done.
Lioneld Jordan started his political career by telling citizens, “You will be informed.” Throughout his eight years of service as an alderman of Ward 4, Jordan has routinely fostered and encouraged open government as demonstrated by the fact that he has hosted over 104 ward meetings and by his exemplary record of attendance at council meetings. Jordan has proven himself as a public servant for the people; his commitment and dedication to the City of Fayetteville will make him a Mayor for the People.
Lioneld Jordan has always been willing to sit down and listen to the citizens of Fayetteville and has shown a willingness to address their concerns. Lioneld Jordan has the entire city’s best interest in mind and not just the interest of a select few. Lioneld Jordan supports Public safety and Public Safety supports Lioneld Jordan.
Leonard D. Graves
President,
Fayetteville Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #10
Sardon
November 21, 2008
Pompous Michael Heffernan wrote a letter to the editor that is in today’s NWAT. It’s an absurd and mean letter saying Lioneld Jordan should remain in the servant class. He calls Lioneld names, but the funniest thing is the blowhard poet/PhD/professor doesn’t know how to spell “ward heeler.” Really, it’s not a spelling error, it’s ignorance of the meaning of the term.
Anyway, I copied this from the Iconoclast blog because it’s great dish:
Anonymous said…
Actual quotes from the website “RateMyProfessors.com” re Heffernan:
“Michael Heffernan is one of the most out-of-touch, pompous jerks I have ever encountered. He is delusionally self-absorbed and talks for hours about his ex-wives and how well he knows Paris, rather than actually teaching or workshopping.”
“Seeing as though most students ridicule him and a lot of the faculty thinks he’s a space cadet, I don’t understand why this man is still being allowed to abuse students.”
“he’s crazy! and a horrible boring teacher. he just talks the whole time about nothing pertaining to the class. one day we talked about his aa meetings and one day we talked about cooking. i didn’t learn anything!”
“bizzare class. very bizzare.”
“Dr. Heffernan is a great, great man. He’ll tell you all about it…”
“Dr. Heffernan is rude, he yells, and is full of himself.”
“A better title for this course would have been, “The Fascinating Life & Times of Michael Heffernan.”
“I had him for Creative Writing and Poetry, and both times he just rambles. Never ever subject yourself to a class with Heffernan. My favorite moment was when a fellow student wrote a poem mocking his tendency to talk about his ex-wife all the time, and everyone in the class but Heff got the joke.”
“When asked if students could turn in handwritten poems, he launched into a 30 minute lecture on the history of paper (Egypt, Papyrus, etc) and still managed to avoid answering the question.”
November 21, 2008 1:27 PM
Total Bastard
November 21, 2008
My new alderman Mattew Petty (who I didn’t vote for) has some pretty interesting stuff in his blog.
He lays out the initiatives led by Coody during his term.
Then, he shows us Lioneld’s record. Pretty embarrassing for Lioneld Jordan. He hasn’t really led squat as an alderman. The man simply isn’t a leader and has no vision whatsoever.
He also has the split screen debate on his blog. Worth a gander:
http://www.matthewpetty.org/blog
gander@this
November 21, 2008
Coody foisted Matthew Petty on us and we will all rue his devious decision to handpick a yes-man who has problems managing his own finances and never even voted before deciding he was worthy of elective office. His website isn’t a place I’d ever visit, not on a bet or a dare.
Better to get your informatiion about who Lioneld is and what he has done from a credible source:
http://lioneldjordan.com/
It paints an in depth picture of our next mayor. I highly recommend the letters to the editor, the platform, the streaming video and the timely topics.
Total Bastard
November 21, 2008
So Petty is a handpicked yes man? That’s interesting.
gander@this
November 21, 2008
I find it dismaying, but it is decidely true and, if interesting is your word for it, so be it.
Matthew has put himself totally out there for Coody, kissed his ass at every opportunity, and will fizzle back into complete insignificance when Lioneld is elected. Which is as it should be.
