Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Sunday, February 10, 2013
For Our New Visitors...
The Other Salisbury News is a Polycom (political comedy) blog born from the hate, injustice, and, to be quite frank, bullshit directed towards the student body by Salisbury's finest. Though initially intended to rid Salisbury of its non-productive and Constitution-hating politicians, The Other Salisbury News quickly evolved into an advocacy campaign for the founders' fellow students.
For those who haven't heard, Salisbury is on the cusp of yet another election. As you might suspect, we have strong feelings towards the upcoming election but for our own personal reasons and the sake of Joe Albero's raging hemorrhoid, we prefer to assume the 'Strong and Silent' role this time around.
That's not to say that there won't be some commentary regarding the Salisbury City Council election and the Salisbury Mayoral election, but engaging in a public mud-wrestling match with Salisbury's career politicians isn't what we consider a good use of our limited time. In 3 months, Headquarters (still undiscovered) will close its doors and board-up its windows for good. So ask yourselves a question, "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?
Saturday, February 9, 2013
WE'REEEEE BACKKKKKK!!!! (Well, at least one of us)
Anyone who has attended college knows what it's like to embark on their final semester before graduation. You kick off your semester with an intense focus on getting good grades but before long, a little thing called Senioritis sets in. Symptoms include harassing potential employers about job opportunities, weekend drinking binges, and the faint aroma of "shit, I'm old."In my particular case, you can add blogging to the list. So for the next 3 months, you can expect a spontaneous string of posts to appear before The Other SBY News stops posting for good. But enough about me. Let's bitch about the deplorable state of our beloved country, 'Merica!
We've all heard the saying: "The road to hell is paved (plagued might be a better word) with good intentions." There's no denying that our country is being propelled at ungodly speeds towards doom. The worst part- the pavement ended 5 miles ago and our federal guardians haven't been able to agree on a budget to pave the rest.
Lets talk about gun control: I sympathize for all who have lost a loved one to gun violence. It is a horrific act of cowardism to take another's life just for the sake of it. "So, how do we prevent gun violence" you ask? Well, we disarm the entire country, of course. I mean, what's better than an unarmed vulnerable society with no means of personal defense? The answer: death. I would rather die a million deaths than to be expected to to call 911 (government sponsored Dial-A-Prayer) as my first line of defense in the event of, oh say, home invasion, socialism takeover, or a random guy coming into a school full of defenseless children and teachers with the sole purpose of racking up as many kills as humanly possible before taking his own life.
Moreover, the people that get their guns legitimately are not the ones committing these random acts of violence. I can assure you that the cray crays aren't waltzing into Gander Mountain on Saturday morning to buy a gun. Open your eyes.
This concludes this week's official issue post. During the course of my final semester, I will publish at least 1 post per week pertaining to an political issue or current event. I may sporadically post additional articles from time to time but lets not get too greedy.
And yes, this is still a student-run blog. We welcome and encourage our fellow students to visit our site, post comments on our articles, and submit their own pieces for publication (subject to our approval). And for God's sake, have a sense of humor!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Introducing... DirtyBury!
It is our pleasure to announce that a new generation of SU student activists has stepped up to the plate to represent themselves in the blog-o-sphere. In the wake of last weekends unfortunate events at War on the Shore, Dirtybury has taken it upon themselves to unite the student body in a delightful expose of civil rights (or the lack thereof) and student stories. We are extremely proud of them and offer up our support and encouragement. So saying, we refer any readers we have left to their page.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Not in Nottingham
We'd like to dedicate this song to the City of Salisbury, which upon the firing of Paul Wilber has become our own version of the legendary, corrupted Nottingham, through and through.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
"A Bunch of Names on Paper"
Why yes, Salisbury voters, that is a direct quote from your elected city official, Tim Spies. And yes, when he says "a bunch of names on paper," he is referring to you. Because thanks to the journalistic prowess of Times reporter Sarah Lake, we now know for sure that when "one-and-a-half times more than the number of people who voted in the last election" signs a petition objecting to council's actions, it means nothing.
Actually, it means less than nothing. We voters are so unimportant to council that they couldn't even be bothered to allow a question on the next ballot that would address our concerns with the amendment. That means they flat out refused a voter survey of their actions. In what world are elected officials openly allowed to reject voter input? Apparently, the world of Salisbury politics. Oh and here's one that'll make ya proud- they accused all 2,325 of us who signed the petition of lying. That's right. Mr. Spies justified sweeping us under the rug by claiming that for all he knew, none of the signatures were verified. We know, we know. It's hard to believe that anybody is really that shameless, but we live in Salisbury. And in Salisbury, pride doesn't come before the fall because it was never there to begin with.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Press Release From Laura Mitchell
October 29, 2011
Mitchell Assembles Supporters of Charter Amendment Petition
**Rainout Rescheduled**
On Saturday, November 5, 2011, supporters of the petition drive to force the recent amendment to the City Charter to a referendum vote will assemble at 10:00 am at the Bandstand in the Salisbury City Park, The petition was initiated by Salisbury City Councilwoman Laura Mitchell in response to what she has called hastily passed legislation. “All legislation deserves due diligence and consideration. The threshold for the passage of something as serious as a Charter Amendment that begins to change the structure of our City Government deserves that and more.”
At the gathering, participants will receive a briefing, petitions, and zone designations within the City. Volunteers will then visit residents in their designated zone to share information about the amendment and provide an opportunity to sign the petition to bring the charter amendment to a referendum vote where the citizens of Salisbury can make their voice heard on the issue.
“The citizens of Salisbury deserve to have a voice in this matter. A voice they did not have an opportunity to use in the seven (7) days it took to pass this amendment. A referendum will give Salisbury residents their voice back,” Mitchell said.
