Open Thread
OK, you wanted us to open a new thread. Here it is. We are closing the thread on “It’s Your Nickel”. It was getting a bit long. We’ll save the use of your page down button.
Go to it with anything that is on your mind: replacements for Commissioner Kesselring (now that we know he will not run again), your property tax bill, your home insurance premiums, potholes, zero-based county budgets (that’s getting some good discussion on another thread) Randy Harris’ future, how is Commissioner Fitos doing (or not), suspension of the State’s death penalty, political New Years resolutions, continue discussion about E-One, etc.
Click on and answer our Straw Poll questions about zero-based budgeting and E-One potentially leaving Ocala:
http://www.insitefulsurveys.com/Survey.asp?SI=367712712224
posted by Blog Master @ 11:15 AM
140 Comments:
I've missed something. Why is Andy Kesselring not going to run again for County Commissioner?
Yep, Andy is joining the cast of thousands who are after Baxley's job when he terms out in 2008.
How is it that all the paid talent involved in making sure that our school board follows the state laws missed this:
The 2006 Florida Statutes
Title XLVIII K-20 EDUCATION CODE Chapter 1001 K-20 GOVERNANCE
1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.--The district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all powers and perform all duties listed below:
...(10) FINANCE.--Take steps to assure students adequate educational facilities through the financial procedure authorized in chapters 1010 and 1011 and as prescribed below:
...(i) Contracts for materials, supplies, and services.--Contract for materials, supplies, and services needed for the district school system. No contract for supplying these needs shall be made with any member of the district school board, with the district school superintendent, or with any business organization in which any district school board member or the district school superintendent has any financial interest whatsoever.
I guess Kurt Kelly was right, he just didn't know it was state law. Apparently no one else did either! Brad Rogers wrote that an obscure statute might mean that school board members shouldn't be doing business with the school board. Maybe its obscure to some, but it does seem to a moron like me that it directly addresses the issue and I wonder why all the experts missed it?
I'm with you Chip. Makes one wonder what kind of legal advice is the Board getting. Obviously, not very good. What other areas are being violated? Maybe they need an RFP for legal counsel.
Having the board members not doing business with the system is probably a good idea even without a State Statute.
Yo Chip, Congratulations!
I don’t read the slick magazines very often but noticed in the December edition of Ocala Magazine you were named one of "Marion’s Best”. Two awards, one for Best Actor and the other for Best Radio Personality. Way to go.
Agent as long as people are correcting you, your comments regarding the housing market are just dumb. The market is correcting itself and resuming a normal pattern of growth and volume. There is no crash or burning here regardless of what you might present as factual. Thanks for the opportunity to make a statement.
Gosh talk about degrading and attacking a fellow blogger,Agent has no ethics what so ever. Morris reprints a LAW and Agent shows his hatred for anything that is contrary to his self righteous position. You old guys are so full of yourselves it's a joke. Are you and pwf holding hands right now?
(Reposting a comment made at 1:19 PM)
So Mr. Williamson, what makes you such an expert on the local housing market? I can tell you this, my home value has fallen 18% in the past six months. Also, have two friends in real estate sales who are out of a job. To me these are housing market problems!
On the E-One issue, I just saw a billboard which said "1300 jobs are at stake" This apparently is one of the EDC paid-for boards.
Assuming that it is really 900 jobs (because 300 are going to be eliminated anyway), it seems reprehensible that our tax dollars are being used to disseminate false propaganda. Our money is being used to lie to us.
How much does the City-County give the EDC?
There is no expertise in real estate just good timing. Has your home went down 18% from the original selling price? If so that is bad. If not how did you arrive at the 18% number. 18% from what an inflated market? Any body who looses their job is unfortunate and I feel for them. On the other hand the industry has hired to fill the needs of the volume of sales. More openings then less openings. Too little inventory then too much inventory. Isn't the free market wonderful?
I could care less what Chipper Morris, Agent, Anonymous or others say about the Herring business ethics question. Steve did the right thing by twice asking for a state-level “official” opinion of his doing business with the School District, and twice was given the green light. I can’t fault him for falling victim to some obscure law that even government bureaucrats who should know don’t. I say change the policy as PWF and the Star Banner have opined and keep any Board members from doing business with the School District in the future. Why is anyone getting their bowels in an uproar over this?
Sorry Agent but I've been in Florida 67 years and real estate for around 45 years so I know a thing or two about the market flucuations of this particular commodity. I've lived through a dozen of these terrible downturns in the Florida market. Here is my take, if it's carrots or turnips your holding in a downturn you're in trouble. If it's housing or whiskey, sit tight take a break and wait it out. Your product will always be worth more later on. Thats the facts pure, simple and undisputed. I guess I see my glass as half full.
"I can’t fault him for falling victim to some obscure law"
Herring broke the law by bidding and has exposed the School Board who also violated the law by awarding him the contracts.
As far as his requests for "State Level Official Opinion" He asked for an Advisory Opinion from the Commission on Ethics
As can be plainly seen they have no jurisdiction over the K-20 Statutes
ie 1001.42
34-6.003 Subject Matter of Advisory Opinions.
Advisory opinions may be rendered only with respect to the interpretation and applicability of Article II, Section 8, Florida Constitution, of Part III, Chapter 112, Florida Statutes, or of Sections 350.031, 350.04, 350.041, and 350.042, Florida Statutes.
Asking them for their opinion is about as good as asking the PSSC for theirs on this subject. The K-20 Code falls outside their purview.
Why is it he could not read the 4 pages that clearly define the Powers and Duties of the district school board and not bid in the first place?
Contract for materials, supplies, and services needed for the district school system. No contract for supplying these needs shall be made with any member of the district school board, with the district school superintendent, or with any business organization in which any district school board member or the district school superintendent has any financial interest whatsoever.
About as "obsure" as a brick!
Ok, some truth, facts and sanity:
First, I don't like Kurt Kelly, his attitude, the way he uses other people, his politics, and the feeling is mutual.
Second, Chip Morris is David Alvarez' bro-in-law, and Sue Mosley beat David like a drum, and I handled her advertising.
Third, Kelly advised Alvarez, and he went after Hering and Mosley after they crossed him on one of his pet projects and embarassed him.
Fourth, from my reading of the "obscure law" after Chip brought it up the other day, frankly, it is NOT an obscure law but rather direct and straight forward and is not even in an obscure place in the law books. I am astounded that no one, five school board members, superintendent, school board attorney, staff, attorney general (governor to be), state school board association people and legal staff, and ethics commission failed to see it over these six or so years. If I was Chip as one of David's advisors, and confidents (and as his bro in law I would expect no less) I (Chip) would be embarrassed; if I was David quoting all the stuff he quoted, I would be embarrassed; if I was me I would not be embarrassed cause I didn't claim to have read any of it, if I was Sue, I would find me a new attorney since this one would be embarrassing to me etc.
Fifth, if I was Brad Rogers and the Star Banner (and I once had one of those type jobs in an earlier life) I probably would have let this one lie cause I would damn sure be embarrassed that no one on my crack reportical staff could find something that jumped off the page once Chip had someone point it out to him.