Ward 2 voters who fell for him will get what they deserve–inexperience, incompetence and arrogance far outweighing substance.
Nancy Allen will be sorely missed.
Ronnie
November 22, 2008
Matthew Petty had to form an LLC so he could open a bank account in order to run for office. Why? Because he defaulted on thousands of dollars in student loans. I don’t know how in the hell he managed to get the votes in Ward 2 but I promise you we will all be sorry he did. The upside is that in four years who ever runs against him will have an easy race to win.
Abel Tomlinson
November 23, 2008
I wrote this letter to newspapers, but it will unlikely be published because I already had one last week, but I thought I may as well publish it somewhere.
Coody Wrong about Vallejo Bankruptcy
I appreciated many things Coody has done for Fayetteville, but Coody’s anti-union statements turned me off. I am a firm believer in unions and Coody’s argument in the following statement moved me to action:
“Coody warned citizens that if departments unionized, it would happen across city government and he believes the city’s budget would be taken out of the city’s hands and put into the hands of union arbiters. He added that cities across the nation were filing for bankruptcy due to unions, like Vallejo, Calif., which, according to The Wall Street Journal, recently filed for bankruptcy because it could no longer afford the wages that had been hiked up from union demands.”
I am uncertain if Coody is reading only The Journal, a right wing biased publication owned by Rupert Murdoch, but if he read other sources he would know this argument is incorrect. His statements appeared to me as a trend in recent politics, especially among anti-union Senate Republicans trying to destroy auto unions. In fact, the City of Vallejo CA is going bankrupt from a massive decrease in tax revenue from the mortgage crises, as well as massive city mismanagement by a city manager being paid over $450,000/year, which increased 42% after he was hired, and is a higher salary than the U.S. President.
The city manager of Vallejo and The Journal are incorrectly blaming unions when in fact the unions offered to lower salaries and benefits by $10 million, which would factually have prevented bankruptcy, but the city refused and opted instead to destroy them. Overall, it appeared Coody was jumping on the anti-union bandwagon of the Vallejo manager and Senate Republicans, and I was troubled by this. I think unions are very important for workers and workplace democracy.
On a similar mismanagement note, I noticed Coody’s salary increased from $74,000 a few years ago to now over $107,000, while lower paid city employees received no cost of living increase. Moreover, I have been told Coody jumped in the mayoral race partly because he realized that if he was mayor for two more years he would receive a Guaranteed Benefit Lifetime Pension of $53,000 a year for the rest of his life.
Additionally, it is my understanding Coody provided a $3.7 million Tax Increment Financing subsidy to help developers build a hotel in downtown Fayetteville, which remains a big hole in the ground. It seems to me that this $3.7 million subsidy to development interests could be an example of city mismanagement similar to Vallejo, and more of a problem than potential city employee unionization and higher pay for city employees.
Therefore, Jordan becomes the obvious choice for Fayetteville Mayor.
stacy
November 23, 2008
I think Coody has done a fine job as mayor and I will be supporting him. I went to the debate at City Hall and I heard both men there and after hearing the debate I’m even more comfortable with my decision.
Scott Stapp of Creed
November 23, 2008
mind telling us why
Total Bastard
November 23, 2008
Abel Tomlinson wrote: “Therefore, Jordan becomes the obvious choice for Fayetteville Mayor.”
Yeah, for a selectively reasoning left winger like yourself.
I voted for you, but I won’t make that mistake again.
Unions are bad for performance. They are a big part of the reason why Detroit is in such a mess. Guarantee people a job, and they lose their motivation to produce excellence. If you want the city to get less bang for its buck in a big way, then hell yeah, unionize everybody.
Coody has publicly stated that he will forego the retirement benefits he is entitled to if he wins another term. Amazing with all of your research into Coody’s statements, you missed that one.
