Local Honor Roll Student Wants to Work for You to Go On Exchange

As part of our ongoing commitment to community service, CP is asking for you to help send a local Annapolis High School Honor Roll student live abroad next school year. Matthew is a straight-A student who has been sponsored by the Parole Rotary Club to study and live in Brazil from August, 2009 to June, 2010. Matthew is not asking for charity. He is looking to work to earn the money. He is willing to:

Walk your dog and pet sit
Cleanup your yard by digging, mulching, raking etc.
Clean out your basement or attic or do other odd jobs
Digitize your record albums on to dvd's or other similar media
Play saxophone at your next party or event

Matthew is reliable and responsible and has plenty of testimonials from our neighbors to show that he gets the job done. For more information, visit his web-site at: www.sendmatt4tobrazil.8k.com

(For disclosure purposes, Matthew is the son of CP publisher Paul Foer, so please, I can attest, that not only will he do your job well, but he really needs the money...believe me, he needs the money. Thanks to the Parole Rotary Club for their most generous assistance in every respect. We say thank you very much in Portuguese: Muito Obrigado!)

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If The Shoe Fits

(I Liked this post so much, I am reposting it today....)
Last Monday's council hearing gave all of us a peek into the soft underbelly of the local, if not the national culture of victimization, of entitlement, of I deserve something, make that everything--for nothing. I deserve that but you don't deserve what you have. I'm talking about the many presentations--all of which the mayor permitted to go over--waaay over the three-minute limit--as she always does, allowing those forced to spend their lives in public housing, to vent their anger and frustration over mistreatment at the hands of evil housing authority bureaucrats and greedy private partners in evil renovation schemes designed to further disenfranchise them. I'm talking about the proposed public-private plan to redevelop Obery Court, the nation's oldest housing project.

I don't deny nor do I underestimate, excuse, forgive or otherwise rationalize the four-hundred years of oppression that began with forced enslavement, traversed through Jim Crow and Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Movement and so-called Urban Renewal and whose legacy haunts us today--much of it in the culture of public housing. I know there are people who are truly deserving of a better safety net, of better social programs, who have worked hard and worked honestly and tried to better themselves. There are indeed victims. We have to do better. This is what the proposed private-public partnership is attempting to do. Yes, it is expensive to live here and yes it is hard to get a good paying job without education and yes the cards are stacked against people who (if we are honest with ourselves) do not truly have equal opportunity BUT LET'S FACE IT--and this is where the liberal in me has been mugged....NOBODY OWES YOU OR ME ANYTHING. WHERE IS IT WRITTEN? NOBODY IS GETTING OUT OF HERE ALIVE. LIFE IS HARD. LIFE IS SHORT, BUT I HAVE MYSELF TO BLAME WHEN I SCREW UP. But please people--sooner or later, each one of us, as autonomous human beings have to take responsibility for our lives--and lift ourselves up by our bootstraps if necessary and throw off whatever yokes remain and take responsibility. Furthering this nanny culture of victimization hurts everyone--but oppresses victims more than anyone. I think the times demand a drastic change in how we understand this. Those in public housing must recognize that sometimes, simply being in public housing hurts and is wrong--especially when it is multi-generational. Their goals should be to work to improve their lives--not to improve public housing because let's face it--if you believe the system does not care, then forget about the system..or find a way to go around it or live without it.

It went something like this last night (and pardon me if it is not in context for those of you new to this debate--you can watch the recording on Comcast....I have paraphrased it rather than quoted anyone directly or accurately and taken great liberties, but I think the flavor remains):

HACA--We have done everything possible to inform, work with, prepare and assist the residents of Obery Court.

Residents: We don't trust anything you do. You lie and line your pockets. You don't care about us. You hurt us.

City Council (stuck in the middle) Ho much time do you need? What happens if we delay supporting this resolution?......and on and on and on...

Here are my recollections of some of the whiny, victimization comments, again greatly paraphrased:

"Man, I've been dealing with this since 1969 and it still doesn't improve."

CP says--perhaps you should have been focusing on improving yourself and bettering your life since then.

"I am on disability in my three bedroom apartment. My son has graduated from college. If you move me into a smaller apartment, I don't know where my son will stay if he comes back to live with me. I am stressing over this."

CP says--Be happy and proud of your son for becoming a college graduate. He should be able to figure this out on his own. Why do you need a three-bedroom apartment for yourself because he might come back to live with you? My boys shared a tiny bedroom for over ten years until I could save enough to add a room...and I had to pay for it....and I own it at my risk. That causes stress, believe me.

