Month: October 2019

by William Skink

Change is happening fast and furious in mountain town Missoula, so I thought I’d compile a few notable announcements from just the past 24 hours. Try to keep up.

The Old Post announced on Facebook (where all good things go to die) that Halloween 2019 will be its last night of operation in downtown Missoula. I fondly recall many hungover brunches with friends during the college days, and late summer evenings on the back patio. I even had a few kitchen monkey friends who worked there briefly and thankfully survived the debauchery.

What’s going to replace the Old Post? Does Lord Checota own the building yet? Can we call this part of downtown Missoula (North Higgins) something cool, like NoHig? Or how about the Noggins District? So many important questions for our local media to report on.

Moving along…

Did you hear that our County leaders, who always act so dire around budget time about cost of stuff going up and deferred projects and such, like this from last September:

The Missoula County Commissioners recently approved the new 2020 budget that includes an eight percent overall tax increase.

Commissioner Dave Strohmaier was direct in explaining the commission’s decision; no more kicking the can down the road.

“Before we even got our revenue figures from the state of Montana Department of revenue we were looking at what were the costs necessary to sustain the exact level of services that we provided and delivered to the public the prior year,” said Strohmaier. “We have expenses going up by virtue of negotiated union contracts and the basic cost of business is going up, so that’s part of it.”

Strohmaier said one aspect of the increase deals with items that have been neglected over the years.

“This is something I’ve been concerned about for a few years, since I’ve been on the commission, is what things have we deferred maintenance on or have kicked the can down the road,” he said. “The day of reckoning has come. In some respects we have come to that point.”

Strohmaier goes on to reference the additional law enforcement hires both the County and City can’t seem to keep up with as Missoula grows and grows. Essential services always seem to be the topic of conversation around budget time to justify tax increases. I guess because telling the tax-paying public there’s always 2.5 million laying around for a cool “historic plaza upgrade” at the Fairgrounds doesn’t sound as compelling.

I’m not sure exactly what constitutes a “historic plaza upgrade” or even that the County fairgrounds had a historic plaza in the first place. So why exactly is this something that needs to be funded to the tune of 2.5 million dollars? Because Emily Bentley wants there to be weddings there, like all year round and stuff. Cool.

“We want to create a park-like atmosphere with flexible, multi-use spaces so that we can accommodate all kinds of events like weddings and dog shows,” explained fairgrounds director Emily Brock. “Our goal is to have it be a beautiful space that’s rentable for weddings and events all year long and add another revenue stream.”

That sounds super awesome. Thanks Emily for giving Missoula the gift of your super awesome vision for a historic plaza upgrade.

Moving along…

In-land migration of people from west coast cities is a real thing, and those with the capital to relocate find housing markets like Missoula very affordable.

Well, fresh from MC, we have a report about an entire company packing its bags and heading for Missoula. And guess where they’re coming from? SAN FRANCISCO! Isn’t that great Missoula!!!

Here’s some of the barfy PR reporting:

Bedrock was founded by Nick Pence and Dan Opalacz and is currently located in greater San Francisco. It currently operates from a solar-powered warehouse.

Pence said the company wanted close access to the outdoors and a more sustainable atmosphere from which to grow its business. Missoula fit the company’s “ethos and lifestyle.”

“We wanted a place with better backyard access to rivers and mountains, a more affordable cost of living, and more seasons for testing and developing new footwear,” he said. “Missoula’s down to earth feel, outdoor recreation, and sense of community hit all the marks.”

Don’t worry everyone, Bedrock flip-flop is already active in paying off local non-profits to bless and anoint their arrival.

According to Wednesday’s announcement, Bedrock will move its team to Missoula in early 2020. It already has begun forming partnerships and investing in the community.

Big Sky Fulfillment, a Missoula distribution company located near the airport, will handle inventory and distribution for Bedrock. Through its environmental stewardship efforts, Bedrock also has started contributing to Missoula-based organizations, including the Clark Fork Coalition and Adventure Cycling.

(Psst, Bedrock, for the right price Lord Checota might be willing to consider a permanent display within his ~DRIFT~ )

So much happening in mountain town Missoula. Really, try to keep up…

by William Skink

Fellow Missoulians:

If it’s been awhile since you’ve had a good laugh I suggest reading Gwen Jones’ column decrying the meanie mailers sent out by some bad wealthy business owners (as opposed to good wealthy business owners, like Lord Checota).

