Straight ticket trickery
Straight ticket trickery
I wish I had a dime for every time someone told me they were a registered Democrat or a registered Republican, as there is no such thing in the state of Indiana. It is true that voters must choose a Democrat or Republican ballot when they vote in the primary, but they do not have to register as a member of either party to do so. Independent voters can pull different ballots from one primary to the next, depending on which party has the most candidates that they want to support.
Unfortunately, a much more devious device of deception is the misinformation that a person who votes in a particular primary can only vote for candidates of that party in the fall. Last year I spoke with a woman who had been told that as a “registered Democrat” she could only vote for Democrats in November. After confirming that she was talking about the November General Election and not the May Primary, I explained that she could vote for candidates from either or both parties in the fall and that anyone who told her otherwise was wrong.
My acquaintance struggled for a moment to corral the conflicting information battling for supremacy in her mind, but the sad look that darkened her face told me that deception had won the day.
Please register to vote, educate yourself on the candidates, then make an informed decision in November; but most important of all, please don’t let straight ticket trickery manipulate your vote.
The RINO in the room
The RINO in the room
Sen. Dick Lugar’s campaign recently touted the “official” opinion by Attorney General Greg Zoeller that Lugar’s Indiana residency remains valid, even though he hasn’t lived in Indiana for 35 years. I will leave the residency debate for others, and will focus my sights on the RINO (Republican in name only) in the room; the glaring fact that Obama’s favorite Republican has been absent from Indiana for so long that he is out of touch with Hoosier values.
Lugar voted for the bailouts of Wall Street, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the auto industry takeover, and the 2008 Stimulus Bill: Richard Mourdock opposes government bailouts of private organizations. As state treasurer, Mourdock defended Hoosier pensioners by opposing Obama’s takeover of the auto industry.
Lugar voted against ending or even reforming the corrupt system of “earmark” spending; Mourdock is against earmarks for senators’ pet projects.
Lugar voted to confirm Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan; Mourdock believes judges should respect the original intent of the Founding Fathers when interpreting the meaning of the Constitution.
Lugar voted for amnesty for illegal aliens; Mourdock supports enforcement of our immigration laws and increasing border security.
According to NRA president David Keene, Lugar “is the single most anti-gun Republican in the U.S. Senate” ; Mourdock has been endorsed by the NRA because he understands that our right to keep and bear arms is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
It is time to retire Dick Lugar, and elect Richard Mourdock.
Ballyhooed Balance.
Ballyhooed Balance.
I grow increasingly weary with the gratuitous grumblings in the StarPress over the operating balance that our prior administration gifted to the current one.
Initially estimated at $3.8 million, our operating balance surpassed $5 million in November, and a recent rendition of the Walker Roysdon Distort reported a whopping $7,596,218 yearend balance.
Our much maligned and oft ballyhooed operating balance should instead be heralded as the hallmark of sound fiscal stewardship by Mayor Sharon McShurley, Controller Mary Ann Kratchovil, and frugal Department Heads in a period of declining revenues.
Though it may be temporarily inflated due to recent property tax draws, our operating balance is not voodoo economics, and it is not a surplus. We do not have millions to squander like a lucky lotto winner, but we should have ample funds to pay all our bills till’ the next property tax draws are received.
My concern is that the shadow of doubt cast in the press regarding our operating balance is setting the stage for a gotcha moment when the money runs out. Some will claim the millions were never there and our past administration will be unfairly faulted for some future fiscal fiasco.
To his credit, Mayor Tyler stated that his administration will continue to be frugal. I sincerely hope our new Mayor honors his words, and continues the tradition of responsible stewardship of our tax dollars so that our operating balance carries us to the next tax draw without the need to borrow money or raise taxes.
Till death do us part
Till death do us part
I attended the Delaware County Alcohol and Tobacco Commission board meeting in January at the request of a friend who lives near the bar Bygones. I was appalled by my neighbor’s treatment at the hands of ATC board member and state excise police officer John Barchak, as she attempted to speak against the liquor license approval.
I was beginning to fear that the liquor license would receive the perfunctory rubber stamp until spirited comments led to a sudden tabling of the meeting over the protests of several attendees; on the premise that there was a board member absent and a new board member present.