Sixth, where was the always alert Mr. Kelly and his superb knowledge of policy and law as he voted time and again to allow the board to save money doing business with Mr. Hering???? I suspect Kurt probably made the motion to approve some of the contracts. If I was Kurt Kelly, I would run and hide, because he could have come out of this looking like the savior of the school board to stop an obvious violation of a state law. Instead, he looks like a sour puss trying to get even with Hering in a political fight, and he is losing the battle so far, and is costing the system money.
Seventh, in one of my senior moments, I forgot this when I called and talked to Chip the other day about this topic: If I was Chip, I suspect I would not have brought it up on the radio since I had been my bro in law's advisor, and since my bro in law did get beat up pretty badly in his effort to make this a campaign issue.
Eighth, I do thank Chip for his current research. It is a valuable contribution to the community. I also thank him very much for missing it in the campaign. It would have presented a serious problem for me in advising Sue, and frankly, at this moment, I am not sure how I would have advised Sue to handle it, cause it sure looks pretty black and white to me: Thou shalt NOT . . . . Aint much wiggle room there, even for a pro like Chip, me or Agent, eh guys?
And finally, for those who try to make something out of nothing, this post is a friendly discussion between two old friends (at times) who have known each other for years and years, and who can have a spirited discussion without calling people racist, idiot, or other names like some must use. Now, if Chip wants to call me , oh well, that might open the door.
Regards, --pwf
Doesn’t Kurt Kelly have a business that does work for other school districts? I think the law should prohibit board members from doing work for ANY other district as well as their own. Seems to me Kelly could use his “member influence” to get favored business status with other boards and districts. Hope some legislator will fix this situation.
BINGO!!!!!!! and theres is a report making the rounds that a effort was tried to change the jessicas law that keeps people charged with crimes against kids off school yards to let a guy employed by him handle investigations. you go figure.
Greetings PWF,
Wow...lots of recrimination, including me! You thank me for the contibution to the community while condeming me for bringing it up...uh, OK...Karl Rove should be embarrassed! Thanks for being one of our 13 listeners!
I'm not looking for a public flogging of anyone. I have never questioned Steve's ethics or motivation. This issue isn't about any of the individuals who should be embarrassed by the fact that what seemed like common sense too many was in fact...STATE LAW. I brought it up as the final point to those who actually argued that it was OK for an elected official to do business with the public entity he was elected to oversee.
Who says Herring broke the law? Lets leave it at: I don't think the School Board of Marion County will have any members that will be guilty of violating this particular state law for the forseeable future and that's good enough for me!
PWF said...
"attorney general (governor to be), state school board association people and legal staff, and ethics commission failed to see it over these six or so years."
As is typical PWF mixes fact with fiction, and of course can't miss an opportunity to bring up Kelly's name.
What proof do you have that the Attorney General had been previously contacted? It is my understanding that his office was contacted only a few months ago for the first time on the Herring issue.
If you have information to the contrary why don't you share the date and details of contact with Atty General's office. While your at it also with the State School Board Assoc.
Why don't you throw in the SPCA, FBI, FLDE etc while your at it?
Don't you agree that the Commission on Ethics,(political appointees) has no jurisdiction over this matter?
You have previously stated that you don't believe that elected officials should be doing business with the entity that they oversee.
You have agreed that policy should be in place to prohibit such activity School Board, City Council, and County Commission et al.
At least the School Board does not need to finally have the workshop (over a year in the waiting) to create a policy becuse it is and has been for many years a law. One that has apparently been repeatedly violated.
I wonder when the other elected officals will wake up and see that potential conflicts of interest can and most times will bite you in the gluteus maximus.
If something like this Herring ethics conflict had happened at Monroe Regional Hospital with a volunteer Board member, you can bet your bippy that the Star Blunder would have been all over it like fleas on a dog. Might have even been one of their top 10 news stories of the year!
It is my understanding from discussions with school officials that yes, the atty general office -- that is the place where official opinions are given on laws -- was contacted about four years ago, and the ethics commission not twice, but my understanding is three times. If I am wrong, I am wrong. I guess time will tell. At least you know when I am wrong. I have the courage to sign my name as does Chip.
And yes, I have long thought is was bad business to do business with any public body when you serve in a public capacity, appointed or elected. That applies to incounty and out of county. And to answer someone's question, yes, Mr. Kelly does do business with other school boards and county and city folk tell me he lobbied for some of that business while in Tallahassee with other school board members -- not sure how you split the dime that pays your way on that one, but that too looks bad. As for my bringing Mr. Kelly's name up . . . excuse me, but isn't he the one who broght the whole subject up???? --pwf
Chipperoo . . . No condemnation intended, just a discussion.
You deserve much credit for advancing the issue.
It should evend the issue completely with no policy needed at all in any branch of government since the "obscure" law is extremely clear.
It is stunning that it takes a lowly -- rather a high and mighty -- talk show host to find the law. You should be proud of your contribution to good government, and I recommend the BlogMaster issue you a ticket for lunch with me. --pwf
PWF Said...
"It should evend the issue completely with no policy needed at all in any branch of government since the "obscure" law is extremely clear."
As is typical PWF gets it wrong... The "obscure" law applies only to District School Board Members and Superintendent. City Council and County Commissioner's have no such statute to govern their actions, however, there is no prohibition for them to develop a policy
Go ahead Paul and use you many years of contacts to help the City and the County find their way. Let's make it easy for them... Just fill in the blanks...
Contracts for materials, supplies, and services.--Contract for materials, supplies, and services needed for the _____________. No contract for supplying these needs shall be made with any member of the __________, or with any business organization in which any __________ has any financial interest whatsoever.
That's not so tough and it should not take over a year to do it!
Asking a real estate agent (e.g., blogger Bert Williamson) to give an objective opinion on the real estate market is about the same as asking Nancy Pelosi to give an objective opinion about George Bush.
I watch CNBC and they had two people on discussing the real estate market. The economist said 2007 will be a tough year for the market and the real estate gal said the market would be much better. So who is right?
You are so smart, Anon, you do it.
I understand the law applies only to the school system. It is shool law, in the school section.
But common sense, some of which I have, tells me and Chip too that this sould setlle the issue for everyone. Sorry it doesn't for you.
I will bet the Banner will now go after all governments and check and see if anyone is doing business with anyone and try to make a big deal out of it. Can't you just hear them if and I repeat if a strong conservative who shall be unnamed was serving on the city council and doing business with the school board . . . .
Come on anon, have some courage sign your name if you have one . . . --pwf
LOOKS LIKE THE SCHOOL BOARD COULD USE RANDY HARRIS TO KEEP THEM FROM BREAKING THE LAW. HE WOULDN'T HAVE LET A LEGAL SCREWUP LIKE THIS ONE HAPPEN.
Why don’t they make the School Board read the 6 pages of school "obscure" law that pertains to them before they can start collecting their $30,000 plus pay per year.
