What's A Hundred Dollar Bill Worth (Werth? Wirth?) To You

This happened today at the Farmers Market. After driving to Riva Road and then a slow, nuisance of a crawl around the market to find a spot to park, CP spent a five here, a ten there and pretty soon it was real money. At the largest stand, I paid for some beans, then saw a bag of potatoes for four dollars. I filled a bag and gave the farmer a hundred dollar bill as I had only three "ones" remaining. He refused it. I told him that every other merchant in the USA would want it in addition to millions in other countries. Nope he said. While hundreds of people were shopping--all with cash and thousands of dollars were flowing. I just spent my last small bills with this guy and then he refused to break a "hundred". I offered to sell back the produce I just bought, then rebuy it along with the potatoes so he could make more change. Nope said the farmer. I told him I was here supporting him and other local farmers and that I had bought from his stand for years. Nope he said. He then told me (are you ready for this?) that I should know better not to bring a hundred dollar bill to a farmer's market!!!!@$$#%^^@#!!!! A customer should know better than to bring cash--and lots of it to spend? A customer should be chastised for not having change? A customer is wrong to expect that a merchant who is accepting many thousands of dollars worth of case can make change from a hundred dollar bill to actually sell something to a customer? As if the next ten customers would all walk up and present hundred dollar bills???)

I walked down to another stand where the lady was pleased to accept my money. She looked at the bill carefully, held it to the light and then gave me five twentys. I bought potatoes and then more produce because she took my money.

The stand I am talking about is at the SE corner of the market, next to Riva Road, on the side toward the School Board. It's a large truck, usually two of them, and it's the biggest stand at the market, which makes this story even weirder as he should have the most cash as well. Mr. Money Refuser said it is Werth or Wirth Farm.

I am a big believer in voting with my money and spending it where I am treated well, and if we all believed that and "voted" accordingly, business and service would improve for everyone. I'm avoiding his produce from now on since my money is just not worth as much to Mr. Werth or Wirth as it is to other farmers. Is your money?

(I hope to start writing more about local business I have patronized for many years as my way of helping you and them.)

The Public Says Yes to Public Sidewalks

Our polls are unscientific and the latest one on sidewalks is no exception, although usually we see results more even divided. Unfortunately we received only 28 responses which is odd considering the public outcry over the tax, which has since been ruled illegal. However, the results show overwhelming public support for public ownership and maintenance for sidewalks. See the results for yourself at the upper right. Let's see, what will our next poll be on???? I'm thinking, I'm thinking...any ideas?

Seen on A Bumper in Town

The left sticker read "NOBama 2008" and the right one showed an incandescent bulb and a compact flourescent bulb and read "I am pro choice...about lightbulbs"

Okay smarty pants, so we know where you stand, or at least we know what you are against.

Starbucks Closing? Tears in My Coffee...

I drink maybe three cups a week and only decaf which I make myself, so I could care less that Starbucks is closing one of its many stores in town. Close'em all as far as I am concerned. You know--it's the ubiquitous place that sells three hundred varieties of a hot liquid in a paper cup for three bucks, or four or five...I think it's just silly that people are willing to part so easily with their dollars that they will plunk them down as they do at Starbucks--especially when we have locally owned and operated stores whose owners actually live in town. Do you s'pose it has something to do with an addiction??? Dunnnh! I do think its funny that the mayor attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for the one at Park Place and some other stores just about as it was announcing it was closing. But lo and behold--a plumber's union is moving to Park Place! If only Starbucks had known! Of course they are in sort of the same business-right? I mean moving lots of brownish liquids around quickly for outrageous prices. The more coffee we drink, the more we flush, the more we flush, the more we need plumbers....

If I am gonna sip I'll go to Ahh Coffee and keep my dollars here in town. Personally I prefer beer anyway......

Some Good News And Some Bad

Well, it seems there has been some good news on the crime front lately.

At least one judge is getting serious and sentenced a woman to 30 years for killing her boyfriend and then setting him on fire. Pretty gruesome stuff! This is a far cry from some of the other rulings by Judge North. But it is unclear is she was the same Judge that allowed the woman's son (and accomplice) to cop a plea for time served.

