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August 6th, 2007
REGISTER AND VOTE IN THE NEXT ELECTION
CHANGE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME! BUSINESS AS USUAL AT CITY HALL IS NOT ACCEPTABLE VOTE IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION. YOU CAN HAVE YOUR SAY. DO NOT RELY ON YOUR NEIGHBORS TO DO YOUR JOB. IF YOU CANNOT GO TO THE POLLS, OR YOU WILL BE OUT OF TOWN ON ELECTION DAY, REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT, MARK, AND RETURN IT TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS BEFORE YOU LEAVE. THERE WILL BE A PRIMARY ELECTION ON OCTOBER 9 IF MORE THAN TWO CANDIDATES RUN. THE GENERAL ELECTION IS NOVEMBER 6.
CALL ANN MCFALL, THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS IN NSB AT 423-3311, OR GO TO HER WEB SITE AND REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT. CONTACT THE CITY CLERK, JANIS LOWRY, AT THE AOB TO OBTAIN QUALIFICATION PAPERS IF YOU WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE, AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO. COMPLETE AND RETURN THE NECESSARY PAPERS WITH THE REQUIRED FEES NO LATER THAN NOON ON SEPTEMBER 6.
TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO VOTE. IF YOU ARE UNHAPPY WITH OF YOUR CURRENT ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU CAN REPLACE THREE OF THEM IN NOVEMBER. VOTE, AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO VOTE
A Posting on the bulletin Board: The city commission needs to cut $2,716,909 to get the budget to the governor's goal!
“The city is planning to make only a $200,000 cut in the budget. According to the news urinal, the city commission needs to cut nearly 2.8 million to get its budget in line with spending in 2001 plus inflation and growth. The city is only making 10% of the cuts the governor said the city should make. Here is the math. The 2001 budget was 6,812,658. You add 16% inflation and 15.10% for growth you get a 31.10 % increase or $9,887,747.46 total budget. The 2006 budget was $12,604,656 the difference is $2,716,909.”
We think this says it all. Government growth and unbridled increases in salary for the top government employees is where the money went, not to mention the needless $200,000 a year for the carrying cost on the bond to refurbish the municipal golf course and the cost for the bonds on the over built sports complex. Building that fire station on the Putt Putt property will add 30 years indebtedness at more than $300,000. The budget hearings last week seem to indicate that at least the Mayor and Commissioner Hathaway understand the problem that has been caused by past unwise decisions and want to put in a budget that corrects these past indiscretions. We will see over the next several weeks whether they succeed.
NOTES
1. Well, our curiosity as to who the campaign managers and treasurers were of our announced candidates for public office, elicited the following response from the City Clerk. Those people who have actually opened campaign accounts and their campaign managers and treasurers are as follows:
For Mayor:
Sally Mackay - Campaign manager Janice Baum,
Treasurer Barbara Herrin.
For Zone 3:
Vice Mayor Hathaway - He is his own campaign manager and treasurer.
For Zone 4:
Commissioner Plaskett - She is her own campaign manager and treasurer.
We were not shocked to find that Sally Mackay has changed campaign managers. Her first choice, ex-Commissioner Bill Rogers, was the architect responsible for the trashing of the Utilities Commission and firing the then City Attorney for giving him accurate advice. We did not think much of her judgment for picking him to begin with, but Jeanne Diesen probably decided he carried too much baggage, despite being her close associate and alleged puppet. We are waiting to see if she replaces Barbara Herrin, as we also suggested, since she may carry more baggage than Bill Rogers, if that is possible. Commissioners Hathaway and Plaskett have decided to do both jobs, so far. We will watch to see what develops. No Competition means they will have no need for competent advice.
2. We have been using the figure of 30% for the benefits package cost added to the salary for regular City of New Smyrna Beach employees. We were misinformed. The real cost is 45%. The total costs for an $85,000 Parks and Recreation Director is between $125,000 and $130,000. Moreover, we were told that providing her with a municipal SUV was the only way to keep her from jumping ship. The City Commission is still looking for ways to accomplish a 10% cut in next year’s budget. Maybe if use of her SUV was withdrawn, we could save another $125,000-$130,000. If her husband went with her that would be another $94,000+ in savings.