Or is that too much to ask that they know the law that tells them what their duties are for such a small salary?
1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.--The district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all powers and "perform all duties" listed below:
Marion County needs 1300 jobs @ an average pay of $65,000-$70,000 a year to replace the 1300 @ E-1 @ $30,000 a year. Some high tech jobs, not low-paying mfg. That would help get our average salary level up and help the housing market. Too bad it will not happen in my lifetime.
The real estate doom and gloom we have heard from Agent may be unfounded. Local existing home sales were up 1% from November 2005 to November 2006 and prices up 6% during the same period. Ocala was one of only two cities in Florida with that trend. Reason being “Ocala is not overbuilt”. So it looks like Bert Williamson may be right on his prediction. (see the article in today's Star Banner)
I agree with Agent. One month of comparison versus a year ago does not a story make.
Let’s wait and see what the cumulative “full year” results are for Ocala before spreading such housing market joy as the article (which I have now read) would imply. Looks like a PR release written by the local realtors association.
Don
(OTOW)
Does anyone else feel the sleaze and slime spread by the "e-1 is essential" campaign. I would hate to see them go. I would like them to stay but now all we have is a template for more freebies for large companies who really don’t need the monetary breaks
Merillat is essential
Dayco is essential
Cingular Wireless is essential
ABB Water Meters is essential
Custom Windows is Essential
Kmart Distribution is Essential
Closetmaid is Essential
"your company here" is Essential
I hope we are prepared for this type of public pressure for each large business here in Ocala. Its going to work for E1 and the EDC will lock into this once they can show it works. Get ready to increase the funding of the EDC to pay for all of the above advertising for all of our "essential" companies!!!!
William Taylor
LOOKS LIKE THE SCHOOL BOARD COULD USE RANDY HARRIS TO KEEP THEM FROM BREAKING THE LAW. HE WOULDN'T HAVE LET A LEGAL SCREWUP LIKE THIS ONE HAPPEN.
and whose brother got a job working for the county after randy went to work there? huh?
Not a big deal now. Maybe Randy's brother can get him a good job with the county.
Anonymous 4:31 said
" Maybe Randy's brother can get him a good job with the county."
Not to disrespect Mr Harris for his years of service, but it occurs to me that....Maybe Randy's brother can get him a good job with E-One.
Randy's brother has a right to get hired. Does the school board have the right to ignore a law?
W. Taylor is onto a real issue. I can add at least 5-6 other local company names to his "fill in the blanks".
Also, why was no one from the State legislature representatives locally involved in yesterday’s discussions? What might that tell us?
IMO this E-One things stinks. If you really have an opinion, call your elected officials, because it will slip and slime thru.
Too many secrets, it looks like the powers-what-be are already done in.
The States lack of involvement in the discussions with E-One was mentioned. Not true. Rep. Dennis Baxley is working behind the scenes to get State funds to keep E-One here. I'm sure he will get whatever it takes from the new Governor to do that.
YEAH LIKE HE EVER GOT ANYTHING FROM JEBBY BOY WHO WAS HIS BIG BUD AND WHOSE WATER HE CARRIED AND CARRIED AND WE GOT ZILCH. IF WE GET ANYTHING FROM TALLY IT WILL BE CAUSE ARGENZINO AND LYNN AND CRETUL GOT IT DONE.
I’m new at bloggering. Hope my opinion gets recorded.
The St. Atty’s Office should be investigating the School Board. The Board may have violated a state law, not once but several times.
The Atty’s office recently spent taxpayer money and valuable legal time investigating all of the Hospital Trustees for (what appeared to be) sunshine law violations that were dismissed. The Trustees aren’t even elected officials. I believe the elected School Board should get immediate attention in a situation that appears an obvious violation, not just something trumped up by the local newspaper (as proved to be the case with the Hospital). Where is the newspaper when a real legal violation may have occurred?
If there is a violation (which is looking more and more like there was), Governor Charlie Crist should step in and remove all five School Board members and ask for a special election to replace them. That would be the right thing to do.
Not all five school board members. Mrs Zanetti never voted for Herring to get one of his many contracts.
Removal from office: not going to happen.
Critic,
You might get surprised.
My neighbor working at E-One tells me the rumor there is that things are looking great for them to stay in Ocala. Seems the local negotiations are going well and the package is acceptable to those involved. Also, there will NOT be a 400 employee reduction that was reported if E-One stays here. Maybe good news in the end!
An investigation would determine...
Who knew about the Statute?
When did they know about it?
Why did they choose to ignore it?
Who was enriched? By how much?
Was there any collusion? Pressure?
Until the above are answered all penalties including none would be possible.
3000 US CASUALITIES
A SOUR END TO A SAD AND HORRIBLE YEAR IN HISTORY
SADDAM IS DEAD AND IT IS SO ANTI -CLIMATIC --CAN'T EVEN REJOICE FOR THAT-- JUST ANOTHER CRUCIFICATION
EVEN THE POPE CONDEMNS ITS
MAYBE OSAMA IS RINGING IN THE NEW
YEAR IN TIMES SQUARE? CHAMPAGNE AND CAVIAR DREAMS
3000 YEAR OLD ICE SHELF'S ARE BREAKING UP IN THE ARCTIC
DON'T THINK I WILL BE BOOKING MY
ALASKA CRUISE FOR WHALE WATCHING THIS YEAR!
3000, 6000, OR MILLIONS OF YEARS OLD
MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A SPECK OF NOTHING
I AM -YOU ARE-- LETS RAPE AND PILLAGE WHILE WE CAN
RING IN THE NEW YEAR
EAT MORE CLONED MEAT!!
IT'S WHAT FOR DINNER
I have no problem with an examination.
The answer would be none.
Problem is no one had an inking of the statute, especially Steve, and more especially Kurt. He would have loved to have pulled something out of his hat to hurt Steve and defeat Sue.
--pwf
Don't be so negative, there are many good things to be thankful for.
I was astounded to read the story in the Banner this morning that while doing what is legal and taking advanmtage of the ag exemption, Albert Peek may have been unethical for doing it.
What a bunch of crap. I was not surprised to see who wrote the story , Sue Carr, but I was surprised to see who she was quoting , Cathy Cavalier. I have not an inking if the quotes are accurate. Judging from my own experience and that of a half dozen or more other people, I would bet they are not accurate.
But I would suggest that if it is proper for Sue Carr to take advantage of Homestead Exemption on her house, it is just as ethical for Albert Peek to use the method the legislature in its infinate wisdom has established to do two things: first, keep agriculture operating, and second, keep green spaces. If you want to see more property carved up and developed, increase the taxes on vacant land and do away with ag exemptions and see how fast trees come down and people carve up their lands into subdivisions.
Yes, critics, I am aware of comp plans and regulations, but where there is a will, there is a way, and you tax people off their lands and you will have a revolution on your hands.
As for the last paragraph in the story, I submit it is the "little Joes" out here who worked for small businesses and did not have health insurance and and no pensions from small busiensses but who pay the taxes to pay for those benefits for public employees.
