2025 Omaha Mayoral election

[djc311]

You mean the restaurant tax implemented by Jim Suttle, that had to be done because Mike Fahey screwed up pension negotiations with the police and fire unions? That restaurant tax?

Sure, that tax - why does it still exist?

[TitosBuritoBarn]

I'd say it's mildly surprising after all of the stuff she went through early in this term, but good for her. As I said before, even as a pretty firm progressive, I'd vote for her if I lived in Omaha.

Same. The amount that has happened under her watch that has been beneficial for urban Omaha has been impressive. What has occurred in Omaha over the past handful of years and what is planned just doesn't happen in cities Omaha's size on a regular basis. Say what you want about her political affiliation, how she packages her messaging of the benefits of the streetcar, or how she handles different situations but she's done something to help it all occur.

If she isn't reelected and the next mayor isn't hot on the streetcar or has terrible messaging on it or multimodal transportation in general, a lot of upcoming projects that we are excited about are about to be in limbo.

[Greg S]

I'd say it's mildly surprising after all of the stuff she went through early in this term, but good for her. As I said before, even as a pretty firm progressive, I'd vote for her if I lived in Omaha.

Same. The amount that has happened under her watch that has been beneficial for urban Omaha has been impressive. What has occurred in Omaha over the past handful of years and what is planned just doesn't happen in cities Omaha's size on a regular basis. Say what you want about her political affiliation, how she packages her messaging of the benefits of the streetcar, or how she handles different situations but she's done something to help it all occur.

If she isn't reelected and the next mayor isn't hot on the streetcar or has terrible messaging on it or multimodal transportation in general, a lot of upcoming projects that we are excited about are about to be in limbo.

I agree. I am in Omaha probably more moderate, but not a Republican and she has my support.

[NEDodger]

You mean the restaurant tax implemented by Jim Suttle, that had to be done because Mike Fahey screwed up pension negotiations with the police and fire unions? That restaurant tax?

Sure, that tax - why does it still exist?

From a morals perspective, it didn't take the mayor too long to move on from her deceased husband; however it seems that ppl don't seem to care too much anymore about ethical decisions and it's ok to not make good human decisions. It's all about the "me".

That’s a fairer question - I’m not sure about originally framing that as some sort of tax that falls on her, though. But let’s be honest - it’s around because it raises more money than expected. We are going to need the cash to sustain the new parks, the streetcar, etc.. I personally prefer a tax like this because it’s a voluntary tax (kind of in the same vein as a “vice tax”) as opposed to property taxes.

[nebugeater]

Stop discussing marital concerns, or this thread will be heavily pared down or deleted. Only warning

[Busguy2010]

You mean the restaurant tax implemented by Jim Suttle, that had to be done because Mike Fahey screwed up pension negotiations with the police and fire unions? That restaurant tax?

I’m not sure about originally framing that as some sort of tax that falls on her, though. But let’s be honest - it’s around because it raises more money than expected. We are going to need the cash to sustain the new parks, the streetcar, etc.. I personally prefer a tax like this because it’s a voluntary tax (kind of in the same vein as a “vice tax”) as opposed to property taxes.

I'm perfectly fine with the restaurant tax sticking around. Heck, if it makes a lot of money, raise it. Omaha is a foodie city, there's a lot of revenue to be made there. I rarely eat out at all, but I recognize I'm in the minority on that. Anything to reduce property taxes.

[ita]

You mean the restaurant tax implemented by Jim Suttle, that had to be done because Mike Fahey screwed up pension negotiations with the police and fire unions? That restaurant tax?

I’m not sure about originally framing that as some sort of tax that falls on her, though. But let’s be honest - it’s around because it raises more money than expected. We are going to need the cash to sustain the new parks, the streetcar, etc.. I personally prefer a tax like this because it’s a voluntary tax (kind of in the same vein as a “vice tax”) as opposed to property taxes.

I'm perfectly fine with the restaurant tax sticking around. Heck, if it makes a lot of money, raise it. Omaha is a foodie city, there's a lot of revenue to be made there. I rarely eat out at all, but I recognize I'm in the minority on that. Anything to reduce property taxes.

The Mayor address the restaurant tax in the Nebraska Examiner article about her announcement for a 4th term. She said it brings in a lot of money for city services, almost $50 million, and doesn't hurt restaurants (in her opinion). It's here to stay as long as she is the top administrator.

[Busguy2010]

She said it brings in a lot of money for city services, almost $50 million, and doesn't hurt restaurants (in her opinion). It's here to stay as long as she is the top administrator.

I wouldn't think it could hurt. On a $60 tab, that's only a buck fifty. Restaurants have raised prices so much in the past few years, the tax should be the least of anybody's gripes.

[Garrett]

John Ewing is in the race. Probably about as strong of a candidate that Democrats could produce for this cycle.