"My mother has been living in Obery Court for fifty years. We need to stay together."

CP says--Fifty years? And you look to be old enough to have grandchildren yourself. How many more years and generations should you be in public housing--at someone else's expense? Is that a way to live? Did you choose this? Are you forced to live that way? Are you going to take care of my father-in-law who is 86, fought in World War 2 before Obery Court was built and taught college for almost as long as your mother has live at other's expense?

"We need central air and heat. We need an alarm system. We can't accept a one or two bedroom apartment when we are used to having three. We need a washer and dryer in each apartment. There are many places where we could be moved into during renovation, but I'm not going to Harbour House."

CP says: Yes, we all are needy. Sure. I have a spare bedroom for you...I guess. If I moved my office and computer and books, which is where I earn my living, but I'd have to charge you market rent. That would make my room a lot more than your whole apartment. You'll have to go upstairs to do your laundry. No problem. There are plenty of places we could move you to. Let's see.....Park Place? Parole? The vacant and foreclosed homes for sale?

Uh....I grew up in a nice home in the suburbs, but we did well without central air conditioning thank you very much....and my folks worked very hard for all their lives...and they expected and raised their kids to become independent...and my brother and I had to share a bedroom for many years and I was not able to get central A.C in my home until a few years ago...at the same time I added the bedroom....BUT MY PARENTS OWNED THEIR HOME AND I OWN MY HOME AND I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR ME AND I PAY TAXES....AND MY HOME COSTS ARE WAY IN EXCESS--VASTLY IN EXCESS OF THE THIRTY PERCENT MAXIMUM that HACA residents pay for their apartments--THAT WE THE TAXPAYERS OWN!!!! NOT THE TENANTS! BUT WE THE TAXPAYERS...yet it's still not enough for some of the HACA residents. THEY ARE VICTIMS AND THEY NEED MORE.....and I had to pay for my own alarm system... and to protect me from who or what??? And my new washer just cost me $700.....because I own it.....and on, and on, and on, ad infinitum, ad nauseum, add more and more debt.....like the illustration says, if the shoe fits...


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Murray Hill....The Next BreadBasket of Annapolis?

Check this out....what a neat idea....community farming in one Annapolis neighborhood... row-by-row .

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The Bay Daily---Our Bay--Every Day

Veteran reporter Tom Pelton, formerly of the Baltimore Sun, is now writing a daily blog for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation called Bay Daily. The breezy and salty coverage of environmental issues is accentuated by illustrations by noted political cartoonist KAL.

Tom has asked CP readers especially to see today's post about whether or not nuclear power is a "green" type of power generation and to provide comments. For example, do you think we should replace the aging Calvert Cliffs reactor with a new type of reactor??? We are pleased to blogroll Pelton whose articles can be found at Bay Daily .

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A Note From A Cyclist....

One of our alert readers found this at Craigs List in Baltimore and sent it on.... Enjoy.....Thanks!

Cycling in Baltimore (Baltimore)

---

Reply to: pers-1012882815@craigslist.org ^[?]
Date: 2009-01-29, 3:44PM EST


Dear drivers,

Thank you so very much for all the attention I receive while riding.

It is amazing how many nice people blow their horns and wave as they drive by.

I like to think that the flashing lights on my bike and helmet are seen as causes for celebration.

When I see you speed by and swerve a little, I imagine you're waving "goodbye and safe trip" as do the pilots when they wave when taking off.

Those who seem surprised when they see me and wave their cell phones are especially appreciated. Of course I can't call you and say "hello", because I don't have your number. It's a nice gesture anyway.

Hopefully someday I'll meet up with you when the light changes and you are stopped.

I'll be equally as friendly, and perhaps I can leave you with something with which to remember me; perhaps a warm embrace. Maybe I can even pat you lightly with my favorite brass padlock which I carry attached to a heavy stainless steel chain. It's such a sweet trinket; just like a big old charm bracelet.

Well, I have to go now. Hopefully we'll meet up again soon.

Looking forward to sharing the rode [sic..unless he's a sailor and talking about the anchor rode] with you lovely people.

Remember, texting while driving is such a cool way of staying in touch with friends. We cyclists understand and only want you to make it home safely.

The guy on the bike.

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Don't Forget....