Board member Terry Moore, grinned as he declared that “a motion to table is non-debatable.”
But Terry, a motion can always be withdrawn if one so desires.
Sadly it seems that Muncie has become so utterly desperate for any source of revenue that we will marry our community to any economic activity regardless of risks, merits, or negative consequence of that marriage of convenience.
And in the distance I can hear the vows of that ill-fated ceremony.
Hence the conclusion is foregone to let Bygones be Bygones, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, for loud noise and deadly toys, for scattered trash and hidden stash, for late nights and gun fights, till death do us part.
The next ATC meeting is Thursday, February 2 at 8:15 am in County building, room 309.
Speak now or forever hold your peace.
Neighborhood nuisance
Note: The following letter was printed in the Muncie Star Press on 01/05/12. Based upon recent events, it seems even more evident that the bar is a neighborhood nuisance and should be shut down.
Neighborhood nuisance
In December The Delaware County Alcohol and Tobacco Commission tabled its consideration of the renewal of Bygone Bar’s liquor license for one month to gather more information.
According to the Star Press, “emergency personnel were sent to Bygones, 2108 N. Walnut Street, at least 35 times in 2011. At least seven of those calls since March 26 were gun-related, increasing the concerns of neighbors.”
A Star Press “Our View” from December suggested that it was time for the Bygones Bar to be a good neighbor. They wanted to give the bar the benefit of doubt, but noted that if the bar were to continue as a source of neighborhood fear, then the ATC must revoke its liquor license.
One would think that the bar would be on its best behavior during the “information gathering” phase, and yet there was another “shots fired” incident at Bygones this past Sunday at about 3:00 am. If the management cannot or will not control their patrons for one month while they are being scrutinized, then how can they be expected to do so for an extended period?
Citizens should not have to live in fear of stray bullets or reprisal. The Alcohol and Tobacco Commission should revoke Bygones liquor license immediately. They have proven that they are NOT a good neighbor; they are a neighborhood nuisance.
Let’s give them some time without a liquor license to contemplate what it means to be a good neighbor, or sell the establishment to someone else who does.
Turning a blind eye
Turning a blind eye
For the record, I don’t see dead people, and I don’t wear hats fashioned from aluminum foil, but I was haunted by the specter of more than 70 indiscernible souls from the Layne Crest neighborhood at each of the past three City Council meetings.
These phantoms were imperceptible or deemed inconsequential by the Star Press reporter who failed on each of three occasions to report the number of Layne Crest residents in attendance to oppose the rezoning of vacant land in their neighborhood.
These ill-fated apparitions were insignificant to the local investor, his attorney / son-in-law, and the North Carolina developer who only saw the opportunity to pursue the all mighty dollar.
These specters were coldly ignored by Jerry Dishman who was elected to serve them along with Mark Conatser, Mary Jo Barton, Sam Marshal, and Julius Anderson who disregarded their dread over the demise of their neighborhood.
Denied was the detail of 3.5 million dollars in annual rent receipts that will be spirited from Muncie to North Carolina. Overlooked was the reality that Muncie has 4,236 vacant housing units according to the 2010 Census. Ignored was the admonition that the gain in assessed value promised by the new construction could be erased by lower assessed values of every apartment complex and rental property in Muncie due to the overbuilding of student apartments. Unseen was the blight that will materialize when more rental properties fail due to increased vacancies and decreased rents.
Warning, turning a blind eye to truth doesn’t change it.
Why rezoning should be rejected.
Why rezoning should be rejected.
While I was a candidate for City Council, I received calls and emails from several concerned Layne Crest residents regarding the effort to rezone the land south of McGalliard and west of Oakwood to allow construction of ten four story apartment buildings with 216 units and 584 bedrooms. I spent two Saturdays walking the Layne Crest neighborhood of over 150 homes and spoke at length to many of the residents. Every resident that I spoke with strongly opposes the development of the land for ten four story apartment buildings as proposed; but those same residents understand that something will eventually be built on the land, and most would not oppose development that is consistent with and not detrimental to the single family character of the Layne Crest neighborhood.
Based upon my conversations with Layne Crest residents and additional research of the issue, I believe that the rezoning should be denied for the several reasons listed below.