3. There are some people who do not know that they do not know, (some call it stupidity), and recently they have surfaced through postings on the Shadow’s opinion page. There is an old saying about how lawyers should argue their case. When you have the facts, pound on the facts. When the facts are not with you, pound on the equities. Moreover, when neither the facts nor the equities are with you, pound on the table. Well the best retort our detractors and naysayers have to the facts and equities published by the Shadow, are falsehoods and ad hominiums falsely attacking the publisher and the bloggers. Would the Union, please issue a white paper explaining what is fair about having its members paying almost nothing to their pension fund, having excessive salaries, and controlling the investment, mostly the City’s, in their pension fund, and sticking losses to the taxpayer for their poor business judgments. Perhaps we should remember that the union position is that the City should be overly generous to their members, not vice versa. We are more amused than ever at the juvenile, immature tactic of attacking the messenger and not refuting the facts. Please, will one of you sign your name to a piece of paper justifying Cindy Richenberg's $91,000 salary as a lieutenant (and Union member)? A little free advice. Your personal attacks on those posting on the blog who do not agree that this is appropriate, in all likelihood reinforces the view of some that your members are more thug like, than responsible City employees are. We thought you told them to stop this garbage, but apparently, some of your members are not smart enough to understand and take your advice. Therefore, how are can we be expected to respect their judgment on job related decisions?
Finally, several recent postings by fire fighters have in fact joined the issue on a rational basis and that is most welcome.
1. REVENUE; ......(3) the income from taxes, licenses, etc, as of a city, state, or nation (Webster's New World Dictionary). Now throughout the discussions last week on the proposed budget, the Mayor and Commissioner Hathaway made it clear that spending had to be cut significantly more than the meager $200.000 that apparently were the original marching orders given to the City Manager (by whom we are not sure.). But one Commissioner, Richenberg, wanted to know what was being done to improve revenue from City enterprise funded activities to insure we were getting the most return for our investment, that they breakeven or better, make a positive return. Although this is a good position to eschew, the big enchilada remains cutting spending, like you know getting rid of the extra stipend to his wife as “spokesperson” for the fire department. The $13,000 per year that perk costs the City could sure as heck buy a lot of kids an ice cream cone or two at the Dairy Queen.
2. We heard it right. The Parks and Recreation Director can not possibly cut another nickel out her budget. That is what she said. It will be a hardship. First, she was originally told to cut 14% when the City thought the State legislature was passing legislation to require that level of reduced spending. How about giving us a copy? On the other hand, how about taking away her SUV, her husband’s truck, and one or two of her assistants. We would say give her a rebuilt Trabant, they are said to last 28 years with the proper care. We believe her department could contribute another $100,000 or so to the cause.
DEAR JOHN
We know of the limited resources available to John Hagood, the City Manager, and to his inability to get all of the important letters written that he would like to send. So we decided to help him and provide him drafts that will simplify his tasks and free him up for important.
Memorandum
TO: The Mayor and Commissioners
FROM: John Hagood, City Manager
Re: FY2008 Budget
I guess I was confused by all those trips you made to Tallahassee to tell Governor Crist how the sky would fall if you were forced to cut spending. However, Friday you clearly told me to cut spending by 10%. From my perspective this is a piece of cake since we had previously considered a 14% cut. However, it will require some hard political decisions on your part, and I think I should tell you up front that I can not see how you can keep on funding the new fire station or give employees across the board increases in salary without taking some flak from certain members of the community.
It is my impression that our citizens want you to cut spending, and not use reserves. We can do that if you agree. Please confirm that this is your direction by August 8, 2007, as stated in the public workshop meetings last week.
John
W-2 REVISED AND TABLES SHOWING INCREASES
Last week we published the W-2 s of all New Smyrna Beach City Employees as a PDF. This week we are publishing it as a spreadsheet and are adding columns that show the actual increases In compensation as compared to what they would have been at the cumulative rate of inflation which was 16%. These figures reflect compensation paid for the year, and do not reflect the cost of benefits. In the case of all employees other than police and fire, these costs are about 45% of salary, and the cost of fire personnel is 69% and police 60%. Therefore, a payment of one dollar in salary to all non-fire or police employees represents a cost ti the City of $1.45, and for fire department employees $1.69, and for police department employees $1.60.
