Sources say things are not as they seem in the Dana DeMartino resignation. You may recall DeMartino was named Director of the Arts Council in the summer of last year. From the beginning, the director drew some odd reactions. DeMartino drew negative feedback several months ago when she appeared on KALB-TV’s Noon news and insulted the community by saying central Louisiana residents fill venues for monster truck shows but do not support the local arts. Whether that is true or not, it surely is not the way to encourage residents to take part in arts events. I remember sending emails back to the viewers thanking them for their concern and simply stating this was Ms. DeMartino’s opinion, not KALB-TV’s.
Now as the news of her resignation hits central Louisiana residents it is revealed DeMartino was difficult to work for and that five employees with the Arts Council have left since she came on board. Apparently, DeMartino was to be evaluated soon. Could this be the reason she is hitting the road? Have you had contact with the Director? We’re listening.
Sources say things are not as they seem in the Dana DeMartino resignation. You may recall DeMartino was named Director of the Arts Council in the summer of last year. From the beginning, the director drew some odd reactions. DeMartino drew negative feedback several months ago when she appeared on KALB-TV’s Noon news and insulted the community by saying central Louisiana residents fill venues for monster truck shows but do not support the local arts. Whether that is true or not, it surely is not the way to encourage residents to take part in arts events. I remember sending emails back to the viewers thanking them for their concern and simply stating this was Ms. DeMartino’s opinion, not KALB-TV’s.
Now as the news of her resignation hits central Louisiana residents it is revealed DeMartino was difficult to work for and that five employees with the Arts Council have left since she came on board. Apparently, DeMartino was to be evaluated soon. Could this be the reason she is hitting the road? Have you had contact with the Arts Director? We’re listening.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
The stock market, our personal stock and Alexandria utility rates.
The headline of this online article caught my eye because it had two important components, the stock market high and Warren Buffet's name. Certainly it is possible after a week like we have had on the stock exchange some of you are invested and wondering what this means to your future. Others may wonder what possible effect this could have on their lives.
Let me just make this point, Mr. Buffet sometimes takes the simplest ideas, in this instance investing in the railroad, and turns it to gold. Clearly the guy has a handle on something and that makes me wonder, how does the "little" guy get ahead and learn from what others do? Do you gather what little cash you have and gamble on the stock market using information from big guys like Buffet?
Or let's take this a step further and relate the idea to the City of Alexandria City utility rates, can we the "little" guy find out what small municipalities like ours are doing and find a better deal? Certainly some of those small cities are doing it better since the owner of our local MacDonalds chain is paying more than most in a multi-state area. But you have to ask, do the people responsible for the utility rates within the city administration have the freedom to take stock and find a better way? Some of you have very strong opinions. Can you share information with all of us on how this issue could be resolved?
Maybe we just need a local Warren Buffet.
Let me just make this point, Mr. Buffet sometimes takes the simplest ideas, in this instance investing in the railroad, and turns it to gold. Clearly the guy has a handle on something and that makes me wonder, how does the "little" guy get ahead and learn from what others do? Do you gather what little cash you have and gamble on the stock market using information from big guys like Buffet?
Or let's take this a step further and relate the idea to the City of Alexandria City utility rates, can we the "little" guy find out what small municipalities like ours are doing and find a better deal? Certainly some of those small cities are doing it better since the owner of our local MacDonalds chain is paying more than most in a multi-state area. But you have to ask, do the people responsible for the utility rates within the city administration have the freedom to take stock and find a better way? Some of you have very strong opinions. Can you share information with all of us on how this issue could be resolved?
Maybe we just need a local Warren Buffet.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Well said Anon... and now to the Governors race.
In my last post titled 2 Assistants dumped, everyone happy an anonymous commenter says the following:
"We can't expect two or three people to do the work of ten people, and I applaud Roy for recognizing Alexandria is a mega-million dollar corporation in need of a strong and intelligent staff, each responsible with their own duties. I'm also glad he broke down Lamar White's and Jaqueline Whitle's jobs, because I wondered why one was a publicist and one was a public relations person. It now sounds to me both have a bunch of different responsibilities."