Here are some of my favorite parts:

It is disturbing that a group of local wealthy business owners attacked respectable members of our community with a deliberate distortion of facts in a mailer paid by and organized through a political action committee (PAC) with out-of-town ties.

OMG, out-of-town ties?!? Is this really the same person supporting a 16 million dollar handout to Wisconsin mulit-millionaire Lord Checota? Too funny.

And then there’s this:

As Democrats, we stand for facts, transparency and a fair contest of ideas and values.

More hilarity ensues, and this from a council person who hasn’t seemed too concerned that an important vote got moved at the last minute to a midweek, afternoon quickie by Herr Engen. Jones also hasn’t shown any concern over a serious lack of transparency regarding the Mountain Water litigation, or any significant awareness about her own policy inconsistencies, like supporting open space bonds and TIF giveaways, policies that undermine her stated intent to address the affordable housing crisis.

I like this statement as well: The Missoula County Democrats are invested in assuring our city continues a progressive path.

Yep, very progressive path we’ve been on. Just remember to ignore the road signs of economic inequality, service sector servitude, astronomical housing costs, rampant gentrification and socio-economic displacement.

In conclusion, Jones wants to make sure you…

Don’t forget to turn in your ballot by Nov. 5 for our outstanding, positive and solution-based candidates: Heidi West, Amber Sherrill, Mirtha Beccera, Gwen Jones, Alex Fregerio or Nick Shontz!

Thank you Team Gentrify for the chuckles, it’s very much appreciated.

by William Skink

After being ignored last week by local media, several people once again stood before City Council Monday night to provide public comment. The Missoulian continues to dutifully omit that this criticism is happening, choosing instead to go after those who were behind a PAC mailer criticizing status quo council members who enable Mayor Engen’s agenda.

The people who spoke at last night’s Council meeting are not conservative candidates running for council, and that’s important because there is an effort by local media to depict criticism of how the city uses Tax Increment Financing as a conservative issue and not what it is: A CLASS ISSUE.

The comments last night highlight this distinction in an incredibly powerful and moving way, like the story Missoula native Brian Miller shared:

Missoula native Brian Miller told council members that, for veterans, “all it takes is a push” to leave them destitute and considering or completing suicide.

As an example, Miller offered the story of a friend who took his own life, motivated at least in part by “economic desperation.”

The man had a newborn baby, then had his dramatically hours cut at work. He didn’t know where to turn.

“You know who he was working for at the time of his suicide?” Miller said. “Our beloved Wisconsin millionaire, Nick Checota.”

“Economic desperation contributes to rising suicide statistics and demonstrates how most of us are barely making it in this community,” he said. “All it takes is a push.”

Miller, who said he served eight years in the U.S. Army infantry, called the use of TIF to reimburse developers for public infrastructure a “giveaway.”

And here is some of the public comment from Brandon Bryant, a Veteran who helped blow the whistle on Obama’s drone program:

Brandon Bryant, who was a staff sergeant in the U.S. military, traces his Missoula roots to his grandparents. “My grandfather led the Hellgate High School wrestling team to its only championship,” he said.

Bryant called for an investigation into the ethical conduct of the City Council and the mayor “and anyone else promoting the TIF projects going on in this city.”

The use of tax increments, he said, are “in violation of the community trust and the legacy that my grandparents and my family put into this town.”

Bryant said he is “distraught by the corruption” and wonders if affordable housing is even possible in a capitalistic society.

And here is Brian West:

Brian West told council members that if they support tax increment financing, “you are declaring yourself an enemy of the people.”

“TIFs lie at the very heart of what Bernie Sanders means when he talks about privatized gains and socialized losses,” West said. “As we all know, if the only tool you have is hammer, then every problem tends to look like a nail. And the Missoula Redevelopment Agency continues to smash the community of Missoula apart with the overwhelming destructive power of tax increment financing.”

“Those of us from Missoula don’t think that it needs to be redeveloped,” West said.

Many Americans, he said, tolerate inequality – but that’s “only because they overestimate their odds of coming out on top. More and more of us are realizing the truth than ever before. The people you are screwing over are the people you depend on – the people who cook your meals, haul your trash, connect your calls, drive your ambulances, who guard you while you sleep.”

Wow.

