Carol's Back, Honeymoon's Over

Longtime City Hall watcher/critic Carol Martin came to the lectern during public comment time Tuesday night for the first time since the Corbett council took office in January.

"I guess my honeymoon is over," Corbett joked.

Martin, who knows how short five minutes is, didn't come to exchange quips

First, she said the city shouldn't be buying a hotel, pointing to the city's $1.5 million offer to buy the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel.

"I don't care how cheap it is...you're going to have to put money into it," Martin said. She pointed out that although backyard chickens received plenty of public debate, the hotel purchase didn't even rate a public hearing.

Martin chided the council for meeting just twice a month instead of weekly. She pointed to the massive document packet for Tuesday's meeting, weighing in at 328 pages. Martin said she doubted many of the council members had time to read that much, let alone the public.

She decried the fact that the council's "consent agenda," which can be approved in a giant bundle with a single vote, had a whopping 41 items worth $15 million.

And she criticized the council for not directing dollars from the local option sales tax to buy flooded homes.

Go get 'em Carol. Welcome back.