By Jim Sack
The Skybridge and the Embassy. I am still not happy with the arrangement the city has with the new downtown hotel people concerning our access to the sky bridge. “Due to security concerns” the hotel will only make it accessible to we unwashed masses on those rare occasions when the Embassy is hosting an event. Since we paid for the damn bridge we should be able to use it during some sort of regular hours, say 6am to 10pm. Park in the garage near the Marriott and walk from there to the Grand Wayne Parking Garage. Why not? You paid for it and during heavy rain or snowfall it could be a life-saver.
Unfortunately, city redevelopment director Greg Leatherman concluded a backroom deal with the hotel to their advantage, to our disadvantage and with our money. Under the original terms of Mr. Leatherman’s friendly little deal only hotel guests were to be allowed to use the bridge to walk from the hotel to the Embassy and, heck, on to the Hilton and Grand Wayne if so inclined. You could not walk from the Embassy into the lobby of the Marriott for a drink, unless you were registered as a guest with the hotel and carried a pass key. Well, Mr. Leatherman has since modified the terms of the deal to provide us, you and I and the rest who paid for the sky bridge, with occasional access. Not good enough. It should be accessible on a regular basis, and might even bring a few customers to the Marriott’s bar. Unfortunately, Councilman John Shoaff has consistently challenged the administration on the various Harrison Square deals and often been supported by Mr. Harper and Mr. Smith. If you see Ms. Brown let her know, as well as Mr. Didier. Marty Bender, Ms. Goldner and Tim Pape are too close to the administration to bother with.
On the matter of Calhoun Street. Tom Didier told me the other night that he was very disappointed with the Calhoun Street redo. “That’s all we got?” For $1.0 million, plus about $800,000 in bonding costs, the city essentially replaced healthy trees with saplings, laid new sidewalks to replace those that were in good condition, and added parking for trucks. New on the block are some blue lights in the sidewalk, those little cutesy lights that serve not purpose other than decoration. They do not do that well and are simply trendy. Mr. Didier is learning not to trust the administration. His comment concerning the rising cost of buying Renaissance was an indication of his progress: “why didn’t you just tell us,” about the other costs as he faced three lawyers from the ninth floor. The other costs added $4 million to the $14 million. One of the lawyers tried to wave off Didier’s comment by saying these are normal and customary, but Didier added that he just wanted to know the bottom line, not be repeatedly surprised. “Why didn’t you just tell us?” Mr. Didier will be a tougher sell on the next frenzied deal Mayor Henry brings to council.
On the matter of who runs council. Clerk Sandy Kennedy and the mayor would be the answer. On Friday of each week council members receive a packet from on high. It is the agenda for the subsequent Tuesday night meeting. The raw material comes from the Mayor’s Office and is placed in agenda form by our capable city clerk, Mrs. Kennedy. But, shouldn’t the council president determine what is discussed at council table? That is the normal legislative process, that is part of the reason to have a council president, at all. Mitch Harper has also suggested that, a la the legislature where he served a light year or two back, that there should be an introducing sponsor for each bill the mayor wishes discussed and endorsed by city council. He rationalized that such a format would require the mayor to find a champion for each bill. That format, he argues, would give the mayor an immediate answer as to the degree of support on council for a project and what modifications might be required to gain a majority. Back to the president of council. A large part of the role of the president is to set the agenda, and not just each Tuesday’s agenda, but the agenda for the entire year of which each Tuesday’s agenda is an integral part. It is the process of goal setting and then execution of that plan. As it is now there are no goals and no plan, no vision for the future of Fort Wayne, just drift. Things just happen. Every four-years we hear vague promises that seldom transpire. It seems a better approach would be for the mayor and council president to set an agenda at the beginning of each year and work toward those goals.
We also have a quaint practice of rotating the presidency of city council. That does not improve continuity, that does not facilitate creating a vision. There are probably other problems, or impediments to success that engenders. Let the party with a majority on council express a vision and negotiate with the mayor to set a legislative agenda to facilitate that common vision, if a common vision can be negotiated. Currently, the Republicans hold the majority of seats on council, but they have failed to work as a team to set an agenda for the city. So, let me be clear, part of the blame for roller coaster called Renaissance, for the gambling debacle, for the mess with Harrison Square, for the I&M negotiations, lies with the Republican Party.
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Wow! I don’t think I’ve ever heard of an arrangement like this – where a skywalk is closed off from the general public. One would think that the Marriott would want to encourage folks to “cross-over” to see their fine establishment and of course, to patronize their bar. It would be SO much easier to do – especially when you’re just next door and/or the weather is not all sunshine and bright skies.