Is it legal for public employees to make use of the health insurance paid for by "Little Joe"? Of course it is. It is unethical for them to utilize a benefit that is legal? Of course not. Neither is it unethical for Albert Peek to uilize a legal provision of the law, just as it is legal to utilize Social Security and other benfits; to use capital gains et cetera.
Once again, she has slandered a good person, one of the most ethical developers in the state. --pwf
Excuse this very long post. But I want to respond to the Anonymous blogger (4:10 PM) who is so DOWN on everything. I would like to start the NEW YEAR’S thinking with a different perspective on the situation.
“DO YOU KNOW THESE FACTS?”
Did you know that 47 countries' have reestablished their embassies in Iraq?
Did you know that the Iraqi government currently employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?
Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 schools are now under construction and 38 new schools have been built in Iraq?
Did you know that Iraq’s higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers, all currently operating?
Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2005 for the re-established Fulbright program?
Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational? They have 5- 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.
Did you know that Iraq’s Air Force consists of three operational squadrons, which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft (under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 Bell Jet Rangers?
Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion?
Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?
Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new officers each 8 weeks?
Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq? They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.
Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?
Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October?
Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158%?
Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consists of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?
Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?
Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a televised debate recently?
OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW! OUR MEDIA and LIBERAL POLITICIANS WOULDN'T TELL US!
Instead of reflecting our love for our country, we get photos of flag burning incidents at Abu Ghraib and people throwing snowballs at the presidential motorcades.
(Above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense web site.)
THE DEMOCRATS NOW PROMISE “A NEW DIRECTION FOR AMERICA”
The stock market is at a new all-time high and America's 401K's are back.
A new direction from there means, what?
Unemployment is at 25 year lows.
A new direction from there means, what?
Taxes are at 20 year lows.
A new direction from there means, what?
Federal tax revenues are at all-time highs.
A new direction from there means, what?
The Federal deficit is down almost 50%, just as predicted over last year.
A new direction from there means. what?
Home valuations are up 200% over the past 3.5 years.
A new direction from there means, what?
Inflation is in check, hovering at 20 year lows.
A new direction from there means, what?
Not a single terrorist attack on US soil since 9/11/01.
A new direction from there means, what?
Osama bin Laden is living under a rock in a dark cave, having not
surfaced in years, if he's alive at all, while 95% of Al Queda's top dogs are either dead or in custody, cooperating with US Intel.
A new direction from there means, what?
Several major terrorist attacks already thwarted by US and British
Intel, including the recent planned attack involving 10 Jumbo Jets being exploded in mid-air over major US cities in order to celebrate the anniversary of the 9/11/01 attacks.
A new direction from there means, what?
Just as President Bush foretold us on a number of occasions, Iraq was
to be made "ground zero" for the war on terrorism -- and just as President Bush said they would, terrorist cells from all over the region are arriving from the shadows of their hiding places and flooding into Iraq in order to get their faces blown off by US Marines rather than boarding planes and heading to the United States to wage war on us here.
A new direction from there means, what?
Now let me see, do I have this right? I can expect:
The economy to go South
Illegals to go North
Taxes to go Up
Employment to go Down
Terrorism to come In
Tax breaks to go Out
Social Security to go Away
Health Care to go the same way gas prices have gone
But what the heck!
I can gain comfort by knowing that Nancy P, Hillary C, John K, Edward K, Howard D, Harry R and Obama have worked hard to create a comprehensive National Security Plan, Health Care Plan, Immigration Reform Plan, Gay Rights Plan, Same Sex Marriage Plan, Abortion On Demand Plan, Tolerance of Everyone and Everything Plan, How to Return all Troops to the U. S. in The Next Six Months Plan, A Get Tough Plan, adapted from the French Plan by the same name and a How Everyone Can Become as Wealthy as We Are Plan.
I forgot the No More Katrina Storm Plan.
Now I know why I feel good after the elections. I am going to be able to sleep so much better at nights knowing these dedicated politicians are thinking of me and my welfare.
So Happy New Year to the blogger, Mr. or Ms. Negative, who seems so down on things here in the U.S. Perhaps you are a good candidate to LEAVE THE U.S.A!
And if the above is not enough for you “Anonymous”, here is another bit for you to chew on!
In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England 's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America , he said:
"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in ... And how many want out." Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
Stick that in your pipe and smoke it!
"Vote R" has posted a truly great answer to the doom sayers who post here and elsewhere. At dinner last night, someone asked me (and I did not have the exact number) how many American GIs died in WW2. Perhaps somone out there will save me the time and come up with the answer. But I know this: every loss of an American GI is one too many, but the fight against Terrorism by the greatest military in history has cost us about 3,000 lives. Vote R told you of the success those lives paid for. One battle in WW2 paved the way for freedom in Europe and the world.
Happy New Year America. If the media will stay out of second guessing our generals, we will continue to be free.
And thank God for George W. Bush. Few people in America and certainly few in the world have the courage of their convictions and the buck truly does stop with him.
And God bless us all in 2007, and thanks for a mostly enjoyable 2006 blog. May we exchange ideas in 2007 with a new civility.
Happy New Year! -- pwf
Agree with the comments about the article that inferred that Albert Peak’s payment of $300 for his property was improper. Maybe he should be paying $300,000. If so, then our four County Fathers and one County Mother should change the classification of Peak’s property. In the meantime, he’s paying what he was told to pay. Maybe he should just be a good citizen and pay the higher amount. Or better yet, maybe the Star Banner’s mother ship the NYT should be a good citizen and just pay a higher corporate tax rate than they are required to!
My hometown newspaper, the Gainesville Sun, printed a good letter to the editor a few weeks ago. It reinforces what a couple of bloggers have commented on.
“Set aside just one day for good news reporting”
I am getting to the point that I hate reading newspapers, watching television and listening to the radio. All you see and hear every day are the negative things in the world. I am so tired of the negative politics, the negative war, all the crimes, the "bad" athletes.
I would love to see one day set aside for nothing but positive, good news. Could we please have one day a year - just one day out of 365 - to report nothing but good news? I really think the media - TV, radio, newspapers, etc. - would be surprised how well the American people would respond to news with a positive twist.
Maybe we could set February 14 - Valentine's Day, the day of love - to only report the good things that happen and the good things our people do. I would venture to say that 90 percent of everything that happens daily is good. So why not report those things? Leave the other 10 percent for the other 364 days of the year.
One day of reporting in the United States where everything is good might change the hearts and minds of everyone and encourage them to try to make the world a better place. What have we got to lose? Isn't it worth a try?
Susan Fabian,
Keystone Heights
A neat suggestion.
Check your facts, Zannetti voted on a Steve Hering contract just weeks earlier when it was a much larger dollar amount. The board voted 4-0 allowing hearing to provide door hardware. Weeks later Kurt brought up the ethics ruling and then the vote went 2-2 on a door hardware replacement contract of a much lower value. Both times the Board attorney came back with an approval ruling....
Anonymous said ...Both times the Board attorney came back with an approval ruling....
