Black History Month

There was a letter to the editor challenging the need for Black History Month. I wonder what other people think about this? I've always taken the view that it would be nice not to separate out black history, but African-Americans hold a pretty unique place in our history, and most civil rights advances have been centered around black Americans. I also have always found African-American history fascinating because so much of this county's history revolves around it's treatment of blacks, minoritites.

We (at the Traveler) also got several calls/emails from people who reminded us that there was a pool for black people in Ark City in Carver Park. The response was triggered from a story Wednesday quoting Donna Barlow that there was no place for black children to swim so they swam in the river.

http://www.arkcity.net/stories/022708/com_0001.shtml

There was a pool, of course, but Donna told me after the story ran that it had been closed because of a drowing death, forcing black residents to swim in the river. That is why, she told me later, that she agreed to swim at Paris Park. She told me she probalby would not have pushed the issue had the black pool still been operating.

Average home value

A very interesting move by City Commissioner Joel Hockenbury to address the school board - one week before the school bond vote is tallied – challenging the estimated cost to the average homeowner for the $36 million project.

The $34 does seem low, but it's apparently based on an average home valuation of $54,000. Now that also seems low. In fact realtors have told the newspaper that the average value is about $65,000. But those are selling prices, I believe. The schools must be using the assessed valuation used for tax purposes by the county assessor. If anybody can shed more light on this, please do.

But I wonder why Hockenbury would raise this in a public meeting at this late date? It seems easier for him to ask Superintendent Ballard or the school board chair privately for back up information to confirm the numbers, or is he hoping to cast doubt on the whole project and the veracity of information about the bond by making a public appeal he knew would probably get reported in the newspaper?


I've frankly been surprised by some of the high level critiques and the late hour of that opposition going public — Lee Gregg. Jr. who is on the Cowley College Board of Trustees, and Jean Snell, the former schools superindentent. It seems like they might have voiced these concerns much earlier in the process when public hearings on the proposal were being held and there was time to make adjustments to the project.

County Commission

One commenter asked about goings on at the County Commission level. Things do seem pretty routine at the moment. Leroy Alsup's raise got some attention. And this is an interesing political question — do you give your top manager a big raise and risk the ire of the community, or do you not and risk letting him go elsewhere?

The commissioners opted for the former. But not all of them. Carmelita Clarkson voted against the raise. She's been a critic of Alsup and the county administrator position itself for some time. Gary Wilson has said he was initially skeptical of having a county adminstrator but has come to believe the benefits are higher than the costs. Dick Bonfy has been on board all along.

I wouldn't be suprised if somebody filed for office and made criticism of the administrator position a major point. Judy Welch, a former Traveler reporter, ran against Bonfy and did this to some degree in 2006, but didn't get too far. But that raise might provide an opening for somebody. Both Wilson and Clarkson's seats are up this year.

(One commenter asked what I mean by this being a "political" blog. I guess politics is the study of the people and process behind the issues, especially elections. Not a great answer, I know, but the best I can muster at the moment)

local issues

Several of you have asked about the status of local issues — most of them dealing with the city commission. For a more issues-oriented blog, see Between Rivers by James Jordan. While I'll touch on issues, the main focus here is the political motivations and influences behind the issues.

One reader wants to know whether issues such as ec. dev., the hike bike trail, cleaning up downtown and housing, are still going on. I'd say they are. Some have been more in the news lately than others The City Commission is setting its goals soon, and we'll see where its priorities lay. This will be the first goal setting session with the new commission. Certainly the Lowe's debate has everybody focused on economic development. James Jordan did an excellent job writing stories on each commissioner's views of economic development. Check Traveler online archives in January.

One question I have about all this is whether the commission will work with Ark City Industries and the Home National Bank Crowd after the rift over the Lowe's. Whatever your view of them, AC Industries has had a major impact on development in this town and hold some keys with the ownership of Goff industrial park and some of the people who can drive economic decisions in this community.

In my opinion, it would be too bad if elected officials chose to ingore them in the fallout of the Lowe's decision ....

Kasha v. Greta

Kasha responded to the question about her running for Greta's seat. She said it had not been in her plans until Greta started telling others Kasha planned to run against her; and now she's seriously considering it.

Local politics

I've had at least one person comment several times why I avoid local politics in this blog. My answer is that I don't intend to avoid it and I'm glad there's interest in it. Frankly I don't see much going on, on a purely political basis at the moment. That doesn't mean there aren't vital issues at hand. There are.

The big question looming right now is whether the school bond will pass. But there hasn't been any real debate or organized opposition to it, so the campaign has been fairly quiet. I get the feeling that the tide is turning toward a YES vote, just based on letters to the editor and the traveler poll, and the simple fact that proponents are campaigning hard. You should be receiving ballots in the mail this week, in fact.

One interesting point made by James Jordan in his column last week — the overall cost of the $35.8 million bond, with interest over 20 years — will be nearly $60 million. That "after interest" cost had been missing in the reporting up to now but certainly is a relevant point.

p.s. It's been a week and several phone calls but we still haven't heard from Kasha on whether she plans to run against Greta Goodwin for state Senate. That's gotta be a tough call. It would be a grueling, expensive campaign.

Creating "news"

A reader takes issue with my last post ...

"Seems like what we have here is a classic example of people should not talk about what they know not. Blogs are what they are and we understand that. Don't you wonder if blogs by people who "create" the news should hold themselves to a higher journalistic standard?"

Well, I certainly am playing the speculation game. But Sen. Goodwin's words are her own. She told Traveler reporter Foss Farrar that she'll be running against Kasha. She told me she's preparing for Kasha. Since Kasha hasn't decided, it seemed appropriate to lay out the case as to why Greta would tell journalists who her opponent will be.

But, point taken. In fact we we had placed calls into Kasha this morning to ask about all this. Haven't heard from her yet but we'll have something in the paper soon.

David

Greta v. Kasha?

Greta Goodwin announced at the Demo caucus last night that she will run for reelection for state Senate. She said she'll be running against Kasha Kelley, the state rep from Ark City. Kasha hasn't announced whether she'll run, but people assume she will because of Kasha's political ambition, connections and fundraising abilities. And that fact that she hasn't said she won't.

Super Tuesday

Today is the biggest day so far in presidential politics this year. Kansas holds its Democratic caucuses tonight. My guess is that Obama will do well with his trip to El Dorado and his 20 paid staffers compared to Clinton's three. But you never know — Clinton has the institutional support and hard core democrats will attend.

If things are as tight as polls and pundits predict, Kansas' 30 delegates could be the deciding ones in the final delegate count from today. I'm glad the Democratic Party decided to join the Feb. 5 fun, which makes Kansas relevant again in primary politics. Republicans caucus on Saturday. It appears McCain will have things pretty much sewn up after today, so that vote might not mean too much.

Too bad state lawmakers and the Sec. of State decided not to hold a primary, which is much better representation of how voters feel because not many voters will attend a caucus. I've spoken to lots of people who said they'd like to go to support their candidate (mostly Obama) but won't for whatever reason - work, child care, elderly who don't want to drive 30 miles.

But at least we have something ......