On Friday, June 8, the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce held its annual ‘State of Our Cities’ membership luncheon, with guest speakers from five regional cities, including Des Moines Mayor Matt Pina. Download a PDF of Pina’s PowerPoint here, and watch his speech below (running time 6:20): [embed]https://youtu.be/imQVdR7SKj8[/embed] And here’s full video of the event as broadcast live on our Facebook page (“Like” us here to get alerts for other live videos) – with speeches from Tukwila Council President Verna Seal, SeaTac Mayor Michael Siefkes, Normandy Park Mayor Jonathan Chicquette, Burien Mayor Jimmy Matta and Pina, as well as a post-speech Q & A (running time 48:37): [embed]https://youtu.be/JZD9RkQQZ-s[/embed]]]>
Founder/Publisher/Editor. Three-time National Emmy Award winning Writer (“Bill Nye the Science Guy”), Director, Producer, Journalist and more...
More by Scott Schaefer
Mayor, Matt Pina, stands among the very best leaders that we have had in our living in Des Moines for 40 years. One of the most articulate members of our council, Mayor Pina is one, too, of the most available, approachable leaders, who has returned confidence in our growing community. Looking around, you will notice improved roads, repaired pot holes, and new crosswalk signals to protect pedestrians at heavy traffic areas. Most notably and important is Mayor Pina’s coordinate efforts with former Mayor Kaplan and City Manager Michael Matthias, to rescue our city from the ugly head of bankruptcy
Our recovery from a possible bankruptcy, though shared by our former Mayor Kaplan, was further relieved by the inclusion of City Manager Michael Matthias. Smooth operation, good management overall, and we have a team like never before, operating our City of Des Moines.
Transparency is one area that all council members are keenly aware of, so they work, earnestly to visit neighborhoods, do presentations, such as “State of the City”, recently done at Wesley Homes and Rotary. The council meetings are televised and can be accessed on your computer, to maintain community inclusion in all that is done, planned ahead or in progress. Citizens are encouraged to seek any information about the business and operation of our city. “Ask and you will receive”, try this for good answers.
For all their hard labor, love for our citizenry, they never are deserving of personal attacks for their performance of these critical duties. Each member on our council is severely under paid for the hard work and long hours expected of them. What I see, when I watch the council on my PC, is a highly motivated team of top notch citizen leaders. Rumors and falsehoods do not belong among good neighbors, which they are to us. Are they perfect? Am I? Are you? Why not think positive, and look to the good and make comments accordingly; our council and management certainly deserve kind, neighborly treatment. Tell our leaders the next time you see something commendably good that they have accomplished for us.
Looks to me like he needs a haircut.