There is little question that Fargo and Cass county have earned the moniker “Imperial”. It is the very essence of “imperialism” that chafes the states remaining population outside of Fargo, ND – in part, due to the arrogance of misguided vocal leaders and the lack of any discernible civic policy that places Fargo and Cass county in tension with each other to protect the financial interests of the state and local taxpayers.
The sheer geographic location of EVERY Cass county commissioner living within 7.25 miles (view map) of Fargo city hall ensures that Fargo essentially has two sets of commissioners doing Fargo’s bidding…, being led by a yellow safety vest wearing narcissist fixated on bending half-truths the breaking point.
“The best way to lie is to tell the truth, …carefully edited truth.” – Unknown
Without hesitation, push-back in any form is met by Mahoney’s quintessential debasing criticism that “they” don’t “understand” and “must be educated” by the “all knowing” Imperial Fargo – Imperial Cass leaders. Which is more or less a matter of legal interpretations and manipulations than any factual foundation for position.
Recently, Mahoney had the temerity to claim that North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem’s demand to release information regarding an illegal vote in executive session over the Kinzler buyout as the state attorney general having “misunderstood the situation”.
| “Our (city) attorney thinks he’s right,” Mahoney said. “They (attorney general) think we’re wrong. I think what we’re going to do is have the attorney general’s team come over and visit with us. We’ll have a full discussion.” |
Is there any question why the term “Imperial” precedes all things Fargo?
Mahoney and “crew” presume that a “visit” will help the attorney general become educated on how things are supposed to be in Fargo. After-all, it gives Imperial Fargo an opportunity to parse information in such a way to let the AG reach Fargo’s conclusions.
But let’s set aside the Imperial moniker for a moment at look at Mayor Tim Mahoney’s blatantly disingenuous claim regarding commissioner Tony Gehrig questioning tax incentives for homes in the flood plain.
FACTS TO CONSIDER
FACT: The specific areas governed, by this policy are the FEMA 1% (100 year) annual chance floodplain and the 41-foot water surface elevation inundation area. – Cited Source, City of Fargo “Floodproof Construction Requirements” – 2.4mb
FACT: Flood hazard areas identified on the Flood Insurance Rate Map are identified as a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). SFHA are defined as the area that will be inundated by the flood event having a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The 1-percent annual chance flood is also referred to as the base flood or 100-year flood. – Cite Source, FEMA – 139k
| Excerpt: December 2, 2016 WDAY News | |
| Tim Mahoney: | “First of all commissioner Gehrig came in late and really didn’t understand the whole discussion.” |
| *splice* | |
| Tim Mahoney: | “I was very disappointed, Yes, he was late because that not at at all what we said.” |
Sounds pretty cut and dried…, doesn’t it. After-all, it’s the news, reporters have integrity and “all” public officials are “honest”.
Did Mahoney choose his words “carefully” and repeat the allegation with conviction that Tony Gehrig was late to shift public scrutiny away from the content and actions of the Tax Exempt Committee?
How dare Tony Gehrig question the Mayor and the Tax Exempt Committee!
| Excerpt: December 12, 2016 6:30 POV with Chris Berg | |
| Tim Mahoney: | “I, I don’t when he showed up, what I’m saying is, I’m thi.. assuming he didn’t hear the hold discussion when he came on your show.” |
| *splice* | |
| Tim Mahoney: | “He’s not on the committee…, so I wouldn’t have noticed him when he came in. So…, the tax exempt committee – anybody can come in and observe it…, and Tony was sitting in the back so I didn’t observe when he came in…, but I presume he more than likely he might have been late.” |
Wait…, what…?
C’mon Mahoney, which is it? You either saw Tony Gehrig or you didn’t…, it’s that simple.
The gall of Mahoney using WDAY News to make allegations and assail Tony Gehrig’s character, disingenuously claiming Gehrig was late and mis-informed, but then evasively recant his December 2, 2016 assertions while simultaneously trying to justify his blatant misrepresentations during a 6:30 POV interview with Chris Berg.
Hmmm, which side of Mahoney’s mouth does one believe?
| Excerpt: December 12, 2016 6:30 POV with Chris Berg | |
| Tim Mahoney: | “But when we said the code words of their flood-proofing, it costs more money $4,000 to $6,000, the assumption on his part “Oh, you’re building in the flood-plain”…, NO, we’re building where we have development lots and they have to bring to the proper level so they’re not in the…, so do the criteria that they’re not have to get flood insurance.” |
Isn’t that odd…? FEMA is expressly clear that an “area that will be inundated by the flood event having a 1-percent chance (100 year)” is defined as a being a flood plain and Mahoney is suggesting these people need to build to the “proper level” to avoid flood insurance…, but then Mahoney attempts misdirection by manipulating the perception of a flood-plain as “development lots” which conveniently fit his narratives.
| Excerpt: December 12, 2016 6:30 POV with Chris Berg | |
| Tim Mahoney: | “Two items you have to do if you build in Fargo…, you can’t put more water on your neighbor…, so you have to build in an effort not to do that and you have to be out of the flood plain.” |
It all seems rational…, until put to the test.
Comparing the 1969 peak discharge (25,300 cfs) to same discharge in 2009 – reflected a 25.2 inch increase on the river gage.
Incentivising growth and encroachment into natural flood plain is PRECISELY why FEMA updated the 100 year level, which triggered mandatory flood insurance requirements for property owners not previously required to carry an NFIP policy.
Even worse is the disingenuous claim that you can’t put more water on your neighbor, when tax incentives in the flood plain encourages displacement of water onto neighbors.
Ponder these following questions:
| What Constitutes Fraudulent Misrepresentation? | ||
| According to legalmatch.com there are six elements that must be satisfied: | ||
| 1. | Someone must make a false representation. | Did Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney make a false representation of Commissioner Tony Gehrig being late and use various assertions regarding the flood-plain and flood prone areas? |
| 2. | The misrepresentation is “material to the transaction,” | Were the claims made by Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney intended to undermine Commissioner Tony Gehrig’s credibility and sway public opinion on tax incentives and the flood plain? |
| 3. | The misrepresentation is made with knowledge that is false, OR with reckless disregard as to whether or not it’s true. | Was Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney being reckless in his claims about Tony Gehrig’s arrival? Are taxpayers and property owners at risk of misdirection involving the natural flood plain? |
| 4. | The misrepresentation is made with the intention of inducing the other party to act or to refrain from acting. | Has Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney attempted to quell public opinion via WDAY News and 6:30 POV with Chris Berg? |
| 5. | The other party has to rely on the lie. | Do taxpayers rely on Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney being honest when interviewed? |
| 6. | The lie must also proximately cause the other party to suffer damages. | Did Tony Gehrig publicly suffer as a result of Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney’s statements? Are taxpayers and property owners at risk? |
Ahh yes! The greatest covenant of all…”trust”. The imperial mayor that wears the “yellow vest”! The symbolic epitome of using fear to sell an agenda whether on not one exists and intimidation whenever challenged. This being the same person whose mayoral platform was to “…promote smart growth…and direct our evolution so we don’t lose the heart and soul of our community…”.
So how is “smart growth” being promoted by Faustian incentives that further natural flood plain encroachment that displaces water onto neighbors, raises the FEMA 100 year flood level and fosters the very flood risk that Fargo is allegedly trying to reduce?
Heart and Soul of the community or just a financial opportunity for Fargo’s elite?
Doesn’t Fargo deserve a better Mayor than Tim Mahoney…?
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