Lincolnite

Today's Lincoln Journal Star editorial on LES rate hikes suffers from sloppy reasoning. The editors contention is that Lincolnites should buck up and accept LES rate hikes because we have it pretty good when it comes to the amount we pay for electricity. It may be true that we've got it good, but that is a lousy reason to sit back and watch our rates climb. We should strive for the best possible compromise between low rates and quality service that we can achieve. Comparing our rates to those paid by others is just a distraction. Note that I'm not saying that we should fight the current proposed rate hike. LES has done a pretty good job over the years managing our electric utility resources, and they have earned enough of my respect with regard to rates that I tend to trust them to do what's best for their customer-owners. If they tell me they need to raise rates 5 or 6 percent next year, well, OK. Unless, of course, somebody else can come along and explain to me why that's a horrible idea. Now, if LES really wants me to like them, they'll work toward constructing a new regional nuclear power plant within the next couple decades. Only in my dreams, I suppose.

This isn't the wettest I've seen Lincoln -- that distinction belongs to the time several years back that the softball fields at Holmes Lake were all underwater -- but it's still pretty darn wet. The Wilson basement survived more or less unscathed, though we did have a little water. Nothing the dehumidifier couldn't handle. How many of you dealt with flooded basements this weekend? Cars? Businesses? Any good war stories?

I thought I had noticed more restaurants being cited for various health infractions, and sure enough, I was right. Don't worry, it's not as though Lincoln's restaurants have suddenly become filthy. The uptick is just the result of a government agency finally joining the 20th Century by computerizing the records derived from the inspection process.

Chief Casady's latest post on elementary school violence is fascinating. Not just because it's a little disturbing that cops have been called to Lincoln elementary schools no fewer than 37 times so far this year. No, what I find most interesting is how the post is basically a brutally honest and harsh critique of LPS's response to "out of control" elementary students. When I think back to my days at Calvert Elementary, I can recall several instances that, had they happened today, would have resulted in the police being called. Instead, to the best of my recollection the police were not summoned in any of the cases. I recall one problem child in particular, whom I will call "Shane". My second grade teacher had an awesome solution for dealing with his periodic angry outbursts: she sent Shane to the lunch room / gym, where there were padded support columns. Shane would go down there, box the columns for a while, and come back when he had sufficiently vented. I'm not saying that calling the police is never a good idea, nor am I saying that "back in the day" tough situations were always handled better than they are today. I am merely noting a simple fact: there are often alternatives to calling the police that will result in equally good or better outcomes.

As I predicted, Lincoln will have to pay over $330,000 thanks to Mayor Seng's veto of a change to group home zoning restrictions. In his decision, U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf cited "heaps of red tape … and inconsistent and irrelevant posturing by city officials, elected and otherwise". He added that "by merely acting reasonably, Lincoln could have easily avoided that expensive outcome." That's probably not the send-off Colleen Seng was hoping for in her last weeks as Mayor. Since Seng is on her way out the door, I won't bother further denouncing her veto decision. However, if you are in the mood to let off some steam, go right ahead.

Good: Talent Plus wants to add 100 jobs to the Lincoln economy. Bad: To do so, they want to buy additional Holes Lake parkland and build a new building, further angering neighbors. I supported the original building for a number of reasons, and I probably would be inclined to support their expansion, except for one thing: that butt ugly building. Damn that thing is hideous! It could be part of the latest Fox special "When Architects Vomit". I'm not sure that 100 new jobs are worth the pain of another eyesore. Ugh. What's your take? Should Lincoln be business-friendly but further tick off a handful of residents who like their view? Or should we be neighborhood friendly and risk losing jobs and economic development?

Who picked 850 votes in the margin of victory pool? Anybody? Looks like we will be picking on (or loving?) Mayor Chris Beutler for the next four years. I suppose can live with that. I could have lived with Mayor Ken Svoboda, too. Frankly, their platforms weren't all that different. They both ran on the un-Seng ticket, and they were both successful at it. Putting aside all of the big talk of the campaign, the number one thing I want most from Mayor Beutler is strong leadership. He will have many opportunities to prove himself in that regard in his first few months. Some of the comments over at the LJS are pretty entertaining:

"I voted for Beutler but not for the reasons you may think. Of the 2 candidates Beutler is more likely to raise taxes and and scare off businesses (look at the failing grade business groups give him). I want to drive this city into the ground, I want to see people fleeing this city like rats off of a sinking ship. Only once we have hit rock bottom will we then be able to change this city for the better and the sooner we get to rock bottom the sooner we can start building our city back up."

"YES!!!! At least I can be assured that when Mr. Beutler runs businesses out of town and I lose my job there will be plently of new expensive and worthless social programs to cusion the fall!!! "

"Why do I feel like vomiting!! Shows how intelligent Lincoln people are when Beutler was too lazy and dense to come up with his own thoughts, and had to use Truman's "the buck stops here" and voted for every tax increase in the legislature!!

And my favorite:

"Thank goodness Seng will be out. I blame her for Alex Gordon batting under .200."

As for Ken Svoboda, let's talk about those medians...

I realize the long-term benefits of Lincoln Synergy Group's newly announced 15-story building at 13th and Q far outweigh any temporary inconveniences. But holy cow, losing Valentino's, Cold Stone, Quizno's, and Chipotle all at once would take a huge chunk out of downtowners' lunch options. Is that a totally petty concern? Yeah, it probably is. What can I say, keeping my stomach happy is important to me. From a different perspective: Lincoln Synergy Group is really serious about this project, aren't they? If they manage to pull this off within five years, we should hold a parade in their honor.

After months of build-up, election day is finally here. Will you vote? Who (and what) will you vote for? I was afraid I wouldn't be able to vote, but it now looks like I will be able to sneak to the polls between work and my soccer match tonight. I'll just need to be quick. I had hoped to have the time to write a big article about the various races and my opinion on the best choices in each. Unfortunately, I've been swamped lately. So no sage advice from Mr. Wilson today. I will say that there's no way I can vote for Allan Abbott after hearing his mean-spirited and just plain awful attack ad on the radio this morning. It probably isn't fair for me to single him out today, but boy, his ad really ticked me off.