Can any Mayor be so ignorant?

Royce Pollard, who has been and continues to be a huge disappointment as mayor of Vancouver, has allowed himself to be sucked in by the Cowlitz Tribe in their efforts to locate a mega-casino just up the road.

Pollard, who has been instrumental in suing his constituents to keep them from voting on his favorite pet boondoggle, has allowed himself to be seduced by a snake-oil salesman by the name of David Barnett.

Barnett, who has been shilling for the casino development, has mastered the art of telling local officials whatever they want to hear in order to gain their cooperation in his bogus venture.One of the many projects the Cowlitz intend to build will be a large hotel. This hotel, directly up the freeway from the soon-to-be-built Hilton-operated hotel that Pollard and his minions rammed down the throats of Vancouver taxpayers without asking their permission, while putting them on the hook for over $60 million dollars; will be in direct competition with Vancouver's effort.

Now, I can understand why Pollard doesn't care about that. After all, HE isn't responsible for making up the losses the Vancouver hotel would sustain... losses that would have been bad enough WITHOUT the Cowlitz hotel being built just up the street, so to speak. No, that responsibility rests where he put it.... the poor suckers living in Vancouver..

From Tony Bacon's The Daily Insider:

Mayor unequivocal regarding Cowlitz Casino Resort

In citing examples of the City of Vancouver working together with other jurisdictions, Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard cited the city’s relationship with the proposed Cowlitz Casino Resort near La Center:

“When the Cowlitz Tribe announced their interest in opening a resort and casino in La Center, Vancouver got involved. Traffic impacts, jobs, housing...we knew all of it will have an affect on us. It would have been easy to get angry or defensive about their proposal. Instead, we have build a good working relationship with the Cowlitz. Because of this, when I met with the Cowlitz chairman John Barnett (David Barnett's father), John looked me dead in the eye and made a firm commitment. He said, ‘Mayor, we have no intention of causing any harm to Vancouver.’ At the end of our meeting, John and I shook hands, and I left feeling confident that he would honor his word and hold up his end of the bargain. And, I believe, he felt the same way about us. This relationship didn’t happen with contracts or lawyers. We are building this relationship based on the values of trust, honor and integrity.”

Now then... allow me to translate that.

1. "Screw La Center. I don't care what happens to them, or any other part of the local economy."

2. "So what if the Cowlitz will be building a hotel that can undercut us at every turn? The taxpayers of Vancouver are getting stuck with the bill.... not me."

3. "I'll believe absolutely anything, facts notwithstanding, if you look sincere enough when you tell me how you're going to screw us."

4. "I really don't have a clue.... because.... what are we going to do if this guy is lying to us the way he lied to the County Commissioners?"

5. "Am I really so dense that I can't understand the idea that if the Tribe gave a damn about this area, they wouldn't be seeking the least restrictive classification for their Casino.... that of "Initial Reservation?" You know, the classification that allows their Casino to be built regardless of County or local laws or regulations or negative impacts on the local economy?"

"Trust, honor and integrity?" With a man that calls anyone opposing this 900 pound economic gorilla in our midst a racist? A man who lied through his teeth to the Clark County Commissioners over the plans for the land at the Ridgefield Junction? With a man that DESPERATELY needs "anger management" classes?

HHhmmm.... must be because they're so much alike.