There is no requirement for an individual circulator of the petition to be a voter or resident in the City of Salisbury. Anyone interested in helping is invited to attend. Anyone interested in circulating the petition on their own should call (410)422-2694 or visit LauraMitchell.org to find out how.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Does the GOP Pizza Man Deliver?
Despite being in the race since the first presidential debate (before even Romney had declared), former CEO of Godfather's Pizza, Herman Cain, has been leading recent polls. Personally, I predict that this recent rise in popularity will be a short lived burst, but even with that in mind, I don't quite understand the hype. Cain has reduced his campaign to a soundbite, attempting to at least reference his 9-9-9 tax plan in his answers to almost every question asked of him in recent debates. Furthermore, he's also been accused of confusing a song used in the movie Pokemon 2000 with the closing song of the 2000 Olympic Games, after citing its lyrics as inspirational poetic quotes.
However, it wasn't until I saw his recent campaign video that I knew his candidacy was a joke. While watching the following video, keep in mind that it is not a parody:
The first 39 seconds or so seem like a typical, modern (if not a little bland) campaign ad, but then things start to get weird...
The music and cigarette initially seem very out of place; however, the more I think about it, the more it kind of makes sense. Herman Cain's Chief of Staff Mark Block realizes this may be his only time in the spotlight, so he is living it up in a truly hedonistic (or, perhaps, nihilistic) celebration.
After the awkward interlude, the campaign ad shows Cain's face to the audience for the first time in the video. ...But, that's where things go from weird to creepy. Cain's smile not only seems forced, he struggles with it for 6 seconds.
Overall, there's a good chance this video was made in such an odd manner in an attempt by the Cain campaign to utilize viral videos. On one hand, consider I am sharing the video, I suppose their strategy worked. Either way, Cain seems to neglect the fact that the message he is making viral may not help him secure the Republic nomination. If the campaign produced this video to spread awareness of Cain to a young, tech-savvy audience, I think he should just stick with what he does best- pizza. As a member of this target audience, I can attest that his 9-9-9 plan works much better as a pizza deal. A president running on a platform of "9 pizzas, 9 toppings, for $9" is much easier to stomach than Cain's current strategy.
However, it wasn't until I saw his recent campaign video that I knew his candidacy was a joke. While watching the following video, keep in mind that it is not a parody:
The first 39 seconds or so seem like a typical, modern (if not a little bland) campaign ad, but then things start to get weird...
The music and cigarette initially seem very out of place; however, the more I think about it, the more it kind of makes sense. Herman Cain's Chief of Staff Mark Block realizes this may be his only time in the spotlight, so he is living it up in a truly hedonistic (or, perhaps, nihilistic) celebration.
After the awkward interlude, the campaign ad shows Cain's face to the audience for the first time in the video. ...But, that's where things go from weird to creepy. Cain's smile not only seems forced, he struggles with it for 6 seconds.
Overall, there's a good chance this video was made in such an odd manner in an attempt by the Cain campaign to utilize viral videos. On one hand, consider I am sharing the video, I suppose their strategy worked. Either way, Cain seems to neglect the fact that the message he is making viral may not help him secure the Republic nomination. If the campaign produced this video to spread awareness of Cain to a young, tech-savvy audience, I think he should just stick with what he does best- pizza. As a member of this target audience, I can attest that his 9-9-9 plan works much better as a pizza deal. A president running on a platform of "9 pizzas, 9 toppings, for $9" is much easier to stomach than Cain's current strategy.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Here Ye! Here Ye! By Order of The Imperial Council...
If you didn't have the misfortune of watching this evenings horrific marathon city council meeting, The Other SBY News is here to fill you in: Salisbury's City Government is now under the control of what we shall henceforth be referring to as The Imperial Council (T.I.C. for short). Yes peasants, tonight's by-monthly civic disgrace yielded some very interesting results indeed as T.I.C. voted to alter the City Charter in order to give themselves the ability to appoint or dismiss private legal council, among other things. This little amendment which was passed despite the recurring objections of Councilwomen Mitchell and Shields, was voted into existence by Cohen, Campbell, and Spies. Shocker.
Just for clarity, here are some of reasons Shields and Mitchell cited for voting Nay:
Still for The Other SBY News, the most ironic event of the night had to be the fact that throughout the entire debate about whether T.I.C. should have unfettered access to their own legal council (on the basis that they didn't have any), they were asking City Attorney Paul Wilber for his professional opinion. Makes ya proud, don't it?
Just for clarity, here are some of reasons Shields and Mitchell cited for voting Nay:
- The entire amendment was drawn up sloppily within one weeks time and is thus filled with all kinds of grammatical and ethical mistakes.
- Legal council is already available to Council by way of phone, email, or at the very least good personal communication skills.
- The public has not had time to be made fully aware of the amendment or been given enough information to form their opinion on it.
- It tips the balance of power upon which our Strong-Mayor City Government is set up.
- Only 2 City Councils in the entire state of Maryland have private authority over legal council.
- It is a badly veiled attempt to counter any legal action being taken against Council by Mayor and thus has nothing to do with the taxpayers aside from the fact that it screws us.
- Spies called Mitchell's attempt to make sure that the taxpayers aren't on the hook for increased legal costs "superfluous," insisting that her proposition to hold Council monetarily accountable for incurred fees "just wasn't efficient." Aside from the fact that this logic makes no sense let's take a moment to remember who its coming from: this is the same man who just weeks ago justified councils taking inventory on how many paper plates Urban Salisbury was allowed to purchase, yea and people wonder why they voluntarily disbanded.
- Though Cohen impressed the point that she simply wanted Council to be viewed as more than "a legal afterthought, as they have been for many years," she shot that theory to shit when she went on this, shall we say, less than subtle 3rd person diatribe- "When the Council President is contacted by the Mayor as if the Council President is an employee and demands that the Council President write a letter to the state explaining a Council Vote, you better believe that this Council President will be seeking legal council." Yea, cause Cohen should never have to justify anything...especially not to the Mayor of the City...who she is basically boycotting. Silly man, what was he thinking?
