Mike Kennedy

Mary Souza’s Newsletter

Why is the City pushing the remodel of McEuen Field right now?

The plan unveiled to the public last week is elaborate. It proposes a huge number of new features, many of them extremely expensive, though the City has openly stated they don’t know what anything will cost.  The price of the parking garage alone is estimated by some in the construction industry to be near $35 Million, never mind the gigantic half acre fountain (one of 5 or 6 proposed water features right next to the lake), two bridges, the ice skating pond with canopy, several buildings, many new sports courts, a new skate board park and more.

Yet the unemployment rate in our community remains at almost 11%. That is very high. People are hurting. One long time resident on a fixed income, told me his property taxes went up $300 this year and he doesn’t know how he will pay.  School District 271 just announced their large new levy which, if approved, will add $68 more dollars to my friend’s tax bill, and NIC, with their Ed. Corridor, will almost certainly pile on as well.  (more…)

(NOT Mary Souza!)

Mary Souza’s Newsletter

I went to the McEuen Field Open House at NIC Thursday night, presented by the City.  What a show!  It was awesome!  There were so many fancy features! I can’t stop using exclamation points because of all the amazing things we have the opportunity to get!  And we don’t need to worry about how to pay for them!  Isn’t that great?!

Parks Director Doug Eastwood actually said to the overwhelming crowd that filled the room to capacity, with standing room maxed all around the edges, all across the back, out the door and completely covering the upper landing of the NIC Student Union building…it was an enormous turnout…anyway, Doug said, “Once the project has been generally accepted by the public and the city council has given its approval, then we’ll figure out how to pay for it.”

It was a Nancy Pelosi moment!  (Just pass the bill then we’ll figure out what’s in it!)  (more…)