Opinion: O’Rourke’s performance worthy of an F

To the community,

In his essay “The Prevention of Literature” (1964), George Orwell wrote that “freedom of the press, if it means anything at all, means the freedom to criticize and oppose.”

Thus, it is time to assess South Lake Tahoe city manager’s performance. He has been on the job for nearly a year and a half. I believe over all he has earned a grade of C minus because of the following: When the city was terminating employees wholesale, he advocated giving the school district $250,000 to form what he called a partnership. Fortunately, he was brought to his senses, and the gift was not given. However, the item raises the question, what is the actual financial condition of the city?

Bill Crawford

Another situation, one that is presently in a mess, is the contract outsourcing the management of the ice rink. The contract as signed without the parties knowing the IRS rules for such a deal. So now the contract is in limbo, and will remain so until the tax issue is settled. A question, what will it cost the city to correct the situation?

Most recently, the city brought SnowGlobe to town, and again important details about SnowGlobe’s operation, time limits, etc., were neglected. And whether the city manager likes it or not, it’s trite to say, but true, the buck stops with the city manager who is responsible for city operations.

Albert Camus said, “Style is the man.” The city manager’s style is huggermugger. On important city business he has been sloppy, muddled and confused about city management. Under the conditions he has created, city management is disorderly. In the process of writing all of the above, I have changed my mind about the grade of C minus. I now change it to an F, failure.

Bill Crawford, South Lake Tahoe