In response to some posted questions, be advised that these W-2 numbers include overtime pay at time and one half, that for many employees at the police and fire departments are their second jobs. A good portion of the overhead costs to the City could be structured as pay instead of non taxable benefits—health and insurance being in this category. Keep in mind that the cost of pensions is a deferred remuneration to the employee. The Commissioners were informed that free gasoline and use of City vehicles as well as other benefits are being looked at by the IRS to determineif they should be reportable as income. LINK
“Best Blog of the Week”
(Edited for grammar and punctuation)
A POTPOURRI OF CITIZEN COMMENTS IS
AGAIN PROVIDED THIS WEEK IN ORDER
FOR YOU TO GET IN TUNE WITH THE
MOOD OF OUR READERS
Sally MacKay may have learned from her treasurer Barbara Herrin. Once we all learned about Herrin's financial and professional problems she was left as the UNcandidate. If my information is correct MacKay is cut from the same cloth and attends their church of environmental wackos. It seems strange she is holding back. Every politician I have ever seen is pumping out info long before an election. This can not be a legal thing suspect a red herring.
It would be difficult to believe that Sally Mackay views fall far from her husband Richard Spangler. If one listens to Spangler and Para's comments at the UC meetings it is clear to see they doesn't have a clue of what is going on. By following their leader Diesen they have burnt through over 15 million in cash, raised rates from one of the lowest utilities in the state to next to the highest in the state, shut down the most advanced free and clear fiber system in the state, took money from the fuel fund to pay salaries and expenses while raised the fuel rate stating to customers the increase was due to oil prices and the list goes on nod on. If you can't separate Spangler from Diesen how can you separate Mackay from Diesen. Of course, she has one advantage, she had enough insight not to take her husbands name.
I just took a quick look at the clerk of court's webpage to see how our new city attorney is doing. Mr. Gummey has lost two of the three major zoning cases. I guess that means that the advice Mr. Gummy gives to the City Commission is correct at least a one third of the time. Mr. Gummey’s track record certainly has vindicated our former city attorney.
The common theme here is Richenberg and Plaskett must go. Actually, the three seats to be voted on this November are for Plaskett, Hathaway, and the Mayor. LET'S CLEAN HOUSE. Very soon, we will see very qualified candidates (certainly no "short lots") make their positions heard. Believe me, there is relief in sight. We just have to wait a few weeks longer.
The NSB City Commissioners along with the Utility Commissioners all need to look in the mirror and stop blaming every one else for the high taxes and high electric rates. We need extra strong and extra tough leadership right now. However, we have only the wimps and/or cowards running our great City. This is getting scary and should worry all our NSB Citizens as to the direction the City is heading in. Many people do not see much progress coming for us over the next few years. We surely need strong leadership to step up for us now more then ever. Shame on our present elected officials for basically our total destruction, waste, abuse, & fraud that is happening to NSB every day.
UC rates up to 12 cents kWh that is up from 10 kWh. Diesen and Para not going to be reappointed for screwing up the rates. Need a new UC to fire the director and get people who know what they are doing.
Port Orange lost 3 Police Officers due to "budget cuts" this year, yet their city commission increased funding to their police officers pension program by $650,000. In 2003, they spent $350,000 for police pensions, and now they spend $1,800,000. But they still had to cut 3 vacant patrol officers positions this year. In Port Orange; Costs More-Get Less.
This is a message to the city unions. What you are doing is stealing. Your employees are average Joes without significant education or training. The union employees’ median salary should be the median salary for the city. The median income for a household in the city was $35,372, and the median income for a family was $43,409. Males had a median income of $29,544 versus $25,706 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,547. About 7.3% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those ages 65 or over. The reason you are paid more is because you have become involved in the political process. The public officials are paying these huge salaries as payback for you supporting their reelections--not because they think you are worth the money. It is out and out bribery. Oh and by the way, City Commission Hathaway is much more likely to die at his job than either a police officer or firefighter. He falls into the class of a truck driver (his bread route).
KEN TAYLOR
Ken Taylor, who has contributed to the Shadow from time to time, attended the City budget workshop, and made the following statement that we thought, would be of some interest to our readers.
August 1, 2007, workshop talking points.
I am speaking to you today as the representative of the New Smyrna Beach Tax Reform Budget Committee.
My purpose at this workshop is to encourage you to seriously cut spending, rather than accept the proposed budget, which, in reality, is no significant reduction, and adopt Governor Crist's spending cut concept for the New Smyrna Beach budget that has escalated over the last few years far beyond the increase in inflation. On average, the cost of government in Volusia County, including New Smyrna Beach, has grown about 75% over the last five years. The Governor's position, as we understand it, is to roll back spending to fiscal 2001 levels, so that these spending cuts are reflected in next years budget through reduced millage rates for taxpayers.