I haven’t seen the redone look of Calhoun Street – have some pictures to share?
Re: Republicans partially responsible for the mess you listed. I’m just not a girl to really want to point fingers at political parties because they are so easy to hide behind (I mean really – who IS the republican or the democrat parties???).
The one thing that confuses me is that I have seen all of these grand plans come out from community/government/business groups…blueprints for the future of Fort Wayne but then, I don’t hardly see any follow through to the plan. Maybe the plans are just too blue-sky with not enough details to warrant follow-through….I dunno.
Maybe living a few hours from Fort Wayne – I just don’t have visibility to all of the follow-through…
Oh boy. So many points.
The bridge: The City needed some movement on the “hotel” problem at Harrison Square after the Administration had taken a pounding about no progress. So, Letherman is told to “make something happen” and gives away the store just to get the deal done. As a taxpayer/voter what do I get? Nothing. A bridge I can’t use and that I am paying for.
Calhoun Street: Jim, I don’t know which “Tom Didier” you talked to, but I seem to recall the video of His Excellency Mayor Tom’s press conference when the “improved” Calhoun Street reopened. Councilman Didier was so lavish with his praise for the “beauty” of the project, that I thought he was about to pea down his leg. Maybe Tom lied to us about his opposition to the Calhoun massacre in exchange for getting some valuable TV face-time with the Extreme Maximum His Excellency Mayor Tom. Hope it was worth it.
Council: Aside from a few folks, it’s just a rubber stamp for the Administration, and that’s what the majority believe their job is. For the most part, you are correct, there is no vision, there is no leadership, and the majority of them could use charm school. I’m not so sure I can blame either political party for the mess, but I do understand your thinking. Now with Marty Bender taking over the Council Presidency, I look for tighter controls on the release of information, and more restrictions about public comments. Rumor is that if you want to address Council, one will have to “apply” for the privilege by filling out a form and submitting it 2 weeks in advance, along with submitting to a criminal background and warrants check. Those who wish to address this legislative body will also have to provide proof that they are, indeed, citizens of Fort Wayne.
Looks like it’s going to be another fun year.
Kristina,
I am pointing a finger at my Republican friends for being a disorganized opposition. They could have been much savvier in their approach to building projects with the mayor and in opposing him on those things they found unattractive.
As for Calhoun Street, it looks wide open and a bit naked. The trees will grow out and soften the look a bit. My point is we gained nothing for an expenditure of almost $1.8 million. The board of works director said it was not a priority. 255 people who live, work and play on the street opposed it. Most businesses opposed it. I still do not know who, other than Tom Henry, wanted the changes. It could easily be a pedestrian mall and traffic would not much change in the downtown. It was just a waste of money. Your money.
As for your point on the various plans, you are dead on. They come and go with the politicians who commission them. Graham leaves and Tom needs to start over with his own plan. Often the plans do not take into consideration the realities of property ownership, ancillary costs and public support.
Doug, Tom Didier told me that at Soda one night. He knew my adamant opposition to the project, so I think he may have been placating me. It sounded that way, but I am such a trusting guy that I believed him. Unfortunately, I had not seen that clip. Oh well.
Kristina, your web site is excellent. Thanks. I visited a couple of times in the past and now associate you with this interesting page. Thanks for the memories.
Kristina,
If you want to see one the last administration’s albatross’ visit the Safety Academy next time your in town. It cost $27 million and they placed it smack in the middle of the old Southtown Mall property. It’s practically empty and running on fume$, as tenants flee.
City Council just gave it $550,000 to prop it up, but we must ask, why? It’s a joke. Just like Renaissance Square, Calhoun Street and so many other projects.
Jim, try this
http://aroundfortwayne.info/blog/?p=8864#more-8864
scroll to the bottom of the page, it’s the last YouTube box. Tom Didier says it’s “beautiful”.
Tom Didier starts speaking about 2:15 into the last clip….
Dan we don’t talk about the Public Safety Academy. You are supposed to ignore it and hope it goes away on its own. Maybe Bluffton will annex it.
Hi Jim – thanks for the positive feedback on my blog! I love my childhood city and I hope one day to move back permanently. Fortunately, much of my family still lives there so I make it back there – not as often as I should – but often enough! If only Fort Wayne had the job opportunities that Indianapolis affords…I’d be back in a jiffy!
Dan – I’m making a trip up to the fort this weekend so I will indeed take the time to go explore and include on the list – the Safety Academy (in addition to the new Calhoun street).
Well, Ms. Henry, call ahead and we will pull out the last of the well preserved original Murphy’s donuts and split one with you just to hear your stories.