Tilting at Windbags...

The nasty, mean hate-filled hyperconservative bloggers who I have obliquely referred to before are at it again, greasing up their poison keyboards and probably polishing their jackboots and practicing their Heil-salutes in front of the mirror at the same time. The funny thing is they keep attacking CP ad hominem and dismissing CP, claiming that CP is unimportant and worthless, yet they act and REACT (as in reactionary!) as if CP is influential and powerful. In other words, they scoff at what CP writes yet they keep writing--and writing a lot, about CP while telling their readers how pusillanimous I am!!!

As I have said before--it's beyond irony, but the truly funny thing is that they end up driving blogger traffic to this site. The half-truths, innuendos, mistakes and misleading claims in the last one were laughable (their first post in a month and devoted to me!), but they sure got me a lot of free publicity. Thanks guys (Watch--as soon as this is posted, they'll be all over me again, like diamonds on a rattler's scales....hisss...hisss....).

Now, on to more important matters such as saving the world from crypto-fascists. (Ohh-that's sure to upset them.....)

Picturesque Brick Streets.....and....Entrenched Mistrust: Sound Familiar???

There's a big walk going on throughout the city today as a show of concern about crime and violence among local youth. You won't get the full story from any media account, including this one, but a piece in today's Sun will help explain the efforts of an Annapolis High School based group called FUNK. And since CP will never give up pounding home the notion that the egregious and shameful disparity between the have-too-muches and the have-not-enoughs remains the number one social issue confronting our community and culture and should be everybody's concern, I have excerpted the below quote:

"Meanwhile, FUNK's members, some of whom live in the public housing being condemned as dens of crime, say they see a city struggling to reconcile two worlds. One has million-dollar waterfront homes and swanky boutiques and restaurants on picturesque brick streets; the other has dilapidated low-income communities suffering from years of splintered public safety efforts and an entrenched mistrust among residents, the police and security."

See the Sun's article at www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-md.ar.crime17may17,0,4438324.story

A Reader's View About The Market House

Loyal CP reader Faith Goldstein sent us the following. Thanks to Faith for writing:

I said in my comments that I thought that the Market House should be a real market place similar to the Farmer's Market in downtown Bethesda.

Two days a week , like in Bethesda, there should be an active market with fresh produce, baked goods, flowers, crafts etc. It is a very vibrant place and smaller than the space here. Bethesda Farmer's Market is only open two days a week. Annapolis has the best of both worlds….permanent businesses with the possibility of the Market Event twice a week as well as an active art and artisan community who might love the opportunity to display their work.

I would love to see our Market open air most of the year with possibly movable walls or sliding doors for the coldest months. It doesn't have to feel so sterile. The food vendors could be in the more closed in part, but the end could be left open… much more inviting than a long cold hall.

Many European cities have market day twice a week and when we travel we often choose a venue according to this schedule. Maybe our Mayor or Council could check these out.

On Downtown Market days the street could be closed off to cars and if there are enough vendors. it could grow into the street between the Market and the Hard Bean Etc.

This is a great potential pedestrian area and it would be good for the businesses there who are parking dependent much of the time. The trolley could have increased trips from the stadium on these days.

The idea of community character is a strong planning value in the coming ten year plan, as is a strong economy . The market would provide more opportunities for walking and less driving. Annapolis was a port and a market and it would make sense to return to the past in this situation.

Possibly you could add this alternative to you list of choices. A grocery store is not broad enough.

Faith Goldstein

Hail to The Chief--The New Police Chief That Is....

I have not had the pleasure of meeting the new police chief and was unable to attend last nights ECA meeting unfortunately, but if Earl Kelly's piece in The Capital is any indication, I really missed a good meeting.

To begin with, let me telescope this quote from Janice Hayes Williams, a black historian who spoke at last night's meeting:

"You are fighting crime," she told Chief Pristoop, "but you need to understand what you are dealing with. You are dealing with people who lived 40 years in public housing … They haven't had law enforcement in 40 years."

Let us repeat that quote for those of you out there on drugs:

"You are fighting crime," she told Chief Pristoop, "but you need to understand what you are dealing with. You are dealing with people who lived 40 years in public housing … They haven't had law enforcement in 40 years."

Was that an indictment of public housing? Was that an indictment of the previous police chiefs?
Was that an indictment of previous and current government leaders?