There are some cuts that have been included in the proposed budget, such as not filling several management vacancies, and reduced costs for our 911 service, but apparently they do not represent enough to offset the loss in revenue, and that shortfall is being made up by dipping into the city's reserve funds by as much as $1.5 million. Take a hard look at the UC to see what happens when you deplete reserves, look at your utility bills. This estimate of $1.5 million could escalate if the unrealistic revenue projections for the golf course, sports complex, and Marine Development Center are not realized.
The tax reform committee believes that you must address the two city
functions that consume over half, 52.6%, of general fund revenue. The fire department organization together with its pay and benefits must be structured to provide a more rational system. We can no longer afford union contracts that provide overly generous salaries and benefits. Over the years, our fire department has transitioned from primarily a fire fighting force, to a medical rescue service. It is past time to recognize this transition and provide pay and benefits consistent with the service provided. In this context, it is time for fire department personnel to contribute a fair share to their pension, and that the percentage for calculation of that pension be less than 3%, that the provision of full pensions for retirees under age 55 should be revised, and the use of excessive overtime should be reduced or eliminated. We have estimated that by reducing the number of battalion chiefs and lieutenants, and minimizing authorized overtime, the fire department could reduce their budget by at
least $500,000.
The second most costly function is the police department. Our principal concern with this department is the overstaffed management structure, the thinly veiled assignment of city vehicles to officers for their personal use, unsupportable allowances for clothing provided to detectives, and questionable personnel practices. This department has too many chiefs for the number of Indians. Because of this organizational structure, a reduction in the number of commanders, reinstitution of lieutenants as
division commanders and other management restructuring actions together with a reduction of authorized overtime and other perks, could reduce the police department budget by $500,000
There are five golf courses within the city limits, and many more within easy commuting distance. Our municipal course requires a large operational subsidy each year, and most recently an approximately $3.2 million loan for refurbishment. Recently reported revenues following this large expenditure do not convince us that the financial situation of the golf course is improving, while competition for players is increasing. We believe that if the city contracted for outside management and maintenance of this course, a
revenue stream of about $100,000 annually could be realized, rather than the ongoing annual subsidy. Ask yourselves why there is a subsidized municipal golf course, when there are four, and soon to be five, competitive courses in New Smyrna Beach. A municipal course may have been reasonable in the '30s and '40s, but under the current economic circumstances, that is a questionable proposition.
In our judgment, merging the public works, and parks and recreation
departments could result in a budget reduction of about $200,000 through elimination of unnecessary management positions.
Try as we may, we are not convinced that construction of a new police
station as currently envisioned, and replacement rather than refurbishment of the Columbus avenue fire station with the proposed third avenue station should be built at all. The new firehouse will not provide better service to any part of the beach, and Minorca will receive poorer service. Look at the map provided by the fire department to justify its construction. Furthermore, we have been unable to quantify the improvement in public safety that would be provided by constructing the new police station. It is our recommendation that these projects be placed on hold, and the remaining funds be placed in escrow until realistic plans are available for all to see.
Last but not least, it is our recommendation that position vacancies be
filled at or near entry level salaries, and those employees near retirement age should be encouraged to do so. We are a small city, younger people are available and skilled, and who can be trained to take on these job responsibilities. If we rebalanced the employee experience mix, and the cost per employee, the city could provide employment for more of our young people. Some will use these positions to enhance their skills and move on to better paying and more responsible jobs, others will stay, grow into senior positions, and retire, and still others will become stagnant be terminated, or remain faithful employees. This is the way of the world!
The New Smyrna Beach Tax Reform Budget Committee will continue to review the budget and provide comments we believe would be useful to the city staff, or commissioners.
Thank you for allowing me to present our comments; we are at your service.
SCHOOL BOARD TAX
A couple of months ago we tried to alert the world that the Volusia County School Board would seek more money regardless of whether there was an increase or decrease in school enrollment, and it has come to pass. First, what we said, and then what was issued by the Volusia County Tax Reform committee last week.
