by William Skink
Some elected leaders see authoritarian opportunity with this pandemic. In Hungary Victor Orban has transformed himself into a dictator and now rules by decree.
In Missoula our little dictator, Herr Engen, took his new authority out for a spin when he signed the purchase agreement to use a million dollars in TIF money to buy the Sleepy Inn 3 days BEFORE City Council met to vote on this proposed sale.
I guess the people elected to govern Missoula are now merely ornamental. From the link:
Missoula Mayor John Engen signed an agreement for the city of Missoula to purchase a motel on West Broadway three days before the City Council approved the deal. The agreement was contingent on the Council’s approval.
…
NBC Montana is waiting to hear from the city as to why documents were signed before the council approved the deal.The Missoula City Council meets Monday to discuss the topic.
So what are you going to do about this Bryan von Lossberg? What are you going to do about this Gwen Jones? Are there spines in those self-isolating meat sacks yours?
City Council voted to give Engen expanded powers last month and, as far as I can tell, Engen still retains those powers despite the fact City Council is using technology in order to continue doing the business of governing. From the link:
With a vote of caution, the Missoula City Council on Monday unanimously agreed to grant the mayor wider powers to authorize contracts and agreements above a certain dollar amount, so long as they were previously budgeted.
The move saw no dissent among council members, who are working to expedite city business but limit exposure as the COVID-19 pandemic brings other functions to a standstill.
City Council voted unanimously (including Team Liberty) to give Engen the ability to be even more unilaterally sneaky, so my question is this: what did they expect? Engen is behaving exactly the way I would expect a deceitful politician to behave.
How about this, ornamental Council members, you have a choice: either vote to rescind those expanded powers, since technology allows you to govern while hiding in your homes, or just put your tail between your legs and shut up.
Mayor Engen, through this unilateral action, has loudly declared that the council members Missoulians elected no longer matter when it comes to deciding how public money will be spent.
Is Missoula a one-man fiefdom now? If so, the taxpayers facing an economic depression would like to know. If Council members don’t want to do their jobs anymore, I’m sure there are plenty of available, out-of-work citizens who wouldn’t mind getting paid to pretend to govern via Zoom.