You didn’t miss it. You don’t really care for truth too much it seems.
character counts
November 23, 2008
Geez, TB! Let’s talk a little about your own generic brand of selective reasoning, shall we?
Coody said he wouldn’t take the pension and you choose to fall for that. Wait–didn’t he also say publicly that he wasn’t running again? Didn’t he run that press conference a bazillion times on his coercively co-opted Government Channel because he just loves to hear himself talk…most especially when he’s talking about his superior and glorious self.
Coody also said he was environmentally aware. Then he turned around and castrated the Hillside Protection Ordinance, sold Wilson Springs to a developer and pimped every red dirt environmentally destructive project his pals presented. As a result, he lost the endorsement he had bragged about in previous election from the Sierra Club. Lioneld’s environmental record is solid and consistent. They know and trust Lioneld. As does the Green Party.
Coody has also claimed to be fiscally responsible, yet has NEVER presented a balanced budget and has consistently pushed for a tax increase or a dip into the reserves. Even after he received a not-at-all dubious or subtle mandate from the City Council to present a balanced budget he was unable to perform. For christsakes, he let the sewer plant project overrun $63 Million in cost and 3 years and we all have to pay for it for decades and he has never accepted responsibility.
This whole union scare tactic crap is wearing thin. The Fire Fighters have been unionized in Fayetteville since 1972 and the Police are not to this day. Yet you are willing to debase the very people who risk their lives every time they put on the uniform to protect you and yours because they dare to believe Lioneld will serve the city better as mayor. Coody crowed about the Fire Fighters’ endorsement the one time he received it. He never got the FOP’s. As Lioneld has said, if you treat workers fairly and are straightforward with them they will not feel the need to unionize. They know Lioneld and they trust him.
Coody continues to take credit for the work and ideas of others and responsibility for nothing. He is employing character assasination of many of his formerly staunchest supporters because they’ve seen through his facade to his real sniveling, egotistical, vindictive, arrogant center.
I know Lioneld and I trust him.
Total Bastard
November 23, 2008
As for the Fire and Police:
Didn’t I hear correctly in the first debate that they are higher paid than any other city in the metro? Is that true?
They also have the best benefits of any city in the region, I believe.
Are those just more of Coody’s “lies”?
Like it or not, all of the accomplishments of this city that Dan Coody claims as his own, happened under HIS leadership. A leader isn’t going to please everyone all the time. Jordan won’t make everybody happy, I promise.
Dan demonstrates a greater understanding of every issue this city faces.
Lioneld promises everybody everything. He’ll claim he’ll put in an office of “Diversity Affairs” if he thinks it will get him votes. To the U of A debate crowd, he promised a U of A early voting center.
He’s a panderer. He will not be able to please everybody. The only people Lioneld will be able to please are the NIMBYs who don’t want anything else built in this city. Thats it.
Bye bye international Green companies. Bye bye improving tax base. Bye bye reinvestment in the city’s core.
Hello Corn-pone Jordan.
character counts
November 23, 2008
The whole business about the Fire and Police employees deserving raises seemed to arise from their choice of Lioneld as their candidate. Then Coody started the whole “union thugs” mudslinging. Lioneld has said consistently that he feels strongly that all city employees earning less than $80,000 deserve COLAs. The Fire Fighters and Police have patiently explained repeatedly that this is a straw dog and not what their endorsements were based on. Reference what “good read” posted in a comment above.
That U of A polling place was close to becoming reality in the general election. It was nixed by one member of the Election Commission. Lioneld had written and spoken in support .
As for this section:”Bye bye international Green companies. Bye bye improving tax base. Bye bye reinvestment in the city’s core.” Fantasy from Coody. He has never had a comprehensive economic plan. None of this has materialized in eight long years of Coodyness. NONE OF IT! Why do you give credence and credit to smoke and mirrors and empty words? He can’t balance a budget, can’t manage a multi-million dollar project, can’t say no to certain developers as they run roughshod over the 2025 Plan.
