In a report forced on King Henry’s administration due to a bill authored by city councilwoman Liz Brown, the city reported spending $90 an hour, or a total of $50,000 in the 4th quarter of last year to provide “specialized marketing communications services” for the city.

Or as City Controller Pat Roller called it, a “fill-in public information officer.”

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From a local rag:

“We, at the time, were without a public information officer, and we’re currently without a public information officer, so she has helped us out on many things,” Roller said. “As in the case of Renaissance Square, which is a big, ongoing … thing, we’ll use her for specific, strategic projects.”

Boerger, who is paid $90 an hour through her $50,000 contract fee, performs general duties of a public information officer, including working with the media and managing city projects to assist the city in staying “committed to open, ongoing, interactive communication with the public as an inherent principle of good government…,” as the contract reads.

No, we’re not without a PIO. Mike Joyner replaced Vince Robinson. Mike’s a nice guy, too nice. The propaganda machine needs an aggressive and finely tuned propagandist.

Henry must have studied Dr Joseph Goebbels’ art of influencing the attitude of the servile constituency. Goebbels main job was to to ensure the citizens of Germany would not read or see anything that was hostile or damaging to the Nazi Party. To make sure everyone was on the right page, Goebbels set up the Reich Chamber of Commerce. Henry has the office of the Public Information Officer.

Goebbels Chamber of Commerce decided if you had the right credentials to receive and publish information from the party, not unlike King Henry’s office of the Public Information Officer. Under Goebbels oversight you could only read and hear what the Nazis wanted you to read and hear. They thought that if you believed what you were told, opposition to their rule would be minuscule at best. Sound familiar?

Henry said that buying and renovating Renaissance Square would cost $14.5 million. He also stated:

“With a new city hall, we are charting a new course for Fort Wayne,” said Mayor Henry. “In these difficult economic times, I am doubly committed to getting the most out of every taxpayer dollar and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective services to every citizen. This is a decision that will help us do both, now and long into the future. Consolidating operations will save money and increase efficiencies. It will also foster new opportunities for cooperation with our county partner, something I am determined to pursue on behalf of all taxpayers.”

“We explored all the options,” observed Henry. “Our space needs demand action. 200 East Berry Street represents a unique and inclusive solution, a one-of-a-kind opportunity that will allow us to bring together all city departments and make the best use of our resources. The time is right. The price is right. And the long-term benefits for both the city and county are outstanding.”

Conveniently, the King Henry administration left out $4 million and slipped it in at the last moment.

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.

Henry later formed a task force to explore the options “before” the actual purchase. But King Henry avoided a checkmate and closed on the purchase before the group met, leaking it to a select group of media members that would insure a proper and extensive written discourse that favored the crown. The king’s plans for a new palace would not be interrupted by some silly task force.

“The essence of propaganda consists in winning people over to an idea so sincerely, so vitally, that in the end they succumb to it utterly and can never escape from it.” Goebbels.

And so it rolls.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, January 9th, 2010 at 11:31 am and is filed under City & County Government. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.