Here’s what you need to know about our city this week:

The Bad News: The 101 Ash Street nightmare for taxpayers isn’t over.

The City has a tortured history of rushing into deals. And often, these deals end up being a bad deal for you – the taxpayer.

In the last week, a lot has come to light about the purchase of the 101 Ash Street building: a purchase championed by my opponent, Todd Gloria, who made the motion to buy this building prior to my election to the city council, a building which has been sitting empty most of the last four years since the city purchased it, and a building which has cost YOU, the taxpayers, about $58 million dollars to date and continues to cost about $10 million dollars a year.

I'm trying to get to the bottom of what's happening with 101 Ash Street and there will be a public city council meeting on Thursday, August 6th to address the issues.

101 Ash Street is just one example of the City rushing too quickly and ending up doing a bad deal for taxpayers. Right now the City is soliciting proposals for the sports arena site, for the tailgate site downtown, and is also working on an invitation to bid for a new franchise agreement for gas and electricity.

All of these are being rushed at a moment we do not need to go so fast. What's most important to me and as Mayor what I will do is make sure we do things that are in the best interest of our taxpayers.

The Good News: Our campaign is taking off... big time.

We recently released our fundraising numbers for the period February 16th to June 30. I am very proud that we raised almost $700,000. That's what out the benefit of a political party, without special interest endorsing me, that's because of you residents all over the city contributing to our Grassroots volunteer driven campaign. Thank you for your support!