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I discovered to my dismay many years ago that sometimes people don’t like you only because you are the City Manager.  It doesn’t necessarily matter whether you or others at the City have done anything to offend them; some people just don’t like those of us who labor in local government.  Many of these people choose to get angry over things that really shouldn’t matter much.

I received a letter a few months ago from someone who purported to be a retired law enforcement officer but didn’t wish to reveal his name.  I’m reasonably sure I’ve never met this person or … Continue Reading

I’ve generally enjoyed commuting the roughly eight miles to and from work on my bicycle three or four days a week through the summer.  I like the exercise, gas savings, and time to think that the 45-minute roundtrip affords me on a regular basis.  While I am far from perfect in obeying traffic rules, I believe I am better than the vast majority of other cyclists I encounter during my rides.

Yesterday, I was whizzing down Highway 99 toward my home when I noticed an oncoming cyclist going the wrong way in the bike lane.  Fortunately, no cars were following me; … Continue Reading

We often hear comments about the high cost of government while seldom seeing a thoughtful analysis of the value received for the investment made.  The August 23 & 30 edition (it used to be a weekly) of Newsweek carries a small article entitled “The Professional Class Flees Russia.”  The story describes how as many as a third of Russian businesses are being shaken down by dishonest law enforcement officials working with organized crime to gain control of legitimate businesses.  The result of this corruption is that more than 20,000 educated Russians sought political asylum in the European Union last year … Continue Reading

I think part of the appeal of sport competitions is that in almost all cases there is a clear winner and, consequently, little room for dispute about what constitutes success.  Few people would argue that the New York Yankees had a bad year in 2009 when they won the World Series or that Italy’s World Cup soccer victory was somehow a failure.  Similarly, businesses can usually claim success when they are profitable, particularly over an extended period of time.  In general, cities and government lack commonly accepted measures of achievement, making it difficult to decide whether citizens are receiving fair … Continue Reading

Albany was named by This Old House magazine as one of the best places in the United States to buy an historic home a couple of years ago; and after touring a few of our best examples last Saturday, I understand why.  The tour is a regular event coordinated by the Albany Visitors Association that allows those of us who live in new subdivisions to see what it’s like to live in an historic home.  I have always had respect for people willing to take on the restoration or even the maintenance of an old home, but I don’t think … Continue Reading

Last week, a city manager in California attracted national attention when a story in the Los Angeles Times revealed he was making nearly $800,000 a year while working for a small city in the L.A. area.  Lest anyone think the manager was greedy and selfish, the Times also reported that the deputy manager was making around $375,000, the police chief $475,000, and at least some of the councilors about $100,000 apiece for part-time work.  The high-priced employees have all resigned, and the councilors are being threatened with a recall election if they don’t step down voluntarily.  Many people who have … Continue Reading

I recently read a series of articles in The New York Times entitled “The Anosognosic’s Dilemma.”  The condition is so obscure even spell-check cannot handle anosognosia.  The word describes an affliction characterized by the sufferer’s inability to recognize his or her own disability.  An anosognosic who no longer had the use of an arm, for example, showed no awareness that the arm didn’t work and in some cases failed to acknowledge that the useless arm even belonged to him or her.

My fascination with these articles has something to do with a phenomenon I routinely observe in the course of my … Continue Reading

There is no column this week.

Several weeks ago, I wrote about a prospective trip to the Oregon Coast with a group of Scouts.  As the photos below document, the trip was a success; and I think everyone involved learned something and had a good time.

Albany Scouts at Beachside State Park (only a teenager or a lunatic would swim in that water.)

I am also happy to report that all the bunnies mentioned in last week’s blog now have good homes … Continue Reading

I believe it’s reasonable to assume that I will be the only city manager in the United States taking along six bunnies as I travel to a Fourth of July celebration in Gateway, Oregon, today.  Traveling to Gateway is a little unusual because not very many people know where it is and even fewer find reasons to visit there.  Taking along bunnies is just odd, but there is an almost rational explanation.

Several months ago, two small domestic rabbits started visiting our yard on an almost daily basis.  They would hop onto our property and eat the luxuriant clover that has … Continue Reading