Drugs are the gateway to crime. Apparently working for 23 years for the Federal Government does not provide enough to live on (maybe some Club Fed worker can guess the pay grade for me) that they resort to dealing crack. Catch spies by day, and deal crack by night. Lorna Hommel was convicted of selling crack to undercover officers and Judge Hackner sentenced her to 18 months in prison, but then changed his mind and suspended the ENTIRE sentence! So it appears that she may have spent one night in jail when she was originally arrested. Yes, she is unemployed, but you tell me...does crime pay? Seems like it might.

If you are selling crack, you are likely using it. Doesn't NSA have a drug testing policy? Wonder how that slipped through the cracks?

Thursday Mornings at Ahh Coffee!

After a brief hiatus, we resumed our Thursday morning gatherings at Ahh Coffee! Yesterday we had a lively conversation that attracted a handful of politicos including a mayoral candidate, the manager of another mayoral campaign, and a handful of local business owners and activists. The conversation ranged from sidewalks, to restructuring our form of government, and engaged other folks just enjoying Ahh Coffee who took an interest and joined in. Perhaps you'll also join us next Thursday at 8 a.m.

Congressman Sarbanes Pledges to Bring Federal Support for Mass Transit in Maryland

Dear Congressman Sarbanes:

In your video where a constituent asks for support for public transit, you pledge to work for more federal support. Please start with this one simple request. Help us get commuter bus service between Annapolis and Baltimore. How is it possible that this wealthy state does not have commuter service between its capital and its only major city even when we have a state-operated regional transit system in place? We are basically talking about a bus running the expanse of the Third District.

Thank you, CP

See the video where the issue of transit and federal support is posed to the Congressman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_vIxZ-wj8k&feature=user

Please Vote in Our Sidewalk Poll

Even though the tax is a dead deal, it still remains to be seen as to whether or not we will as a municipal corporation properly care for our sidewalks. See the below post from Saturday, July 12 on "Sidewalks...A Few Thoughts" and please cast your vote to the upper left! Thanks CP

Give 'em Hell Harry...

Do you know Harry Sinclair Jr.? The peripatetic activist and gadfly has hit the big time with the local newspaper giving him front page billing, albeit with a backhanded headline, describing his often outrageous public citizenship.

CP hopes you'll get the chance to meet this colorful and outspoken man who is an icon to civic activists and a thorn in the side of many government officials. This army veteran cares deeply about his community and always speaks his mind, but he really does not care whether you like him or agree with him. He's just the kind of guy who you want on your side, whether in a fox hole or in a position of power, and he's just the kind of guy who will likely never get elected to public office. Too bad.

Read about him at: http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/07_16-16/TOP

The public may attend, observe, and listen...but may not ask questions..."

In a previous post, CP discussed the upcoming July 21 "work session" on the sidewalk issue which appears to be a time for council members to meet and discuss legislation. However, it is not clear whether or not the public, which may attend, can ask questions or provide input or testimony. CP is trying to get to the bottom of this.

It began when Alderman Arnett sent out a note to constituents:

"Residents, On Monday 21 July there will be two important meetings in Council Chambers.At 5 PM there will be a full Council Workshop taking up the sidewalk issue. I have asked that the City Attorney address the issue of liability for sidewalks and the Director of Public Works to discuss the number of sidewalks in disrepair and the approximate time and dollar cost to fix those walks. The Council will then discuss the legislation passed last October and consider any amendments to that legislation. The public may attend and, in my view, offer input."

CP wrote back, asking Ross to clarify the public input part.

Ross replied:

"Paul
The Mayor takes the position that residents can attend but not participate in workshops. There are no such rules and I disagree with that approach. I will ask for time for input from those who attend. Ross"

I then saw the public notice in the local newspaper (yeah--that one) abd so I wrote to the city attorney and the city employee who signs such notices:

Dear Mr. Spencer and Mr. Zirkle:

I am inquiring on behalf of my news blog Annapolis Capital Punishment. At
least one alderman has publicly claimed me that there is no substance to the
mayor's insistence that so-called "work sessions" of the city council are
strictly for discussion among members and not the general public. What can
you tell me about this? The recent public notices about tonight's work
session say that public input is not allowed because it is a "work session".
Please provide me with any information about city code or policy that can
help and the general public understand the legal and legislative background.


Thank you for your consideration.


Paul Foer
Publisher, www.AnnapolisCapitalPunishment.blogspot.com

I copied the email to the mayor and alderman and to my amazement, the mayor wrote back quickly, which of course tells me that this is sensitive enough that the city attorney and the city official who submits public notices would not touch it:

The Mayor has made no such statements. Work sessions are set for Council to hear from staff on a specific issue. Dialogue among staff and elected leaders is expected. When time allows, questions from public are allowed. Hopefully the Aldermen and Alderwomen have met with their constituents and are bringing the questions and concerns of the people they represent to the work session discussion.

