Month: November 2023

by Travis Mateer

This Missoulian picture taken by Ben Smith is from 2021 and shows the son of a “retired” CIA man (Pete Talbot) holding a container full of votes in Missoula County. It’s ironic that this image is in the Missoulian, considering Pete’s Pops, John (the former CIA guy), married into the Lee Enterprises newspaper publishing family.

Was Talbot involved in this year’s inaccurate vote count that initially put Sean McCoy ahead of Sandra Vasecka? I don’t know, but now that the vote count in an exact tie of 1,476 votes, the decision shifts from Ward 6 voters to City Council. From the link:

The Ward 6 City Council race went to a recount on Wednesday, netting the incumbent candidate several additional votes, resulting in a tie.

Council member Sandra Vasecka trailed challenger Sean Patrick McCoy in the race after the Nov. 7 General Election by five votes. Under state law, the margin permitted Vasecka to request a recount, which she did.

That took place on Wednesday, resulting in a tie between the candidates. Under Montana law, City Council will now pick who it wants to take the seat.

“When a tied vote occurs in a municipal election, the governing body – in this case the City Council – will appoint the candidate to fill the vacancy,” said Missoula County communications director Allison Franz.

Why was the first vote count wrong? Did Missoula’s voting apologist, Brad Seaman, have anything to say about this? (emphasis mine):

“It could be the difference of the ovals being marked. The recount board makes the final determination,” said Missoula County Elections Administrator Bradly Seaman. “But that’s exactly what this process is for, to make sure that as we go through here and it’s a close race, the results that are on the paper ballots match the results in the system.”

With the race in a dead tie, the Missoula City Council will now appoint one of the two candidates. McCoy is a political newcomer but has served on the Missoula Consolidated Planning Board. Vasecka has served four years on City Council and is one of just two fiscal conservatives on the body who consistently sides with taxpayers.

Yes, Sean McCoy is a political newcomer, and if he wins he should thank local media for ignoring his past as an obnoxious activist who put the lives of first responders in danger when he attached himself to a logging truck and repelled from the Madison street bridge.

I tried bringing some attention to McCoy’s past antics when I referenced his activism all the way back in March, but I doubt that article had much of an impact. Now City Council gets to decide, and their decision will more than likely disappear the last fiscal conservative from Council. How happy is the “former” Montana Democrat spokesperson turned “reporter”, Martin Kidston, about this development? Based on the article I’m quoting, I think he’s pretty satisfied with the upcoming result (emphasis mine):

But one of those conservatives didn’t seek reelection and if the City Council opts for McCoy over Vasecka, the governing body will have no fiscal conservatives. The City Council politically is left leaning.

Asked why City Council gets to make the choice over holding a second election in Ward 6, Seaman said it’s state law and not up to local officials.

“I do know tie votes have happened across the state before,” said Seaman. “This will roll over to the City Council, and they will make an appointment from one of the candidates. It’s just following the process outlined in Montana Code Annotated. It’s the law.”

Yes, Brad, IT’S THE LAW! And laws in Missoula are enforced fairly and accurately (that’s sarcasm, by the way).

I think it’s going to be hilarious to see City Council take out the last conservative from their “horseshoe” because once they jettison this fiscal naysayer and appoint some former activist lackey, the DIVERSITY on Council will have been diminished.

Speaking of diversity, do Council members understand they’ll be swapping out a vagina for a penis when they put McCoy in office? If the genitalia of a candidate is an important consideration (and I know for some it is) then I hope our luminaries on Council take the penis-factor into consideration when making their final decision on who will be representing Ward 6.

If you appreciate the fact I’m the only local reporter giving you context on candidates you won’t find anywhere else, then considering supporting Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF), or making a donation at my about page.

Thanks for reading!

by Travis Mateer

Five years ago I wrote a poem about sidewalks, the Missoulian published it, and the ripples of that seemingly innocuous action have been spreading out ever since. Now, with a new effort to do the same thing, and some of the same people getting ink doing the same complaining, I’m starting to wonder…why should I care? (emphasis mine):

“Is this the crisis priority that everybody on council – incumbents, the candidates, all the mayoral candidates, our new mayor – wants?” said resident Kathleen Kimble. “Everyone has said the top priority crisis is affordable housing. Taxing people out of their homes is not a good thing to do. At this particular time, this isn’t the top crisis priority.”

