you either have blown all the hot air that people care to listen to, or the google board sucks so bad that nobody wants to be on it... I would try to assume it has something to do with the google board.
Can you try something else? Maybe you can get some fire under your near defunct website.
Re the discussion forum's lack of use, you are correct. One reason is that I have limited its use and tightly moderate the comments I receive, many of which I do not post due to what I consider to be inappropriate content. However, it's my understanding that Ron Wiediger will be starting a website as a new Sultan councilman and has told me that he will be hosting a discussion forum. I am very happy to hear that, and I hope that people - not just the "old-timers" but also the "new-timers" -- will feel freer to post on his than they previously have on the G.R.I.T. forum. Unfortunately, most of the "new-timers" know nothing of Sultan politics or the City and in part, at least, it's because they moved here "to get away from it all." (We did, too. What a joke.) They will, therefore, be unaware of it unless it is properly advertised and promoted, which will limit the balance of its content and discussion.
This website was never for the purpose of STARTING fires. It was begun to help put them OUT. I am proud to take a good portion of the credit for supplying the water that quenched the fires of financial incompetence and self-interests that had long fueled Rowe's and other Sultan administrations.
But fires rage on beneath the surface. And the comfort level gained by Sultan citizens when Rowe was ousted, and the resulting apathy as citizens just settled back into their armchairs to relax again, is a false one, as anyone reading this website knows.
Mayor Tolson has been a breath of fresh air and is trying to do the right things, but he is still making considerable mistakes because of his reliance on a city administration/city planner who has placed a new "Sultan for Sale" sign at its entrance.
If you believe the fires have died down, wake up and smell the smoke rising from the smoldering, growing pile of traffic, sewer, police, fire and EMS services (and other infrastructure problems) waiting to erupt into flame from the development that Mr. Cisar and the majority of Planning Commissioners have not just welcomed in, but have aggressively solicited.
I think you had an ok thing going when you started, but your commentary is starting to sound like a bitter woman's ramblings...
The comments on demanding that your political site should be given the same credence and appreciation as the sportsmans club and the flip flop of one week Laura does great with sending things out, and the next week, shame on them, makes it look like you are over the edge...
Bring back the days of open debate... this forum is no good. There has to be a board that can filter the chinese posts....
Beyond that... don't break your arm pattin gyourself on the back... You are not why Tolson got voted in... and you won't be the reason he is voted out.
Don't go away though... I faithfully check your site. I think you are nuts, but I like reading up on things anyhow...
Hey, now, as you well know, the growth philosophy (based on some unknown concept) is that in Sultan when new homes are built there are no impacts on the community, plain and simple. Every new development happens in a vacuum, and when all of the buildable lands have been built out, then by some miracle industry and retail outfits will fill our award-winning industrial park. Don't fret over unfunded mandates that requires the City to plan comprehensively, don't worry about levels of service ... it's going to be okay. After all, the City's marketing campaign works: "Come to Sultan to develope your housing on our lands, we don't let GMA requirements, lack of City services and poor planning stand in your way. Our elected officials have pledged to trade quality of life for your fiscal well-being. Come to our City and get results that no other municipality would offer."
I'm glad you find amusement in our website. Lord knows, us little taxpayers these days have little enough to give us a chuckle, so I try to do my part.
If you like free entertainment (as the G.R.I.T. website and forum is now and always has been), I also highly recommend attendance at all the public hearings, workshops and "Planning" Commission and City Council meetings.
Because of your didactic stance as to our perspective, I am certain that you attend each and every one one of the aforementioned legislative venues. Whoops, my bad; unless you are posing as myself or Josie Fallgatter, you cannot be attending these numerous city meetings, as we are the only ones who (with very few exceptions) faithfully attend each and every one of them. (I have been doing so since April/May 2000; doesn't THAT qualify me as an "old-timer" by now?)
Can't help but wonder who has the better perspective? "Bring back the days of open debate"? You bet. But be prepared to have your message edited or left unpostged if you step over the line or cannot verify your facts.
I got an idea... it is time to get with the new school on the internet... maybe it would be better if you did this newfangled blog thingy... You can still do links, and your stories, but then you have the ability to have comments realted to specific articles, and you can keep the chinese hackers out... Just a thought....
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