Please join us and featured guest, Police Chief Michael Pristoop at this week's Sip N' Blog at Ahh, Coffee! in Eastport from 8-9 am on Thursday.

Please vote in our current poll concerning the city manager amendment (poll found at upper right)

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City Manager or Not City Manager? FREE Advertising for Ellen O...and a few MINOR Details

We heard a lot of testimony Monday night, both for and against creating a city manager, as well as some that was hard to decipher whether it was for or against, and some that supported a referendum--which may be happening anyway. Thanks to Mayor Moyer's apparent inability to keep testimony to the allotted three-minute rule, all testimony that evening went on...and on. CP got to speak about 10:15 with other's finishing up about 10:35. Please, Madame Mayor---three minutes! Please exercise some leadership and facilitation skills. If you let everyone else go over, then so will I. And finally, Madam Mayor, please review my previous post of January 26 where I wrote in advance of Monday's testimony:

"However, if you support the Arnett-Israel bill as I do, don't be surprised if the mayor browbeats you, argues, tries to intimidate or otherwise make you feel like an idiot for actually speaking your mind. She needs to get the last word. That's just Ellen. Put up with it for another year."

True to form, you had to get the last word. You had to argue with many of we the people who came before you to testify. You hassled me and had to get your digs in--didn't you? You said that I was not painting an "honest portrait". The heck with you! I told you not to lecture me about painting an honest portrait about anything. I told you that if you wanted to write comments, I would publish them here--right here. You shot back that I was just looking for free advertising!
Well here it is--free advertising ELLEN O MOYER ELLEN O MOYER ELLEN O MOYER ELLEN O MOYER.... (There now-better? Hey buy some ads from me and I'll shut up and write only nice things about you). There you are sitting in the big chair--in the bully pulpit--and you have the audacity to argue with we the people who come to speak at a public hearing! We who pay your salary and voted you into office!

Here are a few thoughts, with the understanding that I am fully in favor of the CA-04-08, the true city manager amendment.

There was testimony against the bill from residents who were unfamiliar to me, and I don't think I've ever seen them at Council Chambers, most of whom, based on addresses given, are probably residents of public housing--and there was major testimony on a public housing issue that night as well. Why the sudden apparent interest in this issue on the part of these Johnny-come-latelys to the rough and tumble world of politics? One can only speculate. A young woman, mistakenly said that it is mainly the largest cities that have managers (wrong) and then, without any sense of irony, cited neighboring Virginia as having 139 cities, of which all but one have a city manager, noting how that happens to be Richmond, its capital. "I wonder why that is?" she rhetorically asked.

Hmmm.... She was trying to oppose this by showing how nearly every city dweller in Virginia. and probably a majority of all within the state, lives in a city with a professional city manager? She showed one city out of the 139 to make her point, unwittingly making the opposite point. Richmond is the fifth largest city in Virginia, meaning that cities large and small have city managers in VA, but either way, what point was she trying to make--and, I can't help but wonder--why out of the blue, does this young lady suddenly come up with rather esoteric trivia about this issue? It makes no sense. Alderwoman Classie Hoyle then chimed in, noting how the young lady is a new member of the HACA Board (or some such public housing body or association--I did not hear it completely) and how she is very impressed with this young lady. Yes. Very impressed...indeed. Maybe her same research skills could be applied to public housing.

Former Republican Mayor Dean Johnson spoke in favor as did Democratic mayoral hopeful Trudy McFall, as did Ward One Association President Doug Smith as did many others. The Republican Central Committee's Mike Dye spoke on behalf of a city manager--hooray! Despite the sponsorship of three Democrats, and the support of many Democratic activists, I have yet to hear them weigh in officially....Dema are treading cautiously. The Green Party's Karen Jennings came to speak about the Obery Court issue--but her party has not said a word about the city manager issue as far as I can tell.

Josh Cohen's Legislative Aide and Democratic stalwart, Gail Smith, spoke out against a city manager on behalf of Cohen.

And now we come to to the issue of Don Lamb Minor, who again spoke out against the city manager amendment, but the following must be noted:
He is a paid political consultant to Mayor Moyer--paid out of public funds
He also serves as a member of the Supervisor of Elections Board
The business he co-owns with his wife has received contracts from Mayor Moyer

Can you say conflict of interest? Of course he can testify as a private citizen, but a couple of questions arise. For example, is he working on city time on behalf of the mayor's personal agenda? He attends the hearings of the Rules Committee, where so much of the debate about these amendments have taken place.