- Campbell, (who, by the end of the meeting was so desperate to convince us of her martyrdom that she was just seconds away from whipping out some kindling and tying herself to the flagpole) kept insisting that "our system is broken" and "must be fixed." And yet she has been working in this system for over a decade and this is the first that we have heard about it. How is that every other city in Maryland (barring 2) operates just fine with that system but in Salisbury, it is broken? Oh that's right, cause the Mayor is telling the necessary authorities that Campbell's political priorities make her a racist and she wants to retaliate from within the confines of city government... yea, that's what broke it.
Still for The Other SBY News, the most ironic event of the night had to be the fact that throughout the entire debate about whether T.I.C. should have unfettered access to their own legal council (on the basis that they didn't have any), they were asking City Attorney Paul Wilber for his professional opinion. Makes ya proud, don't it?
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
2012 Election Update
Tonight at 8 P.M., MSNBC will be hosting the next GOP debate of the 2012 election cycle. Attending will be Jon Huntsman, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain, Michelle Bachmann, Ron Paul, and making his presidential debate debut....Rick Perry. You can watch it streaming online here.
It seems many of the "top tier" candidates have been going through some rough spots in their campaign lately, which should make for an interesting debate tonight. For example, Bachmann had two of her key staffers step down. Also, the wildfires aren't the only thing from Texas putting heat on Gov. Rick Perry- he and fellow Texan Ron Paul have recently been exchanging metaphorical blows in response to Paul's new campaign ad. It's fitting that this conservative battle seemingly over who is more Reagan-esque will take place tonight at the Reagan Library in California. Overall, this should be interesting.
All of these GOP candidates are competing to challenge President Obama, who is currently facing low approval ratings, in the general election next year. While Obama will not be present at the debate tonight, he will address a joint-sessions of Congress and the American people in a televised speech that will be broadcast tomorrow evening.
It seems many of the "top tier" candidates have been going through some rough spots in their campaign lately, which should make for an interesting debate tonight. For example, Bachmann had two of her key staffers step down. Also, the wildfires aren't the only thing from Texas putting heat on Gov. Rick Perry- he and fellow Texan Ron Paul have recently been exchanging metaphorical blows in response to Paul's new campaign ad. It's fitting that this conservative battle seemingly over who is more Reagan-esque will take place tonight at the Reagan Library in California. Overall, this should be interesting.
All of these GOP candidates are competing to challenge President Obama, who is currently facing low approval ratings, in the general election next year. While Obama will not be present at the debate tonight, he will address a joint-sessions of Congress and the American people in a televised speech that will be broadcast tomorrow evening.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
WE'RE BAAACKKK!!!
Hey there Gulls!! Welcome back!! We just wanted to pop in on this lovely Labor Day Weekend to wish you the best of luck in your back-to-school shenanigans and announce the Official Fall Revival of The Other Salisbury News- SU's most reliable source for parties, politics, and whatever else we decide is relevant. We'll be kicking off this autumn with a mass give-away of free merchandise (keep your eyes and ears open for the place and time) and a play-by-play review of the drama that you missed this summer- and boy was there drama.
At this time we are recruiting writers to cover SU Sports, College Culture (Music, Entertainment, etc.), the 2012 Elections, and Salisbury Police Reports. If you are interested in joining our team shoot us an email at theothersbynews@gmail.com (with a writing sample attached) and we'll get up with you. Have a great weekend Gulls! Have fun, be safe, and as always- Godspeed. Man, have we missed you!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Hurricane Irene IN DA HOUSEEEEEEE!
Gulls,
We're obviously gearing up for a very bumpy weekend with the arrival of Irene. Irene is the type of chick that one should regard with caution. She's ferocious, robust, and undiscriminating. If you aren't ready for a girl like Irene, then your shits gonna get jacked up.
Salisbury University has already announced that Monday's classes have been canceled and they are constantly updating their Emergency Closing Webpage.
This website will assist you in weathering Irene's wrath.
We're obviously gearing up for a very bumpy weekend with the arrival of Irene. Irene is the type of chick that one should regard with caution. She's ferocious, robust, and undiscriminating. If you aren't ready for a girl like Irene, then your shits gonna get jacked up.
Salisbury University has already announced that Monday's classes have been canceled and they are constantly updating their Emergency Closing Webpage.
This website will assist you in weathering Irene's wrath.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
So....We Just Had An Earthquake...
According to the USGS
Website, a good portion of the East Coast just experienced a 5.9
Earthquake. Here are FEMA's guidelines on the proper course of action... just
in case we have another one:
What to Do During an Earthquake
Stay as safe as possible during an earthquake. Be
aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks and a larger earthquake
might occur. Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and
if you are indoors, stay there until the shaking has stopped and you are sure
exiting is safe.
If indoors
•
DROP to the ground; take COVER
by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON
until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your
face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
•
Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and
walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
•
Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake
strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a
heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe
place.
•
Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close
proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, loadbearing
doorway.
•
Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe
to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside
buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to
leave.
•
Be aware that the electricity may go out or the
sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.
•
DO NOT use the elevators.
If outdoors
•
Stay there.
•
Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility
wires.
•
Once in the open, stay there until the shaking
stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits and
alongside exterior walls. Many of the 120 fatalities from the 1933 Long Beach
earthquake occurred when people ran outside of buildings only to be killed by
falling debris from collapsing walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is
seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties
result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.
If in a moving vehicle
•
Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the
vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility
wires.
•
Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped.
Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.
If trapped under debris
•
Do not light a match.
•
Do not move about or kick up dust.
•
Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.