Jeez, how much do we pay this attorney? Can't we do better?
Sounds a lot like the hospital board's excuse for the sunshine mess.
If my company attorney let me get indicted, i would fire his/her tail in a minute.
From the S-B instant news link:
"Attorney general's opinion: Hering's contracts with School Board appear to violate law"
BY JOE CALLAHAN
Star-Banner
OCALA -- The Attorney General’s Office of Florida issued an opinion recently that indicates School Board member Steve Hering may have been violating state statutes when bidding on contracts with Marion County Public Schools.
That opinion, released Dec. 12, came despite three earlier rulings by the Florida Commission of Ethics that said the practice was OK.
Hering says he will no longer bid on providing doors and other supplies to the School District. He further states he never profited from the contracts but provided doors at cost to save the district money.
"I never made money, and at times lost money, when it came to those contracts," said Hering, adding he was only fulfilling a campaign promise from when he was first elected in 2000.
Hering said he has told Superintendent of Schools Jim Yancey he will no longer bid on any projects in Marion County. Hering was awarded $39,000 in contracts in 2006, $25,000 in 2005 and $81,000 in 2004.
The issue surfaced in December 2005, when School Board member Kurt Kelly questioned the practice, stating that even the appearance of impropriety was not in the best interest of the School District.
The School District policy, established years ago, states it is OK for a board member to seek a contract as long as it was through a sealed bid process.
Kelly said the ruling means the School Board policy needs to be rewritten to parallel the state law quoted in the attorney general’s opinion.
"The issue at hand is public trust," Kelly said. "If we had known of this statute, this whole debate would have been moot, and I am sure Mr. Herring would have not continued to seek the contracts."
On three occasions, the state ethics commission said it was OK for Hering to bid on contracts as long as those bids were sealed. The commission cited the Florida Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees in making its decision.
However, the Attorney General’s Office states that there is a sub-section to the statute that applies to providing materials, supplies or services. And that subsection applies to school districts only.
"No contract for supplying these needs shall be made with any member of the district school board, with the district superintendent, or any business organization in which any district school board member or the district school superintendent has a financial interest whatsoever," the statute states.
"Why doesn’t this apply to other boards?" said Hering, who questioned the fairness since county commissioners and city councilmen can offer sealed bids to the city or county they represent. "It just doesn't seem right."
School Board member Ron Crawford agreed. He believes the Florida Legislature needs to look at numerous laws and make them consistent with all government offices, from county commissioners and city council members to school board members and the legislators themselves.
Before Hering was elected, his company, Steven B. Hering Corp., offered sealed bids on supplying the school system with doors. Hering’s Ocala-based company, the only local one of its kind, sells industrial hollow metal doors and frames, as well as wooden doors and industrial hardware.
After he was elected, he continued bidding, and was awarded, contracts for those supplies based on the sealed bid approach. But instead of making a profit, Hering said, he intentionally only bid the cost of the materials so that the School District would save money.
"Now, these materials will cost 10 to 30 percent more," Hering said. "That’s how much I was saving the school system. How many companies could stay in business at providing supplies at cost?"
School Board member Sue Mosley, who was criticized during this past election by her opponent David Alvarez for supporting Hering’s stance, says the School District is losing out and will now have to pay more money.
"He was proving those materials at cost out of the goodness of his heart," Mosley said. "In no way is Mr. Hering a crook, and no one should perceive it that way. Now, we will have to pay more, and that extra cost will come from the taxpayer. That is a shame."
So it could be that the entire School Board also violated the law by approving the contract. Doubt there is much that could be done about that, since they were advised by an "incompetent" lawyer!
Yes there is....remove the whole damn School Board from office!
That would include politican kurt kelly who voted several times to approve the same contract before he suddenly found it looked bad to the public (after Steve crossed him on a vote), so let's get rid of them all. I'd do that to get rid of him. What a joke.
By the way-- why did it take from Dec. 15 until now to get an Star Banner "instant news" flash????
If as I read it, this law applies only to the school board, the state law needs to be changed to include all government and frankly, all public bodies. And, we do not need any new school policy, Kurt. The state law will do just nicely, thank you.--pwf
PWF,
Seems to me the Steve Hering contracts issue is one of those “no harm, no foul” type of situations.
Another example of several Florida laws (including certain sections of the open records and meetings laws) that creates a conflicting, non-competitive, inefficient and costly-to-taxpayers way of working. Either repeal this law or broaden its coverage to ALL elected officials.
I prefer repeal, and let the local governing units (school board, etc.) decide on a best policy that has to be justified to us local folks as fair, equitable and cost effective. Local government just might do a better job of defining policy than the state legislature.
Of course it makes sense and that is why it wont happen. --pwf
Why did the Banner take so long to cover the story?
Probably Joe Callahan was too busy letting all of us know his progress on his smoking cessation program to cover the Hering contract bidding and School Board screw ups!
STRAW POLL UPDATE
Here is an update on Straw Poll results, as of this evening (53 participants):
(1) The Marion/Ocala EDC is working with county, City of Ocala and state officials to put together an economic package to keep E-One in Marion County.
Should E-One be offered taxpayer-supported economic advantages in the range of $14 million to keep it from leaving Marion County?
47% - Yes
53% - No
(2) A simple explanation of Zero-Based Budgeting is basically requiring departments to justify and prepare their budget on the basis of “what resources (financial and otherwise) would you need to operate if you were starting as a new department”.
Do you think the County Commissioners should require the Zero-Based approach for County Departments in place of the current approach of starting from a base of what did they spend last year?
85% - Yes
15% - No
{We’ll run the poll for another week.}
I respectfully disagree with Stan and PWF re no blood no foul on the School Board issue.
First, to have an insider bid, creates the impression of impropriety. We, the owners of government should not have to guess, suspect and wonder if everything is on the up and up. Paul, you, of all, are suspicious of everything. If one of your enemies were bidding you would raise holy hell.
Second, if you were an outsider, bidding against a good-ole-boy, would you bother to bid? I submit it is anti-competitive to let the insider bid.
PW, if yer guessing who I am, return my phone call I left for you two weeks ago, and I will confess.
I’m SHOCKED that so many people are supporting E-1 in the poll results! Are they stupid or what?
Hering's contracts--blah, blah, blah....
Callahan's articles about him trying to stop smoking are much more interesting.
Just have each School Board member required to do NO work at all and that will stop the "appearance of impropriety". Mosley can stop selling real estate, Kelly his background check business, Hering selling doors and however the other two are employed, they should stop work. All personal employment by public officials can attract a challenge of impropriety.
Ridiculous requirement? Probably yes, but no more so than the current law.
What frustrates me about the corporate welfare being considered for E-One is how little they care about their employees here in Ocala. It is all about “me the corporation”, and what can I get out of the local community. A good example is the recent resignation of the Home Depot CEO. That company will put out $210 million dollars in severance money to him when he leaves. This is a voluntarily resignation not even a forced job loss! The total package is seven times the $30 million Home Depot set aside last June for stores and employees that provide good customer service. You can bet your ass that E-One would be just as generous with their top executives at the expense of the “workers” and the company’s need to spend money to modernize.