Coody pursued every endorsement that went to Lioneld. He didn’t get them and now he chooses to insult the endorsers rather than see the mote in his own eye.
Ronnie
November 23, 2008
On PAPER fire and police in Fayettenam are second highest paid in NWA. If you dive into exactly how their pay checks are figured you will see that there is some underhanded tactics going on to keep everyone of them from receiving a full paycheck every two weeks. Want to take off for a vacation day or use a sick day? No problem, just plan on losing about $100 to $200 out of your check because you weren’t at work. Oh they still get paid their hourly rate but somehow through the magic of numbers money evaporates. It didn’t used to be that way but right after Coody got reelected in 2004 new pay policies came about. Guess he needed a way to fund that 23% pay increase for himself.
Don’t believe me? Get Missy Leffler back on here to address FLSA. FLSA stands for Fair Labor Standards Act. Its a Federal act that addresses how fire and police get paid because they work an average of 56 hours a week. And no just because it’s 56 hours doesn’t mean they get an automatic 16 hours of time and a half.
And as for having the best benefits comment, TB they have the same benefits as other employees with the exception of their retirement. And that retirement doesn’t get the same matching funds that a general employee on a 401k gets. Most of the matching funds come state money.
Total Bastard
November 23, 2008
Look, I see international green companies taking an interest in Fayetteville.
I see a kick ass trail system.
I see a mayor who speaks intelligently about a number of issues.
I see a mayor who seems to be a happy medium between healthy economic growth and environmental preservation.
I see a mayor who cares about this city redeveloping in a quality way.
I have never met Dan Coody, but I have seen dramatic changes in this city for the better since he took over from Hannah.
I don’t see the same qualities in Jordan. I see a guy who doesn’t seem extremely intelligent. I see a guy who appears to be angry. I see a guy obsessed with building heights and who supports NIMBYs opposed to both development on the city’s fringe and quality infill developments like Ruskin Heights.
I see a police and fire department that is at least as well compensated as many others in our area, better than most if not all.
I don’t see any reason why change is needed, and I am afraid we’re going to lose a good leader over some petty bull****.
I got two post cards in the mail yesterday asking me to vote for Jordan. I got a generic recorded voice call on my cell phone today asking me to vote for Jordan.
I already voted for Coody again. I’ve never met the guy in person, but I still think he’s done a good job.
I know what I’m getting with Coody and I like it. Jordan represents a lot of unknowns. He appears to pander to special interest groups that don’t always think long term or share in the vision that I think is best for this city.
Things simply aren’t in a state that I believe change is necessary.
Dan Coody has taken Fayetteville to a new level in his time as mayor.
I don’t believe Lioneld Jordan is the man to take us to a better place.
character counts
November 24, 2008
Quit parroting Coody’s campaign schtick, please. Next he’ll claim to have scheduled the sunrise and you’ll be waxing poetic about how beuatiful and efficient it is and how we should thank the mayor. Puh-lease.
You are kidding,aren’t you? You buy his claim to be “a happy medium between healthy economic growth and environmental preservation.”??? If by “happy medium” you mean he has accomplished neither purpose, agreed.
I voted for Lioneld again. I’ve been called by Coody-on-tape, gotten his postcards and deleted an avalanche of his vituperative emails, including some sent over the Fayetteville Council of Neighborhoods mailing list.
I wish he had called me in person. He would have gotten an earful.
I see a mayor who attempts to revise history to avoid the possible repercussions of the truth. I see a mayor incapable of taking responsibility or perform the basic duties of his office. I see a mayor who publicly personally insults and attacks those who might question his “vision.” I see a mayor who bullies his employees. I see a mayor who calls the Police and Fire Fighters union thugs. I see a mayor who has failed to manage the biggest public works project in our city’s history and still lies about his involvement in covering it up. I see a mayor who cannot get past petty differences to work with the eight Council members, acknowledges that and blames those he doesn’t like. I see a mayor who doesn’t deserve a chance to fix all that he has messed up.
