When the U.S. Conference of Mayors released its wish list of “ready-to-go” projects on Dec. 19, it included requests from 641 cities around the country. The total cost of the projects on the “ready-to-go” list is . . . a little more than $96.6 billion for 15,221 projects. These projects will create 1.2 million jobs for 2009 and 2010 . . . so we are led to believe.
That’s a lot of money. But, it is far less than the United States government has already handed out to Wall Street and only about three times more than it intends to hand out to the automobile industry. The projects range in nature from museums to swings for parks to various green energy projects. Some are interesting. Some are just idiotic.
How is the money to be obtained? Why, from your pockets and mine. President-elect Barack Obama has intentions of handing out $775 billion to $1 trillion of your money to help revive the economy of our country. He along with our senate and congressional leaders insist that only government can save our country from further economic meltdown. Now, that is a very scary thought – only the government can save us from economic ruin?
Ah, who the heck got us in this in this mess to start with? I do not care which political party you are affiliated with, they are both at fault. The politicians in Washington, D.C., were not watching out for us – the very people they serve.
But now, let’s get back to the “ready-to-go” project wish list prepared by the mayors from across this great nation. There were 10 Alabama cities that presented requests for the list – Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, Decatur, Florence, Auburn, Gadsden, Tuscaloosa, Bessemer and Edwardsville. Mobile asked for the most money for projects at $1.1 billion. Birmingham requested $69 million that will create 1,885 jobs. Huntsville asked for $559 million that will create 26,204 jobs. Auburn asked for $11.1 million that will create 238 new jobs. Tuscaloosa’s request amounts to $17.5 million and will yield 290 new jobs. Florence wants $4.5 million to create 50 jobs. Decatur has asked for $98 million that will create 1,060 jobs. Gadsden’s request is $67.7 million that will create 2,251 jobs. Bessemer wants $427.4 million that will create 2,913 jobs. And Edwardsville listed projects worth $375 million that would have created 4,677 jobs.
I bet most of you have never heard of Edwardsville. It’s located along the eastern border of Alabama between Anniston and Atlanta. Most of the money the city – and I use the word loosely – of 194 people wanted the bulk of the money for energy projects and a big chunk for vineyards, a railroad renovation and street lights . . . lots of street lights. That part of the city’s request – the street lights – is what sent a lot of negative comments to the small community. Because of the many negative comments, and negative media reports, the city withdrew its requests from the project list. That was probably a smart move on the city’s part, but that is not to say that many of the projects were not worthwhile. I commend the small community of progressive thinkers for setting forth their ideas.
What Edwardsville did may be compared to someone firing a shotgun at a target, maybe one of the pellets would hit something. They threw out a bold plan for the future and then pulled it back. I commend the city for at least being a part of the plan.
Phenix City was not among those presenting a list of projects in the report – neither was Columbus. With the future impact of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) on our communities, we can certainly come up with some project to be included in the list. If I had been asked to suggest a project or two for the plan, I would have wanted to include two new elementary schools for our school system. That is the type of project President-elect Obama wants to see. I’m sure he would have jumped on board with our project and handed us the money to build right now - immediately.
That would be a great thing, a great project, for our community. But, I have to ask, after the construction of the two schools, how do we fund the operation of those two facilities? Alabama is under proration that could be increased to 17.9 percent by Gov. Bob Riley. We are being forced to cut our current budgets for the schools we already have in place. Where is the money going to come from to operate two new schools?
Oh, I forgot. Praise be, the government is going to save us.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
You cannot trust a cat
If I have learned one thing in my life, it is you cannot trust a cat.
No matter how much trust you place in them, they will turn on you in a split-second. I can attest to that after recent events within my own household.
We are the “cat” people of our neighborhood. I’ve explained our situation in the past – six cats, seven if you count my dog’s cat, and just four people.
Recently, I received an injury – several injuries – to the back of my right hand. I received those injuries from the teeth of our cat, Harrison. He’s a big – very, very big – part Persian. Anyway, he is gray with long hair. And, he has very sharp teeth.
Harrison was lying beside me on my bed. It’s my bed even if he thinks it is his. Cats can be so territorial. Stupid me decided to pet him. Bad move on my part. He was not in an “I-want-to-be-petted” mood.” In fact, he was in a foul mood.
Harrison decided to let me know he did not wish to be petted – with his teeth. He nipped me on my hand.
Now, under usual conditions, a nip like he gave me is an indication he wants me to continue petting. Not this time. He wanted me to stop. I got my signals crossed and continued. He sank his teeth in a little harder and wrapped his claws, both of his front paws’ claws, into my hand for good measure – to make me understand he did not wished to be petted. I got the message.
I think Harrison got the message I sent in return. I swatted at him and made him leave the comfort of my bed. No, I did not actually hit him. I just swatted at him. He is far too fast for me to land an actual blow. He did not go peacefully into the good night.
Later, while I was still in my bed, relaxed and reading the new James Patterson book, “Double Cross,” he returned. It is apt that I was reading that book because Harrison had a “double cross” for me.