Ellen Moyer
Mayor

Ellen O. Moyer, Mayor
160 Duke of Gloucester Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
Office: (410)263-7997
Fax: (410)216-9284

This e-mail, and any attachments thereto, is intended only for use by the addressee(s) named herein and may contain legally privileged and/or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail, and any attachments thereto, is strictly prohibited. If you receive this e-mail in error, please notify me immediately at the above e-mail address or telephone number and permanently delete the original and any copy of any e-mail and any printout thereof.

(CP NOTE: You can disregard that poppycock at the end of the email. I fully identified myself as a reporter intending to publish about this. It goes out with every email from city computers. I publish herewith just to...well whatever...)

Okay. So the mayor has made no such statement. ??? I wrote back:

Dear Mayor Moyer:

Thank you for your response. I believe the public notice that has appeared in The Capital and is signed by Mr. Seth Zirkle as Legislative and Policy Analyst in the Office of Law states that the public may attend but not ask questions or make statements. Please provide a copy of the text or correct me if I am wrong.

However, this is what Alderman Arnett sent out to constituents in advance of the meeting:

"On Monday 21 July there will be two important meetings in Council Chambers. At 5 PM there will be a full Council Workshop taking up the sidewalk issue. I have asked that the City Attorney address the issue of liability for sidewalks and the Director of Public Works to discuss the number of sidewalks in disrepair and the approximate time and dollar cost to fix those walks. The Council will then discuss the legislation passed last October and consider any amendments to that legislation. The public may attend and, in my view, offer input."

When I asked Alderman Arnett to clarify what he meant by "in my view", this is what he wrote:

"The Mayor takes the position that residents can attend but not participate in workshops. There are no such rules and I disagree with that approach. I will ask for time for input from those who attend. Ross"


In your reply to me, you write that "When time allows, questions from public are allowed." I would like to know who makes the determination as to whether there is sufficient time for public input? And when that is determined, how much time is allowed? I am simply asking whether this is set in code, or by legislation or whether it is just an arbitrary policy?

As you know, I am an ardent advocate of walking and a strong supporter of public maintenance of public sidewalks and I have repeatedly recognized you for your strong leadership in this area as well. I hope that together we can find an equitable way to approach the sidewalk issue and ensure they will be maintained for general public use.

Thank you

Paul Foer, Annapolis Capital Punishment


I have not received a response from the mayor yet, but Alderman Fred Paone did write back:

I got the same double talk when I inquired at the beginning of the Council mtg. last night. If the Mayor allows any type of meaningful public participation, it will be the first time in my 6 mos. on the Council that this has happened.
Fred


HERE IS THE TEXT OF THE PUBLIC NOTICE:

"NOTICE OF CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION/
Notice is hereby given that the Annapolis City Council will hold a work session on Monday, 21 July 2008, at 5:00 p.m., in City Council Chambers, 160 Duke of Gloucester Street, for a discussion on the City's Sidewalk Fee and Sidewalk Fund. The public may attend, observe, and listen to the presentations and discussion, but may not ask questions, since this is a work session for the Council members. / Seth B. Zirkle/Legislative and Policy Analyst /sbzirkle@annapolis.gov"

So, Mayor Moyer, both a Republican and a Democratic Alderman have expressed their concerns about this. What say ye? Whose policy is this?

CATastrophe in The CATipal (sp)...A Feline Headline

The CATipal displayed a photo of an awful car crash in which there were serious, even life threatening injuries as reported. However, here was the headline:
6 people injured, cat killed in morning wreck

Animal Control was called in to get the cat.

Who writes these feline headlines?

Meow......prrrrrrrrr...........meow....

Smile and Say "Cheese"...Cameras Everywhere....Action and Roll 'em

CP posted a comment about the appearance of federally-funded public monitoring cameras around our town. It brought this response from the publisher of the blog Arundel Crime:

Anne Arundel Crime said...

I completely disagree with you. These are NOT focused on bedrooms but the very PUBLIC sidewalks which you embrace.My concern lies in not monitoring them. How are you going to catch someone if they already did the crime and moved on?