Lioneld is a better person and will be a better mayor.
Total Bastard
November 24, 2008
Here’s all you need to see:
http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/71438/
Jordan wants to build a big ole boulevard around the city, dotted with bus stops. The “box” he calls it. Thats insane. Where are we going to get the funds for that? And what is the purpose?
He also wants to block off Dickson every month for an arts festival, and make sure we don’t turn into Austin, Texas.
Austin is one of the best cities in the country. We aren’t ever going to be anywhere close to as big as Austin, but there is much about that city we should emulate if you ask me.
Jordan’s vision is ludicrous. He’s really not that bright, folks.
These Jordan supporters continually complain about somebody who is a “bully” and someone who has hurt their feelings, and whine about underpaid fire and police (who are as well paid as any in the region). Its so frickin stupid.
The fact that Jordan is even in the running, given his “vision” for this city, to me is laughable, and sad.
God help us.
Total Bastard
November 24, 2008
Oh, another thing. Jordan also once stated that we should convert our heavy rail right of way into a light rail system.
That is completely out of touch and delusional.
First of all, its heavy rail. There’s a big difference between that and light rail.
Secondly, WE CAN’T EVEN SUPPORT A LARGE SCALE BUS SYSTEM. Light rail shouldn’t even be in the frickin discussion! Hell, cities like Dallas, with HUGE populations, much denser development and extensive city bus services STRUGGLE to pay for their light rail service.
Where would the funds come from? Who would ride it? How would they get anywhere once they arrive at a train station? Lioneld? Anyone?
I get the feeling that Lioneld Jordan hasn’t really been anywhere outside of Fayetteville, Arkansas. He is so completely clueless on so many issues. So many of the things he states are so pie in the sky its not even funny!
The fact that he may be our next mayor is borderline ridiculous to me.
character counts
November 24, 2008
From the same article:”I initiate projects. I perceive programs. I push the envelope to make Fayetteville a better community,”Coody said.
He “perceives” programs? Meaning what?
He “initiates” projects? Like the Renaissance Hole, Aspen Ridge, SouthPass? Is that the job of the mayor?
What “envelope” has he pushed?
“He added he never tells the public anything that he knows is not true and he doesn’t make promises he can’t follow through on.”
May 1, 2005–NWA Times:
“In the afterglow of the Nov. 6, 2001, election that saw 86 percent of the 4,716 residents taking time to vote in support of the sizable tax increase, an exuberant Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody imparted these words about the campaign to convince residents to back the massive project: “We made some promises to the public in Fayetteville… One is that this project will be carried out on time and on budget.” Coody’s administration emphatically detailed how it was going to make sure the voters’ step of faith would be rewarded. Failure to be on time and on budget, one official said, was not an option.”
George
November 24, 2008
Bottom line for me as a voter ….. the city of Fayetteville has gotten much better under Coody’s leadership. Does he deserve all the credit? Of course not. As a politician he’s going to take credit for the good things that happened while he was in office. I don’t have a problem with that. Maybe he just surrounded himself with the right people or maybe he just lucked into a good time period. I don’t know. I’m basing my vote on results, not idealistic expectations. I have nothing whatsoever against Lioneld Jordan except that my gut tells me he might be soft on the decision making skills (go ahead…berate me).
I voted for Coody initially and have not seen compelling evidence to talk me out of voting for him again in tomorrow’s runoff.
Total Bastard
November 24, 2008
Coody’s College Avenue redevelopment is extremely ambitious. As is the trails program. Those are two excellent examples of “pushing the envelope” as he calls it or visionary leadership as I call it.
So is the fact that we have multipe Swedish companies seriously considering relocating to Fayetteville. These are embryonic companies which can work in tandem with the U of A Engineering Research center to actually grow our economy.