I have heard rumors that Chief Pristoop was not Mayor Moyer's choice but that he was chosen by the Governor and The House Speaker. I have no ideas if this is accurate, but it makes sense to me.

There is a new chief in town and I look forward to seeing him leading our law enforcement efforts with effective leadership and management.

And just one more time for effect....

"You are fighting crime," she told Chief Pristoop, "but you need to understand what you are dealing with. You are dealing with people who lived 40 years in public housing … They haven't had law enforcement in 40 years."

See Kelly's article in The Capital at:
www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/05_16-29/CAN

Hummin' Along.....Quote of the Week

In a may 13 article about growth in public transit ridership, I found the followinf tidbit, which I just had to amplify here for your reading pleasure:

Eastern Shore resident Lori Hinton says she would love to ride transit, but the commuter bus she could catch on Kent Island would drop her too far from her workplace in Capitol Heights outside Washington.

She is desperately looking for an alternative to driving her H3 Hummer every day, which she said uses $600 a month in fuel. "Driving a Hummer, it takes about $78 to fill up one time," she said. "And I fill up 2 1/2 times a week."

Well-duh lady! Let's see, $600 a month in dollars flowing to foreign suppliers, means $7200 per year for your gas bill alone. That's more than most people on this planet earn in a year! Can you imagine the public transit system that could be provided for her and millions of others at less than $200 per month in fares? The article goes on to state that she is trying to sell her behemoth guzzler on E-bay. Good luck. I guess she and millions of others who bought gas guzzlers and then decided to commute hundreds of miles or more per week were just exercising your free will as Americans--your free will to own what you want, waste what you want, pollute what you want, build any size house you want where you want all because of your belief in the righteousness of a "free market". Now, you will see the downside of that "free market" that created this wasteful and sprawling world of destruction. What? They nationalized their oil company? Send in the Marines!

...if only we had enacted a carbon tax...oh, but that would have been bad for business!!!

City Council Update from Alderman Arnett

(Note--see below from Alderman Arnett about his position on budget issues. I think Ross is doing the right thing by not rushing all this through, which appears to be what Mayor Moyer is trying to do. Why don't you get in touch with Ross and let him know what you think?

Ward 8 Residents

The regular Public Hearing of the Annapolis City Council will be held on May 19, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Below is the agenda for the meeting with the sponsor and brief description. All Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 99 Verizon channel 34.

Note that, in addition to the public hearing, a legislative session has been added to the agenda. As is evident, a major focus of the legislative portion of the hearing is on the Fiscal 2009 Budget. I have added comments in italics and underline after some of the legislation.

I indicate my likely vote with my comments, and send out these email blast to give you a chance to let me know if you think I’m headed in the correct direction. It is my practice to comment only on legislation that has had a public hearing and has gone through the Council Committee process.

PUBLIC HEARING

O-59-07 Port Annapolis Harbor Lines [Shropshire] – For the purpose of amending the configuration of the Annapolis harbor line outboard of Port Annapolis Marina, 7074 Bembe Beach Road on Back Creek.

O-10-08 Establishing Regulations for Sale and Application of Lawn Fertilizer [Stankivic, Moyer, Shropshire, Arnett] – For the purpose of prohibiting the application and sale of lawn fertilizer containing phosphorous except in certain instances; adopting appropriate definitions; specifying that the violation of these provisions is subject to fines established by the City Council.

R-20-08 Fines Schedule Updated for Lawn Fertilizer Violations [Stankivic, Moyer, Shropshire, Arnett] – For the purpose of establishing fines for the improper application of or display for sale of lawn fertilizer.

O-12-08 Requiring Fiscal Impact Notes for All Legislation [Stankivic] – For the purpose of requiring that no charter amendment, ordinance, or resolution may be introduced on first reader unless accompanied by a fiscal impact note prepared by the Finance Director.

FY 2009 BUDGET

O-09-08 2nd R. Annual Operating Budget: FY 2009 [Moyer] - For the purpose of adopting an operating budget for the City of Annapolis for the Fiscal Year 2009; appropriating funds for expenditures for the Fiscal Year 2009; defraying all expenses and liabilities of the City of Annapolis and levying same for the purposes specified; specifying certain duties of the Director of Finance; specifying a rate of interest to be charged upon overdue property taxes. I believe that the Council is moving too fast on this budget and I still have several unanswered questions and concerns. It is always nice to get the budget approved and out of the way, but we have until 30 June to enact it and many of us need more time.