[bbinks]

You mean the restaurant tax implemented by Jim Suttle, that had to be done because Mike Fahey screwed up pension negotiations with the police and fire unions? That restaurant tax?

Sure, that tax - why does it still exist?

Suppose Stothert gets rid of the restaurant tax.

Where is the $40 million it generates going to come from? Not one person against the tax can provide a resolution.

[HskrFanMike]

Suppose Stothert gets rid of the restaurant tax.

Where is the $40 million it generates going to come from? Not one person against the tax can provide a resolution.

When she campaigned on eliminating the restaurant tax, and made that a focal point of her campaign, it's a matter of principle. It's a key reason why she defeated Jim Suttle.

From her 2013 campaign web site:

Since 2009, the city property tax rate has increased twice – a 15 percent increase. This, along with the new restaurant tax, and city government spending is up almost 40 million dollars from 2009 through 2013. My goal will be to cut back the Suttle taxes with new and more affordable labor union agreements, more streamlining of operations and an expanding business climate.

Suttle was right. Stothert was wrong, in the end. And since she was on the city council at the time, she knew she was wrong at that time.

[Dusty]

My only real gripe is everything seems to be happening in spite of her, not because of her. And I think we could do much better.

I can slightly agree. I do think some of these projects would have been completed in some form regardless of who the mayor was. It's always hard to know how much the mayor was involved in making it all happen. Some of these wouldn't have happened without the influence and negotiation of Stothert. But some of these projects are because businesses and developers helped change Omaha. For example, Greenslate transforming Blackstone. So you showed up to a press release or ribbon cutting to celebrate the success of others. it's doesn't mean you had a lot of involvement in making that a success.
I can see both sides of it.

Stothert has been a good mayor, but I feel like we can do better. I want a transit-oriented mayor. She has been very vocal over the years how she hates bikes and loves her car. She demands to demolish a bike corral in Benson and move into the alleyway because it was taking up valuable parking space for cars (1 whopping stall). She sells the streetcar as a fun novelty train or the Harney Bikeway as a "bike attraction". And most recently, her aggressive approach to have city owned parking garages in every big project because they are making money for the city. This vison is very much a car centric one. Not the direction I want to take Omaha.

[bbinks]

Suppose Stothert gets rid of the restaurant tax.

Where is the $40 million it generates going to come from? Not one person against the tax can provide a resolution.

When she campaigned on eliminating the restaurant tax, and made that a focal point of her campaign, it's a matter of principle. It's a key reason why she defeated Jim Suttle.

From her 2013 campaign web site:

Since 2009, the city property tax rate has increased twice – a 15 percent increase. This, along with the new restaurant tax, and city government spending is up almost 40 million dollars from 2009 through 2013. My goal will be to cut back the Suttle taxes with new and more affordable labor union agreements, more streamlining of operations and an expanding business climate.

Suttle was right. Stothert was wrong, in the end. And since she was on the city council at the time, she knew she was wrong at that time.

If Fahey and Suttle weren't in the pocket of the fire department in the first place, this whole issue would be moot. They kicked the can down the road. Stothert fixed their mess.

[Jins123]

Suppose Stothert gets rid of the restaurant tax.

Where is the $40 million it generates going to come from? Not one person against the tax can provide a resolution.

When she campaigned on eliminating the restaurant tax, and made that a focal point of her campaign, it's a matter of principle. It's a key reason why she defeated Jim Suttle.

From her 2013 campaign web site:

Since 2009, the city property tax rate has increased twice – a 15 percent increase. This, along with the new restaurant tax, and city government spending is up almost 40 million dollars from 2009 through 2013. My goal will be to cut back the Suttle taxes with new and more affordable labor union agreements, more streamlining of operations and an expanding business climate.

Suttle was right. Stothert was wrong, in the end. And since she was on the city council at the time, she knew she was wrong at that time.

If Fahey and Suttle weren't in the pocket of the fire department in the first place, this whole issue would be moot. They kicked the can down the road. Stothert fixed their mess.

Are you saying the police department played no role in this mess? They spiked their pensions and the insufferable police union boss was in her last campaign ad. Stothert was/is in the pockets of OPD

[Athomsfere]

My only real gripe is everything seems to be happening in spite of her, not because of her. And I think we could do much better.

She demands to demolish a bike corral in Benson and move into the alleyway because it was taking up valuable parking space for cars (1 whopping stall). She sells the streetcar as a fun novelty train or the Harney Bikeway as a "bike attraction". And most recently, her aggressive approach to have city owned parking garages in every big project because they are making money for the city. This vison is very much a car centric one. Not the direction I want to take Omaha.

To be fair though:

That bike corral did not have the city involved and wasn't done correctly. I don't blame her for getting in front of that one.

