Unfortunately for readers who want to stay well informed on local issues, Mr. Nardo's recent letter to the editor is as confusing as it is misleading. So let's examine a few of his points.

Two recent articles in The Highline Times have confused Mr. Nardo. One of them said I made a trip to China at my own (not the city's) expense. But, he concluded, his "assessment" that this was not so "was right on target." The facts don't support his conclusion, and one can only assume Mr. Nardo fails to understand what he read - or suffers from selective recall.

It has been reported, both in this paper and elsewhere, that in 2009 I traveled to China - at my own expense (this is verifiable) - and returned with a commitment for a major hotel, which would have gone elsewhere, to be built in Des Moines.

As a result of contacts made then, I was invited to attend an international business summit in China this year. The City Council agreed, with only one dissenting vote, to pay part of my airfare from a budgeted fund for council travel.

Next, Mr. Nardo suggests that the services of "a public relations person ... ended in cancellation after only one year of apparent failure." Again, he either doesn't know or failed to investigate the facts. The city contracted with a public information person in 2008, and that contract was renewed for the following year.

However, when the City Council was forced to make several additional budget cuts in March 2009, funding of the public information contract was reduced of necessity. Although public information efforts were proving successful, it was apparent even then that funding for this - and other - positions would not be possible in 2010.

The false claim that the City Council has increased taxes "to maintain a pool that we could not afford otherwise" is the most egregious of Mr. Nardo's fanciful rants, which casts a glaring light on his lack of credibility.

Des Moines temporarily did contribute money from the general fund to keep the Mt. Rainier Pool open - in response to overwhelming public support - but with the understanding that the pool must become self-sustaining. Local voters then approved establishment of a special taxing district with five elected commissioners, which now levies a small tax to operate and maintain the pool.

And he adds that the city "is ailing from incumbency cancer" and singles out Councilmember Dan Sherman as the lone voice standing up and calling attention to the "good old boy ... status quo" - blatantly suggesting that "fraud and abuse" could be involved.

Where, Mr. Nardo, is your evidence - any evidence - to support such a claim, especially when year after year the city receives good reviews from the state Auditor's Office? You now owe the citizens of Des Moines facts to back up this allegation. Produce them in another letter to the editor.

An added irony is that the councilmember to whom he refers has served on the City Council for a total of 15 years, which logic dictates qualifies him as an incumbent of long standing. And it is interesting to note that this councilmember has consistently done his part to maintain a "status quo," against development downtown that can help revitalize our local economy and generate the additional tax revenue needed to restore police officers and other city services.

A final note: such is the community spirit exhibited by Mr. Nardo that, as the Reuben sandwich and espresso shop on Marine View Drive was hanging on late last year, he let it be known in blog posts (eager to let the public think he had the inside scoop) that the shop was going to close. What his meddling gossip did was drive away its remaining customers. I stopped there the last day it was open and the owner, in tears, told me that this claim by Mr. Nardo had put the final nail in their coffin.

Des Moines deserves better.

Bob Sheckler
Mayor
City of Des Moines