You are already being recorded everywhere you go--from the Starbucks where you get your coffee, the Giant where you get your food, the mall, the Home Depot, etc.Once it invades PRIVACY it is an issue, but for now it seems to me to be on a PUBLIC right of way!


Dear Anne Arundel Crime:

Thanks for the note. That's why I'm here. Just because we get monitored in many places does not make it right or mean it should be expanded, but before I go on, let me say that I am not adamantly opposed to any and all uses of public camera in every situation. In fact, it's a great idea in public transportation stations and vehicles and are most effective when the public knows they are in place.

I am making multiple points, mainly about what we are getting without knowing it and without much public concern, instead of other public things we need to fight crime. For example, we get an urban assault vehicle but not en0ugh men and women in uniform. Not only that, but people are up in arms about red light cameras which actually catch people who endanger us and they freaked out about a measly tax for sidewalks. Right wingers who go gaga about so-called government intrusion into private lives (except in the bedroom of consenting adults where they think it's okay...)do not seem to be bothered by them. There really is a privacy issue here and as to whether or not it plays an important role in catching all these "terrorists", who is to know for sure?
It's a complex issue and I don't see it as being black and white (although the film may be..), but I am concerned how willingly some are to accept this unquestioningly from a government they already mistrust and rightfully so. And I have not even mentioned wiretapping.....oops, wait a minute, there are some men in black at the front..hey wait a....what the??asygd8723r8ucv12444444444234u8)(&N UJIOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

CENSORED
CENSORED
CENSORED

This blog has been suspended until further notice by order of the Department of Homeland Insecurity. If you have any questions, don't call us. We'll find you. Now smile and say "cheese".

Cameras Everywhere

Is anybody else concerned about all these Homeland Security cameras popping up all over the place? The Capital, with a rather "eye opening" photo on today's front page, paints a glossy picture about these new cameras, supposedly designed to thwart supposed terrorists.

I see this as another sign of creeping fascism. What about you?
Look what happened when we put up unmonitored cameras at certain traffic lights to catch and hopefully thwart motorists flying through red lights! All kinds of people freaked out and whined and complained that there rights were being violated. CP wondered why anyone except red-light runners would be worried. It was clearly being done to catch the bad guys and protect the good guys. And they only snapped a photo if you ran a red light. But video cameras with the capability to follow and zoom in on someone? And if you remember 9-11 (duh!)we caught Mohammed Atta and the others entering airports on camera--as if that helped stop them!

Furthermore, we can't seem to get enough police on the street, partially because of so-called homeland security and our boondoggle in Iraq. We are slip-sliding into economic depression and a future with less and less yet more expensive oil as we continue to rush on into this meeting with disaster. Rather than creating an energy independent, freer and more democratic world, we are using these supposed threats to clamp down on our privacy and personal freedom here.

Most people interviewed in The Capital seem rather unconcerned. Read this one quote:

"Today we have terrorists. We have to give up some of our liberties in order to be secure. That's what we have to do," said Louis Perez, who was visiting from Washington, D.C.

In other words, if the government says we have terrorists and that this will protect us, I believe the government. Oh yeah. See you at the firing squad. It will be for our own good. The police, who were rather hush-hush about this until questioned, or so says The Capital, say their "ultimate plan" is to have 44 of these in Annapolis!

Just read what Ward One Association President Doug Smith says, "As law-abiding citizens, we don't have any concern about the cameras recording things, and I think they do help."

Okay then. Let's focus one on his doorstep or bedroom. After all, he has nothing to fear.

This is the same Department of Homeland Security that gave our city an armored vehicle. Was that for putting down terrorist attacks or perhaps citizen insurrection?

Consider this. Hundreds and hundreds of people were freaking out over a $25 tax for sidewalks, yet here we have tens of thousands of federal dollars (our dollars too!) spent on cameras to monitor us. I just can't wait to see the headline about the parents walking their children on the sidewalk when one of them slips on a hole, a crack, a joint and gets severely injured. Will the police and city provide the camera images of the incident when requested by the court if it might mean the city will be shown to have been liable? Or will it be conveniently lost?

I think we need cameras and recording devices on Bush and Cheney and to be broadcast live all day long. I know somebody is going to roll their eyes and call me crazy about this one, but why is it that while Americans have become increasingly wary and distrustful of our government, we seem willing to acquiesce when it tells us it is for our own safety?