Who is Kathleen Kimble? She’s a longtime Missoulian who once worked at the newspaper, and her husband is a politically active Democrat. Also, they are both old and on fixed income, which was a key part of their complain-campaign five years ago when Kathleen appealed directly to Mayor Engen, who intervened on her behalf. From the link (emphasis mine):

Edith Street resident Kathleen Kimble received a cost estimate of $38,882 for replacement and installation of sidewalks on her corner lot. She said that amount should have raised red flags within the Development Services department, and they should have had internal conversations among city staff before sending the letters.

“Any thinking person should have looked at the first number that popped up that was huge, and should have talked to somebody,” Kimble said. “I’m 66 and my husband and I are both on Social Security. This was something that was going to permanently, and until the day I died, alter my life.

Writing that poem certainly altered MY life because it was the main catalyst for my departure from the non-profit sector. Inspired by the uprising against Tax Increment Financing, I put in my notice at Aging Services on January 3rd, 2020, and decided to try and have a more direct influence on local issues as a journalist and activist.

While I’ve had an influence, I underestimated this town’s ability to not give a shit, especially if the messenger is a flawed human with no fucks left to give regarding the sensitivities of others. Should I take a hint and try to care less about the dead bodies I’ve been investigating for the past three years?

When family members experience a tragedy they ALSO want to have some influence, often times for the selfless reason of keeping a similar tragedy from happening to someone else. Well, next month I’ll be writing about one of those efforts to have an influence on Montana state law after Rebekah Barsotti went missing and was found dead in the Clark Fork River.

Here’s the Facebook post asking Montanans to support Rebekah’s family because something bad happened and now they want Montana to change because of it:

I have taken considerable risks to bring attention to this case and the stresses associated with what I’ve gone through ensured the upending of my own life. Now, these sad family members who want Montana to change think going to our lawmakers will help them make a difference. Do they not understand that changing the law doesn’t matter when the ENFORCERS of our laws are corrupt?

After December this site will no longer have fresh content six days a week because this town isn’t worth the risks I’ve been taking to raise the alarm about what’s happening here. I have a book to edit, and other locales to spend time in with people who actually appreciate my talents, so that’s what I’m going to do.

To the remaining supporters behind the scenes giving me critical encouragement when I desperately need it, thank you! I would not have made it this far without that support.

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned. I’m not done yet!

by Travis Mateer

Do I have an answer to the question posed by the title of this post? Sure. I think MEP exists to provide a veneer of PR cover for our local influencers while receiving grants that enables its main cog, Grant Kier, to talk about what they do with the most annoyingly empty language imaginable.

Here’s the latest use of that empty language to justify receiving $75,000 from a health insurance company (emphasis mine):

The Missoula Economic Partnership received a $75,000 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield Montana through the Big Blue Sky Initiative.

The grant will fund efforts to create economic opportunities and bolster the overall well-being of the Missoula community.

How exactly does this organization BOLSTER the overall wellbeing of the Missoula community? Great question, but don’t expect an answer this less-than-great “news” article.

The funding will significantly bolster MEP’s ongoing efforts to create economic opportunities, foster stability, and, crucially, enhance the overall well-being of the Missoula community. “This partnership reflects the deep connection between the health of our economy and the health of our community members,” explained MEP CEO and President, Grant Kier. “MEP’s focus on building a more resilient economy, including housing affordability and a well-trained workforce with access to good jobs, directly impacts people’s mental and physical wellbeing. Conversely, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana’s commitment to mental and physical well-being is foundational for our economic success. Our efforts are two sides of the same coin, and we are proud to be working more closely together.”

If you can’t parse this vacuous PR-speak, maybe this new University class on health misinformation will help. From the link (emphasis mine):

“Health is everything, and you have to protect it,” she said. “I want our students to hear or read about something and go, ‘I bet there is more to that story.’ If they gain those tools, they are going to be a happier, healthier person. They are going to become a smarter consumer as they move through the world.”

Voorhees arrived at UM in fall 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when all her classes were taught remotely and competing health information flooded the internet. She also kept noticing grocery store products blaring claims like “Lightly Sweetened” or “Heart Healthy.”

What does any of it even mean? And as a specialist in interpersonal health communication, she wondered about other areas where people hear or read something but don’t fully understand the truth behind it.

