
Hunt: Fort Collins residents sold a bill of goods with Connexion
Connexion missed targeted revenues by nearly $10 million, and is over budget on build-out and installation by a massive $35 million.
Connexion missed targeted revenues by nearly $10 million, and is over budget on build-out and installation by a massive $35 million.
We need to figure out a way to present as much data as we can that shows what it is we’re doing. I think the public wants to have confidence. I just don’t think the public has enough information about whether they can be confident — Fort Collins Councilman Ross Cunniff.
“City Council and (Fort Collins City Manager) Darin Atteberry need to stop discussing Connexion in executive session, behind closed doors, and instead have honest and hard conversations with the citizens who are on the hook if their rosy projections fail to materialize.” — Sarah Hunt, Fort Collins
At a time when internet connection is critical for all of us, rather than making up for lost ground, Connexion fell short by another $1.6 million in their next quarterly report. Either people don’t want the service or Connexion can’t provide it, or both. Either way, this experiment is failing.” Fort Collins resident Sarah Hunt.
“We are making sure we adhere to the council’s direction that we work with our current providers. We are trying to expand the possibility that the number of current service providers we have today is different in six months, nine months, whenever and that we are doing everything we can as a city to enable those providers to come into the city and provide business.” Greeley IT director Scott Magerfleisch.
“Covid is going to affect everyone’s budget whether it’s a personal or municipal budget.” — Greeley Mayor John Gates.
“I’m leery to enter into anything that is going to require us to have more infrastructure liabilities when we already have many that are backlogged.–Greeley Councilwoman Kristin Zasada.
The future doesn’t look much brighter, he said, as the cost to implement the enterprises increases and technology changes more rapidly than government-run broadband can keep up.
“If we have a problem there, it’s a problem of marketing and perception, and not reality, I don’t think it’s a problem that can be solved by investing capital or bringing broadband in.” — Rod Esch, task force member.
“Fiber is not future proof. I’d maybe call it future resistant, but there is going to be a time where there is a breakthrough in transmission technology where something is bigger, better and faster. There is always a push for bigger, better and faster. — Troy Mellon.
“If you’re talking internet, it’s hard to say it’s going to be this price at this point. Having had to raise utility rates — seems like every year in Longmont with the government — it is like with any business, there are costs dealing with infrastructure that increase over time. So of course, rates are going to increase. There can’t be just a set price of $49.99 for internet. Eventually, that price will go up for charter members. And right now, if you didn’t get in on that charter rate, it’s almost $70. And that’s just internet.” — Gabe Santos, former Longmont City Councilman.
“I don’t get this push for a municipality to take on being an (Internet Service Provider). You’re telling me you have more knowledge in the marketplace than a company that’s been doing it for decades. And what business has government ever ran more efficiently than private enterprise?” — Kevin Ross, Eaton Mayor.
By Jon Caldara
I remember asking a Denver cop how the morale was among his peers. His answer, “Well, let me put it this way. Yesterday, I arrested a guy for stealing four cars. Two hours later, I arrested the very same guy for stealing a car again.” Criminals who are issued the equivalent of a parking ticket and kicked out of jail in mere minutes after their major felonies must be a greater demotivator for cops than a doughnut ban.
How can you keep doing your job when your work is rigged so, no matter how hard you endeavor, it doesn’t really make any difference? Imagine being in charge of recruiting police officers in large metro cities today.
The same sense of making no real difference, of complete irrelevance, is infecting the ranks of Colorado Republican legislators. It’s so bad, two of the best have decided to quit their jobs, pull up stakes, and get the hell out of Dodge.
Senate Majority Leader Paul Lundeen was perhaps the most sane, articulate, politically savvy and principled Republican under the Gold Dome. In any other state he’d be looking to run for governor. But this isn’t any other state, so, instead, he’s looking to run away.
This is the hyper-progressive state of Colorado. Being in the micro-minority year after year after year and watching freedom-limiting, economy-killing, social engineering bills becoming law, well, it has got to be like the cop watching everyone he arrests back out on the street moments after being caught
Honestly, how do you get up in the morning?
Lundeen is fleeing to take a job with the American Excellence Foundation to spread the word of limited government to states that might listen.
So that Paul doesn’t feel alone in his escape from the asylum — I’m sorry, the “unsupervised mental health facility” — the equally sane House Minority Whip Ryan Armagost is bolting out of the state for an undisclosed “fantastic professional opportunity” in Arizona
Rumor has it he landed a more enjoyable and respected job there like telemarketer, pig slaughterer, crack whore or even assistant crack whore.
Is there a more lonely and frankly useless job in Colorado, outside of Rockies general manager, than being a Republican state legislator, shooting rubber bands at bad ideas?
Frankly, those who stay and fight, I’m looking at you, Rose Pugliese, are amazingly optimistic and resilient people who deserve at least a commercial by Sarah McLachlan. “Hi, I’m Sarah McLachlan. Will you be an angel for a helpless legislator? Everyday, innocent Republican legislators are abused, beaten and neglected. And they’re crying out for help. For just $5 million a month, you can rescue these legislators from their abusers.”
But it’s not just abused Republicans who can no longer take it. The growing civil war between Democrats is beginning to take its toll.
Remember that scene from “Gone with the Wind” with the acres of wounded laying around the train station? In Colorado, the merely-progressive Democrats of the North are attacked by the socialist Democrats of the South with similar results.
Recall, Democrats have near veto-proof majorities in both houses, all statewide offices, including governor and attorney general, and judges almost completely appointed by progressive Democrat governors. Like your sibling whom your parents love more than you, Democrats get whatever they want.
Your wallet is their oyster. Resigning in 2023, Democratic Rep. Ruby Dickson said the “sensationalistic and vitriolic nature of the current political environment is not healthy for me or my family.”
Democratic Rep. Said Sharbini left, citing “the polarized and contentious climate in the state House.” Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis said the job was emotionally and physically tough when she recently split.
But these spoiled kids can have anything they want. They’re not squabbling with Republicans. Republicans aren’t even in the equation. Republicans are hiding in the janitor’s closet hoping not to be found and slapped around. These Democrats are backbiting fellow Democrats.
The “sensationalistic and vitriolic” unhealthy environment is amongst themselves. The polarization and emotional toll isn’t coming from the feckless Republicans.
Team Left is beginning to eat their own.
More than 20% of our legislators were never voted into office in the first place. They were appointed to fill vacancies of those who wanted to get out.
Though this calls for reform of how vacancies are filled, the bigger question is, what are the Democrats doing to make the place so unlivable?
Colorado has a long history with nuclear energy… some of it good and some of it not so good. PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke have a conversation with US Navy Nuclear Propulsion Veteran Nathan Stout about that history and how it impacts energy policy today.
Show Notes:
I mean, come on, who hasn’t wanted to kick Jeff Hunt right up the backside?
I mean, isn’t that what that social conservative and 710 KNUS talk show host deserves? Well, that’s exactly what he got for attending a mostly peaceful anti Trump rally. Just a little assault.