What ever happened to the idea as expressed by patriot Patrick Henry who uttered "Give me liberty of give me death? Now we seem to be saying give us safety and security above liberty. We seem to be saying it's okay for us to kill a million Iraqis and lose thousands of our own soldiers who are fighting for our freedom, yet we are wiling to live more timidly and give up some of those freedoms at the same time. More Americans die as a result of red light runners each year than were killed in Iraq each year.
And finally, why don't we put one of these cameras up at the home by the library on West Street and catch the anti-American SOB's who keep defacing the sign that daily reminds us of the true costs of our misadventure in Iraq???? That would be doing some real good for freedom and democracy.

Instead, we say no to red light cameras that earn revenue, no to a tiny sidewalk tax, all of which enhance our safety and security, but yes to police-monitored cameras that cost big bucks.

See The Capital at: http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/07_13-32/TOP

More Boring @$#% About The Mayoral Race

Oh God, please make it stop.................The Baltimore Sun has now weighed in, yet pretty much all it can do is report on the official campaign finance report that is filed with the City Clerk's Office. The Sun completely missed what CP reported on over a week ago-namely that a man by the name of Frank Flyntz already has a web-site up but they did not mention him. Perhaps he has not filed or raised any money about which to file? (Hmm,..is CP saying that The Sun does not read CP?...No. The Sun reporters do read CP, they just don't want to admit they were scooped--again. Does this remind you of The Capital?)

The Sun did go into a bit of detail about how another putative mayoral hopeful Chuck Weikel is going on the rampage about candidate Trudy McFall (see CP's earlier post about her "out of the gate" fundraising activity. Weikel is angry apparently about her fundraising and claims she should return some of her dollars. None the less, in the interest of fairness, CP, who has written positively about Weikel and McFall, wonders what Weikel is doing. First of all, he is a leading Democratic activist and it does not sit well with me to see this going on. McFall's campaign manager Dennis Conti, has met with me to talk about McFall's fundraising, her campaign and issues and I've always been impressed by Conti's willingness to engage in frank and candid discussion. On the other hand, I am getting a bit upset by Weikel's willingness to point fingers and be so reactive. There's some bad blood between them and if Democratic unity (is there such a thing?)is important, then he should tone it down. My impression is that Conti and McFall have taken the high road. Perhaps Chuck has learned too much from the mayor. While Conti has met with me, Weikel, has not even shared his latest missives with me. Perhaps he has sensed that CP is focused on being fair and equally firm toward all candidates.

CP is sick and tired of vituperation, personal attacks and all these other "trivial pursuits." I've taken Alderman Cordle to task for doing that to Weikel. And finally, I'll say it again, I wish I did not even have to cover this until next Spring. Already it is getting ridiculous. Madness, I tell ya. Madness! The horror! The horror!

See "Mayoral candidates get an early jump" at www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-ar.candidates13jul13,0,4141756.story" (sorry but the hyper link is not working...)

Big Brother Is Watching...So What?

Very quietly Annapolis has been installing some cameras around town. Thankfully they were funded by the DHS and did not come out of the city coffers and I say BRAVO--well sort of.

First to the detractors that scream "privacy"....what part of being out in public eludes you? These are not installed in your bathrooms or on your headboard (you can use your own webcam for that if so inclined), these are installed in public places. Get over it. And if you are doing something less than legal or ethical in public, well, that is your fault!

They are installed under the guise of protecting us against terrorism, but are able to be used by the local police as needed. Amazing deal.

But here is where it get's a little cloudy. The police have the ability to control them (pan, tilt, zoom) remotely. They can of course review the images as well. But they do not have anyone monitoring them. Is it just me, or does it seem silly to have a photo of a suicide bomber that just blew uyp downtown Annapolis (and himself)? I mean the guy is dead--case closed. But on a more local (and realistic) level, what about the increase in crime? Why not have the cameras monitored live to hopefully prevent any incidents? Maybe the answer is to monitor it during the times when we know that crimes occur?

All in all, they are a fantastic idea and a little late coming. If you go to Europe or Asia (and even some parts of Central and South America) you are almost constantly being observed. If you have nothing to hide, what is the problem?

What is disappointing is that the cameras apparently cannot capture the person(s) who keep robbing Embassy Opticians on Main Street. And how nice of The Capital to point that out to the crooks! Maybe the local paper can run a list of the Top 10 Places To Mug a Tourist and Not Get Caught, or maybe the Top Spots For Unfettered Carjacking. Just a thought!