•
Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you.
Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can
cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.
...We hope everyone is alright. Check on all your
loved ones (and your buildings infrastructure) and be safe Delmarva!!
Monday, August 22, 2011
City Council Drinking Game!!!!!
That's right Delmarva, back by popular demand (and personal necessity) is The City Council Drinking Game!! Grab a friend, a loved one, or the guy next to you at the bar (who has also turned to the drink because of Salisbury politics) and play along!
Here are the rules:
STEP 1: TUNE INTO CHANNEL 14 TONIGHT AT 6:00 PM
STEP 2: TAKE A SHOT (OR DRINK OF CHOICE) EVERY TIME...
TERRY "SHALL WE SAY" COHEN MAKES AN UNNECESSARY SPEECH INVOLVING HER DEDICATION TO THE PUBLIC
TIM LOOKS TO TERRY OR DEBORAH FOR HIS OPINION
LAURA MITCHELL HAS A GOOD IDEA, GETS SHOT DOWN
JIM CRACKS UNDER PRESSURE AND HAS A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, RUNS FROM ROOM
DEBBIE OFFERS A USELESS AMENDMENT/ ASKS FOR CLARIFICATION ABOUT SOMETHING MUNDANE
SHANIE TRIES TO SWAY COUNCIL WITH COMMON SENSE, FAILS
PUBLIC GIVES INPUT, GETS IGNORED
****BONUS SHOT IF TIM IS SPORTING A SWEATER-VEST*****
Have fun and drink responsibly!!! (Just in case somebody has to get their stomach pumped because Salisbury is so screwed up.)
Thursday, August 4, 2011
'Scuse Me. Can I get a Little Privacy?
So, Congress finally reached a deal on the debt ceiling. While I've heard various complaints from both sides, I personally think they were attempting to relate to college students and trying to get the youth-vote. Like most college students, they finished their group project on the day it was due, it didn't turn out the way that they originally envisioned, and now they're worried it will affect their grade*.
But, now that they're finished with that, they can go back to doing what they do best...taking away our freedoms and placing its citizens under constant watch. H.R. 1981 requires Internet Service Providers (ISP) to keep a database tracking its users' personal information including names, addresses, and financial information. Personally, I don't like the idea of being watched and tracked by the government- I'm so terrified of Big Brother that my tinfoil hat has its own tinfoil hat. But, even if you buy into the whole, “you have nothing to be afraid of if you have nothing to hide,” argument, forcing ISPs to track all of this data for every one of its users is going to be costly, which we can expect to see manifest in the form of higher prices.
This bill is particularly challenging politically because of its name- Protecting Children From Internet Pornographers Act of 2011. Opponents of this bill run the risk of being labeled a pedophile and offer great material for smear ads come election season. Overall, I don't buy their “Think of the Children!” hysteria. Forcing companies to collect this data and surrender it to law enforcement agencies sets a dangerous precedent. It's easy to pass the law arguing that it will only be used to protect children from internet pornographers, but if the law were to pass it wouldn't surprise me if soon enough it were used in cases of illegally downloading music or movies or track whistleblowers, such as Wikileaks.
This strategy is not new to politics. It's hard to title a bill “The Citizen Surveillance Act”, so they title it something much more American, like “The Patriot Act.” If you don't support it, you are clearly unpatriotic. But, with fear of being banned from parks, school zones, and day cares everywhere, I'll gladly stand under my tinfoil hat and say this bill will not only fail to help children but may causes a lot of unintended consequences.
*Update: Like most projects done during an all-nighter, it seems that this one is going to hurt the country's GPA.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Muir Boda's Comments On The HBAA
Every government, from the federal level to the municipal level must actively have a balance of power. The executive, legislative and judicial branches are necessary for proper checks and balance on each other. Authority is given to each branch so that it may execute its duties properly and in accordance with its own specific role. This is government 101.
The current situation that we have with talks of reducing the role, discretion and authority of the Housing Board of Adjustments and Appeals is one of great concern. There is even talk of eliminating the board as a whole.
The HBAA provides a vital role as it acts as part of the judicial branch of government. Every branch of enforcement and executive authority must have an equal branch of the judiciary. In this case, the HBAA acts as the judiciary to Neighborhood Services and Code Compliance which is an extension of the executive branch and enforces the housing code. The role fits perfectly in the system we have as it provides an independent entity to settle disputes between NSCC and those they issue citations to.
Removing the HBAA’s authority or eliminating the board would be a blow to due process when dealing with disputes that arise from alleged housing code violations. Every individual who is accused of a housing code violation or murder must be given the opportunity through due process to defend him or herself.
The great misconception is that landlords are the only ones that benefit from the HBAA.This is not true. Every property owner, whether a landlord or homeowner, property manager or a commercial business owner, has a right to appeal their cases to the HBAA.
So the question becomes what happens if we remove the authority or eliminate the HBAA? Several things will happen.
The current situation that we have with talks of reducing the role, discretion and authority of the Housing Board of Adjustments and Appeals is one of great concern. There is even talk of eliminating the board as a whole.
The HBAA provides a vital role as it acts as part of the judicial branch of government. Every branch of enforcement and executive authority must have an equal branch of the judiciary. In this case, the HBAA acts as the judiciary to Neighborhood Services and Code Compliance which is an extension of the executive branch and enforces the housing code. The role fits perfectly in the system we have as it provides an independent entity to settle disputes between NSCC and those they issue citations to.
Removing the HBAA’s authority or eliminating the board would be a blow to due process when dealing with disputes that arise from alleged housing code violations. Every individual who is accused of a housing code violation or murder must be given the opportunity through due process to defend him or herself.
The great misconception is that landlords are the only ones that benefit from the HBAA.This is not true. Every property owner, whether a landlord or homeowner, property manager or a commercial business owner, has a right to appeal their cases to the HBAA.
