Article Contributed on: 5/23/2009 3:33:34 PM
New foreclosure reports jumped this week to
16 new entries, more than
2 per day! And the Classified section, which is the D section, had so many notices it had to continue at the end of the C section. Once again, there were many more than 16 new foreclosures, but the others were mostly in Boulder.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=111349672941695032576.000467df8352260ac650e&ll=40.172184,-105.125256&spn=0.081718,0.154495&z=13
KEY
Blue= 4/11/09
16 new entries (
41 total)
Red= 4/18/09
20 new entries (
55 total)
Green= 4/25/09
8 new entries (
47 total)
Yellow= 5/2/09
9 new entries (
48 total)
Purple-5/9/09
13 new entries (
62 total)
Magenta-5/16/09
9 new entries (
56 total)
Blue(pin)-5/23/09
16 new entries (
52 total)
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The new numbers by Ward broke down fairly proportional to the overall numbers: Ward 1=7, Ward 2=5, Ward 3=4. Here are the overall numbers by Ward.
Ward 1=
46 (Councilmember:
Brian Hansen, resignation imminent?)
Ward 2=
39 (Councilmember:
Karen Benker, up for re-election Nov '09)
Ward 3=
27 (Councilmember:
Sean McCoy, rumored Mayoral candidate Nov '09)
Of note here is Ward 1's Councilmember
Brian Hansen. The most consistent complaint, even from people who say they backed and voted for him, is his complete lack of communicating with his constituents. They say he never returns calls, letters, or emails. When I write him and couple other members of council I don't expect a response - which in itself is not acceptable, last time I checked I'm a taxpaying voter just like everyone else. But it must be reassuring to the people in his ward -
the highest foreclosure ward in the city - that he's less interested in
you, and more interested in things like neighborhood gardens (can people still garden there while in foreclosure?) and starting business incubators (that already exist) on your tax dime.
The rumor going around town is that Mr. Hansen is on the verge of quitting his council seat. I don't make this stuff up, it comes to me in various communications from several people "in the know". The other rumor is that he's going to hold off quitting until
after the November election so as to keep his seat safe in case there's a wholesale change to 3 seats that are up for grabs. If there's a shred of truth to these rumors, here's what it boils down to: For political purposes (saving a voting majority, or "
bloc" on council), this council is in collusion to waste around
$75,000 of city funds (the cost of a special election).
If Mr. Hansen really is thinking of devoting more time to his business (which reportedly includes harassing his neighbor
Mountain View Welding, and questionable zoning use of his property), than he should announce his resignation
now (effective in November), so candidates can have time to campaign for his vacant seat, voters can save time only having one election, and the taxpayers don't get taken to the cleaners for the additional fees and postage.
But this council has shown a penchant for not taking good advice, I expect it to continue.
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©2009 Chris Rodriguez/Longmont Advocate LLC (Chris Rodriguez is a Longmontresident, and the publisher and broadcaster of
Longmont Advocate, a community website and podcast that raises local issues to increase public awareness and interest)