Thursday, April 12, 2007

This stuff...

I would rather post about something else, but I know people are going to keep talking about this for a while longer. I just have a few things to say.

There are clearly people who feel wronged by Malin professionally, and post about how he is the worst thing since... well, the first ward Alderman. There are always going to be people who don't get along with their boss, etc, so I'd suspect there's some of that involved.

If Craig Malin is the extraordinarily skilled puppetmaster of corruption that he's portrayed as by some folks, why is he constantly getting "caught?" If he had these skills of deception and manipulation, don't you think he'd somehow avoid the constantly negative press and scandals? From what I've seen, he just doesn't care how things appear. This CAN be a good thing to an extent, as you don't want a public official to be constantly worrying about appearances and spin. He once said something to me along the lines that you can't spend your life worrying about that kind of thing. However... at some point he needs to see that "not worrying about how things look" becomes a problem, and starts to hurt the city.

There are 2 sides to every story, but we generally only get one when it comes to city hall scandals. It took a Freedom of Information Request to find out that the QCTimes call which supposedly caused Malin to confront Ms. Webb actually happened after she had left the building. Malin and company can't fight back the same way that people fighting against them can, because it would consist of making private information public.

This stuff does nothing but hurt Davenport. Even if Craig had been fired, there would have been no benefit. The city would have been out a half million bucks, and qualified candidates would think twice (more than they already will) about applying for Davenport positions. Then any CA we do hire will probably get hit with the same attacks that Malin's getting. So we are just continuing down the path of scandal, and Davenport's city hall being the laughingstock if the Midwest. If 5 Alderman and the Mayor want Malin to stay, then that's democracy at work, and the other 4 need to get over it.

In a whole other circus, hopefully the council gets their nerve up to kick out VanFossen if he's found guilty in his trial tomorrow.

Here are some things our council and the blogs SHOULD be talking about:
  • The historic project to reshape our riverfront, WITH public input
  • The ongoing study and suggestions to revitalize our older corridors
  • Healthy debate over things like Prairie Heights, PEDCOR, and AT&T
  • The ongoing wayfinding project that's being worked on by city staff
  • A world-class art exhibit coming to Davenport in September
  • Where Isle of Capri is going to go
  • The circus to end all circuses that will be November '07

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

It no longer costs $500K to fire Craig Malin. It's just the remainder of his contract which is shorter than it was last fall.

Anonymous said...

I was told by an alderman Malin's contract was extended until 2011 after the incident last fall. Does anyone know if tis is true?

cruiser said...

The word is there's 11 months left in Malin's contract.

QuadCityImages said...

I just hope we don't end up with some semi-incompetent who defers to the council on every single issue instead of Administering the city on his or her own. Although anyone who pushes something of their own will just be attacked by the same people who want to micromanage everything the city does.

I think its been shown over the last few years that we elect some people who lack the knowledge or experience to manage a city this size, which is why we HAVE a city manager/administrator.

Anonymous said...

When he gets caught nothing ever happens to him because he has the several members of council, namely HOWARD BROOKE -DUMAS FRINK AND WINBORN who protect his job for him because he helps the developers and Davenport One types. It's like we have 5 6th ward aldermen. Things are strange right now and always until the majority changes.

Anonymous said...

You and Malina are so wrong if you don't think it's important how things look. When the public's trust is involved, be it government, the church, the media to name a few fields, the appearance of impropriety is to be avoided the same as real impropriety. No perhaps it isn't worth "worrying" about like having regular anxiety attacks, but it is worth "worrying" about to hold a personal standard of proper actions and how they are seen by others.

Anonymous said...

What matters are the actions and how they appear, not whether someone worries about them or not. Some people freak out over making the smallest decision and others sail through a day. Mary Thee was demoted Tuesday. Do you really think Malin's worry-meter changes how she is affected.

QuadCityImages said...

Does anyone think she didn't deserve it? People who wanted Malin to go over the pay scandal would feel that she failed, and people who support Malin would feel that she failed by saying he was wrong to do it.

People on here have been saying bad things about her for the life of the blog, but when its her vs Malin they suddenly jump to her defense.

Anonymous said...

Quit starting your posts with I do not want to talk about this if it is actually true. Blog what you truly want to blog about, you have your agenda so march forth with it. You provide fuel for the debate as much as those you loathe.

QuadCityImages said...

