Month: August 2020

by William Skink

I hope the critics of tax increment financing (TIF) are ready for the next round of propaganda pandering designed to “educate” criticism out of the conversation.

Critics like myself are at a serious disadvantage because we can’t go out and hire someone with public money the way our Mayor and his sycophants can. Case in point, our lovely city has just allocated $46,000 to hire Six Pony Hitch to streamline the propaganda messaging for MRA. From the link:

The Missoula Redevelopment Agency’s board approved a $46,500 contract on Monday to create a communication plan for the agency, largely in an effort to improve public understanding of Tax Increment Financing.

The contract will go to local communications firm Six Pony Hitch, owned by Christina “Spider” McKnight.

“Spider is very familiar with what MRA does and our history,” said MRA director Ellen Buchanan.

The public money being used for this–more money than many people make in a single year–is just to MAKE the plan, not actually carry the plan out. I hope Spider is up to the task.

One of the difficulties in parsing out this issue is how the problem is being defined by the city versus what the problem actually is in what I like to call “reality”.

The city wants you to think the BIG PROBLEM is the public’s ignorance regarding tax increment financing. They want you to think our public criticism is coming from a vocal minority who are getting all riled up because our simple little minds just can’t fathom the complex awesomeness that comes from funneling the increased tax value of urban renewal districts away from the general fund to the Missoula Redevelopment Agency.

The REAL problem is the exact opposite of what the city is claiming: people are starting to understand and pay attention to how these complicated sounding terms are hiding a pretty simple scheme of diverting public money away from the general fund to unelected people hand-picked by the mayor, and that one result of this monetary diversion is the starvation of the general fund for essential services, like schools, police and fire.

Now that we are waking up to this reality, the overwhelmed communication director for the mayor’s office, Ginny Merriam, is admitting defeat and calling for reinforcements:

Ginny Merriam, the city’s communications director, said she supported the plan.

“We realize we need outside help, much in the same way we use outside firms for engineering and planning,” Merriam said. “We can’t do everything.”

It’s particularly important to have effective communication because there’s a state legislative session coming up, she noted.

I added the emphasis because the upcoming legislative session is very important context to be aware of. When Adam Hertz debated Mayor Engen last June about TIF, he hinted at legislative efforts that may be taken if municipalities like Missoula aren’t open to reforms.

To put it more bluntly, if our elected gentrifiers and private sector developers don’t moderate their behavior, the state is going to design an intervention, a process our alcoholic mayor should be very familiar with.

Creating a slick propaganda plan to brainwash the public and keep state regulators at bay is a sign of desperation. The increase of public awareness since last October’s move to revive the riverfront project is not going back in the bottle, no matter how much money you pay Spider McKnight’s my little pony show to convince us otherwise.

by William Skink

What do you think of when you think sewers?

If you think about sewers at all, it might be to marvel at the modern infrastructure that makes our shit disappear down the toilet. The more metaphorical thinkers may envision places where politics happen, like the nexus of fecal flows we call Washington DC.

For the purpose of this post I want you to think about sewers as tentacles reaching out from the urbanized core of the CITY of Missoula. While there are certainly benefits to having sewer services, the cost is not always cheerily supported by those impacted.

Over a decade ago, when this country was dealing with the first detonation of Wall Street’s reckless greed bombs, residents of the Rattlesnake were not universally joyous over connecting to the city sewer system. From the link:

A $4 million project to run sewer lines into Missoula’s Rattlesnake neighborhood has residents talking about, and grumbling about, the pricetag.

“It’s tough when the economy is down for people to look at sizable assessments like that when they are just scrambling to make ends meet,” said Pete DeWit, who moved into the Rattlesnake Valley in 1990.

The assessments for the proposed special improvement district run roughly $4,000 to $6,000 on average, but some are more than $10,000. The project would bring sewer pipes to some 300 properties in the middle Rattlesnake, the last large unsewered neighborhood in the city.

So, why am I thinking about sewers? Is it because the DNC recently concluded their multi-day infomercial for dementia Joe and his sidekick Copmala?

No, it’s because the tentacles are now reaching for the Wye (my emphasis):

With development interest growing and infrastructure lacking, Missoula County has taken the first step toward creating a new Targeted Economic Development District at the Wye.

Commissioners adopted a resolution declaring an infrastructure deficiency on roughly 600 acres north and south of the Interstate 90 interchange, beginning a process that will result in two hearings later this year that could result in the new district.
…
Areas around the Wye may be suitable for similar growth and development, though to establish the district, it has to be found lacking infrastructure, according to the county. That could include transportation, water, sewer or broadband, among other deficiencies.

Brownlow said an initial infrastructure review found the area was lacking nearly all of it in various forms.