For example, at the January 5 Rules Committee meeting, CP was surprised to learn it was televised--and then rebroadcast a number of times. As soon as you saw the mayor walk in the room you knew the reason--she wanted to use the airwaves to make a statement! (Talk about advertising!!!) The mayor tried to discredit the Arnett/Israel city manager amendment by claiming a true city manager government has the aldermen elected at large, and if Alderman Israel was going to propose a city manager structure, it should have all have aldermen elected at large.

Alderman Cordle complained it was hard enough for an alderman to run a campaign in a ward, and that a city-wide election would be too expensive and too difficult to try to reach voters in every ward. Hoyle and Israel objected on the basis that we have a diverse city, and people in some wards would not get any representation if aldermen were elected at large. The mayor’s idea was rejected.

CP also wonders why Don Lamb-Minor attends the meetings where city manager is discussed. Has he made it public that he is now working as a paid consultant for the mayor? Might that personal agenda be to oppose the city manager charter amendment? Does he get contracts because of his personal affiliation with the mayor? Is it appropriate that a political consultant should be doing any kind of testifying or lobbying on issues in the city in which he lives--in front of at least one person (if not more) who approve his contracts? In other words, am I and others who support a city manager paying Don Lamb Minor to testify in opposition to us?.....questions.....more questions....but answers?


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Annapolis, February 2, 1865....Where Lincoln Walked....

2009 is the year of the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. Annapolitans will celebrate Lincoln's February 2, 1865 visit to Annapolis with events on February 8th. A group plans to meet that day in The Powerhouse at the Loews Hotel on West St. at 1:00 PM. For details visit this Abraham "Link-in".

The following has been provided to CP by Eastporter Rock Toews who just wrote a booklet about Lincoln's visit to Annapolis that was published by the Maryland Archives. It has been edited for brevity:

WHERE LINCOLN WALKED...

President Lincoln made a sudden decision on the morning of February 2, 1865 to meet with Confederate peace commissioners at Ft. Monroe, Virginia, at Hampton Roads. The ports at Washington, Alexandria, and Baltimore were blocked with ice and parts of the Potomac River were frozen. In order for Lincoln to get to Ft. Monroe, he had to get to Annapolis.

The B and O Railroad provided a special train at their depot on New Jersey Avenue in Washington. Lincoln departed for Annapolis at 11:15 AM and at Annapolis Junction, the train switched onto the Annapolis and Elk Ridge Railroad's single line for the 21 mile run to Annapolis, arriving at the A and ER depot just about 1:00 PM. The depot was located at the corner of Calvert and West Streets. Lincoln was met at the depot by the army's quartermaster at Annapolis, Captain Gardner S. Blodgett, who then guided the President through town to the steamboat wharf on the grounds of the Naval Academy.

Lincoln was greeted by the band from the army hospital on the Naval Academy grounds playing "patriotic airs of welcome" as he boarded the steamer Thomas Collyer, supposedly one of the fastest in the world at the time. The steamer left about 1:40 PM. The Thomas Collyer reached Ft. Monroe just before 10:30 PM that night, and Lincoln was reported to have been well pleased with the trip, noting that he had only been 11 hours in transit from the White House to Ft. Monroe.

After the Hampton Roads Conference concluded the next afternoon, Lincoln, Secretary of State Seward, and others returned back up the Chesapeake Bay to Annapolis. This time the President was on the slower steam vessel, the River Queen, departing Ft. Monroe at about 5:00 PM on February 3rd. The overnight trip took about 14 hours, and though the Thomas Collyer left Ft. Monroe about an hour after the River Queen, both steamers arrived at Annapolis at about 7:00 AM on February 4th. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton had ordered a special train to be waiting at the wharf for the President and his party, and the A and ER Railroad had complied, placing the company superintendent's own private car and an engine at the wharf. The President and party boarded the train and all were back in Washington by 9:30 AM.