So the question becomes what happens if we remove the authority or eliminate the HBAA? Several things will happen.
- We remove an effective step in the course of due process where issues get resolved quickly and fairly.
- We will increase the cost for the city and for those accused of housing infractions. The current board consists of volunteers. If this board is eliminated then the Circuit Court of Wicomico County is where all appeals will go. This will create a greater burden on a court system that is already overloaded. It will also create a greater burden on taxpayers as Circuit Court costs money to run to pay the judges, clerks and bailiffs.
- The other cost is the City Attorney or Solicitor will be required to act as a prosecutor and will require additional funds to account for his time prosecuting housing code violations in Circuit Court.
- This then puts citizens at a legal disadvantage and they may need to hire attorneys to defend themselves. Certainly great for the legal business but many things will cascade from here such as fines being increased to account for added costs or the other extreme where enforcement is reduced to a point where issues are never addressed.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
HEAT ADVISORY
Courtesy of Weather.com:
HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 AM EDT FRIDAY... ... EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO 8 PM EDT SATURDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD HAS ISSUED AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO 8 PM EDT SATURDAY. THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 AM EDT FRIDAY.
* MAXIMUM FORECAST HEAT INDICES: 105 TO 109 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON. 110 TO 115 DEGREES FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
* TIMING AND IMPACTS: THE COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY... ESPECIALLY FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH SUNSET... WILL PRODUCE DANGEROUSLY HIGH HEAT INDICES TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THIS WILL CREATE A SIGNIFICANT STRESS ON INDIVIDUALS AND WILL INCREASE THE RISK OF HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES... SUCH AS HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. ANYONE WORKING OUTSIDE... PLAYING SPORTS... WORKING OUT OR JOGGING OUTDOORS... DURING THE LATE MORNING HOURS THROUGH SUNSET... WILL BE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE. PEOPLE LIVING OR WORKING IN NON-AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS WILL ALSO BE MORE PRONE TO HEAT RELATED ILLNESS. LITTLE RELIEF IS EXPECTED OVERNIGHT... WITH NIGHTTIME HEAT INDICES EXPECTED TO FALL ONLY INTO THE LOW 80S... WITH THE WARMEST READINGS IN URBAN AREAS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF DANGEROUSLY HOT TEMPERATURES WILL OCCUR. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE LIKELY. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS... STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM... STAY IN THE SHADE IF POSSIBLE... AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.
TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN POSSIBLE... RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING OR EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.
TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK... THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY - CALL 9 1 1.
A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS... STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM... STAY IN THE SHADE IF POSSIBLE... AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.
HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 AM EDT FRIDAY... ... EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO 8 PM EDT SATURDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD HAS ISSUED AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO 8 PM EDT SATURDAY. THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 AM EDT FRIDAY.
* MAXIMUM FORECAST HEAT INDICES: 105 TO 109 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON. 110 TO 115 DEGREES FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
* TIMING AND IMPACTS: THE COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY... ESPECIALLY FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH SUNSET... WILL PRODUCE DANGEROUSLY HIGH HEAT INDICES TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THIS WILL CREATE A SIGNIFICANT STRESS ON INDIVIDUALS AND WILL INCREASE THE RISK OF HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES... SUCH AS HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. ANYONE WORKING OUTSIDE... PLAYING SPORTS... WORKING OUT OR JOGGING OUTDOORS... DURING THE LATE MORNING HOURS THROUGH SUNSET... WILL BE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE. PEOPLE LIVING OR WORKING IN NON-AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS WILL ALSO BE MORE PRONE TO HEAT RELATED ILLNESS. LITTLE RELIEF IS EXPECTED OVERNIGHT... WITH NIGHTTIME HEAT INDICES EXPECTED TO FALL ONLY INTO THE LOW 80S... WITH THE WARMEST READINGS IN URBAN AREAS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF DANGEROUSLY HOT TEMPERATURES WILL OCCUR. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE LIKELY. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS... STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM... STAY IN THE SHADE IF POSSIBLE... AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.
TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN POSSIBLE... RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING OR EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.
TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK... THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY - CALL 9 1 1.
A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS... STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM... STAY IN THE SHADE IF POSSIBLE... AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Thoughts On Azul
It is with much regret and disappointed hopes that we report the closing of Azul, Salisbury's only under 21 club.
There have been many responses to the goings on at Azul in the past few months; the club has been the center of a heated though much needed debate over how the people of Salisbury should respond to youth and youth centered businesses. The most popular trains of thought on the shore tend to go as follows:
1. Under 21 clubs never work, especially in Salisbury. On top of the fact that they are a terrible idea, they attract local thugs and gang-bangers. Azul was always going to close, good riddance to it.
2. Azul was just in a bad location. A historic downtown is an inappropriate venue for any nightclub, let alone a club aimed at the under 21 crowd. People with real jobs and real families have to live and work Downtown- its not the place for underage shenanigans. If they had picked a different spot, Azul would have had a better chance of succeeding, otherwise they were doomed to fail.
3. Downtown is a sinking ship. And for that matter, so is Salisbury. Any business that opens around here is going to close. Azul, and anybody else with vision is wasting their time. They never had a chance.
4. Azul was a great idea. They gave kids who are normally bored something to do and brought foot traffic to an otherwise empty part of downtown. Azul had a lot of potential and should have been a success. What went wrong??
On our bad days, The Other SBY News hovers around opinion Number 3; we get worn down by the constant negativity that seems to permeate Salisbury's business climate and dream of moving away to a place that actually likes young people and encourages new ideas. But every other day, cock-eyed optimists that we are, we support opinion Number 4- we liked Azul, and we wanted to see it do well...and we weren't alone. So why did it close after only a few months?