R-13-08 2nd R. Capital Improvement Budget and Program: FY 2009 to FY 2014 [Moyer] – For the purpose of adopting a capital improvement budget for the Fiscal Year 2009, and a capital improvement program for the six-year period from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2014. In addition to my needing more time, I know that the Finance Committee has held no official and open discussions on the CIP. Also, by law, the Planning Commission must review the CIP before it can be approved. The Commission hearing is to take place this Friday evening, May 16, 2008. This leaves very little time for deliberation on their findings by the Council.

R-16-08 2nd R. FY 2009 Fees Schedule Effective July 1, 2008 [Moyer] – For the purpose of affirming without change other fees that will be charged for the use of City services for FY 2009. Neither the Finance Committee nor the Council has had any official and open discussion of the new fee schedule and there are a lot of issues to be debated on fees. A large number of the fees have not been changed in years, sometimes even decades. It is likely that the City is not covering its costs and is losing appropriate revenue. Some fees may appropriately be increased by tenfold, but should we do that all at once or on some annual schedule?

One fee that for private moorings, has been at $500 for many, many years. The cost to service those moorings is between $2500 and $3000 and some have suggested raising the fee to that level. However, that is a steep increase and is higher than the rate for some slips. It also seems to fly in the face of what Annapolis is all about – a maritime village. This is but one example of the sort of discussion the Council still needs to engage in before passing the budget package. Unless there is a dramatic change between now and Monday evening, I will join others on the Council to delay a vote on the budget three resolutions – we still have time to do this properly.

BUSINESS AND MISCELLANEOUS

Approval of union agreement: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Local 3406 (Trades, Maintenance and Labor)

Next City Council meetings:

Monday, June 9, 2008, City Council Chamber - 7:30 p.m.

Monday, June 16, 2008, City Council Chamber - 7:00 p.m.

As always, you can call me [410 295-9743] or send an email [EastportRoss@aol.com] if you have questions or concerns.

Ross Arnett, Alderman, Ward 8

What The Folks in Annapolis Roads Say About The Golf Course

(The below letter was sent by Anastasia Hopkinson. President, Annapolis Roads Property Owners Association to the mayor and city council of Annapolis as well as to County Councilman Josh Cohen and County Executive Leopold and key staffers. Why does none of this surprise me? Perhaps the mayor will see fit to respond and CP will be pleased to publish her reply.)

Dear Mayor Moyer and Aldermen;

On May 13, County Councilman Joshua Cohen forwarded an email to Mayor
Moyer and the City Council stating that his decision whether to support
or oppose the proposed purchase of the privately owned Annapolis Roads
[AR] Golf Course and the adjacent 6+ acre supporting "Club House" parcel
located in the center of our community would be based on the decision of
his constituents in the Annapolis Roads Community.

Hence, the Board of Directors of the Annapolis Roads Property Owners
Association [ARPOA] finds it important to state publicly its position on
this proposal by the City of Annapolis.

Diligent efforts have been made by several residents of Annapolis Roads
to obtain factual information, including documentation of the
representations by the City Administration that it had executed a
contract to purchase the Annapolis Roads Golf Course. Unfortunately, the
information provided was unsubstantiated, conflicting, confusing, and
incomplete. A detailed chronology of the efforts to obtain accurate
information is provided below, "Chronology of Information Provided".

Therefore, it is not possible for the ARPOA Board to make an informed
decision. The Board has no alternative other than to object to this
"alleged" purchase since the City Administration has

[a] failed to comply with the required POS procedures resulting in
revocation of that source of funding by the County;

[b] failed to fully inform the City Council,

[c] failed to provide any supporting documentation, including the
alleged signed Contract of Sale and Exhibits, Appraisals, Operational
Analysis, Balance Sheets, and the Application to the Board of Public
Works, and

[d] failed to reveal the full funding source in the City Budget for this
purchase.

Further, I feel it important that you hear directly from me that I have
NOT organized a Committee or authorized any individuals to work with the
City Administration on this proposal. I reiterate that is not possible
to commit to such an effort without being provided sufficient
documentation and adequate facts in which to make an informed decision.

