PAYING FOR PAQUIN: Steinhaus v. Hindman v. Spence

The recreation program at Paquin Towers is safe for now, but not for long.

An enlightening public e-discussion between former statehouse candidate Sean Spence (D), the Columbia City Council, the Mayor and the City Manager highlighted a rift between the city and the Columbia Housing Authority (CHA) over who's responsible for the program.

"The city of Columbia has been in effect donating the Paquin Tower recreation program and transportation services to the Columbia Housing Authority," Mayor Darwin Hindman emailed Spence, who is trying to raise money for the program's long-term viability. "So far, the Columbia Housing Authority has declined to pay any share of the recreation program costs other than donating the space. Who do you know that runs a residence for the disabled or elderly that doesn't provide recreation or transportation services?"

Hindman's advice to Spence: "I suggest you work on CHA to get them to ante up."But Spence told Hindman that according to CHA director Phil Steinhaus, "when the program was started 38 years ago, it was part of the City's commitment to provide recreational programming...this commitment was made as an incentive for HUD to build Paquin. For 38 years, the residents of Paquin, as well as others in the community, have counted on that program."City council members salvaged most of the program in this year's budget, but 4th Ward councilman Jerry Wade echoed Hindman's concerns in a heated discussion with Steinhaus at a council meeting. "What about Oak Towers?" Wade asked.

"Are they getting anything from the housing authority? I've just never heard of a housing authority not providing recreation and transportation for its residents."

MARK FARNEN: Paquin Cuts "Cruel" and "Harsh"

In a surprise pronouncement during taping of this week's Counterpoint talk show on CAT TV Channel 3, local public relations guru and radio talk show host Mark Farnen branded city manager Bill Watkins' proposed cuts to the Paquin Towers recreational program "cruel and unusually harsh."

The proposed Paquin cuts have generated a storm of controversy among local disability advocates, who have taken to blogs, listservs, and media events to make the point that whacking the program is short-sighted and unnecessary.

Farnen -- who often lobbies the city council on behalf of business interests -- reiterated his comments after the program, hosted by Columbia city councilman Karl Skala. Noting that the $88,000.00 proposed cut isn't a large part of the city's budget, Farnen said "the people who use that program are among our city's most vulnerable. I just don't see how the cuts can be justified. They seem very harsh to me."

Tying the Paquin cuts to a proposed increase in the city council's discretionary fund -- its annual "allowance" -- Columbia Tribune publisher Hank Waters on Monday articulated an idea that Skala said troubled him -- the pitting of volunteer council members against vulnerable citizens.

"I added up the $12,000.00 in proposed cuts from the Lake of the Woods pool and the $88,000.00 in proposed cuts from Paquin Towers and whaddya know -- it comes to $100,000.00 -- the exact amount Mr. Watkins wants added to our council discretionary fund," Skala said at the show's taping. "Bill finds money for all kinds of things under all kinds of rocks, like $2 million from the water and light reserve fund to pay for shovel-ready land," he said. "I think we need to turn over a few more rocks before we make decisions like cutting the program at Paquin."

Counterpoint airs on CAT TV, Channel 3, M-W-F at 7:30 pm.

RELATED:
Paquin Program: Caught in a Budget Squeeze
http://www.columbiatribune.com/2008/Aug/20080818Comm001.asp
City utility reserve would fund preparation of land
http://columbiatribune.com/2008/jun/20080607news010.asp
Watkins pitches squeaky budget
http://columbiatribune.com/2008/jul/20080731news009.asp