Also, I just read that Federal Signal (E-One’s owner) has sold some non profitable businesses for $67 million and will make profit on those sales. How about directing some of that profit to their operation in Ocala, if it’s so important in the future?
Herring, blah, blah, blah
Herring breaking the law, blah blah blah
School Board violating the law, blah blah blah
Ridiculous Law?
So much for a Nation of laws!
If you don't like the law then have it changed. Until then we should expect and demand that the law is enforced. This situation is well past "appearance of impropriety", and crossed over to the arena of illegal!
If they have violated the law, which it looks more and more like they have, our new Governor needs to "sweep" the five school board members right out of office. Let's get five in there who know what they are doing. Obviously, this group doesn't.
Notice a couple of bloggers have suggested Charlie Crist remove the School Board members. Either you bloggers are wishful thinking Democrats and/or you have had one to many hits on your crack pipe.
No way in Hades is Crist going to remove five Republicans from office in Marion County for something like this incident! Crist is a Republican and don’t you forget it. He is off to a good start by playing the media like a violin. Just watch, his true Party colors will come to the front and his love life with the media will get back to what it would be with any Republican Governor in office.
Go hit your crack pipes again and see what else you can dream up. Removal isn't in the cards.
I sure wouldn't bet with you on the removal from office--as you say, is not about to happen. First, would be tough to prove that they each were knowingly violating the law and second, the violation most likely, even if proven, would not have removal from office as a penalty.
So, PWF, here you go again blaming Kelly for bringing to light, something he felt wasn't right with Herring bidding. Then you blame Alvarez for also bringing this subject to light during his campaign against Sue. When in fact, they both were right.
And Saint Sue? Her quote in the paper "Now, we will have to pay more, and that extra cost will come from the taxpayer. That is a shame." Shame on you Sue! If you honestly think the taxpayers would rather save money than abide by the law, you are mistaken. Makes me wonder what other "deals" you have made to save us taxpayers money. Voters: Remember this when she puts her name in the hat for running in the next commision or council race.
to anonymous: Just have each School Board member required to do NO work at all and that will stop the "appearance of impropriety". Mosley can stop selling real estate, Kelly his background check business, Hering selling doors and however the other two are employed, they should stop work. All personal employment by public officials can attract a challenge of impropriety.
What a ridulous statement! The bottom line is you just can't do business with the entity you are employed by..duh. Just like you can't be employed by McDonalds and play their Monopoly game. It's called "conflict of interest" or what I call "common sense".
Agent
Sent a letter to my Commissioner about zero based budgeting today. I'll let you know what he says. I'm also going to talk to Councilman Kay about it.
SB Instant news headline was
""Attorney general's opinion: Hering's contracts with School Board appear to violate law"
by the time it appeared in print it was toned down to "Legal opinion questions Hering's school bidding"
Fact: The award of the contracts to Hering was against the law.
"No contract for supplying these needs shall be made with any member of the district school board, with the district school superintendent, or with any business organization in which any district school board member or the district school superintendent has any financial interest whatsoever"
NO contract
School board member
Whatsoever!
Is it true that the law is not broken until or unless you are charged???
I'll accept that the law was violated when someone with "legal authority" tells me that it was. Won't accept the word of some dumb ass, politically motivated blogger to tell me what is or isn't legal. I want a decision on the totality of the situation, not just a restatement of what the law "seems" to say. Case law sometimes reverses what a law seems to say...especially in Florida.
Anonymous (7:55 AM),
I'm with you.
ANYONE HEARD ANY MORE NEWS ABOUT E-ONE'S DEPARTURE? IT HAS BEEN AWFUL QUIET.
Oprah Winfrey has earned my admiration for her defense of why she gave $40 million to build a girls school in South Africa. Oprah’s explanation, she is tired of wasting her (contributions) money on our U.S. education system. What a statement!
Oprah is most likely right on point. She expressed frustration with her many visits to various inter-city schools and the reaction of students to getting a good education. According to Oprah, most of the students she talks with are more interested in obtaining an I-Pod and/or a nice set of designer sneakers than an education.
She went with investing in South Africa because there the students were much more interested/appreciative of the essentials of a good education. So if anyone wonders why many of the overseas education systems are going to continue to beat our butts, just listen to what Oprah is signaling to you.
We better start concentrating on things that count in improving our education system, rather than farting around debating how doors are being purchased!
Excellent point Stan. Good for Oprah. At least those girls want an education; something that should be considered a privilage and not a right. Oprah is a role model for those girls. You'd think our School Board would want to be the same; a good role model.
Stan, are you going to be running for the School Board?
To Anonymous 7:55
"Won't accept the word of some dumb ass, politically motivated blogger to tell me what is or isn't legal".
I believe you are the "dumb ass" since you obviously can't read nor understand what a law states. Whether comments are politically motivated or not, that is not the point. A law is a law; whether you get caught or whether it is enforced, is a whole different story. Interesting that your average citizen has to monitor elected officials. Herring is the one that continued to make a fool out of himself by deciding to to bid just out of "spite", knowing of the controvery involved.
I agree totally that elected public officials should not be doing business with the government unit they serve. I also feel equally strong that they should not have direct relatives employed by the unit they serve. No parents, spouse, brothers or sisters should be allowed to work in the school system or other govt. unit the elected official serves.
"I also feel equally strong that they should not have direct relatives employed by the unit they serve. No parents, spouse, brothers or sisters should be allowed to work in the school system or other govt. unit the elected official serves. "
Does it not follow that voting to raise the pay of your wife and your own job is also a conflcit of interest??? Huh????
Maybe you Kelly defenders can blog a while on that eone.
--pwf
I repeat,,,,remove ALL of the School Board members and let's start with some new blood. The governor should intervene in what is a "suspicious" set of circumstances. I am now wary of the ability and judgment of all five Board members.
I say make the State law apply to all elected officials or do away with it. Think I have already seen that suggestion several times. Looks like some of you want to continue to beat a dead horse for political purposes. Doubt what was done with Herring’s door contracts would impact who I vote for among the School Board members one way or the other.
Sorry Paul, but this is not about Kelly. Another story; which you personally should go ahead and pursue since you are the only one who care's about him...what about your Golden Girl, Sue? She is as much to blame since she did vote for Herring's proposals. At least Kelly voted "No". If raising the pay for ALL School Board Members is "against the law", then go ahead and make a case to the Ethics Board or check the Florida Statutes for such violations. Let us all know what you find out.
We must have seen the same interviews. I watched WESH Sports on Firday evening and saw a couple of UF football players really do a disservice to representing the student athlete at UF. However, in the world we live in, I'm sure that academics is a distant second to getting a pro football contract on the list of priorities for both of the players interviewed. One of them couldn't even qualify for entrance to UF until he completed two years at a community college outside of Florida (which had a football program, by the way). Don't react too negatively, it's just the way our education system is. At least that's what I hear from the academic types.