I agree, that further defining what the special positions created on the mayors staff are and who will hold them is important, if only to continue the transparency promised during the campaign. Frankly, this entire episode might have been avoided had there been more communication with all of the parties involved including the local media. I look forward to the day when there is more trust among the administration and the people who are charged with informing the residents of Alexandria on the use of their tax money.
Now on to the race for Louisiana governor. Could Governor Blanco run after all? I just can't help but think of the possibility. KALB-TV is in the process of setting up a gubernatorial debate and now I am inspired after watching part of last nights MSNBC democratic party debate. Wouldn't it be interesting to see Mr. Jindal and Mrs. Blanco go at it. Hillary vs. Obama Louisiana style?
"We can't expect two or three people to do the work of ten people, and I applaud Roy for recognizing Alexandria is a mega-million dollar corporation in need of a strong and intelligent staff, each responsible with their own duties. I'm also glad he broke down Lamar White's and Jaqueline Whitle's jobs, because I wondered why one was a publicist and one was a public relations person. It now sounds to me both have a bunch of different responsibilities."
I agree, that further defining what the special positions created on the mayors staff are and who will hold them is important, if only to continue the transparency promised during the campaign. Frankly, this entire episode might have been avoided had there been more communication with all of the parties involved including the local media. I look forward to the day when there is more trust among the administration and the people who are charged with informing the residents of Alexandria on the use of their tax money.
Now on to the race for Louisiana governor. Could Governor Blanco run after all? I just can't help but think of the possibility. KALB-TV is in the process of setting up a gubernatorial debate and now I am inspired after watching part of last nights MSNBC democratic party debate. Wouldn't it be interesting to see Mr. Jindal and Mrs. Blanco go at it. Hillary vs. Obama Louisiana style?
Thursday, April 26, 2007
UPDATE: 2 Assistant positions dumped...everyone happy?
Kalb.com reporter Joel Massey attended today's buget hearing and files this report.
"It was delayed 2 days but the Alexandria city council voted this morning to approve the next year's budget after removing an assistant security position for the new mayor.
Jacques Roy will not lose any of the 5 assistants he's already hired. Those positions are economic development, chief of operations, public relations, publicist, and workforce development. A personnel liaison position has not been filled yet but remains in the budget. The mayor defended the importance of the new assistants and the process used to determine why they were needed. Also scrapped - a proposal to increase sanitation fees by 4 dollars.
Today was the last day the new budget could be approved; otherwise the current budget would have been extended without planned raises for classified city employees. "
Who won the Mayor or the City Council? Does it really matter?
"It was delayed 2 days but the Alexandria city council voted this morning to approve the next year's budget after removing an assistant security position for the new mayor.
Jacques Roy will not lose any of the 5 assistants he's already hired. Those positions are economic development, chief of operations, public relations, publicist, and workforce development. A personnel liaison position has not been filled yet but remains in the budget. The mayor defended the importance of the new assistants and the process used to determine why they were needed. Also scrapped - a proposal to increase sanitation fees by 4 dollars.
Today was the last day the new budget could be approved; otherwise the current budget would have been extended without planned raises for classified city employees. "
Who won the Mayor or the City Council? Does it really matter?
Mayoral Assistants, I just had to ask.
It's 8am Thursday and according to our records the City Council of Alexandria is meeting with Mayor Jacques Roy to comb over the 2007-2008 budget. If the council can not find middle ground with the mayor none of the budget changes the administration is proposing will go into effect, as the deadline is Friday.
During Tuesday's finance committee meeting council members expressed concerns over some of the additional positions on the mayoral payroll. Mayor Roy countered the concern with various statements about having discussed the appointments with several city council members before hand. He also says he delivered letters to the council detailing the additions. To be clear the mayor has the right to appoint positions which serve at his leisure, but the issue of how they are paid falls within the city councils jurisdiction.
And there is the rub. If the council is micro managing the administration can they really expect change and progress? On the flip side, if financial concerns have city council members looking for ways to communication fiscal responsibility to the City of Alexandria residents should they allow the mayor a blank check regarding staffing?
What do you say? And do you care? Does this all really boil down to trust between the city council, mayor and the people they serve?
During Tuesday's finance committee meeting council members expressed concerns over some of the additional positions on the mayoral payroll. Mayor Roy countered the concern with various statements about having discussed the appointments with several city council members before hand. He also says he delivered letters to the council detailing the additions. To be clear the mayor has the right to appoint positions which serve at his leisure, but the issue of how they are paid falls within the city councils jurisdiction.
