September 2008
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Economic Development
(From this week’s campaign newsletter)
Much has been made about economic development in the recent mayoral debates, and for good reason. A viable economic development plan is critical—and yet we don’t have one. Mayor Coody has had eight years to bring us an economic development plan, and only now—in an election year—is he working to bring a plan to the table by paying a consultant in...
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KNWA Covers the Recycling Effort at Bikes, Blues,... →
Roll Off Sevice and the Green Heart Initiatives partners are thrilled to help the Red Cross with their recycling efforts during the rally.
-Greg
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Stealing Signs
So we had more than a dozen signs stolen from the Wilson Park area last night. It’s a problem that’s hit our campaign since we first placed signs several weeks ago. How ridiculous do you have to be to steal a political sign? We’ve filed a police report, and we’re taking steps to put an end to it.
-Greg
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We Get Letters
Thanks so much to those who’ve sent letters supporting Walt. Here’s a letter from LaDonna Meredith in today’s Northwest Arkansas Times:
As president of the board of directors for Let’s Bring Them Home, and as someone who is politically “in tune” in my community, state and nation and is vested both personally and professionally in the Northwest Arkansas...
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No More Bottled Water at City Hall
Remember when we wrote that you could still buy bottled water at City Hall? Seems as though bottled water is no longer offered in the vending machines as it once was—though you can still buy your sodas in plastic bottles.
Oh, and let’s not forget that Mayor Coody lied, telling people that Fayetteville discontinued the use of bottled water in city building “several years ago”...
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Catch Walt with Richard Drake Today at Noon
Catch Walt’s interview with Richard Drake on CAT today at noon. CAT can be found on Channel 18 on Cox. If you miss it today, catch it Saturday, September 27th at 6:00.
“On the Air with Richard Drake” has been on air since 1991. Richard also writes Street Jazz, a blog dedicated to Northwest Arkansas.
-Greg
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Candidates Concentrate on Business at Chamber... →
From the article: “The atmosphere of Friday’s mayoral debate was charged with the business of business. That and attacks on the status quo and the administration of Mayor Dan Coody.”
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“Looks like Mayor Dan Coody isn’t going to bite the budget bullet, but he wants...”
– Daddy Warbucks in the Fayetteville Free Weekly
Letters of Support
Thanks to those who continue to write letters supporting Walt. Here’s Keena Melton’s letter from today’s edition of the Northwest Arkansas Times:
I am a resident of Waterman Woods where Walt Eilers, mayoral candidate, is the president of our POA. I cannot describe to you the depth of the dedication Walt has for both Waterman Woods and the city of Fayetteville. He has spent...
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Campaigning by Example
Eight months ago, Brandon Karn—owner of Jammin Java—approached the initial three candidates for mayor (Vice Mayor Lioneld Jordan, Jeff Koenig, and me) to ask how each would address Fayetteville’s need for a commercial recycling program. Rather than wait for the RW Beck study—a $110,700 report to gauge the viability of commercial recycling in Fayetteville—I told Brandon I’d get back to him, and I...
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Giant Hole In Ground Likely to Remain Giant Hole... →
Richard Alexander and John Nock—developers of the Renaissance Towers at the corner of College and Mountain—say they don’t know when they’ll be able to complete the hotel project. The structure was originally to have been completed a year ago.
-Greg
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Bottled Lies
Richard Drake at Street Jazz points out that despite Mayor Coody’s ban on bottled water in city buildings, he was still able to purchase bottled water in a vending machine at City Hall last Friday:
Didn’t Mayor Coody say that bottled water was going to be yanked out of the City Hall vending machines way back in June? Around the same time that he said that the city wasn’t going to spend...
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The Traveler Talks About the Success of the Green...
The Traveler touches on the success of the Green Heart Initiative in a piece discussing the “greening” of Dickson Street. From the article:
In addition to businesses adopting energy efficient practices and promotions, the Green Heart Initiative has set its focus on downtown Fayetteville. The initiative, coordinated by Fayetteville mayoral candidate Walt Eilers and UA graduate and...
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Dog Parks: One Step Closer
The Northwest Arkansas Times reported yesterday that the city has made Lake Wilson Park an off-leash site for dogs. You might remember Walt mentioned this was likely going to happen back in July when he first began pushing for additional dog parks throughout our community. (The campaign held a short dog parade July 5th as a way to kick off the push; the Times covered it here.)
We’re...
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A Rideshare Program That Doesn't Cost a Dime
While it was encouraging to hear Mayor Coody mention ridesharing at last night’s debate, we were troubled to hear him say that the city is looking at purchasing “rideshare software.”
Seriously?
Walt’s talked about rideshare programs since March. We met with Carri Cooper, one of the founding members of NWA Commuting—a rideshare program based in Springdale—back in July. ...
Freedom of Information: Just Because It's There...
I submitted two FOI requests Tuesday afternoon. Since our community’s current leadership so often relies on consultants and consulting firms outside Fayetteville—Eva Klein being only the most recent example—Walt wants to piece together just how much Fayetteville taxpayers have been made to pay for these services—and whether the money is being wisely spent.
I heard back from Dr. Susan...
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Mayoral Debate Tonight
The first of at least six mayoral debates is tonight at St. Paul’s. Promises to be an exciting time, what with six diverse candidates.
-Greg
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Fayetteville Planning Commission to Consider...
The Morning News reports today that the Fayetteville Planning Commission is set to consider a proposal to allow street vendors to sell certain items near the Walton Arts Center and around the Square.
Walt first publicly addressed this idea in his weekly campaign newsletter on August 14th by suggesting that street vendors and street performers should be considered for Dickson Street and the...
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Somebody Didn't Get the Memo
Meet Eva Klein: Founder of Eva Klein & Associates, a consulting firm based in Great Falls, Virginia, just outside Washington, DC. City Council voted on August 19th to award Eva Klein & Associated a $150,000 consulting contract in which the city and the UA would each pay $75,000 for some light consulting work aimed at crafting an economic development plan. Nancy Allen was the lone vote...
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Coody Endorses Walt's Plan
Walt met with the UA Executive Council—which includes Chancellor Gearhart—back in June, making him the first mayoral candidate ever to do so. (No sitting mayor had ever met with the Executive Council, either.) Walt’s purpose: explore ways the University of Arkansas—Fayetteville’s largest industry and a source of about 20,000 consumers—and the city could better work together on a...
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Change Only When It Suits Your Needs
In 2000, Dan Coody ran against Mayor Fred Hanna (who had been mayor for eight years) using the slogan “Let’s Work Together for Change.” Dan’s campaign slogan now, after eight years as mayor, is “Let’s Keep a Good Thing Going.”
Change must not be worth championing if you’re the one in office, eh?
-Greg
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