What we said:
“Now we go to the School Board. The School Board still 'needs' the money they collected last year plus the mandated 7.2% mandated by the State. The School Board's share of the 19.54 mill rate was 7.685 and Bert Fish took 2.216, or roughly, 9.9 zero one mill, which is half of the property rate you paid last year. This would not be touched by the current actions of the State legislative body. Bert Fish 'needs” the money so that it can tell the newspapers that it runs in the black. Well this puts tax reform in negative light because the School Board was mandated to collect another 7.2%. By the way, it probably spent that money last week with a 6.5% increase in teachers pay. If these institutions do not cut their spending, over half (in fact, almost 60% of what you think you will save) will be collected back by raising the mill rate from 19.54 to about 25.00. This raise will be to “compensate” the School Board and Bert Fish for the loss of revenue from devalued non-homestead property. So instead of the homesteader paying $1954 and the non-homesteader paying $3,600 in the example above [June 4, 2007, article], if the School Board and Bert Fish have to make up a combined loss of $550 because the assessed property rate has gone down on non homestead assessed property, both the homestead and non-homestead owners will each pay an extra $275 in taxes if there is a the new mill rate of 25.00. It might be even worse if they decide they want even more money since there would be nothing to prevent them from raising their share of the mill rate even higher. All you can do is get mad. They are planning to give the Superintendent a big pay raise on top of her current over $200,000, pay, and benefits. You might tell them to cut expenditures and this is not the year to raise administrators’ high salaries even if deserved. What a novel idea.”
SAVINGS AND REVENUE
Apparently, the City Manager has tried to end the practice of the fire department employees who call in sick being replaced by another fire department employee overtime pay while the sick employee takes a sick or personal day at regular pay. Despite the Fire Chiefs protestations, the loss of public protection is zero, or close to zero. In the event of a structural fire, a second engine would automatically be dispatched and place at least four fire fighters at the scene. So far, no one has claimed that a medical emergency requires more than two personnel on the scene. Perhaps the City could recruit volunteers to help man those shifts if more than three fire personnel are sick on the same shift.
The City Manager has been directed to come back with a revised budget proposal that is a 10% cut in spending, and results in an operational City millage rate of 2.99 mills. The maximum approved operational rate is 3.100 mills. The Mayor is taking the position that in good times we can and were generous, and in poor revenue times our budget should reflect spending cuts. We are amazed that the two biggest and easy ways to cut spending is to not give all employees a 3% pay increase when they received 6 ½% increase in 2006. We can see increases for the lowest paid employees, but certainly not our favorite greens keeper or well paid department heads. By not building the fire station and selling off the Putt Putt property when the real estate market improves would save a fortune, now and in future amortization costs.
How about seeking out a company to install a fiber optic system for local residents, and City offices, with a provision to pay a franchise fee off the top to the City? The City loses nothing if the business fails and makes out like a bandit if it succeeds. Maybe this time around Commissioner Richenberg will read the proposal. He refused last time. We assume his refusal last year was an “attitude “problem, not reading comprehension.
Wonders never cease. Commissioner Plaskett has discovered that City leases are too low and should be reviewed. She deserves credit for raising this at the budget workshop. It will be interesting to see if this results in more revenue from someone other than the private property taxpayers in the City.
Last, it will not save much money, but please mothball the SUVs and turn the police 15 pursuit vehicles being used as personal cars into the motor pool. The former will not save much money, but conserving the pursuit vehicles could save $50,000 to $100,000 a year.
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
The following posting represents the type of debate that is necessary to illuminate and discuss the issues that face us in determining how to fix the current problems with the City and County fire departments. The Shadow does not claim, and never has, that it has the expertise to determine what the best fire/rescue service should be, how it should be organized, and how it should be managed. The comment below addresses some of these problems and represents a good beginning at putting different service modalities in perspective and having a discussion as to what is the best course for both protecting the public and not breaking the bank in doing so. Seminole County has recognized the problems of a large number of top heavy small department, with a large number of these perceived, rightfully or wrongfully, as being too heavily weighted toward expensive and highly paid management. We think our communities should also investigate whether a full or part volunteer service makes sense.
Look at the posting below.