While there are plenty of rational, common sense arguments for why extending sewer-lines is a good investment of public dollars, a big component of getting public support is having PUBLIC TRUST in the political decision makers.

I don’t see how anyone actually paying attention to how local resources are allocated can say they trust our elected braintrust. While they dream BIG DREAMS of resurrecting passenger trains and going ZERO WASTE, I’m still driving across a functionally obsolete bridge while local homeless advocates claim a complete inability to address the Reserve Street encampments.

Regarding the latter topic, I’ll be a guest on KGVO’s Talk Back Missoula later this morning to describe my direct experiences working in the area as the Homeless Outreach Coordinator for the Poverello Center. Should be interesting. Tomorrow’s post should be a summary of that appearance, so stay tuned…

by William Skink

The big trick for Democrats this year is how to get progressives to support their candidates while simultaneously punching them in the face, figuratively speaking. In Montana it’s going to be doubly difficult, since we’re a unique shade of purple when it comes to party politics.

The blog that bills itself as progressive politics from the Big Sky, The Montana Post, has traditionally been a democratic herding platform for years. Thanks to an email from an astute reader, today’s post will be looking at the political work of an infrequent Montana Post writer, Pete Talbot, and his sister, Deborah Frandsen.

The RD reader who emailed me explained how Pete Talbot, along with Jim Parker, started a consulting company called Westridge Creative, which offers its clients “a new approach to community, commerce and communication.” The link is to a one page slide that simply has contact info. I wouldn’t even call it a website.

In searching around online, I found a decade old letter to the editor about Talbot and Parker’s political endeavor from a Warren Little. Here is a portion of the letter:

Re: the Nov. 10 letter from Peter Talbot whining about guest columnist Carl Graham’s failure to fully disclose his “far right” bias as president of the Montana Policy Institute over in Bozeman (guest column, Nov. 5).

I wish we had a nickel for every time Talbot and his fellow New Party cohort, Jim Parker, failed to fully disclose their “far left” bias in their efforts to take over the Missoula Democratic Central Committee, the Missoula City Council and the local school board.

Their campaign organization, Westridge Creative, has handled the political campaigns of a number of candidates of their persuasion and voters must be continually vigilant to out these sleeper candidates. “Aboveboard and accurate” does not seem to be a hallmark of their efforts.

To bolster Little’s claims, a Missoula Current article from two years ago highlights problems with T.J. McDermott’s campaign for Sheriff. Guess what name pops up in the campaign violation complaint? (my emphasis):

In his complaint, Wafstet also alleges that McDermott failed to list expenditures or debt for campaign signs. He also believes that a $3,360 expenditure to Westridge Creative for “project management” failed to include the specific services performed by the agency.

“As the chief law enforcement officer in Missoula County, Sheriff McDermott has a duty and responsibility to understand and abide by all laws in order to maintain the faith and trust of the public in the office of sheriff,” Wafstet said.

To understand Pete Talbot’s political work in Missoula it helps to know his parental pedigree. Turns out Pete Talbot’s family has deep media/political ties. Here’s a piece from MTPR about daddy and mommy Talbot:

The Talbots are being recognized for their long and generous service to both the university and the community. John Talbot is a former publisher of the Missoulian newspaper, and the journalism building on the University of Montana campus is named after Sue Talbot’s father, Don Anderson, a well-known newspaperman. The Talbots have supported and been active in dozens of community and university organizations. In this feature interview, News Director Sally Mauk talks with the Talbots about their love of UM and Missoula, and why they think both the town and gown have a bright future.

With this impressive pedigree, is it any wonder the kids got into politics?

Placating progressives for the good of the Democratic party must be in the Talbot DNA. Talbot’s sister, Deborah Frandsen, is the regional director for Senator Jon Tester. Her name popped up last year when those pesky progressive pipeline opponents were making demands:

The Sunrise Movement asks politicians nationwide to pledge to refuse contributions of more than $200 from fossil fuel industry corporations or PACs.

Tester regional director Deborah Frandsen met the protesters and invited them into the office, where Giacone read their letter aloud. Giacone and others requested that Tester respond with a personal letter or email either saying he will no longer support the pipeline or explaining why he feels it necessary to do so.

“We’re tired of automated letters. We want an actual response from our senator,” said one protester. “The only time we got a real response was when we talked to him at the town hall, when he said he still supports the Keystone XL.”

After all the protesters signed the letter, Frandsen said she’d get it to the senator. She added that Tester tries to get to all parts of the state for his town halls, but he just held one in Missoula in June so he is unlikely to come back for a while.