Here at The Other SBY News, we have a theory. Maybe the problems that surrounded Azul were never really about Azul at all, but were indicative of a much bigger, much more deep-rooted issue regarding the way that Salisbury handles its young people... or rather, the way it doesn't.
What upset us in reading the local responses to the going-ons at Azul, was that many of our fellow citizens seem to hold the opinion that providing an outlet for active young people is in itself, a recipe for trouble, while denying them said outlet is somehow a remedy for it. Worse still, was the shared sentiment echoed in so many of the comments on the Grinches site, that the "problem children" who frequented Azul would go away, and leave the City of Salisbury alone, if only Azul were closed. The Other SBY News would like to ask the people who left those comments a question: Where do you think the "gang-bangers" and "thugs" will go now that Azul is gone? Do you really think those kids will be less of a drain on police resources now that they are left to their own devices, than they were when they hung out downtown, making too much noise?
The most alarming revelation to come out of the Azul debate for us, was that as a community, we are more concerned that hoards of at-risk youth are bothering us, than we are about the fact that we literally have hoards of at-risk youth. We have had 4 under 21 clubs close in Salisbury due to gang-related violence, but instead of asking ourselves "why are all of our violent gangs under 21?" we shrug our shoulders and look the other way. We just don't understand how the City of Salisbury can expect to hold it's teenagers responsible for their actions on Saturday night, when Monday through Friday, it pretends not to see them.
There have been many responses to the goings on at Azul in the past few months; the club has been the center of a heated though much needed debate over how the people of Salisbury should respond to youth and youth centered businesses. The most popular trains of thought on the shore tend to go as follows:
1. Under 21 clubs never work, especially in Salisbury. On top of the fact that they are a terrible idea, they attract local thugs and gang-bangers. Azul was always going to close, good riddance to it.
2. Azul was just in a bad location. A historic downtown is an inappropriate venue for any nightclub, let alone a club aimed at the under 21 crowd. People with real jobs and real families have to live and work Downtown- its not the place for underage shenanigans. If they had picked a different spot, Azul would have had a better chance of succeeding, otherwise they were doomed to fail.
3. Downtown is a sinking ship. And for that matter, so is Salisbury. Any business that opens around here is going to close. Azul, and anybody else with vision is wasting their time. They never had a chance.
4. Azul was a great idea. They gave kids who are normally bored something to do and brought foot traffic to an otherwise empty part of downtown. Azul had a lot of potential and should have been a success. What went wrong??
On our bad days, The Other SBY News hovers around opinion Number 3; we get worn down by the constant negativity that seems to permeate Salisbury's business climate and dream of moving away to a place that actually likes young people and encourages new ideas. But every other day, cock-eyed optimists that we are, we support opinion Number 4- we liked Azul, and we wanted to see it do well...and we weren't alone. So why did it close after only a few months?
Here at The Other SBY News, we have a theory. Maybe the problems that surrounded Azul were never really about Azul at all, but were indicative of a much bigger, much more deep-rooted issue regarding the way that Salisbury handles its young people... or rather, the way it doesn't.
What upset us in reading the local responses to the going-ons at Azul, was that many of our fellow citizens seem to hold the opinion that providing an outlet for active young people is in itself, a recipe for trouble, while denying them said outlet is somehow a remedy for it. Worse still, was the shared sentiment echoed in so many of the comments on the Grinches site, that the "problem children" who frequented Azul would go away, and leave the City of Salisbury alone, if only Azul were closed. The Other SBY News would like to ask the people who left those comments a question: Where do you think the "gang-bangers" and "thugs" will go now that Azul is gone? Do you really think those kids will be less of a drain on police resources now that they are left to their own devices, than they were when they hung out downtown, making too much noise?
The most alarming revelation to come out of the Azul debate for us, was that as a community, we are more concerned that hoards of at-risk youth are bothering us, than we are about the fact that we literally have hoards of at-risk youth. We have had 4 under 21 clubs close in Salisbury due to gang-related violence, but instead of asking ourselves "why are all of our violent gangs under 21?" we shrug our shoulders and look the other way. We just don't understand how the City of Salisbury can expect to hold it's teenagers responsible for their actions on Saturday night, when Monday through Friday, it pretends not to see them.
Monday, July 11, 2011
CITY COUNCIL DRINKING GAME!!!!
That's right Delmarva, back by popular demand (and personal necessity) is The City Council Drinking Game!! Grab a friend, a loved one, or the guy next to you at the bar (who has also turned to the drink because of Salisbury politics) and play along!
Here are the rules:
STEP 1: TUNE INTO CHANNEL 14 TONIGHT AT 6:00 PM
STEP 2: TAKE A SHOT (OR DRINK OF CHOICE) EVERY TIME...
TERRY "SHALL WE SAY" COHEN MAKES AN UNNECESSARY SPEECH INVOLVING HER DEDICATION TO THE PUBLIC
TIM LOOKS TO TERRY OR DEBORAH FOR HIS OPINION
LAURA MITCHELL HAS A GOOD IDEA, GETS SHOT DOWN
JIM CRACKS UNDER PRESSURE AND HAS A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, RUNS FROM ROOM
DEBBIE OFFERS A USELESS AMENDMENT/ ASKS FOR CLARIFICATION ABOUT SOMETHING MUNDANE
SHANIE TRIES TO SWAY COUNCIL WITH COMMON SENSE, FAILS
PUBLIC GIVES INPUT, GETS IGNORED
****BONUS SHOT IF TIM IS SPORTING A SWEATER-VEST*****
Have fun and drink responsibly!!! (Just in case somebody has to get their stomach pumped because Salisbury is so screwed up.)
Here are the rules:
STEP 1: TUNE INTO CHANNEL 14 TONIGHT AT 6:00 PM
STEP 2: TAKE A SHOT (OR DRINK OF CHOICE) EVERY TIME...
