Comments on: Who is Jim Vokal?

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:58:24 +0000

To "Mike". Wow, you live in Vokal's neighborhood & love him. I live in his neighborhood and am totally repulsed by the man. Yes, I'm a Democrat. Should Vokal be elected mayor by having the right timing — God help us — and I believe a lot of it has to do with timing and not competence, I pray that I am close enough to retirement to draw SS, sell my home and take my small business to another city. The man was NOT, I repeat, NOT responsive to me as a constituent in his district and I will work to see that he is never elected again to any office.

By: Herb Stempel

Herb Stempel — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:50:49 +0000

Jim Suttle also kicked the problem down the road for 4 years and left the problem for Jim Suttle to clean up.

By: Turd Ferguson

Turd Ferguson — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:01:37 +0000

Joseph Ratzinger has no experience but he is the Pope.

By: kpoliticgirl

kpoliticgirl — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:02:34 +0000

Barack Obama has no experience but he is President of the United States.

By: @wwgrayII

@wwgrayII — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:46:23 +0000

In breaking news, as expected, the City Council has rejected the proposed entertainment tax. Any guesses as to what services will take the hit?

By: NE Voter

NE Voter — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:42:28 +0000

Why didn't Jim Vokal take on this faux "watchdog" persona during the 8 YEARS he sat on the City Council? What a joke — Just sat by and kicked the problem down the road for Suttle to have to clean up.

As for the MECA appointment, that was obviously a generous soft-landing parting gift given by those masters of the universe he served so loyally while on the Council.

The city's budget is really screwed up — and Jim Vokal should not be allowed to escape responsibility for his 8 YEAR role in this fiasco.

By: @Anonymous

@Anonymous — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:00:56 +0000

I don't think Jimmy V is in the wrong really. His Omaha PAC is pretty worthless, but it's a good way to keep his name in the public and have a very legitimate shot at the next mayoral election. A politician has to do what he has to do to keep his name in the news if he wants to run again.

By: Cityslicker

Cityslicker — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 03:12:08 +0000

Well, I think rocketwoman Noelle just made the author's point. I hear a lot of complaining, but not a lot of solutions. And for clarification the Library Board voted to close the Florence Library, not Jim Suttle. The Mayor doesn't control the library. Another point of clarification: arts organizations are exempt from the proposed entertainment tax. Noelle's a little quick to judge and complain but very slow to actually know what she is talking about. Just because a man has to make a decision that doesn't affirm his beliefs doesn't mean he has turned his back on them.

The SUV is a red herring, so are the salaries. So many people are quick to believe everything they read in Omaha's Fox news outlet (World Herald) they miss out on real truths. Convenient that the OWH never mentioned that the Public Works Director makes $165K, or that the City Attorney will be making more than $180K next year, or that the City Council pays 3 secretaries $65K each and also has a Chief of Staff getting $110K.

Convenient that they didn't make a big deal about Heineman appointing a political hack to run HHS at a 30% pay increase over his predecessor. Or that he appointed his senior staff at similar raises. The only one making less than their predecessor is the lone woman that Winterer brought with him. Where was the OWH on that stuff. Oh yeah, that's right. It's OK if you are a Republican. Wake up people. Know when you are being had by press with an agenda.

By: John

John — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:19:20 +0000

I do think that Suttle gets a bad rap on the library closing. The decision on library hours and library closures is made by the Library Board, and most if not all board members are still serving out their terms from appointments made by a past Mayor. To blame Suttle for those decisions exposes the nature of his critics. Next they'll be asking to see Suttle's birth certificate.

By: Noelle

Noelle — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:37:32 +0000

As a proud Democrat, I have no problem paying taxes for city services that we use and that make us a better city and benefit the citizens of Omaha. I do, however, have a problem with the fact that Mayor Suttle does not lead by example by making sacrifices with his own salary, or by not leasing a brand new hybrid SUV. I have a problem with Suttle claiming to be a supporter of the arts community and then proposing a tax that targets and exploits the good that the arts community does for Omaha. I have a problem with Suttle closing a library in one of the most needy neighborhoods, rather than say, one in a neighborhood where most of its residents can drive to a bookstore, or a library in another area. Suttle has been in office for only 3 months, and he's already turned his back on the arts community, the poor, the disadvantaged, and our city's children with the closing of public pools. He's as much a Democrat as I am an astronaut.