“It all kind of got me thinking, why do people fall for this stuff?” she said. “Why do we trust certain people but turn our back on other people or sources of information?”

This college class sounds absolutely hilarious. Will Professor Voorhees succeed in creating critical thinking students capable of wading through our modern sewer of corporate public/private propaganda? That’s quite the up-hill battle, but who am I to discourage people tilting at windmills?

Let’s get back to the article on MEP and one more attempt by the reporter to explain what this grant actually accomplishes:

The grant will enable the Missoula Economic Partnership to continue its vital work in supporting local businesses, fostering entrepreneurship, promoting job growth, and contributing to an environment of economic stability that, in the long term, underpins the health and wellness of the entire community. Specifically, the organization is a key partner in the Clean Energy Workforce Coalition which has launched a pilot program focused on building clean-energy career pathway awareness and non-traditional internships for low-income women and women of color, increasing access to family-supporting opportunities.

If you can glean any real substance from this pile of words, congratulations. On the other hand, if you’d like to read more of MY perspective on MEP, here are some links to check out:

I Knew TOZ Was Hot Before It Was Cool (May 13th, 2019)

Grant Kier From The Missoula Economic Partnership Claims “That ‘Zoom Town’ thing hit Missoula really hard” (February 3rd, 2021)

Can Missoula Build Back Better Without An EDA Strategy? (October 15th, 2021)

Defund The Ruse Of Missoula Economic Development Spending! (July 28th, 2023)

Throwing Municipal Money At Bullshit While A Gang Of Urban Campers Intimidate Parks And Rec (August 7th, 2023)

What The Hell Are We Paying For? (August 10th, 2023)

If you appreciate the perspective I add to the local economic development charade, Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF) is one way to support my work, or you can make a donation at my about page.

Thanks for reading!

by Travis Mateer

Before we get to the obnoxious non-profit panhandler begging strapped Missoulians for money, let’s take a look at the state of homelessness in Montana, since this person (Susan Hay Patrick) was so instrumental in developing and implementing Missoula’s 10 year plan to end homelessness. From the second link (emphasis mine):

The homeless population continues to grow across the Treasure State, keeping shelters busy year-round.

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Montana’s homelessness population has grown 13% in the past five years, putting the overall homeless population at nearly 1,600.

“There’s been an enormous increase in the homeless population in Montana over the last few years. Especially during the pandemic, and it’s gotten worse during the housing crisis,” said SK Rossi, coalition coordinator for the Montana Coalition to Solve Homelessness.

So, according to this article, Montana’s homeless numbers have GROWN over the past 5 years. That’s interesting to me, considering it was just three years ago that I wrote an article titled The PR Charade Of Claiming Homeless Numbers In Missoula Are Going Down Is Finally Over.

Once the pandemic hit the PR charade transitioned to blaming the insidious Covid fear campaign for the begrudgingly acknowledged reality that homelessness was getting WORSE, not better. And now here we are, listening to the same pathetic people complain about not having enough money. Here’s one of Missoula’s prime hucksters (Susan Hay Patrick) doing her thing for the non-profit industry here in Zoom Town:

The late-night call came last week from a local business leader. A “household word” Missoula nonprofit was having trouble making payroll. Did I know of any quick sources of last-minute cash to help? Sadly, I did not – and it was not the first time this month I’d received a similar call.

Our local nonprofit community – despite powerful and effective work to improve Missoula’s quality of life every day – is struggling this year. Even though Missoula Economic Partnership data shows increases in overall jobs and average earnings, and even though the stock market is rebounding, this good economic news has yet to reach most local nonprofits.

Good economic news? That’s funny, and also hardly believable coming from this community manipulator. I guess a woman so closely tied to Montana Democrats can’t be too realistic about the shit economy when it’s a Democrat sitting in the titular captain’s chair of this sinking American ship.

The lack of confidence Americans are exhibiting can’t be ascribed to a senile President with a crack smoking son engaging in such high-level favor-peddling that some wonder if we’re not already being governed by the CCP. No, that wouldn’t be a good look for a shameless huckster like Susan Hay Patrick, so instead we get shit like this:

Adding to the uncertainty are worries about wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and a toxic political climate as a presidential election year approaches. A scarcity mentality – not entirely justified, but entirely real – threatens to take hold. We cannot let it take hold in Missoula.

