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They’re HOW Old?!
Three morons have been arrested for a BB shooting spree that caused over $100,000 damage earlier this month. Wait, let me correct that: three adult morons have been arrested. Chad Renker, Zachary Collier, and Eric Chambers, ages 21, 19, and 19, were picked up at their homes on Monday.
The trio is suspected of involvement in as many as 205 individual vandalism incidents in a single weekend. What’s an appropriate punishment for damage on that scale? I think a $100 fine for each offense and six months in jail is appropriate. Or better yet, if they’re found guilty in all 205 incidents, how about one day per incident? What would you suggest?
Hiccups
My apologies to those of you who subscribe to Lincolnite’s RSS and Atom feeds. The server’s PHP software was upgraded recently, and that caused a couple minor incompatibilities with a few plugins I use. All the problems should have been fixed by now, but if you run across any strange hiccups, let me know by leaving a comment.
February Bond Issue is a Bad Idea
The Lincoln Board of Education wants voters to decide in February whether to fund the construction of four new school buildings and the renovation of many others. I disagree. A February special election is a bad idea.
The Board’s decision is based, primarily, on financial concerns. The sooner the bond issue passes, the sooner construction can begin and, ultimately, the cheaper the project will be. I appreciate that the Board wants to proceed as inexpensively as possible, and I trust that they believe this move is in the best interests of the school district and its students.
But.
The special election is too soon. The Board is rushing, and the public will pick up on that. Public support for LPS is fairly strong right now, but that support should not be taken for granted. Remember how a mere decade ago public confidence in the School Board was so low? How several bond issues failed because the voters were unhappy with the Board? There is no free money for schools from this electorate. If the voters are scared, or uncertain, or if they feel the least bit unfairly pressured, they will revolt. They will vote no.
I agree with the items the Board wants to fund. I am inclined to support more funding for school infrastructure improvements rather than less, and I’m no fan of greater government spending. I think Lincolnites, as a whole, recognize the need to spruce up our school buildings. But that recognition isn’t enough.
You know who votes at February special elections? Old people. Retirees. People who don’t have school-age kids. People who tend to vote against government spending, not for it. People who resent their tax dollars funding a single-issue special election in February. Parents of school-age children don’t vote in special elections b
ecause it’s not worth the hassle. It’s too difficult to break out of the routine to go to the voting booth, fill in one little bubble, and then try to resume the daily routine. If the School Board goes through with this, they’d better pray for snow and ice to keep the old folks away from the polls.
The School Board’s argument that it’s more financially responsible to rush the vote than to wait for the May primary is off target. That’s not to say the bond issue is doomed to fail. My crystal ball is still foggy on that point. But public opinion is mixed on this topic. Unless the Board is able to put together one heckuva marketing campaign in the short time between now and February, I think the undecideds will remain undecided at the time of the vote. That may work out well for the Board, since few of the undecideds will bother to go to the polls at all. But among those who do, a no vote is more likely than a yes vote.
Sellouts
The State Fair is truly a lost cause:
The Nebraska State Fair is selling naming rights for buildings and events at State Fair Park as a way to raise more money.
Even bathrooms are up for grabs:
For $5,000, you can name a public restroom after yourself at the Nebraska State Fair. But naming the toilets after someone else as a joke won’t be allowed, said the fair’s executive director, Rick Bjorklund.
I don’t know about you, but I really hope that Sheldon and Kathy Crapo have a spare five grand sitting around.
(Thanks to the Official Alltel Telephone Directory for the help!)
Google Analytics
I installed Google Analytics on Lincolnite a couple days ago. The system hiccupped and gagged for a while, but it’s finally returning some data. Lots and lots of data.
I’m in data heaven.
I’ve long believed that the web statistics software I have been using has been giving me less-than-perfect results. The data from Google Analytics appear not only much more accurate, but also much more precise. These data will help me tremendously as I continue to build Lincolnite because I will be able to see in incredible detail which features are working, and which are flopping. The level of analysis Google is making available used to cost hundreds of dollars. Now, it’s free.
It will take a week or so for there to be enough data for me to really evaluate the system, but for now: wow.
New Group Homes Denied
The City Council yesterday voted to deny a request by Developmental Services of Nebraska (DSN) to add a fourth resident to each of three homes, making the homes “group homes” for the purposes of Lincoln ordinance and thus subject to regulation by the city. As Cindy Lange-Kubick notes, it’s easy to not get too fired up since few of us have a positive emotional connection with “those people” who live in group homes, and most of us don’t live in the immediate vicinity of the proposed group homes.