TERRY "SHALL WE SAY" COHEN MAKES AN UNNECESSARY SPEECH INVOLVING HER DEDICATION TO THE PUBLIC
TIM LOOKS TO TERRY OR DEBORAH FOR HIS OPINION
LAURA MITCHELL HAS A GOOD IDEA, GETS SHOT DOWN
JIM CRACKS UNDER PRESSURE AND HAS A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, RUNS FROM ROOM
DEBBIE OFFERS A USELESS AMENDMENT/ ASKS FOR CLARIFICATION ABOUT SOMETHING MUNDANE
SHANIE TRIES TO SWAY COUNCIL WITH COMMON SENSE, FAILS
PUBLIC GIVES INPUT, GETS IGNORED
****BONUS SHOT IF TIM IS SPORTING A SWEATER-VEST*****
Have fun and drink responsibly!!! (Just in case somebody has to get their stomach pumped because Salisbury is so screwed up.)
Monday, July 4, 2011
Happy Independence Day!!
The Other SBY News wishes everybody a great 4th of July and is very proud to bring you the National Anthem, by Tione Johnson, to celebrate it!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Life's For Livin'
After a few days of drinking and thinking, The Other SBY News has decided not to wait until the fall to start back up again. Post blog-identity-crisis, we've decided to continue to write sporadically throughout the summer. So, instead of stressing about the bizarre and depressing state of Salisbury politics, as has become our habit, we are going to play in the sun and enjoy our youth...because that's what youth is for. If you need us, you have our email, but for now, we'll be on a boat. Peace.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The Gloves Come Off: Crew Leader Writes For Sbynews
As further proof that Albero is Debbie Campbell's personal piss-boy (see History of the World Part I for clarification) we present to you the special article she wrote for Sbynews alone (click here to read). Upon checking the Daily Times this morning to see whether Deborah is utilizing all of her media resources in her quest to publicly scourge Mitchell, Shields, and the Mayor, we found that the Op-Ed in question was not there. Yes Delmarva, this means that Sbynews finally got the scoop on something- and the scoop was Debbie Campbell. Of course, it isn't hard to get a scoop when you are pulling from your own bucket, but lets give credit where credit is due: Good job G.A.! You finally convinced Debbie to go public with her relationship to Sbynews! We can't imagine a better time for this career move...
Anyway, Mrs. Campbell's little article is basically just a combination of her normal council lectures put to writing- she brags about her dedication to the public, gives us a play-by-play of all of the things she has refused to support, explains in unnecessary detail why her perspective is better than everyone elses....the usual. Her main point was that she was not simply undoing all of the previous administrations work...she's undoing everybody's equally. At any rate, what Deborah is really attempting to do is clear her name of the cattiness that has recently been associated with it. Unfortunately, her efforts fall a bit short of the mark as phrases like "one council colleague...", "certain people...", "the same council member...", and "some members of council..." crop up over and over again.
But what The Other SBY News found the most interesting about Deborah's article was not the knife she stuck in the Mayors back in the last line or even her detailed selling out of Laura Mitchell- it was the fact that she unabashedly spoke on behalf of Cohen and Spies and explained their decision making as a single unit. This unwise move has thereby affirmed our suspicions that the Camden Crew is stronger than ever and that Debbie is in charge of it.
All in all Delmarva, we are off to a good start today; The leader of the Crew has gone public and we now know for sure that there is a substantial connection between Sbynews and the Salisbury City Council. While these new developments may not help us sleep at night, its at least good to know what we are dealing with.
Have a great day Salisbury! Stay safe...and as always, Godspeed.
Anyway, Mrs. Campbell's little article is basically just a combination of her normal council lectures put to writing- she brags about her dedication to the public, gives us a play-by-play of all of the things she has refused to support, explains in unnecessary detail why her perspective is better than everyone elses....the usual. Her main point was that she was not simply undoing all of the previous administrations work...she's undoing everybody's equally. At any rate, what Deborah is really attempting to do is clear her name of the cattiness that has recently been associated with it. Unfortunately, her efforts fall a bit short of the mark as phrases like "one council colleague...", "certain people...", "the same council member...", and "some members of council..." crop up over and over again.
But what The Other SBY News found the most interesting about Deborah's article was not the knife she stuck in the Mayors back in the last line or even her detailed selling out of Laura Mitchell- it was the fact that she unabashedly spoke on behalf of Cohen and Spies and explained their decision making as a single unit. This unwise move has thereby affirmed our suspicions that the Camden Crew is stronger than ever and that Debbie is in charge of it.
All in all Delmarva, we are off to a good start today; The leader of the Crew has gone public and we now know for sure that there is a substantial connection between Sbynews and the Salisbury City Council. While these new developments may not help us sleep at night, its at least good to know what we are dealing with.
Have a great day Salisbury! Stay safe...and as always, Godspeed.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Oh No He Din'nt.
Well Delmarva, today we are blogging from our rooftops where we have been dancing for quite some time. The mysterious spell that Debbie and Terry have had over Mayor Jim Ireton for the last two years has finally been lifted- the people of Salisbury are free! Well, almost free, there is still work to be done...as we speak Jim is suiting up in preparation for battle- don't forget your cup, Jim.
Now, The Other SBY News has been saying that Deb, Tim, and Terry are evil for months; if their plan to rid the city of its less fortunate members by kicking them out of house and home (via the Neighborhood Legislative Package whose use of municipal codes dates back to the 1960s and beyond- can we say hello segregation??) wasn't enough, their most recent plot to starve out Salisbury's poor people by cutting the "Hardship Funds" (money set aside to make sure poor people have water) in conjunction with raising water and sewer rates by 18% while simultaneously refusing to dip into the 5 million dollar surplus in water and sewer to help the city shoulder those costs, ought to be irrefutable proof.
