Articles by: Juan Perez Jr.

Tax authority may be ‘gone with the wind’

Tax authority may be ‘gone with the wind’

 

State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha may win his efforts to rescind the city’s authority to impose an extra half-cent of local sales taxes.

Two of our pals in Lincoln — Joe Duggan and Paul Hammel — report that similar efforts, aimed at all Nebraska cities, failed twice earlier this legislative session. But a late 30-5 vote on Tuesday gives Chambers a victory on his third attempt to repeal his city’s taxing authority.

“This is a righteous and just vote that was taken today, and it removes a cloud from above the heads of poor and limited-income people,” Chambers said afterward.

The City of Omaha’s official position was to retain the taxing authority, which the Legislature passed last year over the governor’s veto. Omaha elected officials have not yet sought to increase the sales tax, which would require a vote of the people. The amendment was attached to a bill providing incentives for wind energy, which must now pass final reading and obtain Gov. Dave Heineman’s signature before it becomes law.

Duggan and Hammel also say the stance of Omaha Mayor-elect Jean Stothert, who opposes the half-cent law, also influenced Tuesday’s surprising vote.

May 22, 2013 Read More
ICYMI: Stothert’s early tests

ICYMI: Stothert’s early tests

UPDATE 5/21: In a press conference with Mayor Jim Suttle on Monday, the mayor-elect announced a few members of her transition team.

No word yet on if they’ll have a role in her administration, but attorney and former Nebraska Republican Party chairman David Kramer and Stothert campaign team member Rod Edwards will help Stothert as she moves into the Mayor’s Office.

Brinker Harding, a commercial real estate broker who served as campaign manager and chief of staff to former Mayor Hal Daub, also attended Monday’s meeting

From Sunday:

Mayor-elect Jean Stothert doesn’t have much time to catch her breath after last week’s decisive victory.

Stothert must work to assemble a Cabinet as her June 10 inauguration approaches. She must decide how bold to be with the city’s 2014 budget. She must reach out to the rest of city government and local interest groups.

We spoke with a group of local experts — including former mayors Hal Daub and Mike Boyle — about what Omaha’s first female mayor must now do. We also might post some other snippets from our interviews with the two ex-mayors later this week.

May 20, 2013 Read More
New OPD policy: let cameras roll

New OPD policy: let cameras roll

The Omaha Police Department has refined its policy on the public’s use of cameras and video in the wake of a YouTube posting of an arrest that led to the firing of four officers, two of whom are charged with criminal wrongdoing.

The March 21 incident highlighted the sometimes contentious terrain that officers and citizens navigate when cameras increasingly capture their interactions.

“Individuals have a First Amendment right to record police officers in the public discharge of their duties, plain and simple,” said Deputy Chief Greg Gonzalez.

Starting Tuesday, the department’s 105 police sergeants will receive training that includes an overview of the revised policy. In addition, all officers have been sent a “training bulletin” outlining the changes. Commanders have gone over the revisions during roll call, which occurs at the start of each officer’s shift.

May 13, 2013 Read More
The taxing and spending divide

The taxing and spending divide

Our colleague Matt Wynn broke down some of the more contentious taxing and spending issues that have divided Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle and City Councilwoman Jean Stothert.

Over the last four years of fiscal fights, the two were never on equal footing — the mayor introduced complete budgets while the council could only amend his proposals, and the power to negotiate contracts changed from the mayor to the council in the past year.

While Suttle says he was trying to address serious financial problems, he says Stothert was the staunch “voice of no.” He’s accused her of playing politics, declining to name budget cuts unless he led the way. Stothert’s replied that the mayor has simply addressed city fiscal challenges with new taxes or fees.

May 8, 2013 Read More
Rick’s Café for sale?

Rick’s Café for sale?

UPDATE: 5/2: City officials say they will serve Rick’s Café Boatyard owner Rick Albrecht with a notice of default this week.

That move means the city is looking to get complete control over the restaurant, which Albrecht listed for sale.