The group homes’ supporters aren’t helping their case with their faulty logic:
People who work with the developmentally disabled said the comments by neighbors are hurtful and discriminatory. James Masten, a DSN executive assistant, said if you insert the word “black” for “developmentally disabled” and then make those kinds of comments, it would clearly be discriminatory.
Mr. Masten’s comparison to racism is awfully weak. You could substitute a lot of words and phrases for “developmentally disabled” and the comments would still evoke some hefty emotions. Mr. Masten’s plea strikes me as little more than an invocation of Gilliard’s Corollary To Goodwin’s Law.
According to the article, Roxanne Copp noted that “a lot of people would rather live next to a home full of extraterrestrials than a group home.” Well sure, but extraterrestrials are not stereotyped as violent pedophiles. Group home residents, unfortunately, are.
The article includes this bit at the end:
Councilman Jonathan Cook got personal, asking if it’s true DSN provides LeFevre with a Cadillac. LeFevre defended his Caddy, recalling his company’s beginnings when he was its entire staff and he earned nothing during its first year of operation “because I had to pay my staff.”
“I have put my life, my heart and my soul into DSN,” LeFevre said. “And I don’t believe I have to take a vow of poverty. I feel I’ve earned everything that I have.”
Cook said he wasn’t persuaded DSN needed the waivers, particularly when the company threatens to “put people out on the street” while “buying expensive cars for their” CEO. Only Councilman Ken Svoboda and Councilwoman Robin Eschliman voted to grant the waivers.
Does Mr. LeFevre need or deserve a Cadillac? I don’t have any idea. I only care to the extent that my tax dollars paid for any part of that car. I don’t know anything about the funding structure of Mr. LeFevre’s organization, so I will reserve judgement for now. If I paid for his chrome wheels, I’m pissed. Otherwise, I don’t give a hoot. His funders, and only his funders, should be concerned with how he uses their money.
But more importantly, did you see what Mr. Cook did here? He gave his political opponents some tremendous ammunition. Councilman Cook has said, in essence, that any non-essential use of funding is irresponsible and morally wrong. I wonder how much splurging of the taxpayer’s dime Mr. Cook has been responsible for in his career, and how much he will be responsible for in the future. Couldn’t he have had the hamburger, rather than the steak? Couldn’t that project have been completed more cheaply by making it simpler? A savvy political opponent would be wise to keep track of these things. Mr. Cook, it is very dangerous to allow yourself to be portrayed as a hypocrite. Speak carefully, sir.
Lincolnite Roadmap
On Friday I wrote a little blurb describing the general purpose and direction of Lincolnite. Today I put together a roadmap that will be updated as I work toward the official launch of Lincolnite. Keep an eye on my progress—and kick me in the butt if I fall behind—by checking on the roadmap now and then.
Lincolnite: Where We’re At, Where We’re Going
What is Lincolnite? When will it be finished? What will it look like when it’s complete? I don’t have all the answers, but I have a few.
Good News at 48th and O
Finally some good news at 48th & O: the city has helped to broker a deal that will put a Walgreens, West Gate Bank, Braeda, and Runza on the southeast corner of the troubled intersection. The city will pay $4.5 million to buy the property from Julius Misle, then sell it to the developers for around $4 million. The $500,000 difference is accounted for by a strip of land retained by the city that will act as a buffer between the development and abutting houses.
On the one hand this development is a trifle disappointing. This new development will just help 48th & O to look like every other commercial development built in Lincoln in the past five years. In that regard this news is newsworthy only for its utter blandness.
The fact remains, however, that the intersection of 48th & O is—or was—going nowhere. I may find it annoying that every strip mall in Lincoln looks the same and includes the same businesses, but that’s no justification for considering this news as anything short of a success for the city. I’m sure neighboring Lincolnites will appreciate the convenience of new places to bank, buy convenience items and drugs, and eat. And surely we all agree that fresh development at the corner is better for the city than the stark, crumbling, empty parking lots currently found there.
I wonder: who from the city was responsible for helping to assemble this deal? The article linked above doesn’t say. Nor does the printed version of the story (which is slightly different). Was it Mayor Colleen Seng? Her photo accompanies the online article, but the only mention of her involvement is that “Mayor Coleen Seng said the $10 million project will bring life back to the area, which has deteriorated into vacant, crumbling expanses peppered with light poles.” Does that mean that she was directly involved in t
he deal, or was she on the sidelines? It is important that Lincolnites know what our mayor is up to. If Mayor Seng did play a critical role in the deal, we need to know so that we can praise her. And if she wasn’t, why the heck not?