I allowed him to return to the exact spot from which I had chased him away from earlier. He got comfortable and I continued to read. He nuzzled up close to me. And, here’s where I made the second mistake, allowing him to exact his “double cross” plan.
I reached to pet him, thinking all was forgiven. It was not.
Harrison repeated his initial actions – grab hand with claws and bit down . . . hard. Now, I believe in the saying, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” I was ashamed, very ashamed I had been out-witted by a cat – a hairy, fat, gray cat.
I swatted and he ran, again, before I landed a blow. But, I had a plan this time. I chased him.
He headed for the front door. Now, if Harrison sets his mind to it, he can push our glass storm door open with his head. Out the door he went with me chasing afterwards. I lost him in the dark. Hey, he’s gray and it was dark.
I was feeling badly about the situation once more. After all, he’s just a cat and cats are poor dumb animals. Right? Wrong. Like I said, I lost him in the dark and there was no way I could leave him outside. My wife and daughters would kill me if I did. So, I spent half an hour looking for him before tiring and deciding to go back inside to take my medicine from the family for letting him get away.
Low and behold, Harrison was lying on the bed in my room. My wife and daughters said he had been in there for at least a half of an hour. What? Yep, the poor dumb animal had circled around to the side door, which was open so that the dog could go outside, and reentered the house.
Want to know who felt like a “poor dumb animal” then? Me. I hate that cat. Next time I’ll check the back door before I spend a half hour looking. Next time – with cats, there is always a next time.
No matter how much trust you place in them, they will turn on you in a split-second. I can attest to that after recent events within my own household.
We are the “cat” people of our neighborhood. I’ve explained our situation in the past – six cats, seven if you count my dog’s cat, and just four people.
Recently, I received an injury – several injuries – to the back of my right hand. I received those injuries from the teeth of our cat, Harrison. He’s a big – very, very big – part Persian. Anyway, he is gray with long hair. And, he has very sharp teeth.
Harrison was lying beside me on my bed. It’s my bed even if he thinks it is his. Cats can be so territorial. Stupid me decided to pet him. Bad move on my part. He was not in an “I-want-to-be-petted” mood.” In fact, he was in a foul mood.
Harrison decided to let me know he did not wish to be petted – with his teeth. He nipped me on my hand.
Now, under usual conditions, a nip like he gave me is an indication he wants me to continue petting. Not this time. He wanted me to stop. I got my signals crossed and continued. He sank his teeth in a little harder and wrapped his claws, both of his front paws’ claws, into my hand for good measure – to make me understand he did not wished to be petted. I got the message.
I think Harrison got the message I sent in return. I swatted at him and made him leave the comfort of my bed. No, I did not actually hit him. I just swatted at him. He is far too fast for me to land an actual blow. He did not go peacefully into the good night.
Later, while I was still in my bed, relaxed and reading the new James Patterson book, “Double Cross,” he returned. It is apt that I was reading that book because Harrison had a “double cross” for me.
I allowed him to return to the exact spot from which I had chased him away from earlier. He got comfortable and I continued to read. He nuzzled up close to me. And, here’s where I made the second mistake, allowing him to exact his “double cross” plan.
I reached to pet him, thinking all was forgiven. It was not.
Harrison repeated his initial actions – grab hand with claws and bit down . . . hard. Now, I believe in the saying, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” I was ashamed, very ashamed I had been out-witted by a cat – a hairy, fat, gray cat.
I swatted and he ran, again, before I landed a blow. But, I had a plan this time. I chased him.
He headed for the front door. Now, if Harrison sets his mind to it, he can push our glass storm door open with his head. Out the door he went with me chasing afterwards. I lost him in the dark. Hey, he’s gray and it was dark.
I was feeling badly about the situation once more. After all, he’s just a cat and cats are poor dumb animals. Right? Wrong. Like I said, I lost him in the dark and there was no way I could leave him outside. My wife and daughters would kill me if I did. So, I spent half an hour looking for him before tiring and deciding to go back inside to take my medicine from the family for letting him get away.
Low and behold, Harrison was lying on the bed in my room. My wife and daughters said he had been in there for at least a half of an hour. What? Yep, the poor dumb animal had circled around to the side door, which was open so that the dog could go outside, and reentered the house.
Want to know who felt like a “poor dumb animal” then? Me. I hate that cat. Next time I’ll check the back door before I spend a half hour looking. Next time – with cats, there is always a next time.
What the heck were you thinking?
Pardon me for asking, but. . . “What the heck are you thinking?”
Oh, the question I am asking is for our current Phenix City council members and mayor to answer. Well?
I guess I should be a little more specific. Here goes. When you chose to run for the offices you now hold, did you know the compensation package that went along with the positions? You did? Well, then I ask again. . .”What the heck are you thinking?”
At a recent council meeting the members of the council and mayor approved a resolution requesting local state representatives to increase the compensation for their positions through a change to the city charter by way of the state legislature. They did this right out in the open and not one of them bucked the idea. Apparently, not enough of you out there in the public – the people who take the time to vote to put these people in the positions they serve for the compensation that was known by each of them – did either.