I think the shady deal between Herr Engen and Lord Checota is so problematic in how it’s been handled and reported that it could spark some unlikely alliances. I am hopeful something good could come from this, more hopeful than I’ve been in a long time.

Stay tuned…

by William Skink

The first problem with Missoula’s winter shelter plan, scheduled to begin November 1st, is that it is scheduled to begin November 1st.

As I fishtailed home on a sheet of ice this evening I thought about the conversations that might happen tonight at the Poverello Center. Are staff going to say sorry man, I know the weather could kill you tonight, but if you survive the next few days we’ll totally shelter you on Friday.

No, I don’t think that’s going to happen, but if staff were to follow a strict reading of the “winter shelter plan” then that is what they should be telling people who can’t stop drinking to save their lives, right?

The Poverello Center tried relaxing its zero tolerance policy on sheltering people who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs years ago. I know because I worked there and was partly responsible for creating and implementing the policy.

Back then we used temperature, not an arbitrary date on the calendar. And we ultimately abandoned the policy because it was just too difficult and dangerous for everyone involved. Our staff at the time did not have the training and we did not have a proper facility to work with people who had complicated mental and physical health conditions, like seizures and other complications if they abstained from drinking for too long.

I’m worried for the staff at the Poverello Center, and I’m worried for those who are continuing to live outside during cold weather months.

I am pretty sure someone has already died as a result of living at the Reserve Street camps. I have heard the same story from several service providers that two people went to the hospital after something happened with how they were heating their tent, and one person ended up dying.

If rules aren’t bent tonight, like Pov staff ignoring the obvious intoxicated guy swaying in line during dinner, then more people could perish in our liberal utopia because they have no where to live.

What a disgrace.

by William Skink

Very welcome news came last week about the South Avenue bridge project finally, FINALLY moving forward. After two decades of community debate, and a final effort at obstructionism enabled by County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier, the County submitted its environmental analysis to the Department of Transportation.

While I am ultimately happy that the process is moving forward, there remains a critical question: is the Maclay bridge safe to use TODAY? Beach Transportation has apparently determined the answer is no. Even after the bridge got patched up earlier this month, Beach decided to continue using an alternative route for school buses. After reading a letter to the editor this morning from Marshall Cromwell, a retired civil structural engineer, I am very glad Beach made that decision. Here is the letter:

After reading Travis Mateer’s excellent letter (Oct. 21) concerning the safety of his kids on the school bus having to cross the Maclay Bridge every day, I finally decided to drive out and have a look at that bridge myself.

As a retired civil structural engineer, I offer the following: Topside looks OK. Underneath is a disaster. Wide flange beams and steel deck severely corroded and weakened. Serious issues at the concrete abutments. Vibration caused by heavy traffic is alarming.

This one-lane bridge should have been condemned 30 years ago. The structure is outdated, extremely weak, corroding rapidly and must therefore be replaced. Because sooner or later it will collapse. Bridges collapse all the time. The results are never good.

Can you imagine the horror of a loaded school bus dropping through that bridge one day? It’s a scary thought, because I too have kids. The lawsuits would be staggering.

Build a new concrete bridge. South side. Plenty of space. Two lanes, with pedestrian walkways. To not replace that bridge constitutes criminal neglect.

Warning: A structural failure would mean lost lives and a lot of blood on people’s hands. Is that what you want, Missoula? Wake up, before it’s too late!

When the Missoulian did it’s Sunday feature piece on this madness a study on traffic volume showed how much use this functionally obsolete bridge was seeing nearly a decade a go, in 2010. The recommended volume of vehicles per day for Maclay is 100, but the study indicated over 2,600 cars, on average, were crossing the bridge every day. I’m sure a decade of growth like Missoula has experienced has increased those numbers significantly.

Thanks to the obstruction of South Avenue property owners, a new bridge will still take a lot of time to build. What will happen to Maclay in the meantime? If what the retired civil structural engineer is saying is true, the bridge should have been condemned yesterday.

I hope County Commissioners read Marshall Cromwell’s letter to the editor, and I hope they think long and hard about criminal negligence, litigation and the safety of their constituents.

Since the County Commissioners have not done enough to keep the constituents who live in this area safe up to this point, I guess it’s up to us citizens to inform ourselves and make our own determination of risk. If you’re a parent like I am, that means determining risk for your children as well.