Addendum: One thing about Mayor Seng’s role is certain: she has made 48th & O a priority. She has sicced Urban Development and others upon the intersection. She deserves kudos for pushing the issue. I would just like to know how much her involvement went beyond that. I think there’s an important difference between a mayor who pushes an issue indirectly ("You guys go fix this and report back to me when you’re done"), versus one who leads the charge directly. My impression of Mayor Seng is that she more often uses the former technique than the latter. In my opinion she is passive to a fault. I’m curious, however, if she was more active in this particular situation. If so, I would like to give her the credit she is due.
Should Mayor Seng Run Again?
Will Mayor Colleen Seng run for a second term? Should she? It may be early, but I’ve looked into my crystal ball and made a case.
True Crime
Good news! Lincoln is now virtually crime-free! All of the murderers, rapists, burglars, robbers, and public urinators have been taken care of, so Police Chief Tom Casady wants to go after the next most severe threat to public safety: improperly registered vehicles parked on private property. Casady’s proposal isn’t exactly the end of civil liberties as we know them, but it does raise the question of how Casady knows that a given vehicle has actually been driven while improperly registered. My vehicle, for example, is parked in my driveway with improper license plates. (They expired in October; the new plates are sitting in the house, waiting ever-so-patiently to take their place on my car.) But my vehicle hasn’t been driven since October. In other words, I haven’t broken the law, nor do I plan to. Would Casady ticket me anyway, then place the burden of proof on me if I want to get the ticket rescinded in court, rather than keeping the burden of proof on the government, where it belongs?
Dear Readers: Do Our Job For Us
The Journal Star apparently isn’t capable of doing its own reporting, so its readers to come to the rescue.
Which begs the question: for what purpose? The Journal Star had the opportunity to print a story on Saturday (the mall event occurred on Friday evening), and they did. If they wanted to run a more detailed article, they could have done so on Sunday. Why are they just now getting around to realizing that news happened nearly a week ago? Why was nobody from the Journal Star on the scene at what should have been a newsworthy event even without the chaos?
New to the Haymarket: Krem Le Bistro
The Missus and I dropped by Krem Le Bistro this past weekend. It’s a new restaurant located on the second floor of the Creamery Building, home of Ivanna Cone, Paint Yourself Silly, and a few other local shops. The Missus and I didn’t eat at Krem, having just cleaned our plates at Lazlo’s across the street. Instead, we just took a glance at the menu. We almost stopped in just for dessert—the options were very tempting!—but we were much too full. Krem offers a variety of sandwiches and a few heftier entrees. Prices ranged from about $6.00 to $15.00 or so; the sandwiches were especially affordable.
Some quick impressions of Krem Le Bistro:
- I worry about the name. My first impression of the name was “Hmph, sounds like a snooty place with tiny portions and high prices.” Not having eaten there yet I can’t speak to the portion size, but the prices looked pretty reasonable. Will the name keep people from ever making it up the stairs to their front door to give them a fair shot?
- My first impression of the restaurant itself was much more positive. It looked cozy and warm inside, with a pianist performing some very nice pieces. It looked like a place I wouldn’t mind spending some time in.
- The off-the-street location is a risk, but I think it can work out for them. Word of mouth will be key, which makes excellence in service and food quality throughout this first month especially critical.
- Krem can only increase Ivanna Cone’s visibility and, by extension, their business. The same will be true for the other small businesses in the building.
- A quick glance at the menu seemed to offer options for most any diner. Carnivores, vegetarians, and, if I recall correctly, even vegans have some good options. (Don’t trust me on the vegan thing; I may be remembering incorrectly.) The menu is not large, but it still seemed to offer some good choices.
nThe Missus and I may give Krem Le Bistro a try on this week’s date night (Wednesday). We’re going out with another couple, though, so we’ll have to see what they’re in the mood for.
Cougars, Why Do You Scorn Us?
This probably sounds odd, but I’m a little jealous of Omaha, what with all the cougars showing up around the area. Why can’t we get a couple of those bad boys down here in Lincoln? Omaha gets cougars, and we get turkeys. Typical.
Gateway Unveiled
Many of you will scoff, but I’m actually just a little bit excited about the Westfield Gateway makeover being unveiled at 5:30pm tonight. Some Lincolnites believe that Gateway is an anachronism, an outdated mall destined to fade into obscurity. I’m not so sure. I think Gateway can continue to be a relevant and powerful force among Lincoln’s shopping venues.
I’m very pleased with the resources Westfield has put into Gateway. When Westfield purchased Gateway several years ago I was wary. As it turns out, I needn’t have been. Gateway’s exterior looks better than it has in years. occupancy rates are up, and the likelihood of hearing somebody say “I’m going to Gateway this weekend” isn’t nearly as remote—or giggle-inducing—as it was only a couple years ago. It’s too early to say that Gateway is back. But from the perspective of the Lincoln shopper, it’s nice to know that Southpointe is not the only quality shopping option.
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