I am not necessarily opposed to changing the compensation for the council and mayor. The current compensation is ridiculously low by today’s standards. I am, however, opposed to changing the city charter which sets that compensation without a vote by the people of Phenix City. The people voted to create this form of government in 1977 and set the compensation for the council and mayor. I am strongly opposed to any change in our city charter that is done without the approval of the people. The compensation set was never intended to be an enticement for people to run for public office.
But, this council and mayor, like some of the past, want more. They want a lot more.
In the legal section of this newspaper, there is a proposed Act to be presented to the state legislature in February, possibly, that calls for an increase in compensation for the council and mayor. When you first read the Act, it leads you to believe it is an Act that will affect all Class 5 cities in the state. It does not. It affects only one Class 5 city in Alabama – Phenix City. It also says the compensation for the council and mayor, once approved by the state legislature and by a vote of the council and mayor, will be increased to equal the compensation paid to the members of the Russell County Commission. That would mean the compensation for the council and mayor would increase from around $60,000 total annually to around $120,000 with the mayor - if approved unanimously by the council and then approved by the mayor himself - would receive $35,000 and the other four council members would receive a little over $21,000 annually - if approved by a majority vote of the council members themselves.
About two years ago, when the question was placed before the people of Phenix City on whether they wanted a fulltime mayor with a salary of $50,000, the answer was a resounding “No.” Now when there is a proposal to give fulltime pay to the council and mayor for part-time positions, you do not trust the people to give an honest answer?
Some argue the council members and mayor spend a lot of time at city hall handling duties. Why? We have a city manager to handle the day-to-day operation of the city. If the council members and mayor are there for so much time, it is by choice not by any requirement. And, if they are around that much, there is the temptation to meddle in city business that should be handled by the city manager. That is a violation of the city charter. Perhaps there should be an Act presented to the state legislature to amend the city charter to make the punishment for any council member or the mayor who meddles in the duties of the city manager to be more severe than the current “shame on you” punishment. That is an Act I would support wholeheartedly as long as the people have the opportunity to vote on the matter first.
So, this council and mayor, during these harsh economic times, want to increase the compensation for their positions? If nothing else, the timing is wrong. And, the voters have not had a chance to express their feelings.
Oh, the question I am asking is for our current Phenix City council members and mayor to answer. Well?
I guess I should be a little more specific. Here goes. When you chose to run for the offices you now hold, did you know the compensation package that went along with the positions? You did? Well, then I ask again. . .”What the heck are you thinking?”
At a recent council meeting the members of the council and mayor approved a resolution requesting local state representatives to increase the compensation for their positions through a change to the city charter by way of the state legislature. They did this right out in the open and not one of them bucked the idea. Apparently, not enough of you out there in the public – the people who take the time to vote to put these people in the positions they serve for the compensation that was known by each of them – did either.
I am not necessarily opposed to changing the compensation for the council and mayor. The current compensation is ridiculously low by today’s standards. I am, however, opposed to changing the city charter which sets that compensation without a vote by the people of Phenix City. The people voted to create this form of government in 1977 and set the compensation for the council and mayor. I am strongly opposed to any change in our city charter that is done without the approval of the people. The compensation set was never intended to be an enticement for people to run for public office.
But, this council and mayor, like some of the past, want more. They want a lot more.
In the legal section of this newspaper, there is a proposed Act to be presented to the state legislature in February, possibly, that calls for an increase in compensation for the council and mayor. When you first read the Act, it leads you to believe it is an Act that will affect all Class 5 cities in the state. It does not. It affects only one Class 5 city in Alabama – Phenix City. It also says the compensation for the council and mayor, once approved by the state legislature and by a vote of the council and mayor, will be increased to equal the compensation paid to the members of the Russell County Commission. That would mean the compensation for the council and mayor would increase from around $60,000 total annually to around $120,000 with the mayor - if approved unanimously by the council and then approved by the mayor himself - would receive $35,000 and the other four council members would receive a little over $21,000 annually - if approved by a majority vote of the council members themselves.
About two years ago, when the question was placed before the people of Phenix City on whether they wanted a fulltime mayor with a salary of $50,000, the answer was a resounding “No.” Now when there is a proposal to give fulltime pay to the council and mayor for part-time positions, you do not trust the people to give an honest answer?
Some argue the council members and mayor spend a lot of time at city hall handling duties. Why? We have a city manager to handle the day-to-day operation of the city. If the council members and mayor are there for so much time, it is by choice not by any requirement. And, if they are around that much, there is the temptation to meddle in city business that should be handled by the city manager. That is a violation of the city charter. Perhaps there should be an Act presented to the state legislature to amend the city charter to make the punishment for any council member or the mayor who meddles in the duties of the city manager to be more severe than the current “shame on you” punishment. That is an Act I would support wholeheartedly as long as the people have the opportunity to vote on the matter first.
So, this council and mayor, during these harsh economic times, want to increase the compensation for their positions? If nothing else, the timing is wrong. And, the voters have not had a chance to express their feelings.
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