Increased Traffic Congestion & Threats to the Safety of Children:
Oakwood and McGalliard are already highly travelled, congested, and prone to accidents. These problems will be significantly worsened by the addition of 500 more cars to Oakwood Daily. Adjoining roads not built for high volumes of traffic will be overloaded as people seek the quickest routes through the area.
The increased traffic flow near the apartment complex will be a threat to the small children who play in the neighborhood, and for the young students who walk to Northside Middle School.
Increased Flooding & Sewage Problems
The current flooding and sewage issues need to be addressed before additional construction is even considered. The area already suffers serious flooding problems which will be greatly increased by this development. The proposed layout reveals that almost no green space will remain on the ten acre plot after the addition of ten four story buildings and parking spaces required for a 584 bedroom complex. The proposed “retention basin” is nothing more than a lowly ditch with a fancy name.
Layne Crest already suffers from serious sewage problems which will be worsened by the addition of several hundred new users to a failing sewage system
Decline of Property Values and increased blight:
The property values in Layne Crest and the surrounding area will decrease due to the issues listed above, and will further decline as residents flee the neighborhood, and sell to investors who will use the homes as rentals. The values of other apartment complexes will decline with the addition of 216 new rental units with 584 bedrooms to the rental housing stock, in a market which is already saturated.
Older apartment complexes and rental properties which lose tenants to the lure of a newer complex closer to campus may ultimately fail and fall off the tax rolls. These failed properties could eventually become blighted properties which will be a burden to the city.
Loss of Community:
Layne Crest is a family neighborhood with a strong sense of community. Neighbor knows neighbor, and many of the residents have proudly called Layne Crest their home for a lifetime. That sense of community will be destroyed by the proposed development.
Density and Strategic Planning:
The proposed development is far too dense for the area and is contrary to the recommendations of the City’s own master plan. We must resist the urge to sell our city to the highest (or lowest) bidder, and should focus instead on long term strategic development of our assets for the benefit of all Muncie residents. The land should be thoughtfully developed in a manner consistent with the single family character of the Layne Crest neighborhood.
The City-County Plan Commission has already voted by a margin of 6 to 3 against the rezoning. The Muncie City Council should respect the expertise of the Plan Commission and should uphold their decision. Please vote no to the Layne Crest rezoning.
Occupy Layne Crest
Note: A little tongue in cheek perhaps, but one can only hope that the “Occupiers” will rise to the challenge.
Occupy Layne Crest
Whatever happened to the local Occupy movement? I have a suggestion for the hearty souls who would change America, and I hope that they are up to the task.
A proposal to rezone land in the Layne Crest neighborhood located South of McGalliard and West of Oakwood for 10 multi unit apartment buildings was introduced at the November City Council meeting. The rezoning would facilitate the sale of the land owned by a wealthy local businessman to a darling of Wall Street developer from North Carolina.
The company ironically named Campus Crest wants to build ten four-story apartment buildings in the Layne Crest addition in spite of the protests of the neighbors who rightfully believe that the development will destroy their neighborhood and decrease the property values of their homes.
I don’t know if the local businessman who owns the land is one of the 1%, but I would think that he is just about as close to the 1% as it gets in Muncie Indiana. And the middle class homeowners and retirees who call Layne Crest their home are definitely members of the 99%.
So if you “Occupiers” feel inclined to march against the 1% who profit at the expense of the 99%, then perhaps you should ask the city for permission to occupy a portion of the street that borders the proposed building site.
The “Occupy Layne Crest” movement has begun.
Thank You.
Thank You.
The election is over, the dust has settled, and I have had quiet time to reflect on the past few months. Though I did not prevail in my first bid for elected office, I offer my thanks to the District Five voters who trusted me with their votes. I also give heartfelt thanks to my loyal friends, family, and supporters who helped with my campaign effort. I am blessed by your friendship and support, and your tireless efforts on my behalf.
I met many wonderful people on the campaign trail, and was honored to run with an excellent group of individuals dedicated to serving the citizens of Muncie. I am blessed by many new friendships that were forged during the trial by fire experience of running for office, and am a better person for the effort. The lessons learned will make me a more effective advocate for good government, and a stronger candidate should I decide to seek elected office again in the future. Thank you.
