Me vs The City....

[visual800]

For the past 2 years I have been on the City of Montgomery's a$$ about why the do not bid out signage projects. I have emailed, called and tried to speak with at least 25 people, from parks and rec all the way to the mayors office. Everyone it tightlipped and NO ONE IS IN CHARGE OF THAT! I know I am going to pi$$ someone off if I not already have but What is the city gonna do to me NOT GIVE ME WORK!

A couple months ago there was an unveiling as a sign was placed on some old concrete walls down by the river. I went down ther yesterday to check this thing out and I have attached pics of what that sign looks like 2 months after install. AWESOME! Shoddy install and horrible presence for a sign displaying history. These pics were sent back to the people in charge of the Riverfront. This is certainly not the way we would have handled this job NO RESPONSE. All the millions of dollars blown thru this city spent on downtown renovation and we have this install with blue concrete screws showing. You have got to be kidding me!

The city goes thru an ad agency and that agency uses a sign company and sometimes the city just goes to that sign company directly. The city did place one bid online for the entrance signage for a poverty stricken neighborhood in southside. The guy said he showed up at city hall and the "class favorite" was already there surrounded by all the city folk laughing and cutting up. He said he walked out and didn't bother. Alot of us in the town are well aware of what's going on I am probably the only one that will stir it up and demand answers.

This is not about giving me work, it is about fairness. It is about I pay this GD city a freaking license every year and I should get a chance to bid on some of these projects. Our city even though it is small is some tight knit, back slappin, knee pad wearing folks.

I am seriously thinking next year when my License renewal comes up sending a letter stating that I will no longer be paying the city to do business as they do not use us for anything. Just to see what happens, seeing that sign yesterday just pi$$ed me off

 

[SignManiac]

Local politics can work for you or against you.

I learned along time ago to play nicey with people who have power. It has paid off wonderfully.

 

[visual800]

Local politics can work for you or against you.

I learned along time ago to play nicey with people who have power. It has paid off wonderfully.

Understood, but I dont play nice to get work. That should not be a requirement. I am not a networker, a back slapper or a kneepad wearer. I pay for a license in this town and I should get a chance like everyone else.

 

[SignManiac]

Totally agree with your point... But, you may end up with a fight you can't win and if you do win it, I'm sure it will cost plenty in the end.

 

[John Butto]

put these on telephone poles

from a drawing leftover from my avatar days, "float like a....

 

[d fleming]

Are the exposed screws and metal bracket attached to anything other than the wall? Looks like the signs are up with French cleats. And that's one ugly wall to boot.

 

[Billct2]

If you're not worried about making enemies take it to the press, they're always looking for controversy

 

[Pat Whatley]

I learned along time ago to play nicey with people who have power. It has paid off wonderfully.

Around here "play nicey" means somebody in charge is getting "paid off wonderfully".

 

[SignManiac]

You're right Pat, I forgot that yall is in Allabamma

 

[niksagkram]

Totally agree with you about putting jobs out for bids, and as a citizen you have a right to be outraged over the shoddy work the city paid for, but, as I was told by our wonderful civic reps, we buy a license to do business IN the city not WITH the city.

 

[Techman]

you want to get some attention?
Simply go downtown and do a public records request on that sign project. They will stall you any way they can. Be polite and insist. They may ask you to pay some outrageous (illegal) fee, and tell you it takes 90 days etc..
They may even resort to intimidation and outright lies. However, if any city money was spent on the job by law they must comply. Then you can find out all you need to know how it is was given out, to whom, and how it was done.

I suspect they used the no need to bid thresh hold or divided up the job to stay below the thresh hold. But if you get the public records there will be no speculation.


PS: those clamps screwed down with blue screws,, They look upside down.

 

[fozzie]

Typical city noncompetitive bidding process

1. We give jobs to good old boy/girl network and friends of my campaign
2. Or we give jobs (at outrageous pricing) to (pick your equal opportunity category)
3. Jobs are no bid since they are under $4000 (or whatever limit) and don't require a bid process
4. If scope exceeds no bid limit, we will breakdown the job into phases that fall under the limit or charge different city departments a percentage that also falls under limit. Give job to our #1 or #2 above.
5. Repeat as needed.

Two choices.
Become a #1 or #2 above
Or
Fight city hall.

I always prefer the latter.

 

[fresh]

I've done a quite few jobs in the town that I live in that were not bid on... They were actually purchased by a private group, with private funds, and placed (with permission, of course) on public land and buildings. The city had nothing to do with them beyond giving an okay.

The sign you posted may have been purchased by a private group, which is why there was no public bid on it. No one at town hall knows who put them up, all they might be able to find out (by going through council meeting records) is who requested their installation.


edit: going back to look at the images again, it was probably a historical society who purchased these, not the city.

 

[Jwalk]

Politics ! I agree with op wish it was a bit more fair. I find politics is everywhere and when you factor in creative work politics is there even more. These words "fair and objective" are to ambiguous and ultimately leaves room for interpretation from the individuals perspective.

 

[John Butto]

open to artists nationwide

The city of Montgomery Public Art Commission was established to aid, encourage, advise, sponsor, create and coordinate activities dedicated to the placement of art in public places and to the promotion of such art to enhance the life of the community and its citizens.
You won't have to wear any kneepads, it is art in public places, you have to show pics of what you have accomplished and what you proposed, it is then picked by a committee. It is not a bid process as you are use to where everything is spelled out for you.