Hi everybody.
I have been absent from the blog for a while, mainly because we moved last week and it took forever to get my system set up again. Then I had an eye infection. The last week was pretty much a washout but things are looking better.
There is so much going on now that I don't know what to write about. The disgraceful way Barbara Sillings was treated at the council meeting, the death of the LOIT tax, (yea). But I will think of something soon.
Thanks,
Shirley
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83 comments:
Welcome back, Shirley.
Thanks to Citizens for Accountability for stepping up to the plate and stopping this tax.
Shope questioned why Egge did not hire displaced assessor Sillings, since she had the skills, training and cerifications to do the job. Her answer was ok until she found out she could not fire Sillings.
What a bitch that Egge women is.
When is everyone going to stop and ask the question: is this what a local government FOR the people would be doing TO the people? What goes around will come around for Assessor Egge, just mark my words.
PEOPLE EVERYWHERE ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS. I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH MRS. SILLINGS BUT...THIS WAS A SET UP ON BARBAEA.
Barbara "lost her job for doing her job" Egge was politically manipulating the tax base to get re-elected. The last thing (the state) wants "the public to know is that the system is flawed and has political reprcussions."
I think it's as political as it is personal between them two. They both fix taxes, and I don't care what anyone else says.
You forget one thing. the bill eliminated the assessing duties, not the job. Elected officials are losing their jobs because that is their only duty - although they got paid for the 2nd half of 2008 while not having a job.
If they're fixing taxes, they both need to lose their jobs. No wonder our city is broke.
County leaders faced alot of public pressure thanks to Denhart and Citizens for Accountability and I'm glad.
I agree with them that local government needs to learn to budget like the rest of us do. Why don't England and others take a pay cut and live like the rest of us that's taking on 2-3 jobs just to get by and pay our bills?
I know not everyone working in the CC Building makes alot, but for those who are driving taxpayer owned vehicles, maybe they need a dose of reality.
I'm so glad we moved out of the city to the county. You folks just had to vote England back in. One definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing in the same way over and over and expecting different results. Boy he sure fooled you all, didn't he?
I can't understand why you done that, but I'm sure someone can explain it.
Any takers out there?
Would the last one to leave New Albany please turn out the light.
Leave the few of us who have jobs alone. No new taxes, Cut staff, oark the cars, whatever it takes. Enough already. We have no more to give. If we all end up unemployed who will pay those taxes then? Our cops are corrupt and greedy.
Has anyone noticed the cops now have their wives writing letters? We only wished we made their kind of money and had christmas presents under our tree.
It is time for our leaders to live within their budget and quit taking from ours.
Mayor England recieved a 11K raise before he was even sworn in. His first order of business he created several well paid positions that did not exist prior to his administration. He purchased a run down church that is sure to be a white elephant. He just spent 200K to buy out EMC contract. Anyone out there sensing a pattern besides me? Congratulations Citizens for Accountability. What great strategy(someone finally telling the truth about the Police and our city)and THANKS for stopping this LOIT Tax.
Also, here's a tip, atop building all the crap downtown and wasting all our money for nothing. How about all our local officials take a cut in their pay? Instead of every year voting themselves a raise. Everyone is hurting, we don't need NO more taxes or NO increase fees.
I hope the Democrats will at least select a better Democrat next election, if you will not vote Republican.
I agree NO LOIT. England is hurting people like myself who attempt to save so someday I can own a house. So I received no property tax break, I received a sales tax increase my income taxes as well? Tell me how I am to save to purchase a house when SOB govt eats my money?
CITIZENS OF NEW ALBANY SHOULD DEMAND AN INVESTIGATION OF BOTH ASSESSORS OFFICE.
If the city is broke why did England hire Carl,Jogn, Matt, four police officers who are at the academy? Scare tactics. Hitler used them just like the mayor is. This is very poor leadership by our mayor. I guess these people have never lost a home due to taxes.
These bastards will drive more people into poverty but then they will have control over them if they do it. Learn to budget like everyone else.
You overspend so you want me over taxed? Why would that be fair? No new taxes at all.
I suggest England offer to work for $1/year and supplement his salary loke we do with a real job instead of making us pay for his inability to budget like others do in the state.
What is the controller doing?
Nothing. What ever England wants, England gets.
Has been, for a long time, the same tactics in Chicago -- pay to play. New Albany thinks they are "little Chicago"; that would be part of the problem.
The "Administration" also feels they are Peyton Place when in fact they (most) are simply playing out the roles of Harper Valley PTA.
Karma.
