Consultant Hired to Improve Efficiency Spends Six Months Scheduling Meetings About Efficiency
Executives at Northstar Manufacturing say they remain confident in their decision to retain an external consulting firm to improve operational efficiency, despite the fact that six months into the engagement, the most measurable outcome has been a dramatic increase in the number of meetings required to discuss efficiency. The firm, ClarityEdge Consulting, was brought on […]
Business Leader Praised for Vision, Unclear What He’s Actually Seen
When regional business leader and entrepreneur Douglas Whitman speaks about the future, people tend to listen carefully, nod thoughtfully, and later repeat his words with the assurance that something important has just been said. What remains less clear, according to colleagues, employees, and industry observers, is exactly what Whitman is seeing. Whitman, founder and executive […]
Planning Board Asks No Questions, Cites “Trust” in Man With Very Large Truck
Township officials assured concerned residents Tuesday night that traffic issues stemming from a recently approved development project would “sort itself out,” citing patience, adaptation, and the passage of time as primary mitigation strategies. The assurance came during a standing-room-only public meeting in Brookfield Township, where residents gathered to voice concerns about congestion along Route 19, […]
Council Forms Committee to Study Issue Already Decided
City Council members voted Monday night to form a special committee tasked with studying an issue the council has already resolved, citing the importance of due process, public confidence, and “making sure we did this the right way, even if it’s already done.” The committee, officially titled the Ad Hoc Review Committee on Future Considerations, […]
Local Officials Assure Residents Traffic “Will Sort Itself Out”
Township officials assured concerned residents Tuesday night that traffic issues stemming from a recently approved development project would “sort itself out,” citing patience, adaptation, and the passage of time as primary mitigation strategies. The assurance came during a standing-room-only public meeting in Brookfield Township, where residents gathered to voice concerns about congestion along Route 19, […]
Officials Say Decision Was Independent, Coincidentally Benefits Same People as Always
Local officials insisted this week that a recently approved decision was made independently and without outside influence, despite the fact that the outcome appears to benefit the same small group of individuals and organizations that have historically benefited from similar decisions. The assurances came during a press briefing following the approval of a revised municipal […]
Local Business Announces “Strategic Pivot,” Declines to Explain What It Was Doing Before
The leadership team at Riverbend Solutions LLC announced Tuesday that the company is undergoing what executives described as a “strategic pivot,” a move they say will position the organization for long-term growth, innovation, and “whatever comes next.” What the company declined to clarify, despite repeated requests, was what Riverbend Solutions had been doing up until […]
Investigation Finds No Evidence After Failing to Look in Several Obvious Places
An internal review released this week concluded that a recently completed investigation followed all required procedures and therefore raised no questions, concerns, or recommendations. The review, commissioned to assess the quality of the investigation, determined that all applicable steps were completed as outlined, making further inquiry unnecessary. “The process worked,” said Internal Review Director Paul […]
Financial Interests Decline Comment, Appear Satisfied
Several financial interests declined to comment this week following a municipal decision that aligns closely with their long-standing priorities, offering no public reaction while appearing privately unconcerned by the outcome. The decision, approved unanimously by local officials, affects regulatory conditions and financial incentives tied to future development projects. While no specific beneficiaries were named during […]
At Some Point, This Stops Being Acceptable
Standards exist for a reason, even when they are difficult to define precisely. They provide a baseline for what a community is willing to tolerate and what it expects to improve over time. When those standards erode gradually, it becomes harder to identify the moment when tolerance turns into acceptance. Normalization Over Time What would […]
Investigators Rule Out Wrongdoing Based on Vibe, Timing, and Gut Feeling
Investigators announced this week that they have ruled out wrongdoing in a recent matter after determining that the overall “vibe” surrounding the situation did not feel suspicious. The conclusion followed a brief internal review during which investigators assessed timing, tone, and general intuition rather than specific evidence. “Nothing felt off,” said Lead Investigator Martin Keane. […]