(CP NOTES: What I find remarkable is that this trip was done by railroad from Washington to Annapolis and the rail actually went down to the waterfront, although Lincoln walked because the end of the line was being used for military supplies. So he took a train. Then he walked. Then he took a fast ferry. Something none of us can do very easily anymore, or so it seems. Today a president comes by helicopter, but if he wanted to come by train, he could not.....same for us....not to mention no fast ferry. The story of Washington's last visit to Annapolis was recorded in his diary, but it involves a sailing vessel, as one might imagine... and he spent a cold, miserable night....aground)

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The Capital.....Big Time Layoffs....This is NOT Good News

The Capital is now the latest casualty in the apparent collapse of the American news media...and the real collapse of our economy. CP had known about this and was aware of the "bad news" meeting at the local newspaper today, but refrained from breaking the story for many reasons. Let me repeat...This is NOT good news for anyone, but it will also mean a further erosion of our public news "contagion" or news "arena" for lack of a better choice of words at the moment. People are hurt--of this there is no doubt. However, despite one's views of the local newspaper, we are all diminished by what will certainly be an even further constrained news budget. CP will do what I can, but hey--I can't keep doing this for free either. I do invite any reporters, editors, or other staffers to personally contact me and discuss how we may be able to continue reporting the news together. Here is what came from the newspaper:

• 27 full-time positions and 2 part-time positions – about 12 percent of the work force -- have been eliminated. Four of the positions were already vacant. Today is the last day for the affected employees.

• Full-time employees with at least 5 years of service were eligible for a severance package that included a minimum of 12 weeks pay, plus two weeks for every year worked up to a maximum of one year. Part-time employees with less than 5 years of experience were eligible for a two-week bonus.

• The positions cross all departments and include employees at the company’s offices in Glen Burnie and Bowie. Editor Tom Marquardt said he does not expect the changes, which included no reporters, to impact news coverage.

What does this mean for our community? What does this mean for the mendacious local government? What does this mean for bloggers?.......Certainly it is going to affect reportage....although I doubt it will affect sports coverage...

IT JUST GOT WORSE.... CP learned this afternoon that Capital Gazette Communications (CGC) will transfer its printing to Comprint Printing, a production facility owned by Post-Newsweek Media, a division of The Washington Post Company. The Capital and CGC’s other newspaper publications will be printed at the Laurel facility starting March 2. The decision means the closing of CGC’s press and mailroom operations and the elimination of 31 full-time and 51 part-time positions......I need an Alka Seltzer...

Yikes--further local job losses....I believe we are witnessing a transformative moment in mass media....not because of The Capital you silly.....they are basically shutting their own press...so--where will advertising be shifting to.....blogs?

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Greg Stiverson On Why We Need A City Manager

The following commentary is provided by Greg Stiverson, former director of Historic Annapolis Foundation and the driving force behind last year's Envisioning Annapolis workshops. He read these at last night's city council hearing--at about 10:15 pm. I have asked to publish his comments because I feel they are among the most concisely and thoughtfully composed on the subject...which is heating up daily. CP will be posting more about this shortly.:

Madam Mayor, Members of the City Council;

I strongly support, and urge your adoption of CA 04-08, which would create a council/city manager form of government for Annapolis.

In 1996, a blue-ribbon panel of Annapolitans issued the Duden Report, which explored ways to reform city government. Members of the Duden Commission looked at the council/ manager form of government and decided that Annapolis wasn’t ready for it. Today, opponents of the city manager proposal cite the Duden Report as proof positive that the idea of a city manager has been considered before and rejected out of hand. But let me quote to you the opening paragraph of the section of the Duden Report that deals with a city manager: (quote)

"The major benefit of having a City Manager is the assurance that a growing and increasingly complex municipal system will be run by a professional administrator. . . . The management of the City would no longer be subject to the whim and vagaries of the electoral winds, or to the 'pot luck' character of mayoral election results every four years."

The Duden Report ultimately concluded that Annapolis was not yet ready for a city manager, but this was in 1996. Things have changed mightily over the past dozen years. Annapolis government is much larger and more complex than it was then. All of the benefits of a city manager that the Duden Report cited in its opening paragraph are so much more critical now.

Last Saturday, a Buffalo, New York, newspaper had a story about that city’s need for a council/city manager form of government. It put a fine point on why a city manager is important to a progressive, 21st-century city like ours:

"How would you like it if [our town’s] chief administrator had no favors to pay back - or even any possibility of owed favors? Or what if that person had been educated and trained in municipal governance? What if he or she never had to worry about re-election and could maintain their focus on city services instead of campaigning? What if department heads were appointed because of their abilities, and not their connections? What if the City's chief executive was completely non-partisan, with a strict professional code of ethics?

Finally, what if the City's chief administrator could be terminated at any point if that individual underperformed? Such a person does exist: a City Manager."