Off topic the Lords Prayer: "I beloeve we call pn our Lord to direct us, to give us wisdom, to bring us together. Any council member who pushes to stop the Lords Prayer should be removed from office." Any one who does nit believe in God should be ran out of town on a rail.
Off topic the Lords Prayer
Shame that Erika doesn't allow comments over at FOS, isn't it?
Any council member who pushes to stop the Lords Prayer should be removed from office."
As viewed today at NA Confidential, the city's code of ordinances calls for an invocation to be said by ministers of different faiths, and says nothing about the Lord's Prayer per se.
Any one who does nit believe in God should be ran out of town on a rail.
Why, that's very American of you, anonymous. I'll take it personally. Just the same, you're cordially invited to discuss the matter at NAC, although you'd have to reveal your identity to pass our rigorous standards of non-cowardice.
Where's a Wiccan when you need one?
I also agree. This will be a tragedy and an intellectual setback for the citizens of New Albany."God is the Supreme Being. Period. Full stop,"we should all bombard our city council with emails and letters" urging council to keep the Lord's Prayer. As a Christian, I'm deeply disturbed.
You only wish your blog was as good as FOS. Drop dead you arrogant atheist.
Talk trash on your own blog why don't you. NO one cares what you have to say.
There's nothing arrogant about asking the council to follow the city's ordinance and have an invocation made my ministers of different faiths, at least so long as there's diversity.
Other than that, sticks and stones thrown by distempered anonymous folks won't break my bones, but names won't matter, either.
Talk trash? Nah, not really. Erika won't take comments, and the little people seem terrified that someone might found out who they are and call their bluffs, so I come here for sheer entertainment.
Y'all know who I am, but I don't know who you are. If you think that's fair, keep throwing the bricks. I enjoy it.
Be smart bloggers.Ignore him, he only wants attention.
Actually, he just wants the council to follow its own law.
It's really no wonder then that those who seek special accommodation by having the council break the law are ashamed to sign their name.
bluegill,
Go play in your own sandbox, no one here cares what you have to say.
Gee, why can't we all just get along?
I'll drink to those comments.
Welcome back Shirley. Egge should have given Sillings a job in my opinion. Great post.
I agree with Citizens for Accountability "NO new LOIT Tax."
I also believe in limited government and holding elected officials accountable for their actions and waste.
Citizens for Accountability have now been called a group of troublemakers a time or two,(newspaper) and if it means they cause problems for tax wasters and freedom haters to fight back, then in my view they should wear that label as a badge of honor.
Don't you agree Shirley?
Yes, I agree that Citizens for Accountability are doing a great job. I guess that is why people are upset with them.
As to removing the Lord's Prayer from council meetings: Why is there such a stir about it now? They have been saying the Lord's prayer or having a minister give an invocation for years and the roof has not fallen in. I am surprised that some of the council members who proclaim that they are Christians want this part of the meetings removed. If a person does not wish to participate that is their option.
And getting back to the Sillings/Egge issue: I attended a meeting where both of these people were present and Barbara Sillings handled herself with dignity and grace, even as other people were expressing their outrage over the situation. She is a fine representative as an office holder and hopefully she will run for another office in the future.
Has the city even discuss cutting cost or improving efficiency?Did they bother to ask the taxpayers? Mayor England stumped about new job creation. Where are they? What has he done but get himself and other raises. An increase in income tax will have a negative affect.
At a time when all of us are adjusting our budgets to cope with the poor economic climate, this makes NO sense.
Local government should be setting the example of fiscal responsibility.
Hats off to Citizens for Accountability.
The CJ's reporter, Ben, simply didn't stand and or participate in the Lord's Prayer.
The Democrats were told when Stumler was elected Chair of the Central Committee "he" was bringing God back into the Democrat Party. Some were offended. We were not aware God had "left" the Democrat party.
Shirley, hasn't there been a committee formed to draft a new platform for Floyd County Democrats (I guess the State and Federal platforms are not good enough)? Did you volunteer to serve on the Committee? Was it not suggested the meetings be held at Richo's?
An anomaly, that's what it is!
Yes there is a committee being formed to draft a platform for Floyd County. I was asked to be on this committee along with Ron Toran and Prof. Tom Wolfe. There will be 6 others. The national platform and the state platform have their own agendas so Marcey thought we needed one for Floyd County. So far there has not been a meeting place suggested.
Dr. Wolfe suggested that the Young Democrats might want to meet at Richo's since many of them attend IUS.
