The Con Man is apoplectic that the Aspen City Council is misquoting him in its misinformation campaign in support of the Burlingate bond fiasco. Then: Obama's new war platform, political correctness, and the infamous Barack-Michelle New Yorker cover.
Click here for "Con Games with Michael Conniff" for Tuesday July 15, 2008.
Add comment July 15th, 2008
“Good math skills” was Andrew Kole’s campaign platform claim during his 2005 City Council bid. Back then, who knew how badly the City needed math (actually arithmetic) skills?
Continue Reading 3 comments July 14th, 2008
I read with interest in local papers last week about the city’s efforts to “take responsibility” for the debacle now commonly referred to as Burling-gate. Not surprisingly it didn’t take long for the usual suspects, namely City Manager Steve Barwick and Aspen Mayor Mick Ireland, to go from offensive to defensive.
Speaking before Directors of the Aspen Chamber Resort Association last week, Barwick continued to offer the same weak explanations and excuses and basically admitted the massive debacle was the result of too many people, making too many decisions, over too much time, about a project none were properly qualified to understand or oversee. When both were recent guests of KNFO-FM radio host Michael Conniff on Con Games last week, Ireland was asked if he cared to expand on his recent assertion (conspiracy theory) that he is the subject of an illegal “smear campaign” by unknown operatives. He refused to do so or provide any specifics or retract his accusation. Meanwhile, Councilman Jack Johnson continues to behave like a five year-old saying he “can’t apologize” to Marilyn Marks after publicly chastising her in council chambers after she paid a local camera crew to record a recent work session at her expense (after telling the council she intended to do so and numerous request to have the council tape itself for the public good). Perhaps Johnson needs a hug from one of his teddy bears?
Continue Reading Add comment July 8th, 2008
The Burling-Blame Game Explained Learn the rules of the game in two minutes or less and you too can play. A brief primer; In 2005 City Council got a FIXED Bid to build Burlingame Phase I for $150 a square foot which included infrastructure inside the site. This contract got executed successfully with minor changes. At the time, city staff was responsible for estimating additional external infrastructure and future changes to the project. At the time the total cost estimate for Phase I was about $39 million. The original cost increased by $20.1 MILLION (per city staff memo) by mainly discretionary changes to reduce cost of units, add park, trail, buses, green improvements etc. Additionally the infrastructure estimate by city staff was wildly off, the total cost appears to have increased $18.4 MILLION more than the original estimate (per city staff memo). Essentially the cost of Burlingame Phase I DOUBLED due to Council discretionary decisions and a terrible cost estimate of infrastructure by city staff. It was NOT due to construction inflation since it was a fixed bid. It was NOT due to a delay in starting Burlingame in 2005 instead of 2002, since the city’s cost to produce housing per square foot was less in 2005 than what the city paid in 2002.
Continue Reading 1 comment June 30th, 2008
Mayor Mick Ireland of Aspen and City Manager Steve Barwick meet the Con Man with controversial results.
Click here for the complete "Con Games with Michael Conniff" for Thursday June 26, 2008.
Add comment June 30th, 2008
Aspen Mayor Mick Ireland was yelling at me as he was walking out of the KNFO studio after his live appearance with City Manager Steve Barwick on "Con Games" Wednesday morning and I was yelling back.
It would have been better all around if Mayor Ireland had been so kind as to scream at me on air, just as it would have been better if he had blown his top at the City Council meeting after, instead of before, they turned the cameras on. But such overt displays of pique would not be in keeping with the kinder, gentler politician promised during the election campaign just past.
Not that Mayor Ireland did not have good cause to be angry as he climbed on his bike and left the station for adventures unknown.
Continue Reading 8 comments June 26th, 2008
ASPEN, COLORADO (Post Time News)—In a contentious electronic mail exchange between members of the Citizens Budget Task Force (CBTF) and the Mayor of Aspen and the City Council, Mayor Mick Ireland is charging unnamed parties with violating Colorado campaign laws in a move he likened to the “Swift Boating” of Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004.
“This country has suffered greatly under Karl Rove and Dick Cheney,” the Mayor wrote in an email, “and I am not going to stand still for that same wedge politics, Swift Boat method being used here. If people want to raise money and run for office, let them do so under the Campaign Finance Act. I don’t like 527 attack groups and I am not going to wait until the attacks are launched before speaking out on what is happening. This is constant politics, don’t let the council do anything but respond to attacks and claims and spin and requests for tons of documents.”
Continue Reading 1 comment June 19th, 2008
Hauenstein email to Mayor Ireland and Council June 11
From: Ward Hauenstein
Sent: Wed 6/11/2008 7:34 AM
To: Dwayne Romero; J.E. DeVilbiss; Jack Johnson; Mayor Mick Ireland; Steve Skadron
Subject: Last night's work session
Greetings Council members,
Thank you your dedication to your duties. I fear I must write in private to express how stunned I was at the dressing down or spanking of Marilyn Marks at last night's work session. I have been working with Marilyn for the past few months now on the Housing Subcommittee. I suspect the public remarks attacking MM were a venting of steam from previous and numerous emails from her. I know what my inbox looks like with multiple Marilyn emails. I also know how much she drives her beliefs. In my position as chair of the Housing Subcommittee I sometimes feel like the parent telling the kids to just get along. The above remarks notwithstanding I was still embarrassed for her and for CC.
Continue Reading 1 comment June 19th, 2008
I have made a very difficult decision to resign from the Task Force and Subcommittee. I deeply regret that I cannot continue the good work we have started together. I have learned so very much and most importantly, made new friends in the process.
The work of these two bodies is of critical importance to the community at this very crucial time. Future Burlingame plans and the future of our affordable housing are in question today. The community needs your strong, independent, and credible voice for information and guidance, and to rebuild confidence in the financial policies of the City. The City Council needs your objective input as well.
Continue Reading Add comment June 15th, 2008
The Con Man can't help himself: he has to liken the Burlingate affordable housing scandal in Aspen to the neoconservatives who rule(d) Washington. What do they have in common? Both the local liberals and the Beltway conservatives felt they knew better.
Don't miss the call from former Aspen City Councilor Torre in the second half of the show.
Click here for the complete "Con Games with Michael Conniff" for Wednesday June 11, 2008.
Add comment June 11th, 2008
