Month: July 2022

by Travis Mateer

When Harley asked me to get him some vodka yesterday, my answer wasn’t an immediate yes. Cigarettes? Yes. Food? Hell yes. But vodka? Yes, but only in certain cases. So I went through a quick mental check list.

Did he look like he might suffer medical complications from NOT drinking? Yes. Was he physically incapable of getting it himself? Yes. Were other booze runners around that he could trust? No.

With the check list done, I told Harley I’d be back, but I warned him I was going to document my travels, which I definitely did. If you want to find the part where I deliver the goods to Harley, who is sitting in his own feces and had recently pissed on the sidewalk, it begins at 1:56. Here’s a screen-shot:

Before getting to the footage, I’ll mention a few things not mentioned in the documentation of this sad story.

Harley had his wallet stolen a few weeks ago, and a conversation I had with a member of his street tribe leads me to think it was an inside job. Harley even showed me where the wallet was literally cut out of his pants with the precision of a knowledgeable hand.

The wallet, of course, had money. Probably at least $100 in cash, maybe more. But more important was the ID. That will take a miracle to re-obtain before the snow flies.

So I got Harley some vodka, cigarettes, and the promise I’ll do what I can to see what can be done. And since I’ve established such a constructive line of communication through email with our County Commissioners, maybe I’ll send them a link. So they can watch this:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/730094034?h=f09c6dfd7a&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479

Have a great summer weekend in Zoom Town, Missoula! And thanks for reading!

by Travis Mateer

While the Missoulian article doesn’t hint at any drama, stating simply that the Kiwanis Park easement has advanced to City Council, when you read the article (how many still do this?) you can appreciate how the Carlino/Jordan duo are keeping the pressure on. And I love it!

Here’s how the issue is being framed:

The Missoula Climate, Conservation and Parks Committee on Wednesday moved forward with a proposal for an easement next to Kiwanis Park, paving the way for redevelopment of two homes located adjacent to the park.

Some members of the community were concerned about the effect this decision will have on the current tenants of the two houses, but committee members felt their hands were tied because the city can’t regulate decisions property owners make on their private properties.

“We have no ability as a council to regulate what a landlord does or does not do with their private contracts,” said Ward 4 Council Member Mike Nugent

While Nugent is correct, what he seems to not understand is ALL Council members have something called a “platform”. Back in the day it was sometimes referred to as a “soap box”. And here’s what the duo is doing with theirs:

Ward 3 Council Member Daniel Carlino motioned to table the vote on the easement to give the renters time to find alternative housing, but the motion failed. Only Carlino and Ward 6 Council Member Kristen Jordan voted to table the easement vote.

Jordan said she voted yes because doing so would be “giving people more time to find a place to live.”

“We are losing our frontline staff,” Jordan said. “We are losing our low-income earners. We’re going to be like Bozeman. We’re not going to have anybody to serve us our coffee or to work in the police department or work in the fire department because we do not offer affordable housing.”

It wasn’t just these naysaying Council members voicing opposition, the Missoulian even reported on what a member of the public had to say in response to the developer claiming the current housing is dilapidated shit:

Public commenter Hannah Kosel wasn’t swayed by the developer’s explanation. Kosel urged the committee to do its part to preserve the Front Street homes.

“I’m frustrated as well due to the conditions of their living environments, but that is due to neglect by these developers and their current landlords, something that is their responsibility as an investment and is their business to take care of and not something to lean on the city and taxpayer money for support to be able to renovate into luxury businesses for them and have a handoff in that way,” Kosel said.

Right on! Keep prodding, Dynamic Duo, and I’ll keep applauding!

by Travis Mateer

It’s quite convenient that Missoula’s budget season coincides with summertime because summertime is when the LEAST amount of attention is being paid by the public to stuff like bond requests. I wonder if that is by design?

The blackhole known as the Missoula Fairgrounds is something I’ve written about before, but this latest scheming doesn’t even have a dollar amount yet. From the link:

Citing a lack of space and growing participation in both winter sports and agriculture, user groups at the Missoula County Fairgrounds on Tuesday asked the county to consider placing a general obligation bond on the November ballot to fund improvements.

Commissioners will hold a public hearing on July 28 as they consider the request, which doesn’t yet carry a dollar amount.

I wonder if anyone who supports this pays attention to the economy. Or world events. Or local tax sentiment. Because even Gomer can’t resist itemizing the bond madness:

If the county does place a general obligation bond on the ballot, it would be added to several other bonds still in service if voters passed it. Voters in 2014 approved a $42 million bond for Fort Missoula Regional Park and in 2016, more than 57% of voters approved a $30 million library bond.

Other bonds have since followed including a $15 million open space bond and $500,000 stewardship levy passed in 2018 with nearly 60% approval. Voters also approved two bonds for Missoula County Public Schools totaling roughly $158 million. That has since been followed by several voter-approved increases in operating funds.

“I hear a lot about taxes,” said Keene. “People live here and are successful here because of these investments, not in spite of them.”