I hope this information assists you in your deliberations.

Respectfully,
Anastasia Hopkinson
President, Annapolis Roads Property Owners Association

Click here for the "chronology" as mentioned above:
www.mail.google.com/a/foerfront.com/?ui=2&ik=d29c1a5c87&realattid=0.1&attid=0.1&disp=vah&view=att&th=119edcc080bcad87

Backroom Manipulations By Those in Power?

From Eastport Gunfire to Annapolitans United Against Crime...Now They Look at Our Budget....

As the Eastport Taskforce to Stop Gunfire flexes its muscles and finds that indeed, mayoral and city council mismanagement is not just limited to crime and law enforcement, they have taken on the city's budget. Below is a recent communication on behalf of the group by Stanford Erickson. CP provides this unfiltered for you as a public service. Remember, CP is beholden to no special interest groups...except the residents of Annapolis:


We are working very hard for accountability by the Mayor and the City Council. But few of our Alderpeople will go on the record with the newspapers to criticize Mayor Moyer. Naturally we need to start demanding that of our Alderpeople. For example, Dr. Classie Hoyle, Chairman of the Finance Committee, called for a meeting of her committee to review the Mayor's proposed budget at 7:30 am on May 7, without sufficiently notifying the public and without informing the press so they could attend. This is illegal.

We Annapolitans United Against Crime had been attending the Finance Committee meetings attempting to know how much money was being spent on crime. We might assume that Dr. Hoyle attempted to hold a closed door meeting so that we could not attend and the press could not report on the meeting.

Two our our Alderpeople took issue with Dr. Hoyle and refused to participate in the meeting, even going so far as clarifying with the State's Attorney General's office that what Dr. Hoyle was attempting was illegal. Finally Dr. Hoyle backed off and announced to the public and the press that a Finance Committee meeting was to be held at 7:30 am May 12, which five members of the Steering Committee for Annapolitans United Against Crime attended. No press got up at 7:30 am, which is probably what Dr. Hoyle sought. Naturally that is my speculation but 7:30 am is not a convenient hour.

Also, the Mayor had sought a vote on the Budget for May 12. In my opinion she wanted to "steamroll" the budget before properly vetting it with the public. Again Dr. Hoyle and the Mayor were informed that because the meeting of th Finance Committee took place on May 12, at 7:30 am, a vote by the City Council on the budget could not take place earlier than May 19, which is what Dr. Hoyle and the Mayor have now proposed. A vote is not needed until June. But if you want to "steamroll" a budget the sooner the vote the better.

I have informed reporters at The Capital and the Baltimore Sun of all of this. But to date, no Alderperson will go on the record with the press to say it all happened. I am not saying that the press has systematically polled all the Alderpeople, but I do know for certain at least one Aldereperson on the Finance Committee refused to be quoted on what Dr. Hoyle attempted.

In other words, it appears that few Alderperson is willing to take the wrath of our Mayor Moyer or Dr. Hoyle or maybe both.

Remember when we spoke up against the crime situation in Annapolis, the Mayor dismissed us as "rhetorical bomb throwers." It took her four months and several killings to admit there was a problem. It appears that no Alderperson is willing to take on publicly that same rhetorical wrath by the Mayor. The mismanagement of our city is evident as well. But so far only Annapolitans United Against Crime and a few others are willing to contest the Mayor on her proposed budget.

This is why members of Annapolitans United Against Crime must speak out and must ask the media for help. The media attempts to be honest brokers but if no Alderperson will agree to be quoted they cannot write the story.

It is important to e-mail or call The Capital and The Baltimore Sun and ask them to write about what Dr. Hoyle attempted and the "steamroll" way this budget is being handled. It is also important to demand of our Alderpeople that they speak out and protect the residents against backroom manipulations by those in power.

Stanford Erickson

Bike to Work Day May 16

CP will be joining dozens of other bike riders at the annual Bike to Work Day. I've enjoyed this event for just about every one of the last ten years or so, except last year when I was stuck on a boat with engine problems. I guess I should have pedaled it to shore? Come to City Dock that morning. Click here for details and be sure to register to win prizes: www.baltometro.org/content/view/258/230/

Golf Course? Off Course?