The Young Democrats staged a few functions at Rich O's during the recently concluded election season. I am unaware of any other meetings proposed for the pub, although anyone (including Republicans) might ask to use the meeting space subject to the usual terms.
In the past, we've hosted fundraisers for several Democratic candidates, including one occasion hosting primary opponents on consecutive weeks.
Why only 9 people on this committee? What if someone else wants to join?
What is the agenda for Floyd County? Will this committee come up with one?
If anyone wants to join the platform committee they need to contact Marcey Wisman.
Parents and schools are trying to keep students from getting drunk and causing wrecks that sadly kill students and passengers.
Why is the DEMOCRAT PARTY encouraging
young DEMOCRATS to meet at a beer parlor?
The students who have had accidents that caused deaths have to live with
that horrible memory the rest of their lives.
WHAT IN THE WORLD HAS HAPPENED TO OUR
LOCAL DEMOCRAT PARTY ?
Maybe the Young Democrats didn't like the cucumber sandwiches and sasparilla at the Luddite Bar and Grille?
WHAT IN THE WORLD HAS HAPPENED TO OUR LOCAL DEMOCRAT PARTY ?
I want to know, too. After all, a bunch of them voted for John McCain ... and that's not very Democratic, is it?
How many precinct committee persons are on this platform committee?
Shirley,
This is meant to be a serious quesition and not mean spirited in any way.
Would you REALLY feel the same way about the prayer if it was to, say, Allah? Or if, say, Maury gave the prayer?
Mark
THE DEMOCRAT PARTY LEFT US, WE DIDN'T LEAVE THEM.
Mark,
Are you for real?
My question to you is what would God's answer be?
I see The New Albanian did not make the list again this year. That should definitely tell you something readers.
My question to you is what would God's answer be?
Um, which one?
Anonymous 1:49
That's a good one !!!!!!!!!
I see NAC is slamming you again Shirley for allowing anonymous postings.
Happy Holidays
Mark,
I believe the city council says the Lord's Prayer before the meeting if there is not a "minister" (no specific religion) to give an invocation.
If someone wanted to offer a prayer to Allah I would not object but probably would not participate. If Maury or his Rabbi gave a prayer I would participate. (We Catholics are closer to the Jewish people than we are to Buddists or Muslims). Not trying to be funny, this was a serious answer.
Good news to report. In less than a month the LOIT Tax was voted dead, and now the Commissioners voted NO to Annexiation. Now that's what I call progress. Maybe England will now see we mean business.
Shirley, did you attend last nights Council meeting?
Good news. In the last month the LOIT Tax was declared dead. Now this week the Commissioner's stop the Annexiation. Now that's what I call progress.
Merry Christmas Bloggers
Why is NAC calling youre blog slanderous?
Freedom of Speech protects everyone by giving the RIGHT to express themselves.
Clearly NAC does not understand the Constitution at all.
Just read the crap he chicken scratches and then tell me that's not slanderous BS.
Shirley,
Fair enough. And the answer that I thought(and hoped)that you would give. I doubt that some(many)of the other posters here would be as generous and respectful.
Good to see you again last night.
Mark
NAC understands the Constitution perfectly well, which is why we have strenuously advocated a Constitutionally mandated redistricting on the part of the council.
Here's the comment (not a marquee post) that I made yesterday at NAC:
What's really pathetic about all this, and something that serves as the perfect metaphor for the New Albanian experience, is that FOS doesn't allow comments of any sort. We do, but under reasonable guidelines. Shirley allows all and sundry (but with no foul language, which just means that the slander can proceed in a more genteel manner).
Thus, the people who should be talking to each other do not.
The only mildly controversial word I used is "slander," but to look back over the history of local blog comments is to see very clearly that abuse increases with anonymity. Simple as that. It's easy to call someone else an SOB is you don't have to do it to his face, and anonymous cowards take this course of masked slander with clocklike regularity, all the while insisting that if they weren't able to wear masks, some akways unidentified person would retaliate against them.
It's childishness, nothing more, nothing less. You are taken seriously when you stand by your beliefs and take responsibility. I do this. Many others don't. I don't suffer from cognitive dissonance. Others do. I suppose it takes all types to populate a dysfunctional city that would rather die than learn.
Until you take responsibility, you remain little. And that isn't a good way to be.
BTW, see y'all in the Tribune. My guest column begins on January 8. Story ideas are always welcomed!
Anonymous 5:25
You are absolutely right. Once again, Roger demonstrated that he doesn't understand the Constitution.