Who is this Keene guy who “hears a lot about taxes”? In the article he’s simply named as a “supporter” of this bond. That’s classic Gomer. And here’s classic ME doing just a smidgen of research to remind readers of Keene’s connection to the WGM Group before becoming Public Works and Mobility Director. From the second link:

Jeremy Keene has been hired to lead Missoula’s Public works department, applying more than 24 years of experience in urban planning transportation design and project management to the position.

Keene had worked as a principal engineer since 1999 for the Missoula firm WGM Group. He replaces John Wilson, who is retiring Dec. 31. Contingent upon the City Council’s approval, Keene is expected to begin work with the city on Feb. 1.

“I really love this community,” Keene said in a press release. “I feel fortunate to live here and to work on projects that make positive change. Public Works is at the core of that — stuff like clean water and good sanitation — but it also extends to things like safe streets, good transportation and smart land use. These are important issues as we grow and invest in new infrastructure. I’m excited to be a part of that.”

It’s always impressive to see the local version of a revolving door between government work and the private sector. I hope this particular unnecessary bond is shelved, and quick, because I actually DO pay attention to the economy, and oh boy, buckle your seat belts.

And thanks for reading!

by Travis Mateer

The proprietor of the business I spoke with today was refreshingly honest when I offered her my business card. No point in taking it, she said, if she wasn’t going to do anything with it.

I suggested she could take the information on the card and find the documentary Engen’s Missoula online to begin increasing her awareness of Tax Increment Financing and the impacts on her business.

Thinking she had an effective retort, the woman said she doesn’t pay city taxes. Do you live in the County, I asked? Yes, she replied. Do you know the name Sean Stevenson? No, she did not, nor the name of the young man who allegedly assaulted him on January 3rd, 2020, in the Poverello Center.

I then proceeded to tell the woman how Johnny Lee Perry came to be shot out in the County where her taxes support the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office.

How did it get so easy to be so ignorant about dead members of the BIPOC demographic this community claims to care so deeply about? Are there other, more pressing things for our corporate news media to be covering?

Like maybe the sad story of this man?

No, Todd Frank’s story isn’t sad, so don’t buy this contrived sob story about Ski factory disruptions from the Russian-Ukraine war hitting Missoula shops.

Instead of reading that bullshit, I suggest a little reminder about how Todd Frank got $50,000 from MRA for facade improvements to his Southgate Mall area expansion because that is such a NICE story featuring Todd Frank using public money to help rise above the adversity he experienced when a mean hotel made his parking situation sad. From the link (emphasis mine):

“I started looking as a way to expand the business when the (managers of the Holiday Inn Downtown) came over and told me they were going to gate their lot,” Frank explained.

The hotel owns all the parking spots behind the Trailhead’s downtown location. With the new ROAM Student Housing and the new Marriott Hotel opening up, the hotel decided it could no longer let its lot be used by non-customers. So, Frank was left without a place for people to load rafts and other boats. Midtown looked like an enticing option, and he bought the warehouse from the Lambros family.

He applied for and received $50,000 worth of Façade Improvement Program funding from the Missoula Redevelopment Agency to install huge glass windows in one corner of the warehouse. Now, he says it’s one of the largest and most complete river sports showrooms in the entire Pacific Northwest, if not in the country. Frank says he orders boats and supplies in bulk, which means he can have a lot of inventory on hand for people who want to save on shipping costs.

Isn’t that a REALLY nice story? I hope Frank remembers how public financing helped make his complete river sports showroom dreams come true as this bleak forecast for winter ski sales gets a headline in July.

And remember, if YOUR business dreams need tax increment help, some of that public loot could be YOURS! Just look at what the Radius Gallery owners are up to!

https://player.vimeo.com/video/729101948?h=6c96334545&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479

Thanks for reading…and watching!

by Travis Mateer

I'm sorry you're sick 
again in the summer when
the streets are slick 
with joy and just a smidgen
of vomit

I'm sorry your safe sofa 
on which you binge Ozark and 
Stranger Things doesn't 
drain the urine from your
dumb bladder (yet)

gamers piss in bottles and
eagerly build tomorrow's prison
for the arrival of souls
tied to fragile eggs and weak 
ejaculate 

when the spirits left me
so did the reasons to stay
and I cannot say when these 
heaving rains will ever stop
sobbing down, so

clown the whole goddamn thing
until the ghetto gypsy bus
ejects the last lost soul
near United Way, where money
goes to die

I'm sorry you believe
lies grown so gargantuan 
you cannot see real need
sitting by that neon rainbow 
peace sign

I'm sorry the sorcery 
of convenience worked so well
you now salivate to ring
Pavlov's programmed 
hells bells

let me tell you a secret: God
fed that hungry man, not
this needy writer crafting 
a clever way to humble-boast
his generous act

also this: Jesus called
and he wants his narrative back

https://player.vimeo.com/video/728527524?h=3ab4ced6fd&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479