This week's poll asks whether you think our city should buy the golf course at Annapolis Roads, ostensibly to preserve Open Space. It's in the county whose gov't says it is already preserved. You may of course send comments directly to CP.

What Should Our City Gov't Do About The Markethouse?

The results of this week's poll about The Market House are to the upper left. Respondents overwhelmingly want to see a grocery store. I must remind readers that this is not a scientific survey and we only received 29 votes this week, although our polls generally register two to three times that number. Must be the rain....

It would be nice if our mayor and city council were to figure this out, or at least solicit the opinions and ideas of residents and voters about what to do next. We're waiting....

I think the poll this week should be about the golf course idea......

Here We Grow Again....It's May: Do You Know Where Our Budget Is?

Budgets are complex. People who manage them like it that way. It's the same reason why it takes many of us a day's salary or more to pay someone to figure out what we owe the government for our taxes. Sometimes it's not just what we pay that concerns us, but what we have to do or pay someone to do to figure out what we owe. Are government budgets any different?

The Capital just did a piece about our city's budget and I am left with the impression that the author, Liam Farrell, knows about as much about this thing as the rest of us know. Not enough. This article left me disappointed. We expect more, or should expect more from The Capital. He quotes the mayor, the finance director and alderman or two...and that's it.

Yes, personnel and benefits costs go up. They are essential and usually uncontrollable for the most part. We have a comples city, unsually complex for its small residential population. Much of our land is not taxable yet we have many demandes placed upon us that are not normal for small cities. But there is so much more to our budget, now up to $80 million+ that it requires The Capital to a lot more than just swallow the mayor's line. I register my objection to the lack of solid, detailed reporting about our city's budget which is seemingly headed for a quick approval. We need some enterprise reporting, some real service journalism here.

See for yourself at www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/readne/2008/05_13-15/CAN.
Maybe the Baltimore Sun will do a better job covering this. We can only hope. Call your alderman and ask him or her, "Why does the budget keep going up and up? Why do my taxes go up and up? What are we getting in return? How is this being reported to us?"

This is neither easy to manage or easy to understand, but I will say it again. A credentialed and experienced city manager will go a loooooong way toward remedying this poor management at all levels of our local government. Which alderman and which mayoral hopeful will step forward and call for a city manager???

Curious About Anne Arundel County School Funding? More money, more money, more money...

You'll want to read Eric Hartley's latest column in which he raises a lot of issues about the ongoing funding "crisis" with our county school system. As the parent of AA students, I have been besieged by emails from PTSO and school administrators all freaking out about school funding and all urging me to go to the school board and fight for more. That's right-school administrators send out emails to parents telling us to support yet more funding. It is not the school board but the County Executive who sets the budget with approval from the County Council.

As Hartley points out, the schools get major increases each year yet continue to ask for more. And as he also points out, there are 213 school employees making six figure incomes!!!! Yikes! It's no wonder I use the term "educracy" and refer to the school system's hq at Riva Road as "the palace."

I have long contended that this large and burdensome educracy has to be reined in yet I don't see that happening. Lord knows what all those paper pushers do at Riva Road, yet how can we need 213 of them so badly that we pay them over $100k each per year? I don't get it. I don't the teachers do either. When Dr. Kevin Maxwell can explain that to me, his pleas for more money would make a lot more sense. Read Hartley's column here: www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/05_11-17/COL

My Endorsement for Mayor...(pause as in "Borat"...)..NOT!

A lot of people come up to me (and unless they are writing me a ticket or asking for that money I owe them...) wanting to know who I am going to support for mayor. They ask me probing questions such as "Who are you going to support for mayor?" or "Who are you going to support for mayor?". Sometimes they ask me, "Who are you going to support for mayor?" And sometimes they ask me if I am going to run. Can you believe that? I guess they want an early start on selling their home, quitting their job and moving to Alaska.

So in case you are wondering, I will once again answer. Who cares? Wake me up in about a year. If we can make it through Bush until next January, then I might, I just might think about the next mayor, if of course we can make it through the final days of the current one's term as well.

Maybe, just maybe even I'll run for mayor. Hah! At least you could count on me being totally honest! I'd come right out and say I am not qualified. And how could I possibly pull anything over on the voters with the city's most powerful news media constantly looking over my shoulder? And no, I am not talking about that newspaper. The powerful publisher of that powerful blog ( I mean this blog) knows every little secret about me and has peered inside every closet I've ever been in. I am not even sure that this blog would support me if I ran for mayor. Maybe I could run against myself as it would make for one hell of a debate! (Well, they're you go again.....I know what you're thinking!)