And there is the rub. If the council is micro managing the administration can they really expect change and progress? On the flip side, if financial concerns have city council members looking for ways to communication fiscal responsibility to the City of Alexandria residents should they allow the mayor a blank check regarding staffing?
What do you say? And do you care? Does this all really boil down to trust between the city council, mayor and the people they serve?
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Emily Metzgar - and what you want from this blog.
I reached out to Emily Metzgar recently when our governor's staff asked for 3 minutes of live airtime during a 6pm newscast without any decent explanation. I found Emily's name among the state bloggers and emailed her asking if she had any information on what the governor would talk about. She kindly returned the email promptly and simply said...no idea. Of course later we learned what the "non-political" announcement was, Blanco would not run.
Since then I have checked in with Ms. Metzgar's blog and subscribe to her newsletter and find it to be informative and well written. In this article she discusses a study she is doing and says
"the way I'm planning to go about this is to look at agenda-setting measures--that's the idea that blogs can set the stage for what's discussed in the media and among decision makers and among the public. In political communication and mass communication that's called "agenda-setting theory."
Is that what you want from this blog? Agenda setting material? Check out this cenla blogger to find out just how disappointed he is with the local media scene. Do you agree?
Since then I have checked in with Ms. Metzgar's blog and subscribe to her newsletter and find it to be informative and well written. In this article she discusses a study she is doing and says
"the way I'm planning to go about this is to look at agenda-setting measures--that's the idea that blogs can set the stage for what's discussed in the media and among decision makers and among the public. In political communication and mass communication that's called "agenda-setting theory."
Is that what you want from this blog? Agenda setting material? Check out this cenla blogger to find out just how disappointed he is with the local media scene. Do you agree?
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Mudslinging Bloggers Take Over?
The Daily Advertiser has a commentary which reads "Internet is ideal for mudslinging"... ya think?
"The fact that laws against libel and slander are not applicable in cyberspace is disquieting, to say the least." laments the commentary.
A similar concern was echoed to me Monday from a central Louisiana politician clearly taken off balance by the huge amount of negative information posted on local blogs about him. This person is determined to find out who is on the attack, and claims to already have an attorney looking into who is posting and organizing this smear campaign.
But the hard truth of the matter is the web will play an even bigger part in political circles than ever before and if you are serving , running for or even considering public office you better learn the web and it's players. There is little a politician can do to combat the attacks except perhaps build a better website in rebuttal. See jindalisbad vs jindaisgood as an example of a counter attack.
The Advertiser commentary wants a non-profit for the Internet to help us navigate the web and separate fact from fiction. What do you think? Is the web the new safe haven for mudslinging and misinformation?
"The fact that laws against libel and slander are not applicable in cyberspace is disquieting, to say the least." laments the commentary.
A similar concern was echoed to me Monday from a central Louisiana politician clearly taken off balance by the huge amount of negative information posted on local blogs about him. This person is determined to find out who is on the attack, and claims to already have an attorney looking into who is posting and organizing this smear campaign.
But the hard truth of the matter is the web will play an even bigger part in political circles than ever before and if you are serving , running for or even considering public office you better learn the web and it's players. There is little a politician can do to combat the attacks except perhaps build a better website in rebuttal. See jindalisbad vs jindaisgood as an example of a counter attack.
The Advertiser commentary wants a non-profit for the Internet to help us navigate the web and separate fact from fiction. What do you think? Is the web the new safe haven for mudslinging and misinformation?
Monday, April 23, 2007
Thinking about central Louisiana government websites.
The world wide web is connecting all of us together more than ever. If you have a moment check out some of the area government websites listed below and comment on them. Some are updated, others way behind. You be the judge and tell us what you expect from your local government websites. Is your local government responsible for having an up-to-date website? Do you have a link to add?
City of Pineville
City of Alexandria
Rapides Parish Police Jury
Rapides Parish School Board
Rapides Area Planning Commission
England Airpark
Town of Woodworth
City of Pineville
City of Alexandria
Rapides Parish Police Jury
Rapides Parish School Board
Rapides Area Planning Commission
England Airpark
Town of Woodworth
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