Meanwhile, Albrecht told us he’s still working with the city but exploring his options.

“I’m just seeing if it’s of interest to anybody else,” he said.

***

Yes, according to a real estate listing. But news of the troubled restaurant’s listing was a surprise to city officials.

Rick’s Café Boatyard, which sits on city-owned land on Riverfront Drive, is listed by the Lerner Co. for $2.75 million.

Owner Rick Albrecht won’t return calls for comment. City officials doubt the tightly-worded parameters of Albrecht’s lengthy lease agreement with the city gives him any authority to sell the property.

Celebrated at its opening, the pricey restaurant was counted on to anchor new riverfront development. But it closed its doors in January and faces an uncertain future, despite apparent plans to resume operations this spring.

There definitely seems to be outside interest in the property. The city says it will continue courting several prospective tenants for the site. Plus, in the past two days, even I’ve heard from prospective tenants: a noted Kansas City restaurateur and a local private equity firm.

I expect more news to come soon. Stay tuned.

May 1, 2013 Read More
Council Races: Dist. 1

Council Races: Dist. 1

Our pal Roseann Moring took a closer look at the race to represent District 1 on the Omaha City Council.

When Ed Truemper decided to run for Omaha’s District 1 City Council seat, he heard the incumbent was “unbeatable,” she writes. The numbers certainly appear to favor incumbent Democrat Pete Festersen.

Truemper, a critical care pediatrician, will face Festersen, a first-term council member, in the May 14 city election. The two are vying to represent Benson, Dundee, Florence and Westroads, mostly Democratic areas.

April 30, 2013 Read More
Appeals from 2 fired cops

Appeals from 2 fired cops

Former Officers Bradley D. Canterbury and Justin A. Reeve, who were fired after a swift police investigation into a controversial north Omaha arrest, both signaled their intent Tuesday to appeal their terminations to an independent labor arbitrator.

Appeal notices from the Omaha Police Officers’ Association, which is assisting with the appeal, were sent to Omaha Human Resources Director Richard O’Gara, Police Chief Todd Schmaderer and the city labor relations director.

“We believe the termination to be excessive and unwarranted; therefore the termination will be appealed to arbitration,” Sgt. John Wells, head of the police union, wrote in both letters.

April 24, 2013 Read More
ICYMI: Big plans for UNMC neighbors

ICYMI: Big plans for UNMC neighbors

Our colleague Henry Cordes wrote up more about ambitious plans to transform the area around the University of Nebraska Medical Center, as work continues to build a $370 million cancer center there, which is partly funded by a local tax on tobacco.

You’ve likely heard this before: hotels, restaurants, retail, housing and trails.

However, Cordes reports, it’s unclear just when and how the project could proceed. An impasse has developed between med center officials and the owners of a neighboring steel plant over what that 12-acre parcel of land is worth.

April 15, 2013 Read More
New Stothert Ad debuts

New Stothert Ad debuts

City Councilmember Jean Stothert‘s mayoral campaign has posted a new television ad.

April 10, 2013 Read More
Tense District 2 debate

Tense District 2 debate

Incumbent Councilman Ben Gray and retired police officer Tariq Al-Amin sparred during a tense public exchange Tuesday evening — trading blows on a variety of subjects including police oversight, their respective abilities to marshal neighborhood groups and Gray’s record on jobs and crime.

Al-Amin, 56, an outspoken community activist, said he entered the race because some residents feel Gray has “betrayed” the district.

“My opponent is very good at taking credit for things he had nothing to do with,” Al-Amin said during the forum at the Love’s Jazz and Arts Center near 24th and Lake Streets. “I don’t believe a lot of things he says. He has no credibility.”

Gray retorted: “I have trust with a whole lot of people in the community, and a whole lot of other businesses. So having trust with you doesn’t mean a whole lot to me.”

Click through to read our short profiles on each of the District 2 finalists.

April 10, 2013 Read More