Time For New Direction

The last 8 years in city government have for the most part been what they were cracked up to be. A period of "civility" at city hall. Mayor Fahey with his mature and calm manner has managed to deal with his political foes in a way that at least publicly seems to have been respectful. And for that, all of the members of the current city council and the mayors office need to be congratulated.

In addition he leaves behind a new ball park, no increase in taxes for 8 years, neighborhood policing, the annexation of Elkhorn, a 25 year contract for the College World Series, positive
steps forward in race relations, major new undertakings in development at Ak-Sar-Ben, 30Th and Dodge, 168Th and 180Th and Dodge, the completion of the Dodge Street Overpass and the
building of a wonderful tourist attraction crossing the Missouri River. I could probably go on but you get the idea. He has been a great Mayor for Omaha.

Now by his own choice it is time to move on. Fahey has decided not to endure but to retire to the sanctuary of private life. Good luck to you Mayor. May you live long and prosper.

There are many tough issues on the immediate horizon for Omaha. None of which can be ignored or put off.

The recent big declines in the financial markets have placed Omaha's Bond rating in serious jeopardy and exacerbated the pension fund problems. New contracts for the Police and Fire
Departments must be negotiated with major changes to the current way of doing business. Our crime and gang problems are worse than they have ever been. Citizens are being attacked, even murdered in public places. Gun violence is out of control. 28 gangs seem to run wild dictating their own terms of existence. Homes all over the city are being burglarized with little being accomplished to stop it.

Further, there is a billion dollar plus city sewer project which has been mandated by the Federal government along with the lead clean up project already underway. Tax receipt projections grow ever worse forcing the city to take another hard look at cutting already seriously depleted basic services to citizens, or face the possibility of raising revenues in a declining economy along with cutting services. The worst of both worlds.

So, the next Mayor and Council are not going to have it easy. It will be a time that will require serious discussions, tough decisions, flexible and dynamic personalities, policies and direction for Omaha's government. It is time for a new direction. The current status of form and function will no longer work.

What direction should that be? More in the next posting.....