Isn’t this family affair a nice set up? Pete Talbot can write up progressive posts supporting green environmental policies while his sister placates the Sunrise Movement for Tester’s office.

In Missoula, I’m hearing rumors that T.J. McDermott might be interested in running for Mayor. If he does, will Westridge Creative be involved? Will Pete Talbot?

Now that I have a better idea of what to look for when it comes to local political operators, you better believe I will be paying close attention to how Missoula Democrats operate.

Thank you, astute reader of RD.

And if any other readers would like to help keep me informed, contact me at here: willskink at yahoo dot com.

by William Skink

MTV used to have a claymation show called Celebrity Death Match. If that show still existed, two recent spats could translate into some quality throw-down television.

The phenomenon of celebrities becoming politically outspoken is obnoxious and totally deserving of the reactions these hollow performances have earned.

Rose McGowan, for example, got so tired of her peers endless virtue-signaling she went on an epic rant with a series of tweets. This is my favorite one:

Another great response to celebrity virtue signaling is Joe Rogan’s reaction to Alyssa Milano, who recently lamented the fact Rogan’s podcast audience is three times bigger than hers. Here is some of what Rogan and his guest, Tim Dillon, said to put this celebrity phenomenon in context:

“I think we should leave it all to Alyssa Milano,” Rogan cracked after Dillon said he’s sick of every single American weighing in on every single political topic.

“That’s the way to be relevant now is to be … political,” Dillon said, leaning into the pregnant pause. “All day, every day.”

“That shift where you go from actor to activist, all in, as soon as the f***ing calls stop coming in, you’re like, ‘all right, I’m an activist,’” Rogan said without mentioning Milano directly. The actress continues to find work, including a gig on Netflix’s “Insatiable.” She generates far more cyber ink, of late, for her activism (and hypocrisy).

Dillon said most stars are self-absorbed and not truly plugged in to the latest news.

“This idea that these people are now gonna pretend they’ve spent their entire career thinking about global warming,” Dillon said, the thought trailing off along with a hearty laugh. “I’ve met these people. My friends have opened for some of these people. I know that these people are going out there, and there, like, ‘listen we gotta do this, we gotta do that. We have to move the country forward.’”

That’s all well and good, except the same stars aren’t as magnanimous in real life, he contended.

“I’ve seen them make people cry backstage at a theater because there’s not enough water in the dressing room. It’s those same people who are really cruel going out and telling everybody how good of a person they are all of the time,” Dillon said.

I think the influence of celebrities had its apex years ago, and now that influence is waning. Why? Because more and more people are waking up to what Hollywood is, and it isn’t pretty, or glamorous.

I got turned on to a new podcast recently called The Higherside Chat, and one of the guests, Tiffany Fitzhenry, is a former Hollywood insider who turned her back on this cess pool of stardom once she realized what it takes to become successful. Check it out if you want a better understanding how celebrity influence functions.

by William Skink

Today instead of a poem we are going to play a little game called six degrees of Aleister Crowley, with Crowley standing in for the usual mark of this game, Kevin Bacon.

We are going to start today’s game with Hillary Clinton and in six moves or less we will connect her to the British occultist who “joked” about sacrificing children.

Ok, here we go.

Hillary Clinton gave a State Department job to Alexander Djerassi.

Alexander Djerassi is the son of Christine Maxwell and the nephew of Ghislaine Maxwell.

Christine Maxwell is married to Roger Malina, the son of Frank Malina.

Frank Malina started the Jet Propulsion Laboratory with Jack Parsons, a mad scientist and fellow magician who was going to take his rocket making skills to Israel before he blew up in an “accident”.

And Jack Parsons was a good buddy of old Aleister, doing magick like the Babylon workings in the desert of Southern California.

I’ll leave you with a portion of George Carlin’s famous rant because it’s as relevant today as it was when he ranted it.

Have a nice weekend!

It’s a big club, and you ain’t in it. You and I are not in the big club. And by the way, it’s the same big club they use to beat you over the head with all day long when they tell you what to believe. All day long beating you over the head in their media telling you what to believe, what to think and what to buy. The table is tilted folks. The game is rigged, and nobody seems to notice, nobody seems to care. Good honest hard-working people — white collar, blue collar, it doesn’t matter what color shirt you have on — good honest hard-working people continue — these are people of modest means — continue to elect these rich cocksuckers who don’t give a fuck about them. They don’t give a fuck about you. They don’t give a fuck about you. They don’t care about you at all — at all — at all. And nobody seems to notice, nobody seems to care. That’s what the owners count on; the fact that Americans will probably remain willfully ignorant of the big red, white and blue dick that’s being jammed up their assholes everyday. Because the owners of this country know the truth: it’s called the American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it.

-George Carlin