Actually, Susan, to quote a political slogan from your favorite negro, YES WE CAN! And we should, because WWIII is about to go hot with our Nazi allies in Ukraine, and that lovely cauldron of hate boiling over as intended in the Middle East.

Last December I asked Santa for Susan Hay Patrick’s exodus from United Way, but I guess I was a bad boy, because Santa didn’t deliver. This year I won’t be asking, just working to continue exposing the despicable forces in this town so resistant to truth and transparency.

If you appreciate the slings and arrows I’ve taken for my local effort to expose these disgusting people, then consider helping out Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF), or making a donation at my about page.

Thanks for reading. Things are going to be getting really interesting around here soon, so stay tuned!

by Travis Mateer

This week I touched on the fact my role as a journalist is under legal scrutiny. While I think about the consequences of citizens doing journalistic work, Montana might want to grapple with a different question: can Christians do anti-trafficking work?

In Missoula a Christian family, led by Lowell Hocchalter, is deeply involved in pretending to fight human trafficking, a claim I’ve been covering critically for well over a year. If continuing to cover this topic wasn’t so fraught with risk for me, I’d consider examining the Christians getting money from Governor Gianforte to do this work in Billings.

From the link (emphasis mine):

The seed that eventually blossomed into the HER Campaign began in 2016 during a family trip. While taking a break on a cross-state drive with her husband and children, Britney Higgs had a vision that she credits to her faith. Her experience in Iraq, combined with conversations she’d had with a friend regarding sex trafficking in India and Nepal, spurred her interest in wanting to create a safe house for survivors in Montana. Without even knowing how to launch a safe house, she shared that vision with her husband, and the nonprofit was founded less than a year later.

…

Sammy and Britney Higgs acknowledge having no professional training in social work or therapy, and have partnered with Billings health organizations to fulfill those needs for sex trafficking survivors. What the couple does offer, Sammy Higgs said, is support and a model for a healthy relationship. The first woman the couple brought into their home stayed for about 10 months, and received assistance from them for a year-and-a-half.

Faith is so amazing that people who have it don’t ever have to worry about being competent or experienced in the fields they are called to work in because they have GOD! I’ve seen this dynamic up close, and it can be quite troubling.

If these Christians in Billings had an inkling that Lowell Hochhalter’s family is a dangerous joke when it comes to doing legitimate work, would they do something about it? I don’t know, that might compromise the money they’re getting from our Governor, who is DEEPLY involved in the Hochhalter scheme. Here’s more from the article (emphasis mine):

A recent grant for the Gianforte Family Foundation allowed the HER Campaign to purchase the emergency shelter property the couple had been leasing for the past two years. On November 28, the non-profit will host a benefit at the Billings Depot. Those interested in attending can find more information at https://hercampaign.org/

Yep, when you get a grant from the Gianforte Family Foundation, being critical of another grant recipient is probably NOT a very smart thing to do, so I expect these Billings Christians to do what smart people do, which is keep your mouth shut about corruption so you can keep playing the corrupt game.

At the beginning of 2022 Montana’s Governor was all excited to partner with Town Pump and the LifeGuard Group. From the link:

The Governor’s Office announced the partnership among the state, Town Pump and the LifeGuard Group in a news release on Monday — the last day of Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The LifeGuard Group is a nonprofit based in Missoula that works to stop trafficking. Earlier in January, the governor, attorney general, law enforcement agencies, and community groups hosted a roundtable to troubleshoot curbing human trafficking in the state.

“All of us there agreed – awareness is critical to stopping these despicable crimes and supporting victims,” Gov. Greg Gianforte said about the event in Monday’s news release. “I encourage all Montana convenience stores, gas stations, hotels, restaurants, clinics, and schools to join Town Pump and others who are committed to ending human trafficking in our state.”

I would love to say more in this post, but I don’t play corrupt games with cowardly players, so the stuff I know that I don’t publish on my blog is going in my book.

Now, here are the links to the week’s posts.

Yes, James Edward Taylor, Artists CAN See The Future (November 20th, 2023)

Have Fun With Your New Era, Missoula (November 21st, 2020)

A Compassionate Outgoing Mayor Talks Homelessness And…Accountability For Bad Behavior? (November 22nd, 2023)

Are You Thankful For Citizen Journalists? (November 24th, 2023)

If you appreciate my work, Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF) is one way to help support it, or you can make a donation at my about page.

Thanks for reading!