The issue of Zero budget is scheduled for the agenda, next City Council meeting, which, me thinks, is Jan 16, at 4:00. All you folks who know how it works, or at least someone needs to articulate, with some degree of precision, how it works. Sitting in front of a computer, and bitching about it, will not get it done. Waving a hand in the air, sprouting platitudes, like a televangelist isn't either. Give em specifics, examples.
I have no clue how it works, or I could help.
Before everyone forgets the discussion about removing all of the school board members, I invite you to remember the number of you (exactly zero - one) who stepped up to the plate to run for this very important office. I hope to be available to discuss zero based budgets at the city meeting on Jan 16 if they didcuss it (can't promise cause frankly I dont like night meetings after 50 years of them) but I suspect there will be not one person in the audience.
Folks, as long as elected officials do not hear from voters, they will continue to raise your taxes. Governments will always expand in direct proportion to space and money. It's an addage given to me by someone so long ago I have forgotten when and who so I will claim it with a * in front. CU at council (maybe). -- pwf
Anon . . . as long as your boy Kurt voted a half dozen times for the Hering contract and didn't quit until he got mad about something else, he is in their with anyone else you want to blame. And while a dollar is more than enough to waste, I will bet even you can find more waste in a month than the total of the cost contracts Steve has had with the schools since he started bidding. And I will bet he has contributed more to the schools out of his pocket each year than you have in a lifetime. --pwf
PWF,
Don't forget the new early-start time for the city council meetings. you won't have to be there so long.
Even the Ocala Star Banner says that Hering's business with the School District was against the law. A law has been broken.... now what?
Why does Charlie Rouse hate the hot dog lady, Judy Havican?
She has the best dogs and the best
and most up to date news. She should write a byline for the star-banner ...
FREE JUDY
i think i'll do a public records request of ruse's e-mails, calls, etc. and find out who has put him up to his campaign against judy. once we know. if any downtown businesses are involved, the names can be posted on the blog and we can start a boycott of their businesses. have a feeling ruse didn't do this without some egging on by someone. i'm for law and order, but how about some serious violations being looked at.
CHARLIE RUSE SHOULD BE 'PLUTOED'.
Lost Our Way says . . .
“No spouse, children, parents, sisters, brothers, or in laws of any member of the District School Board or District School Superintendent shall be employed in any capacity by the School District. This policy has no grandfathering.”
This is a good policy for all government, including the state legislature. -- pwf
From what I have read on this column, it looks like the Kelly/Alvarez people are out after Sue Mosley again. Guess they just can’t stand the fact she beat the pulp out of them and is on her way to even bigger political opportunities. Sue is better than the whole Kelly/Alvarez clan put together and has much support for the way she ran her campaign, and she is serving the community very well, thank you, as a School Board member.
PWF mentioned the continued push for higher local taxes. Well at the Fed level, it looks like the Bush tax cuts may go by the wayside as a first attack area for the Democrats. I have no problem with that, but look at what in those cuts is costing the taxpayers the most money over the 10 years they are to be in effect:
-Low earners rate @ 10% instead of 15%
(Cost: $433 billion)
-Child tax credit
(Cost: $204 billion)
-Estate and gift tax
(Cost: $138 billion)
-Dividend tax credit
(Cost: $126 billion)
-Marriage penalty relief
(Cost: $63 billion)
-Reduced capital gains rate
(Cost: $22 billion)
Want to make an impact? Do away with ALL OF THE ABOVE! Just don’t take the easy way out and do away with the tax relief that appears to benefit the families earning more money. Although, that is the PC way out, even though much of these tax relief provisions contribute the least cost in the reduction package.
By the way, dividends and capital gains tax breaks are not just for the high income people.
Enough about Kurt Kelly already!
The guy isn't worth spending time on. He is a useless politician who is on the Board only to advance his own agenda. He doesn't give a hoot about anyone but himself.
“No spouse, children, parents, sisters, brothers, or in laws of any member of the District School Board or District School Superintendent shall be employed in any capacity by the School District. This policy has no grandfathering.”
I don't necessarily disagree, but I am challenging the issue. Where does it stop? Can the brother of a principal work?, How about department heads? Can the wife of the Garbage dept work for the X department? Does this extend to a paramour? What happens if my brother and I work for the City and I get a promotion to department head? So yer gonna fire him for something I did?
This is not as simple as it may seem at first blush.
LOW--
Your argument makes sense to me. I think the Hering Law and your anti-nep policy are good for the citizens. Takes away the opportunity for abuse of power by these upper level people who we have elected. Hope someone on the board has the guts to push the anti-nep issue.
Hey Josh, your blog was off line way beyond the times you said it would be!
The Gators may not do interviews very well but they sure can play football.
GO GATORS----NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!
The Feds could pick up about $300 billion if they went after the deadbeat taxpayers.
I agree with Lost Our Way. Should be totally ethical and above board on all possible issues of conflict.
“Crist Yanks 283 Bush Appointees”
Gov. Charlie Crist just announced he was withdrawing all pending nominations to state boards by former Gov. Jeb Bush, a whopping 283 names, including the much-watched nominations of Phil Handy and T. Willard Fair to the state Board of Education.
Of local interest, on the list of those being withdrawn are:
Peter Tesch--Board of Directors Florida Development Finance Corp. (Tesch is President of our local EDC—working on keeping E-1 in Ocala).
Riadh Fakhoury and Carol Runnels-Sullivan--Board of Trustees CFCC.
Hope these folks were on Charlie’s side during the election! Otherwise, their “reappointment’ may be in jeopardy. Of course he may just want to signal to them that he is the Bossman, not Jeb, when he reappoints each.
Good move by the Governor.
Now he can weed out those who supported Tom Gallagher!
I’m not reactionary or anti-Muslim. However, a friend sent me a link to a video that is truly chilling and scary as it relates to the expansion of Muslim influence and the possible consequences of our failing immigration system. Makes you really think about where we might wind up someday.
http://www.usawakeup.org/
Be sure to click on “Enter Site—Where Patriots Dare” after you look at the video.
Don
(OTOW)
If you check it out, you will find that what Crist has done is not unusual for a new incoming Governor. They have all done that, including Bush.
Addition to my comment above. If anyone is interested in seeing the complete list of appointments that Crist rescinded copy and paste the link below:
http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/files/Memorandum.doc
Don: Chilling and scary is an understatement about the video.
If you take away the violence, some of the Muslim objectives are very similar to what we see from radical right Republicans. That is also really scary!
In response to debate in Tallahassee about who should replace John Winn, outgoing Florida Commissioner of Education, here is one of the best quotes I have seen:
“Unless parents take responsibility for the education of their spawn, there will be NO changes in educational progress in Florida -- no matter who is in "charge"!!”
Hey EDC since you have so much advertising dollars to through around for such an ungrateful company like E1, how about reaching out to the little businesses and helping Judy!
"Judy the hotdog lady is Essential!"
Call ###-###-#### to let them know you support our local employer!
I'm with you. Let's help Judy. She's is "Essential"!