At this point, I am not even sure I'd bother endorsing anyone. But I will accept paid political ads and I can assure you that if you run for mayor and advertise here, I'll still treat you fairly and honestly--at least until the check clears. What I really mean is at least until the paper bag of small, unmarked bills has been hustled away. Yes, you can count on me. And can I count on you? Can I count on your money? Can I count your money?

In all sincerity, ahem, if I ran for mayor, I'd run with the recognition that I am not qualified to be mayor and I'd give you my complete and absolute promise to create a city manager form of government as the first order of business--and then ask for the resignation of every exempt employee...except those that supported my campaign of course. And finally, and again in all honesty, can we puuuuhhhhhllllleeeeeeezzzzzeee just leave this whole issue alone for about a year? We have other stuff to do, such as run a city for example.

Local Blogs May Come and Blogs May Go....Most Have Gone

CP is happy to announce that we recently reached the milestone of 30,000 hits! Since starting just about 15 months ago, we've attracted a following, raised a lot of issues, managed to get a few folks unhappy and angry, yet more than a few people read and actually, yes occasionally, even like what they read here at CP. We've been picked up on other blogs and have been interviewed by mainstream media. And proudly, we have been severely browbeaten by the nasty, mean-spirited and hate-filled hyper conservative bloggers who as I have said before, operate in their own little contagion of cross-posting and re-posting (and composting?).

We promote local events and organizations, alert readers to public meetings and provide links to pertinent websites.

So, we must be doing something right.

Which brings me to the local blog scene. As the title of this piece reads, blogs may come and blogs may go. First the good news. Blog Arundel, which predates CP at www.arundel.blogspot.com is still going strong, mainly focused on environmental and land use issue in AA County. There is a a lot of good stuff here, although posting is erratic, with the latest from April 24th. Blog Arundel maintains anonymity, which CP finds not only unnecessary but it also detracts from its value and reliability. The blog also does not link to other local blogs.

Timm Grins is staying active not only with his Clay Street blog but with his activism on Clay Street where he and his blog are a part of the renaissance going on in that section of town. And speaking of renaissance, www.iliveonclaystreet.com says Clay Street is "the Harlem of Annapolis."

Three other blogs have come and now seem to have gone. One made a few posts and then dropped out of sight. The other came on strong and seemed both valuable and relevant until its publisher started allowing all kinds of nasty and obnoxious comments and letters to appear--and I might add anonymously. That's not had a posting in a month, and the last one was simply a basic report about a homicide. A third seemed quite promising although it was not really politically oriented and it too seems to have fallen.

And one of the above blogs posted that it was helping form yet another blog, this one with an unabashedly and eponymously negative take on our city. It made a few tiny and brief posts which basically asked for negative comments. A few negative comments trickled in and then....it seems to have died. Curiously, that blog had a most remarkable similarity to CP in terms of its template, colors and fonts. How interesting. Well, I guess that imitation is the best form of flattery.

Speaking of which, will someone please send some flattering comments or letters? Or how about some money? Buy an ad? These great pearls of wisdom don't just fall from trees or wash up on this beach. They take serious beer and coffee--and magazines...and cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Yours truly

Paul Foer aka "CP"
foerp@msn.com

One Viewpoint About The Market House

Justa Ordinary Schmoe has left a new comment on your post "New Poll: The Market House.....oy vey!":

you ideas are all well and good, but my primary objection to the dying ( dead) Market House is that it has no soul. The Malling of the Market House brings destroys any sense of community the old funkier Market House had, and unlike school uniforms (for which I have no objection) The lack of distinction this Market House now has is just plain ordinary and dull.

Maybe the mayor wants a 7-11 and a McD's in there.

At least we still have "Chick 'n Ruth's "

Maybe I am stuck in the past..but I miss my chicken wedges and speaking with the flippant Bobby Jerrel ( sp?)

Dear Ordinary Schmoe:

You can still find Bobby around town, making the best fried chicken as always! Yes the Market House has no soul these days. How shall we inject some "soul"? CP