Madam Mayor, members of the Council: There is a difference between likability and ability. We vote for politicians because we like them, not because they have the abilities—the skills and experience--necessary to manage efficiently and effectively the day-to-day operations of a large and complex city government like ours.

With a single exception, we recognize the value of professionalism in every aspect of our lives. We demand professional licenses or degrees from our doctor, lawyer, accountant, plumber, electrician, and hair dresser. The only position that affects us daily where we say that professional qualifications and experience are irrelevant is in the executive management of our city. We need professional city management. We need someone in charge who is trained and experienced to know what they are doing. This should not be controversial. It should be plain common sense. Please give us a council/city manager form of government.

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Comprehensive Plan....PUBLIC REMINDER NUMBER TWO

The Annapolis Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing on the "Public Review Draft" of the Annapolis Comprehensive Plan on Thursday February 5, 2009 at 7:00pm. The Public Hearing will be held in City Council Chambers at 160 Duke of Gloucester Street. All members of the Annapolis community are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Written comments may be submitted through February 9, 2009. All written comments must include a name and address. Address written comments to:

Department of Planning & Zoning
Attn: Planning Commission
145 Gorman Street, 3rd Floor
Annapolis, MD 21401
Fax: 410-263-1129
Email: STONeill@annapolis.gov

The Public Review Draft is available for download on the City's web page at
http://www.ci.annapolis.md.us/info.asp?page=13214.

Copies of the Draft are also available at the following locations:
-Annapolis Library (1410 West Street)
-Eastport-Annapolis Neck Library (269 Hillsmere Drive)
-Annapolis Department of Planning & Zoning (145 Gorman Street, 3rd Floor, phone #: 410-263-7961)

Following the close of the Public Comment Period on February 9, 2009, the Planning Commission will formulate its findings and recommendations on the Draft Comprehensive Plan. These will be forwarded to the City Council. The City Council will consider the Comprehensive Plan for adoption in the Spring of 2009.

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Alderman Paone Appears to Be Swing Vote On City Manager...

...but the local newspaper completely missed that in today's article--and it missed the fact that the Cordle bill is merely window dressing. It looks as if Arnett, Israel, Stankivic and Shropshire are voting in favor of the real bill that will make a real city manager. Cordle's window-dressing bill to rename the city administrator as a city manager is likely to be supported by Hoyle, Finlayson and Mayor Moyer. That's 4 to 4. What about Paone? That seems to be the big IF and so far as I can tell, Paone ain't saying. Perhaps he is relishing his role as kingmaker. (See the previous post below for more legislative details)

Here is how it breaks down: The four in favor of the real city manager bill include three Democrats and an Independent. Two plan to run for re-election, one is running for mayor and one is likely to not run. As for the four in favor of the window-dressing, two are Republicans (one of which was a Democrat until his election campaign) and the other three are Democratic stalwarts. Cordle says he is running for mayor, Hoyle and Finlayson may be running. Paone? Probably planning to run for re-election.

But the big IF is how will Paone vote on this bill? What are his motivations? What will sway his decision? Should not all our efforts to pass this legislation and to provide testimony be geared toward Alderman Paone?
Paone, a recently retired prosecutor, is likely to get opposing earfuls from both Cordle and Israel. Cordle, an investigator with the state's attorney and Paone worked together, and Israel is a former assistant attorney general. Three men of the law, one on one side, one on the other and one in the middle.

It is interesting how Shropshire wants to be mayor and wants a city manager. It is equally interesting how mayoral candidate Trudy McFall has also come to support the city manager issue--and it could be argued that McFall has the most managerial experience of any of the candidates, declared or presumed. Republican Chris Fox supports a city manager form of government. Democrat Zina Pierre did not address it on her web-site, at least when her web-site was up (do a web search for Zina Pierre and see if you can find anything out about this...she had a site, but now it's down again...and then up again but with only a "splash" page...she has more old and new and down web-sites but no real one to determine if she is a candidate or not)

So, the skinny is Paone. Please--however you feel, come to the council hearing Monday night and testify. That is good government when we the people come to City Hall. When you testify, turn and face and speak to Alderman Paone. Convince him.

However, if you support the Arnett-Israel bill as I do, don't be surprised if the mayor browbeats you, argues, tries to intimidate or otherwise make you feel like an idiot for actually speaking your mind. She needs to get the last word. That's just Ellen. Put up with it for another year.

See what the local paper has to say at City Manager .

MEANWHILE----please vote in our poll to the right....

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