The war on some drugs has failed.
Locking up people for marijuana while oxycontin is legal makes no sense.
Locking up huge numbers of people for private profit at taxpayer expense
while schools are getting defunded makes even less sense.
A report by the Florida Medical Examiners Commission has concluded that
prescription drugs have outstripped illegal drugs as a cause of death.
An analysis of 168,900 autopsies conducted in Florida in 2007 found that
three times as many people were killed by legal drugs as by cocaine,
heroin and all methamphetamines put together. According to state law
enforcement officials, this is a sign of a burgeoning prescription drug
abuse problem.
Skipping in to the Industrial Authority office to file an open records request,
I noticed all five board members in the board room having a meeting.
So I asked whether an appointed board was bound by the same state law
as for an elected body that it had to announce meetings in advance.
Lu Williams said that it was a special called meeting,
that they sent a notice to the VDT, and yes, they were bound by
the same rule.
I asked if I could have a copy of the agenda of the meeting in progress.
She said they had all the copies in there but she would get me one later.
A few minutes later I went back and asked if they were in executive session.
She said yes, they already went from the open called meeting into
executive session to discussion personnel.
However, I did pick up a copy of tonight’s agenda, and typed it in,
so, for apparently the first time ever, here is the agenda for
a VLCIA board meeting on the web before the meeting. -jsq
Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority
Agenda
Tuesday, May 17, 2011 5:30 p.m.
Industrial Authority Conference Room
2110 N. Patterson Street
Legendary rock guitarist Carlos Santana, in town to be honored for a
“Beacon of Change” award at Sunday’s MLB Civil Rights Game at
Turner Field, called the state’s new immigration law “anti-American.”
Santana took his turn at the podium on the field in a pre-game ceremony
before the Braves-Phillies game to criticize the immigration bill just
signed into law by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal Friday.
“I represent the human race,” the Mexican-born Carlos Santana
said. “The people of Arizona, the people of Atlanta, Georgia, you
should be ashamed of yourselves.”
The Georgia immigration law, HB 87, cracks down on illegal immigration
by increasing enforcement powers and requiring many employers to check
the immigration status of new hires.
This comment from Leigh Touchton came in last night on
It’s not over until it’s over. I have added links and pictures. -jsq
I asked VLCIA Board member Roy Copeland afterwards whether this means
the biomass incinerator is STILL going to be built? He shrugged and
walked away.
Karen Noll asked Allan Ricketts what does this mean, since we all
heard Lowndes County Commission Chairman Paulk give us a very different
scenario at the last LCC meeting, and his remarks were covered in the
Valdosta Daily Times. Mr. Ricketts said he was not aware of Chairman
Paulk’s remarks.
The Quitman 10 were arrested in Brooks County for alleged irregularities
with absentee ballots, the day after two of them were elected to the
Brooks County Board of Education.
Saturday (tomorrow) a statewide rally for them will be held in Macon:
When:
Saturday at 11:00pm – Sunday at 2:00am
Where:
Stewart Chapel AME Church, 887 Forsyth Street
Who:
Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sen. Robert Brown, Rep. Tyrone Brooks, Sen. Vincent Fort, Rep. David Lucas, Ms. Helen Butler
Tonight I went to the VBOE meeting and delivered the offical NAACP letter
stating our branch’s opposition to consolidation. I asked Chairman Warren
Lee if he would discuss with VBOE attorney Gary Moser and let me know
whether they are “allowed” to take a position on this. The reason I
asked this is because one of my friends says that Dr. Cason told her
that “they are not allowed” to take a position on this. To my mind,
employees might not be able to take a position, but elected officials
representing voters ought to clearly state their position on an issue
as important as school consolidation.
Mr. John Robinson pointed out that school board problems and biomass
are not the only issues around here, and for example the south side
of town needs money so people there can become more productive citizens.
At the 21 April 2011 Valdosta City Council meeting,
He specifically recommended getting
Valdosta Small Emerging Business (VSEB) up and running.
Let us try to come together and find some method —John Robinson
Regular monthly meeting of the Valdosta City Council (VCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 21 April 2011,
Videos by George Boston Rhynes for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
LAST week authorities
captured two fugitives who had been on the lam
for three weeks after escaping from an Arizona prison. The convicts and
an accomplice are accused of murdering a holiday-making married couple
and stealing their camping trailer during their run from justice. This
gruesome incident has raised questions about the wisdom and efficacy of
private prisons, such as the one from which the Arizona convicts escaped.
I asked if he wanted publicity about this and he said yes. -gretchen
May 5, 20011 marks the 6th anniversary of
the arrest of the Valdosta 15.
It was the day that 15 of Valdosta’s finest citizens were arrested
in City Council, charged with “Disrupting a Public Meeting,” and taken to
the Lowndes County Jail. We were denied bail, and a telephone call. And,
in some instances, medicine.
The city spent thousands of dollars on our arrests and appeals. In the
end, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled
George Boston Rhynes wants to know where was the Chamber of Commerce
and CUEE when a judge was locking up people?
George provided text for much of what he said
in his previous post.
Where was the Chamber and CUEE? —George Rhynes on CUEE @ LCDP 2 May 2011
Debate between proponents of school system unification (CUEE) and opponents,
at Lowndes County Democratic Party (LCDP), Gretchen Quarterman chair,
Videos by George Rhynes, Jim Parker, John S. Quarterman, and Gretchen Quarterman
for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange, Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 2 May 2011.
A report by the Florida Medical Examiners Commission has concluded that prescription drugs have outstripped illegal drugs as a cause of death.