People are commenting on this no matter what I talk about, so I'd prefer to at least keep the topics separate by creating a post about it.

Anonymous said...

QCI - stick to taking pictures, because you're a decent photographer and a lousy judge of character.

Anonymous said...

An aside before I get to what I actually want to ask the assembled readership.

QCI, you ask why Malin keeps getting caught if he's such a master manipulator. It seems to me that the question itself is flawed. Malin hasn't been caught at all. He continues to be employed. He continues to draw the cost of living adjusted salary. He hasn't lost a single round with this council. Heck, they haven't laid a glove on him.

But my question has to do with Ron. I think we're all pretty well agreed that he ought to simply leave on his own accord. What do you think will happen if he does? Will the council appoint a replacment themselves or will there be a special election? If they appoint, does anyone doubt that it will be someone who will vote with the majority rather than someone who will vote as has the aldermen elected by the first ward? QCI, do you think that the already over-represented 6th ward should select the first ward's alderman?

A word of advice. If Ron leaves and they do appoint, then be quick about getting up a petition to force a special election. You'll only have 14 days and you'd best be watching carefully or you'll miss the start of that 14 day clock.

Anonymous said...

QCI look beyond what Mary Thee does or does not deserve. Look at how it's being handled. Look at what is changing while she is demoted. That's the story. That's what tells you about someone's character. Ask Malin and Thee when was her last performance review. See if you get the same answer. If Malin is such a great manager there will be the pros and cons of her performance in those reviews along with a few constructive "opportunties for professional growth" as malin would no doubt describe them. If Mary Thee really managed her department poorly where was Malin's oversight first to recognize legal was tanking followed by some corrective action by him to get the legal staff back on track. This would be in plain sight if she deserved the demotion.

Anonymous said...

QCImages, There is no such thing as a city manager/administrator. A City either has a managerial form of government - as in Rock Island - where the manager is similar to a CEO in private industry, or a city has an administrator with much less authority to act on his/her own.

QuadCityImages said...

To mike at 10:37:

I agree that Van Fossen has to go, but I'd say the either have to have a special election or install Gibbs. He's no 6th ward, D1 guy, and I doubt someone like that would be elected either. The winner of an election or the "2nd place" guy from the last election seem like the only two people who could have ANY claim to that spot. If Malin/Winborn etc try to appoint one of their folks I'll be right with you guys in opposition.

Also, I think it takes a lot of nerve for people to suggest eliminating the CA position as one of their elected peers sits in jail. This shows better than anything why we need professional city administration. What if we elected 10 or even 6 Van Fossens, and then eliminated the CA position? Councils come and go, but you have to have some pros to run the day to day operation of a city of 97,000.

Anonymous said...

QCI, I don't think it's appropriate for you to defend Malin and beat up Thee. Truth is you don't know much about either of their day to day work performances. Any management professional will tell you that Malin did not properly handle this personnel matter. Period. I really like your blog but you are so biased about Malin you cannot even admit when he has done something that is wrong. He is her BOSS. There is a way that management is supposed to behave. This is not it. Or if you think it is, how would you like your boss writing such an editorial about you?

Anonymous said...

QCI- Are you and Malin having and affair?

Anonymous said...

You are right QCI, crime is spiking, streets are horrible, police and fire departments critically underfunded, new fees to pay for all basic city services, and a three ring circus at city hall, but hey there putting lots of money into YOUR neighborhood, so all is good right!

Anonymous said...

And they are only making Qci's neighborhood better because the city is getting tons of free money to do so. You can bet if they money was private then - oh forget it we don't attract private money - too much crime and slum properties. Forget it.

Anonymous said...

The money is FAR from free! First, it still comes from taxes, so you pay here or pay there! But most importantly all of the free money requires matching local funding! Just think, the skate park essentially cost us the NEO department! The new "welcome" signs, almost cost us a fire station! A new Figge means we will all drive on poor streets indefinately! But it sure LOOKS like free money when the City and D1 get done with their sales pitch!

Anonymous said...

What I mean is that it isn't private money and that is because we can't create an environment for private investors when we do not care for basic needs first. Like crime - like shutting down bad rentals, like cleaning up the grbage and street,like limited the homeless people begging all over the place......

Anonymous said...

gibbs has too much baggage, we need fresh perspective. didn't he file for personal bakruptcy? not someone we need spending our money