Saturday, October 24, 2009

STREET NAMES TO HONOR OMAHA MAYORS

Democrat cheerleaders for former Mayor Mike Fahey are whipping up support to rename 7 blocks of Webster Street adjacent to the new baseball stadium for this mayor. Meanwhile, Republican boosters are hawking a proposed ordinance to rename another downtown street, perhaps in front of the Qwest Center, for former Mayor Hal Daub. Many Omaha taxpayers would question the idea of honoring former Mayor Fahey in this way. Recall that he is responsible for the horrific “spiking” of police and fire pensions by backloading huge pay raises and retirement benefits to a time when he would have left office. Property taxes will skyrocket to pay for these millions in future obligations. Omaha taxpayers undoubtedly will pay dearly in property tax hikes to manage and operate the unneeded, new baseball stadium, a monument that Fahey has bestowed upon himself like a Roman emperor. Also recall that former Mayor Daub granted too generous pay and benefit raises to the police union. Remember his assuring us that property taxes would not rise to pay for this monument to himself, the convention center and arena. 41% of your recent 10% property tax hike will fund the debt service, principal plus interest, of this complex. The Omaha city council will vote on Tuesday, Nov. 10, on these street renamings. Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom urges taxpayers to contact their city council members and urge them to do the following: 1) name an Omaha alley after Mayor Fahey, an alley filled with deep ruts and holes, like the ruts in which he left Omaha taxpayers. An alley strewn with loose garbage, just like he treated us taxpayers. 2) name all the street curbs surrounding the Qwest Center for former Mayor Hal Daub, because he kicked us taxpayers to the curb with his debt yoke from this facility.