A Local Firefighter Monday, 7/30/07, 9:08 AM “Judge Litt and Shadowers. Oppps. I completely forgot about BCCRS. I looked at their website and wondered what/ how does Judge Litt think that service can be duplicated here? For one, I find it highly improbable that the area could raise half of the 1.5 million BCCRS raises YEAR AFTER YEAR. Second, where does Judge Litt think the volleys will come from? I am willing to bet that the majority of BCCRS members are college kids, military members or paid members of other FDs. The demographics here simply wouldn't support a volunteer Rescue Squad. The area BCCRS serves has almost the same population of Volusia County, again more area to draw volleys from. What I stated about the Virginia Beach EMS service is correct. It is/was the largest all volunteer EMS service in the country. Again, they have a large area to draw from over 1 million-counting military and other Hampton Roads cities and college kids. Perhaps Judge Litt in his infinite wisdom can state how such volunteer serves would work here, with details( fund raising possibilities i.e.; how much would be need to get such a system off the ground, # of volleys needed, cost of training volleys, cost of ALS service, cost for vehicle maint., cost for stations etc) instead of throwing information out without supporting documentation. I am not opposed to consolidation and I never implied such. I await your response.”
A second posting published the statistics about Virginia Beach, written with the certainty that the Shadow was prepared to look it up and post it:
A Local Firefighter Tuesday, 7/31/07, 1:45 PM Judge Litt, here's straight from the proverbial horses mouth about the Virginia Beach EMS service Today, the department serves a population of some 440,000 residents. It boasts 33 ambulances, 5 squad trucks, 6 boats, 10 zone cars, support & command vehicles, a state-of-the-art dive truck and locating equipment (side scan sonar) and over 700 volunteers augmented with 28 career paramedics and supervisors. The volunteers continue to contribute their time, which is valued at some $6 million each year; have assets valued at $5 million; and fund raise $2.1 million each year. They respond to over 34,000 calls each year. The service still does not charge its patients for services. The customer satisfaction rating is 97%. There, now you don’t need to find out on your own, I know how little time you have. My point was and is that a volunteer EMS system would not and will not work here.
We do not agree with the conclusion that a volunteer service would not work here and definitely think it is worth exploring and discussing this subject. The Shadow has not suggested that service can be duplicated here for a certainty, although there is a thought that since New Smyrna Beach was a volunteer service in the past, there is no reason it could not go back to that mode in the future. Indeed, reducing the paid staff to just the driver of the truck in each station may be the form it should take, and there is no question it would cut annual costs by more than half. Even some form of volunteer adjunct to the current service could reduce paid manpower needs and costs. Perhaps if the call went out there would be enough retired young military retirees to add to the mix. In fact a call to the navy retired reserve indicates that there are thousands of navy as well as marine, army and air force personnel in Southeast Volusia County to match almost anything found in either the Maryland suburbs of the District of Columbia or Oakland County, Michigan. However, the point is that we must discuss alternatives to a service that has gotten out of hand, that most taxpayers think is unfair, and that the City government can not afford. By the way, when one looks around the Country there are many such services, and most function with exceedingly high approval rates from citizens—97% in one cited by the fireman who made the postings. Check out also Troy Michigan:http://www.troymi.gov/Fire/Try also the You Tube presentation of Lutherville Md, a community of about 20,000 residents in Baltimore County Maryland. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K15_zfkl_lo
As far as money is concerned, it would be better for the City to support a volunteer service for $1.5 million than continue to support the current program for over $6 million. If I were the fire department Union, I would not want to put that issue before the voters and taxpayers in a referendum.
We would suggest that the experts employed by Seminole County be asked to review the Volusia County fire department services and make recommendations.
BARBARA HERRIN—TREASURER
Barbara Herrin is Sally Mackay's treasurer and we thought her prowess should be displayed as a fund raiser. The LINK is to her campaign report for her failed run for County Councilman. It makes for interesting reading, particularly the large contributions from lawyers for land developers. We thought she ran on a ticket of no-growth, but obviously, we were mistaken. By the way, note that Jeanne Diesen and Gracye Barck initiated her organization, and really were running her as their candidate for the County position. They are the first two donors. The big donors from Palm Beach County are lawyers who generally we are told represent land developers. Wonder what they thought they were going to get out of a no growth candidate? LINK
BANDING PEREGRINE FALCONS ON THE YUKON RIVER
circa 1990.
(Photographs by Greene)
For your entertainment, we reveal here that your Shadow publisher is a long-time, serious conservationist. However, we do not think well of the so called “no growth” group (some of whom are definitely not conservationists in the usual sense of the word); or of “no growth” candidates and officials who take money from developers and their allies whose objective is to facilitate building condominiums on the beach. Such development issues must be openly discussed. There is no hard, fast, clear answer in most cases. We do know that beach development -- or any other prime area development, should not occur based upon political contributions that while available to the public, remain mostly unknown to them since few voters would know how to trace and or recognize for what it almost certainly is.