Constitional rights should really be called "constitutionally protected rights." The Constitution did not confer these rights, but it does explicitly protect some rights - rights deemed so very important that some of the nation's founders wanted them explicitly enumerated just so there'd be no misunderstanding.
This is where the Bill of Rights (BOR)comes in.
Does he similarly believe that we enjoy freedom of speech only because the First Amendment says so?
People loke Roger, who think that rights come from Constitution like, that model - that you only have the rights listed in the Constitution. Why? Because the fewer rights you have, the more power government has. And people like him like big, powerful government so they can solve all of society's problem.
It just wouldn't do to have citizens all doing their own things, exercising rights willy-nilly. It makes them too hard to manage. We're more manageable when our options are limited.
Roger Baylor likes the "living" Constitution rather than the "orginal intent" version. The latter limits government powers too much for grandiose socialist plans.
I hope this helps you all understand his way of thinking.
Legal Beagle
Sorry for the typo's Shirley.
Legal Beagle
Mr. Beagle,
You are certainly an educated person. Nice little essay on the US Constitution.
Could you please explain who John Hancock was and why we would not have a Constitution(living or original intent)without him and others of like mind?
Thanks, in advance.
Mark
Doesn't the BIBLE say not to judge Mr. Baylor? In Mathew 7:1-5, Jesus words of caution add crucial instructions on how we can "see clearly" in our judgements: "Judge not, that you be not judged." For what the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (meaning the little people's eye.)
Our Constitution would not have been ratified without leaders like James Wilson, John Hancock, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton.
John Hancock, the Governor of Massachusetts and also the president of the convention.
He had reservations about the Constitution, he had been elected to the convention as declared "neutral" on the question of ratification.
The convention had been going on for nearly a month and a kind of stalemate had developed. The opponents did not have enough votes for outright rejection of the Constitution, the proponents did not have the votes to win ratification without amendments, and no one knew how to get valid amendments before ratification.
Hancock came up with the solution.
He proposed that the convention "assent to and ratify the said Constitution" without conditions, and simultaneously recommended a set of amendments to the First Congress, to be enacted according to the amending provisions in Article V of the Constitution.
His amendments dealt with such things as protecting states powers, restricting congressional powers over elections and taxation, prohibiting monoplies, requiring grand jury indictments, limiting the powers of federal courts, and some lesser matters.
It was a novel solution, a major breakthrough that certainly saved the Constitution from ultimate defeat.
None of them touched on subjects we might have expected, such as religion, press, speech, assembly, or petition.
Personally, I think Mr. Hancock would have taken "any one to the proverbial woodshed" for trying to subvert our freedom of speech.
Happy Holidays
Legal Beagle
That's some good writing there Mr. Beagle.
Merry Christmas
AREN'T WE TALKING ABOUT THE NEW DEMOCRAT LOIT TAX?
Happy holidays everyone, off to finish my Christmas shopping.
What a refreshing blog.
I know next week most folks will not be as attached to their computers, so I thought I would send a Happy Holiday's and Happy Hanukkah greetings to all.
Hope you have a great holiday Shirley. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy 2009. See you all next year.
Big shout out to New Albany, HAPPY HOLIDAYS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN NEW ALBANY IN 2009, ANYONE WANT TO PREDICT?
Thank you Legal Beagle for your excellent comments regarding our Constitution. It has been a while since we heard from you.
Someone asked about predictions for 2009:
I see an awakening in the general population of NA and Floyd Co. More people will join committees and neighborhood associations. They will not just sit back and be told what to do, they will make their voices heard continously instead of just at election time.
I know many economists see our economy getting worse before it gets better. Unfortunately I agree that 2009 will be a rough year for many of us. But things will slowly turn around after Mr. Obama's plans go into effect and people are put back to work.
That's all I have for now. The two cells in my brain are getting tired.
Just to add to legal beagle's nice piece, John Hancock also SIGNED HIS NAME LARGE ENOUGH SO THE KING COULD READ IT WITHOUT HIS GLASSES.
Other than Shirley, if it was up to the rest of the posters on this board, we would be singing God save the Queen instead of the Star Spangled Banner.
I PREDICT ENGLAND WILL GO TO JAIL, OUR CITY WILL FILE FOR BANKRUPCY. THERE WILL BE MANY AUDITS AND INVESTIGATIONS. MY HOPE IS FOR WORLD PEACE.
To visit the site that Legal Beagle copied her commentary from, while passing it off as his/her own words, one can see it here:
http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID
.17989,filter.all/pub_detail.asp
Gee, why be such a party pooper and expose the plagiarism?
After all, Legal Bagel is sooo entertaining ...
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