Oh my God I’m so slow! “construct a huge $155 million dollar complex of retail, housing, hotel, and parking garages” – this is another taxpayer funded boondoggle to benefit commercial developers again! I am so stupid, I didn’t realize what was going on. I just thought this was the Council’s never ending quest to snarl traffic. This is like when the taxpayers built Ada Hayden, so Friedrich could sell lake front homes (which have a 200% premium).
This morning I was thinking how in the hell is this half a billion dollar project (they say $155 million and when has a project ever come in at budget?) ever going to benefit the city of Ames, what it will cost? Then I looked up the impact besides the roads. They talk about hotel, retail, housing, parking garages… why in the sam hell is the taxpayer footing the bill? Then I remembered what I had figured out 30 years ago: The City of Ames (and its taxpayers) exist to enrich commercial developers.
I can’t believe how stupid I am! That’s the only reason we exist. To funnel money to the Council’s friends and benefactors. Getting old getting slow. Follow the money!
The other thing about these projects is the Council never puts any time clauses in the contract! So they just let the developers dilly dally around with half finished projects that inconvenience the taxpayers for years!
See in the old days like with ‘Lake Panorama‘ down by Perry, the developer became very wealthy selling “lake front” homes, but he had to build the lake. Well that didn’t sit well with other developers. So they cooked up this scheme with County Boards and Town Councils to “build regional water centers“. This way taxpayers would pay to build the lake, and all they had to do was build the homes, at double the price because they were now “lake front“. So the taxpayer footed the bill, and the developer takes all the profit. That technique is called “public risk, private profits”.
Iowa life 
I can sympathize.
Here we have tax payer paid for study after study which can last for decades.
Then they build and find out they do not have enough water for the new subdivisions. Then, repeat the first sentence.
No, they are not stupid, the taxpayer is for allowing them to scam us.
Then, the federal government brings in 100,00’s of “refugee’s ( most of which are healthy young men ) and put them up in expensive hotels at the taxpayer expense. I say put the parasites in the politian’s neighbourhood and let them foot the bill
You guys might get hit the worst as a percentage of the refugees. Its crazy. There are no “geographic solutions” to these problems, they’re just teaching them to run and not face the issues.
Do you live in Ames? I lived in Ames for most of 14 years. I worked at Hanson Lumber Company for several years while I went to Iowa State University; got a BA in English Literature back in 1995. I then worked at Harold Pike Construction Company off and on for around four years while I was hitchhiking around the United States. I ended up hitchhiking for most of 23 years.
The last time I hitchhiked through Ames was back in 2008. I used to stay at the Emergency Residence Project (now called The Bridge Home) on 225 S. Kellogg whenever I passed through Ames.
I had three books self-published about my hitchhiking travels. They are on my two blogs; you can read them for free.
I am glad that I rediscovered your blog. I know I read some of your blog a while back.
Yeah I do live in Ames. Hanson Lumber eh? Gosh that goes back. Yeah I remember that name Harold Pike. That’s a fascinating (scary?) story you have hitchhikiing all those years.
Oh my gosh, 2008, what a time that was. The market crash. It was probably the peak of the indie Iowa film culture. Yeah I know the Bridge Home. Of all the money that gets spent in that area, and when it comes to actual boots on the ground/let’s get it done! Its modest little efforts like that actually doing it.
Glad to hear about your books, I will certainly check them out. Sounds like you are doing well. I’m retired now. My name is Jim. Now I got to go check out the rest of your stuff. Thanks for all your memories.