But there's more. Debbie, Terry, and Tim (in addition to their efforts to legislate/ starve out our low-income communities) have categorically refused for years, to support anything that would help those at risk neighborhoods improve. In the past two weeks alone they have refused a state grant to help minority youths, stopped progress on Linens of the week, and halted forward movement on the Bricks project. The latter two items are so dear to the Mayors heart that just like King Arthur before him, Jim took to the streets yesterday with Merlin in tow (that would be Shanie) and before the eyes of his people pulled out a much needed political ex-caliber- the race card.
Like all magical weapons, the race card only works in very special circumstances- you've got to be able to prove that racism is actually effecting someone's political priorities, or it won't operate correctly. So, is racism a factor in Council's decision making process? We think its safe to say that racism not a part of Shanie or Laura's agenda as they were both present at yesterdays rally (with Shanie preparing to lead a march and Laura applauding her for it) but as for the other three....insert non-committal nod while staring at the floor here.
Regardless of what the motives were for Council's policies, the fact is that they were bad ones. Maybe Tim, Terry, and Deb aren't racists at all, maybe they are all just...very partial to their own neighborhood...either way, their decisions have still sucked. The reality is that they aren't representing all of Salisbury- they are representing the parts they feel like representing, and that's not okay. Albero and G.A. can make excuses for this group til they are blue in the face, but public servants should not be explaining to the majority of their constituents what delicate mixture of variables led to the people being ignored- ever. Muir Boda's astute observation that Council held a public hearing on the budget in the same hour that they held a vote on it, is extremely indicative that Council is not only not listening to us, they don't care what we have to say.
The battle lines have been drawn, Delmarva. This is your money, your vote (well for about 4,000 of you it's your vote), and if you are ready, it's your time. Will you settle for the logic of the 1960's that's been the status quo for the last twenty years or will you help move our city into the future? It's up to you. Either way, Salisbury's bout to get rowdy.
Help lead the charge! Contact Councilwomen Campbell and Cohen, and Councilmen Spies to let them know your thoughts on how they are running the city...into the ground.
Terry E. Cohen
Council President
536 Druid Hill Avenue
Salisbury, MD 21801
Home: 410-845-0296
Email: Terry@TerryCohen.com
Deborah S. Campbell
Councilwoman
809 Camden Ave
Salisbury, MD 21801
Home: 410-860-0893
Email: debbiescampbell@comcast.net
Tim Spies
Councilman
414 Virginia Avenue
Salisbury, MD 21801
Email: tspies@cavtel.net
Now, The Other SBY News has been saying that Deb, Tim, and Terry are evil for months; if their plan to rid the city of its less fortunate members by kicking them out of house and home (via the Neighborhood Legislative Package whose use of municipal codes dates back to the 1960s and beyond- can we say hello segregation??) wasn't enough, their most recent plot to starve out Salisbury's poor people by cutting the "Hardship Funds" (money set aside to make sure poor people have water) in conjunction with raising water and sewer rates by 18% while simultaneously refusing to dip into the 5 million dollar surplus in water and sewer to help the city shoulder those costs, ought to be irrefutable proof.
But there's more. Debbie, Terry, and Tim (in addition to their efforts to legislate/ starve out our low-income communities) have categorically refused for years, to support anything that would help those at risk neighborhoods improve. In the past two weeks alone they have refused a state grant to help minority youths, stopped progress on Linens of the week, and halted forward movement on the Bricks project. The latter two items are so dear to the Mayors heart that just like King Arthur before him, Jim took to the streets yesterday with Merlin in tow (that would be Shanie) and before the eyes of his people pulled out a much needed political ex-caliber- the race card.
Like all magical weapons, the race card only works in very special circumstances- you've got to be able to prove that racism is actually effecting someone's political priorities, or it won't operate correctly. So, is racism a factor in Council's decision making process? We think its safe to say that racism not a part of Shanie or Laura's agenda as they were both present at yesterdays rally (with Shanie preparing to lead a march and Laura applauding her for it) but as for the other three....insert non-committal nod while staring at the floor here.
Regardless of what the motives were for Council's policies, the fact is that they were bad ones. Maybe Tim, Terry, and Deb aren't racists at all, maybe they are all just...very partial to their own neighborhood...either way, their decisions have still sucked. The reality is that they aren't representing all of Salisbury- they are representing the parts they feel like representing, and that's not okay. Albero and G.A. can make excuses for this group til they are blue in the face, but public servants should not be explaining to the majority of their constituents what delicate mixture of variables led to the people being ignored- ever. Muir Boda's astute observation that Council held a public hearing on the budget in the same hour that they held a vote on it, is extremely indicative that Council is not only not listening to us, they don't care what we have to say.
The battle lines have been drawn, Delmarva. This is your money, your vote (well for about 4,000 of you it's your vote), and if you are ready, it's your time. Will you settle for the logic of the 1960's that's been the status quo for the last twenty years or will you help move our city into the future? It's up to you. Either way, Salisbury's bout to get rowdy.
Help lead the charge! Contact Councilwomen Campbell and Cohen, and Councilmen Spies to let them know your thoughts on how they are running the city...into the ground.
Terry E. Cohen
Council President
536 Druid Hill Avenue
Salisbury, MD 21801
Home: 410-845-0296
Email: Terry@TerryCohen.com
Deborah S. Campbell
Councilwoman
809 Camden Ave
Salisbury, MD 21801
Home: 410-860-0893
Email: debbiescampbell@comcast.net
Tim Spies
Councilman
414 Virginia Avenue
Salisbury, MD 21801
Email: tspies@cavtel.net
Monday, June 13, 2011
Dedication
This song goes out to Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen...and Tim Spies cause we don't want him to feel left out. Enjoy, ladies.
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