Happy Holidays, O-Town!!

With a dazzle of sparkling lights and a fanfare of fireworks, Ogden officially welcomed the Christmas season to town this weekend. Ogden area residents braved the cold and intermittent snow flurries to watch the nearly 30 entries in the Holiday Electric Light parade. Parade entrants included Willy Wonka (courtesy of Weber State University), four local marching bands, a Coca-Cola truck, and various dignitaries and agencies. As is customary, the final entry was Jolly Ol' St. Nick himself (accompanied by his"better half"), this year riding in a horse drawn carriage that would make most wanna be princesses jealous.
After the parade, a short ceremony took place at the amphitheater followed by the lighting of Christmas Village and magnificent red, green, white, and gold fireworks.
This is just the first of many wonderful holiday activities planned for the Ogden area. I will try to keep this blog site updated with some of the activities, announcing details before, and highlighting them after the fact, when possible. If you attend an event and would like to report on it, or if you know of an event that may be of interest to fellow Ogdenites, please email me at ogdenlancer@yahoo.com and I will post it.
The holidays are here, Ogden! Let's enjoy it while it lasts!

Goff Gets It!

Unsurprisingly, the front page of today's Standard-Examiner carried a story regarding this evening's historic city council vote. It was a small directory that had me worried. An indication about former Mayor Goff's opinion on the editorial page.
"They can't be running it again?" I thought to myself, wondering if Andy Howell was actually running Goff's Friday commentary again, just in case some uninformed community members who look up to Goff happened to have missed it the first go 'round. I was pleasantly surprised to read, not a commentary from Mr. Goff, but from Mayor Godfrey. In the first few paragraphs, Godfrey describes a phone call from Goff in which the former mayor changed his tune. Goff's reasoning- he received more (and I presume, more accurate) information regarding the rec center.
This is the message that we have been preaching right and left- most Ogdenites, when given the WHOLE picture, are in favor of the rec center and utilizing it as a method to revitalize downtown Ogden. The tendancy for many, if not all people, is to jump to conclusions when given just a small piece of the puzzle. Step back, look at the whole picture, and throw your support behind the rec center- ready or not, here it comes!!
Former mayor Goff gets it, do you?

Open Letter To L. Clifford Goff

Dear Former Mayor Goff,

I must admit that I was fairly surprised at the article you penned in today's edition in the Standard-Examiner. In it, you openly criticized Mayor Godfrey for his vision of the city of Ogden. You insisted that the recent elections were the will of the people. You complimented the mayor on his energy and vision, but then proceeded to strike at him for his actions to work at saving a downtown from a slow and ignominous death.
As a friend and acquaintance of yours, I can only express disappointment in this letter. I understand that you are entitled to your own opinion, and as one whom I respect and admire, I grant you that opinion. I would, however, like to take a few moments to pose a few questions to you. I would greatly like to ask you these queries face to face, and perhaps someday I may have that opportunity to do so. But until that time, this forum will have to suffice.
First, I would like to know the source of your information regarding much of what you said. One thing you mentioned (in regards to the proposed gondola to Malan's Basin) was that Chris Petersen (and perhaps his father-in-law) should fund most of that gondola himself. For at least a month now, that has been the discussed proposal from Mr. Petersen.
Second, I would like to know who it is that is encouraging you to publish such a letter to the Standard. It really doesn't make much of a difference, but you and I know that you are a very respected man within the community. I question the timing of such a letter and wonder why those (many of whom blast Mr. Godfrey and Mr. Reid for their positions within the LDS Church) would select a man who is the stake president of one of the largest LDS stakes in the cityto be a spokesman against the mayor. (Again, I personally respect you for your integrity and position within the LDS faith, but the irony of this situation is not lost on me).
Finally, with all due respect Mr. Goff, I ask- What major contribution did you make to the city of Ogden while mayor? I don't say this to criticize, but to point out the simple fact that Mayor Godfrey is attempting to leave a legacy for this city. A legacy that will last for years to come. One that will be known as a turning point for the city of Ogden.
Mr. Goff, I would hope that the letter you submitted was one of a man who has truly put forth the effort to study the issues and examine the facts rather than one of a man who is filling a favor owed to a friend.
Regardless of the future of this city, I sincerely hope that you will be one to whom Ogdenites may look for friendship and a sincere wish of goodwill.
Regards,
Ogden's Optimist

The City Has Decided What I'm Doing This Weekend

What are your plans this weekend? I had some ideas earlier in the week, but two days ago that all changed. I received a nice letter from the city that clearly spelled out what I am doing- cleaning the "blight" in my yard. If you have never recieved one of these letters from the city, consider yourself lucky. Getting one of these babies in the mail is akin to jury duty notification or a greeting card from your cousin John (you know, the cousin that you only hear from when his wife has kicked him out for coming home drunk- again) telling you that he'll be dropping by for a "visit"-during the MONTH of December. Apparently the city has determined that the weeds in my yard have gotten too large for the city ordinance. My first question is "Don't these guys have something better to do?" I then thought, "Maybe they forgot what my property looked like 5 years ago when it was an empty lot owned by the city!!"
As I pondered on the possible motives for becoming the latest target of the city's beautification Gestapo, I couldn't help but think how much easier life was back when we had the spring cleanup- and I ran across the following by Adam, facilitator of the "Blogdencity" blog (www.blogdencity.com). Adam writes:

City of Trash
Fri 28 Oct 2005Posted by adam under Public Works
I have a problem. While I am fortunate and blessed to be able to manage this problem personally, I wonder how many people can’t. The problem, if you’re wondering, is one of trash and debris. Owning an older home in Ogden, I have slowly been remodeling my 1931 house. Nothing big, no major construction. Just tidying up here and there, new carpet, etc. This process generates a lot of trash.
When I bought my house, it included its own set of junk. I came to enjoy the yearly spring ritual of hauling this junk out to the curbside to be picked up by the city. I hauled not only my own debris and the junk that I bought with my house, but other people’s trash too. I hauled out old tires from the alley behind my house, and put out larger pieces of trash picked up in the vacant lot across the street.

As you likely know however, the city has decided to do away with this project in order to save money. I wonder though, while this cost cutting effort may save money in the short term, will it do so for the long term?
Driving around my neighborhood, between 28th - 36th St., around Jefferson Ave, I have noticed something. I have noticed, even after only one year of the spring cleanup project going away, that significant trash and debris buildup has begun in the many rundown and not well cared for properties. In this run down (mostly) blighted neighborhood, I see large pieces of debris tossed into the street, piled up in driveways, pushed into alleyways, thrown into back yards. It’s a noticeable difference even in one year’s time!
The city’s proposed solution is to offer a dumpster if requested by a group of neighbors. This is generally a nice jesture, but realistically, has not been utilized or effective anywhere near the level of the spring cleanup project. Seriously, how often have you had 5 neighbors together for anything? Let alone to coordinate a week when they can all jointly work on their cleanup tasks at the same time. Forget about it.
I have a truck and with a little elbow grease can take my debris and large trash to the appropriate dumping station. I wonder though, what about my neighbors? What about the old lady that lives a couple of doors down? With help, even she was able to get her spring cleanup garbage to the curbside. But now, I doubt she’ll be able manage to haul off any of her debris.
And for me, I frankly don’t want to be so generous with my cleanup efforts. I’m not going to go out of my way to pickup trash in the alley or debris in the vacant lot if I have to pay the dumping station fee to do so. I’ll haul my own trash, but that’s as far as it will likely go. That old tire that mysteriously appeared in the alley will have to just live the rest of its days there. The dresser drawer that got dropped off across the street is going to make a fine bedding place for kittens, I’m sure.
Ever think that such a small cost savings would cause such a big problem? The problem has just begun. We have taken a step backwards and will soon again be known as Utah’s City of Trash.

Then, I finally figured it out- This is an evil attempt by that evil "former" city council to take away my rights as a property holder. First this, and the next thing I know, they are going to be forcing me out of my home, with no compensation. They are going to declare my home a blight and take it over. They want to turn all of Ogden's east bench into a ski resort!! After all, isn't that what those "lame duck" council members are going to- make one last attempt to rule Ogden with an iron fist?...
Yeah, that's it.

Did Ogden Make the Right Choice?

As the votes began coming in last night, I admit, I was surprised at the vote spread between candidates. I honestly felt that there would be at least one race that would be neck and neck with the possibility of needing a recount.
When I went to bed, I asked the question, "Did we (as a city) make the right choice?" Even more I asked, "Did I make the right choice?" This morning, I felt I had the answer to those questions. I have frequently stated my firm belief that most politicians are not rotten to the core. Most of them do have the best interest of their constituents in mind. During an election it is easy to pass of the "opposition" as horrible, evil, or just plain misguided. After the smoke clears, it is more easy to see this election for what it really was- eight good people honestly trying to do what they feel is right to help this city move forward. Was there anyway that this city could have truly lost? Though some might disagree, I would submit that the answer is NO. There is now in place a better way for checks and balances to occur in this city. No one vision can be accused of being "Railroaded" (pun intended) forward. This new council will give the city a chance to do what we haven't done for decades- TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES. Talk is healthy and we should take every chance to have some open and honest discussion. The only way that this could be bad is if the "rubberstamping" the current council is accused of occurs in reverse- the new council denying everything the mayor proposes just because it comes from him.
Aside from that, I return to my original question- Was the right choice made yesterday? For nearly 20% of registered voters, the answer is YES. For the remaining 4/5ths- You missed out. Don't complain as we all move ahead TOGETHER!

An Open Challenge To Ogden Bloggers

Dear Fellow Bloggers (aka Sons of Ogden, Rudizink, UTmorMAN, Adam, etc.)
In a bit more than 24 hours from when I am writing this, we should know the outcome of the city council race. After that time, we will all have opportunity to write our own takes on the election. Up to this point, we have had our chances for digs here and defense there. I would propose that the greatest challenge that we could be charged with is our attitudes about our personal favorites winning or losing. I have my own ideas about what kind of "sportsmanship" each of us may or may not display, but that's my challenge. Regardless of whether our favorites win or lose, let's show a positive attitude and spin rather than stooping to degrading or tearing down the loser or winner who opposed our favorite. I know it might be difficult, but self control is one of the most rewarding virtues in life.
May the best man and/or woman win.