Jordan’ economic plan starts with local businesses. What the frick?
Hey Lioneld, if you truly want local business to flourish, perhaps recruiting new, cutting edge industries here who will cut fat paychecks to Fayetteville residents is the way to start. You can put a thousand Keep Fayetteville Funky stickers on your VW bus, but if you ain’t got a paycheck, you ain’t supporting local businesses.
I guess the police and fire will be the “higher paying jobs” Lioneld is going to attract.
Seriously, building a boulevard loop around Fayetteville? Is this guy serious? How in the heck is he proposing we do that? Or light rail?
While we’re at it, lets just build another XNA off Wedington, since money is no object.
Coody’s “failures” listed, including Aspen Ridge, the Renaissance, etc are largely due to failures in the private sector that he had no control over. You can debate all day long whether we should have tried to spur new development at the Mountain Inn site with tax dollars. I think it was a good idea, and much more realistic than Lioneld’s public transportatoin utopia. We may eventually get our Marriot. We’ll NEVER have light rail.
Lioneld won’t be successful at spurring the infill development he professes to embrace. The Renaissance is an EXCELLENT example of the kind of redevelopment the city’s core needs.
Lioneld is going to encounter a NIMBY every time he tries (if he tries) to encourage infill development. And we know he can’t buck a NIMBY. They are his base.
I find Lioneld Jordan’s opposition to sprawl and his embracing of building height restrictions (at 6 floors) and cowtowing to NIMBYs to be complete diametrically opposed.
Finally, Lioneld is one of those champions of “affordable housing”, i.e. government subsidized, housing. Thats the last thing this city needs.
So, we put impact fees on developers, limit what they can build, and then bitch when the market commands a higher price that our police and fire can’t afford? Impact fees, building restrictions, height limits, all LIMIT supply. Demand dictates in a free market that a limited supply is going to drive up prices.
Lioneld doesn’t even understand the basics of economics, thats clear.
This city is dead in the water economically if he gets control.
Total Bastard
December 11, 2008
Why I hate Aubrey Shepherd:
Why do I hate Aubrey Shepherd? Its simple.
Read her blog. She IS OPPOSED TO EVERY INFILL PROJECT IN THIS CITY. Period.
Thats not all. SHE IS ALSO OPPOSED TO EVERY NON-INFILL DEVELOPMENT.
All that changes is her means of justification.
With infill, its the people living next door who are harmed.
With non-infill, its the poor bunnies and spiders and robins.
So, in short, she is OPPOSED TO ALL DEVELOPMENT. Period.
So, I wonder. Where does Aubrey live? Does she live in a house? If she does, that house sits on land that was once “beautiful nature, worthy of preservation” by her definition. Does she contribute anything to this city other than being a thorn in the ass of people who have the vision and drive to make this city better?
I suggest she practice what she preaches. Burn down your house, Aubrey. Give the poor wittle animals more room to live. Hell, dig a hole and dam your ditch for those wetland creatures.
Your views opposing EVERY development in this city are quite selfish. You are opposed to other people wanting to live in this city, but you give yourself a cozy little exception. Practice what you preach, bitch.
The truth is, you are opposed to a lot of EXCELLENT development in this city. Development that any city of any size would be grateful for. It isn’t sprawl. It won’t “overload our infrastructure”. You simply shift the goalposts in your neverending quest to stop any progress whatsoever in Fayetteville. At this point, the care and feeding of your ego is the primary motive.
Do us all a favor. Go live in a cave in Madison County. Stop using electricity. You’re harming the environment you profess to love. But be careful not to step on any beetles or disturb any bats.
You aren’t doing anybody in this city a service by attempting to undermine its tax base. You waste everybody’s time and tax dollars with your stupid little protests. You’re a selfish nutjob.
The Truth
December 11, 2008
Not to be a contrarian, but Aubrey Shepherd is definitely a HE, not a she.