BUT! A great mayor. The mayor I want would have seen the need / want and made something happen. Find a spot that worked better for all who wanted it, sent a post-construction process to make it compliant... A huge range of options outside of "This wasn't done correctly so you get none" and "Ignore all the all the regulations and leave things willy-nilly".

[almighty_tuna]

To be fair though:

[Athomsfere]

To be fair though:

I don't get it... Meme from a show / movie?

[Garrett]

To be fair though:

I don't get it... Meme from a show / movie?

It’s from Letterkenny.

[cchandler790]

In my eyes, she's done amazing to this city, with all of these developments, new fire/police stations, police pay raise, the riverfront, central library, streetcar. Voting for her!

[Dusty]

My only real gripe is everything seems to be happening in spite of her, not because of her. And I think we could do much better.

She demands to demolish a bike corral in Benson and move into the alleyway because it was taking up valuable parking space for cars (1 whopping stall). She sells the streetcar as a fun novelty train or the Harney Bikeway as a "bike attraction". And most recently, her aggressive approach to have city owned parking garages in every big project because they are making money for the city. This vison is very much a car centric one. Not the direction I want to take Omaha.

To be fair though:

That bike corral did not have the city involved and wasn't done correctly. I don't blame her for getting in front of that one.

BUT! A great mayor. The mayor I want would have seen the need / want and made something happen. Find a spot that worked better for all who wanted it, sent a post-construction process to make it compliant... A huge range of options outside of "This wasn't done correctly so you get none" and "Ignore all the all the regulations and leave things willy-nilly".

The owner of bike coffee shop did work with the planning department on getting permission before installing. She was even given a signed permit by the city. She posted it all over her social media when this went down. The problem is they issued a permit that was in violation with their own laws. Instead of them owning up to their mistake, they tried to spin it like she was the one that violated the rules. Mistakes happen. Regardless, the Mayor's reaction to it all showed how much she favors cars. She said we have designated parking for bikes. In this case it was 4-5 blocks away in alleyway by a dumpster.

If want a transit/bike friendly city, then we need a mayor that sells that as a top agenda. It will not be Stothert.

[F0R_L1F3]

I feel Stothert should be the one to help gain traction to redevelop Downtown Omaha. She's not the ideal person to fully renovate it and refurbish it into something great but somebody who'll help get those baby steps started. Getting projects like the riverfront and the new skyscraper, but we need somebody afterwards to connect people to these new destinations. Investments into public transit, new bikeways.

[almighty_tuna]

It would be great if our collective enthusiasm and desire for better and permanent people-level infrastructure could make the jump from online discourse to something the local media would actually ask the two mayoral candidates. Beyond just some, pardon the pun, pedestrian responses about how candidates would "love to incorporate these elements" to more specific and pointed questions of "what is your plan to implement xxxxx" or "the informal development community wants better bike infra that protects them from automobiles and is a solution for commuting citizens on two wheels, what is your platform and plan?"

heck, maybe we start an eOmaha mayoral PAC and formalize something.

[Dusty]

It would be great if our collective enthusiasm and desire for better and permanent people-level infrastructure could make the jump from online discourse to something the local media would actually ask the two mayoral candidates. Beyond just some, pardon the pun, pedestrian responses about how candidates would "love to incorporate these elements" to more specific and pointed questions of "what is your plan to implement xxxxx" or "the informal development community wants better bike infra that protects them from automobiles and is a solution for commuting citizens on two wheels, what is your platform and plan?"

heck, maybe we start an eOmaha mayoral PAC and formalize something.

Or better yet an eOmaha Advisory Committee! I feel like we collectively know more about Omaha than most city officials. I have even been told a number of times that I should run for Mayor. I laughed it off at the time. The Mayor and city council work really hard and get screamed at all day by citizens. I don't envy their position.

But I agree...we need to push for better standards or we will have to settle for whatever leadership comes up with.

[Garrett]

I’d be interested in something like a GrowOmaha candidate forum honestly. I imagine we could get a lot of questions asked there

[almighty_tuna]

That would be a fantastic episode of Grow Omaha. A development debate.

[Dusty]

I'm not a fan of only 2 candidates advance to final round for Mayor. We claim it's all non-partisan, but we know the final 2 are always red vs blue. I would much rather open it up to 3-4 candidates with rank choice voting. This way we can focus on topics.

It would be great if Grow Omaha had a Mayoral development debate. We ask the hard questions and let them duke it out.

[Garrett]

That would be a fantastic episode of Grow Omaha. A development debate.

I'd rather see more of a forum than a debate. Allow candidates to present their ideas to the public and be asked direct questions without needing to take shots at each other as a central component haha.

[Louie]

That would be a fantastic episode of Grow Omaha. A development debate.

I'd rather see more of a forum than a debate. Allow candidates to present their ideas to the public and be asked direct questions without needing to take shots at each other as a central component haha.