Have it from good sources that Judy the Hot Dog Lady is considering moving her business to either Georgia or North Carolina. Confidential government officials at cities in these two states confirm discussions with her. EDC is working on a counter offer called "Save the Cart". Details forthcoming, once E-One has been saved.
Give her a 20 year lease (for $1.00) on a downtown parking space for use during her work hours. She will not move her business to another state. Come on City Council, save another business.
How about Jim Warfort for Education Commissioner?
It’s Warford and NO WAY should he become Commissioner of Education!
The State can do a whole lot better than him.
Two articles in the paper on the experiences of other cities who have lost major businesses indicate what many have said: there is life after E-One.
Three guys -- a Canadian farmer, Osama bin Laden, and an American engineer are walking together one day. They come across a lantern and a Genie pops out of it.
"I will give each of you one wish, which is three wishes total" says the Genie.
The Canadian says, "I am a farmer, my dad was a farmer, and my son will also farm. I want the land to be forever fertile in Canada."
Pooooof! With a blink of the Genie's eye, the land in Canada was forever made fertile for farming.
Osama bin Laden was amazed, so he said, "I want an impenetrable wall around Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran with all believers of Mohammad inside and all Jews, Americans, and other infidel forever outside our precious state."
Pooooof! Again, with the blink of the Genie's eye, there was a huge wall around those countries.
The American engineer asks, "I am very curious. Please tell me more about this wall". The Genie explains, "Well, it's 5000 feet high, 500 feet thick and completely surrounds these countries........ it's virtually impenetrable. Now what is your wish?"
The American engineer smiles and says, "Fill it with water."
Pooooof!
WORLD PEACE!!
LOL!
Wish peace was that easy.
Anonymous said...
Good move by the Governor.
Now he can weed out those who supported Tom Gallagher!
8:41 PM, January 10, 2007
I do realize that part of the reason voters elect new political officials is to basically start fresh with each election year. However, I do not see the point in "weeding out" good, experienced workers solely for the purpose of revenge.
When re-appointments are made, the decision should be based on the quality of work the person has presented in the past. Workers should not- I repeat- should not be punished for exercising the basic rights of every American citizen guaranteed in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
To the victor goes the spoils.
That's politics and anyone who gets involved better be ready to pay the price. Has nothing to do with the Constitution. If Crist has appointment power over a job and wants someone else in it, then so be it. Political appointees are fair game. If they are doing a good job and agree with the new Governors direction, they will probably be safe. I can tell you, Gallagher would have done the same thing.
P.S. To Agent:
How is your wife getting along after her surgery?
A School Board with balls---try Orange County. They are proposing raising school impact fees on new construction to the range of $9,400-$11,000. WOW!
Either they have guts or no political sensitivity to the developers. I credit them with guts. Wish our Board had as much fortitude.
re School Impact Fees
On May 23 of 2006 the Marion County School Board approved a impact fee (single-family home $3,517). They paid a consultant to give them a formula. Once they had the formula they proceeded to allow the use of invalid, outdated, and unrealistic data to be plugged into the formula.
They severely understated; the cost of construction, the cost of land, the number of children generated per household. In summary every number was wrong.
A conservative estimate would place the impact fee at least 2.5 times the current bogus figure had realistic numbers been used.
Have they met their promise to "pass it for now" and then go back and revise it by October with as many "real" numbers that they can?
Hmmm wonder why not?????????
I'm going to try to one up "Peace Maker".
Poor Saddam! (From the Iraqi Press Service):
The entire Muslim community was angered today when it was revealed that Saddam Hussein received only 34 virgins after death. That's less than half the number of virgins promised in the Koran.
"Muslim law says he should get 72 virgins", said Muslim cleric Salaam Mohamed Bin Taj Din al-Hilali. "He was the leader of a nation. He should get at least 72 virgins if not more!"
Several sources said there were several reasons Saddam was not awarded his allotment of virgins. One unnamed Shiite cleric said "The main reason is there are not as many virgins in heaven as there were at the time the Koran was written. I am sure Saddam will get more virgins as eternity progresses. This is only a temporary situation. Also, there are people in heaven that are opposed to Saddam because he killed them. As more supporters of Saddam's die there will be a greater chance of him getting his virgins".
Very few Muslims were willing to blame Allah directly for Saddam's lack of virgins. Allah was unavailable to comment.
OK, I'll add to the humor.
I’m pro-choice when it comes to capital punishment related to Saddam.
Saddam should have been given two choices upon sentencing: (1) death by hanging or (2) six dates with Rosie O’Donnell. This would have been a no brainer for Saddam (i.e., same result as happened).
Re Impact fees.
When impact fees don't cover growth, the cost of growth has to come out of the operating budget. Far too long have our local governments ignored this and continued, year after year to rob the operating budget, thus imposing the cost of growth on the property tax payers. IMO, we have been worshiping the wrong god. I strongly support increasing our impact fees.
Obviously, we need the infrastructure that growth is demanding.
A second, and I feel equally important byproduct, is that we will, to some degree, deter invasion of a bunch of broke newcomers. We do not need an influx of families with more kids than teeth, who work, off the books, have zero health care, and become involved in our legal system.
If newcomers can't afford Marion County we need to encourage those folks to seek their future in economical Mississippi. We taxpayers don't need to subsidize problems.
We need a state impact fee.
The first thing that comes to mind in implemanting a state impact fee is to put a fee on each building permit issued, and charge the issuing body with the responsibility to collect and remit.
We already have some sort of impact fee associated with registering a new car into the state.
Agent . . .I just got around to emptying my answeering machine, and then walked off and lewft your number on my counter -- a senior thing, I guess. Call me Monday ayem at 694-1461 please kind sire. --pwf
If things keep going like they are with higher impact fees and the insurance problems being solved, the insurance and developer folks aren’t going to have many political friends to support in the future. That might not be so bad.
LOOK ITS PWF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AQqIsarf_A&mode=related&search=
Doesn't look like him at all!
PWF is much better looking than that guy and does a better political ad!
He's not been eating enough at the table my wife sets!
--pwf
LORDY, LORDY!
RANDY HARRIS IS NOW WORKING LIKE THE REST OF US. HE IS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE CUSTOMS HOME DIVISION OF ARMSTRONG HOMES. A GREAT JOB TO KEEP HIM ACTIVE IN DEVELOPING CONTACTS FOR A RETURN TO POLITICS IN 2008.
NOW IF SOMEONE WOULD JUST OFFER BRYAN CREEKBAUM A JOB!
Would you buy a house from Harris? Wonder if he has a pay as you go plan? I'm sure he doesn't believe in any other type of financing.
Yes, I would buy a home from him. I do not agree with lots of his politics, but I trust that he belivess what he says and his word is good with me. keep on bashing him and he might return, but I'd bet he will make so much more in private sector he wont bother with all the hate. He will just leave those who hate to find someone else to try and smash.
MANY PEOPLE SURE HOPE YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT HARRIS AND HIS FUTURE IN POLITICS. HOWEVER, IT WON'T HAPPEN.
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