Hey, could we do this for all elections please

[almighty_tuna]

That would be a fantastic episode of Grow Omaha. A development debate.

I'd rather see more of a forum than a debate. Allow candidates to present their ideas to the public and be asked direct questions without needing to take shots at each other as a central component haha.

I guess I still hold onto the antiquated idea that debates are civil and a place to show off one's preparedness, intelligence and platform vs a schoolyard shouting match.

At any rate, I would sure like to see a more specific vision, strategic plan, and make sure those of us interested in a more well rounded system are actually heard and considered beyond the token acknowledgement.

[djc311]

I'd like to know the mayor's opinion on this:
https://www.ketv.com/article/nebraska-j ... l/60386146

Obviously the Pillen/Trump camps want this to happen because Biden won an electoral vote because the people of Nebraska actually spoke up, making their opinion matter.

The fact they want to push this the other way is not a surprise; it's a Republican maneuver to try and force a full win of what's typically a red state. This is another reason politics are disgusting, because it's not a democracy if they end up making this change. Same thing would have happened if Ricketts was still there.

Quite sad

[Coyote]

John Ewing Jr. announces he's running for mayor of Omaha

[Coyote]

Omaha Democrat vows to 'restore public trust' to Mayor's office

Omaha Democrats have their first, possibly their first of several candidates for mayor next year.

[Athomsfere]

Feels like a lot of code for "against the streetcar".

C'mon Omaha we can do better. If this is where this is heading, anyone not 110% on with transit and the streetcar won't have my vote.

[Greg S]

Feels like a lot of code for "against the streetcar".

C'mon Omaha we can do better. If this is where this is heading, anyone not 110% on with transit and the streetcar won't have my vote.

Yeah I agree.

[Dusty]

Feels like a lot of code for "against the streetcar".

C'mon Omaha we can do better. If this is where this is heading, anyone not 110% on with transit and the streetcar won't have my vote.

It's still pretty early for candidates to jump in. I can't imagine a candidate that wants to count every penny investing in transit.
They often look at bikes and transit as an accessorial expense to baseline (car infrastructure)

So more candidates the merrier!

[Athomsfere]

Feels like a lot of code for "against the streetcar".

C'mon Omaha we can do better. If this is where this is heading, anyone not 110% on with transit and the streetcar won't have my vote.

It's still pretty early for candidates to jump in. I can't imagine a candidate that wants to count every penny investing in transit.
They often look at bikes and transit as an accessorial expense to baseline (car infrastructure)

So more candidates the merrier!

Sort of my thoughts too, but also the whole thing just seemed off.

I don't a mayor that thinks infinite roads are fine, but good transit is a bad money move. I want a mayor to say "70 years of bad urban design is enough. We've learned from it. It's time to go all in on transit."

[Greg S]

I think we have our primary candidates. Ewing vs Stothert.

I have always assumed Pete Festersen would run for mayor (from a long time Omaha family, he went to Central). I have kind of assumed he's waiting until Stothert doesn't run and will then make a move. I think he'd be awesome.

Not getting the best vibes from Ewing about building on the momentum we've got going right now.

Greg

[Athomsfere]

Not getting the best vibes from Ewing about building on the momentum we've got going right now.

Greg

Agreed.

I'll wait until he says a little more. I'm hoping someone better than both comes forward. Because as much as I am not a huge fan of Stothert at least she wasn't completely blocking that momentum.

[Linkin5]

Not getting the best vibes from Ewing about building on the momentum we've got going right now.

Greg

Agreed.

I'll wait until he says a little more. I'm hoping someone better than both comes forward. Because as much as I am not a huge fan of Stothert at least she wasn't completely blocking that momentum.

Stothert is behind the street car, MoO relocating downtown, the downtown parks revamp, and the goals of bringing thousands more residents and jobs downtown. How is she viewed as partly blocking or being complacent with momentum?

[Athomsfere]

Stothert is behind the street car, MoO relocating downtown, the downtown parks revamp, and the goals of bringing thousands more residents and jobs downtown. How is she viewed as partly blocking or being complacent with momentum?

To rehash what I've been saying for the last 5 years or so for the 100th time, and to boil it down to most basic of it.

Omaha has had that momentum for some time. She didn't create it. She's used it fine.

But where my gripes are that the foundations of what Omaha needs most she hasn't lit nearly enough fires, or even hindered it (Harney Bike Lane).

The things that she could have done to take Omaha from "Great among its peers" to "great compared to any where"

Street cars, more transit (ORBT, Busses, LRT), bike lanes, lane diets, eliminating SFH zoning. Just no vision for what really matters.

Sure we got some nice consolation prizes. But over 12 years I want better. I want the city to treat basic amenities as services not luxuries. And at the current rate I won't live to see Omaha attracting the sort of inbound brains that we need to build a first class medium sized city.