Tonight I went to the VBOE meeting and delivered the offical NAACP letterContinue readingstating 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.
After the meeting was over
Category Archives: Politics
Rezoning on Old Pine Road again: is anything different this time?

The new case decided yesterday (REZ-2011-05 – Laurel Brooke), was also represented by Bill Nijem, who got up and started speaking for it, and after a bit said:
First let me introduce myself, there are new faces up here. Bill Nijem. I represent the applicant.

I would like to note when the applicant first submitted this application, it was submitted as planned development, and worked with Mr. Davenport, we did tweak the site plan somewhat, made larger lots, and now it’s R-10.

Bill Nijem even discussed traffic and accidents, which you may recall Continue reading
Developers refused to budge and Commissioners caved: Glen Laurel

Bill Nijem presented Moody and schools nearby and the proposed house price as arguments for the Glen Laurel subdivision, plus county services, which, remember, were put in for them to use. This was after Pine Grove Elementary closed and moved farther away.
Here’s Part 1 of 5: Continue reading
Private prisons are a public safety problem
W.W. wrote in The Economist 24 August 2010 about The perverse incentives of private prisons:
Arizona, the place Georgia just copied Continue readingLAST 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.
Citizens are entitled to hear where their elected officials stand —Leigh Touchton
Continue readingTwo weeks ago I delivered the official NAACP letter to all City Council members (and Mayor Fretti) asking for a written response as to their position on biomass and selling reclaimed water to the Wiregrass, LLC, proposed incinerator.
No response. Not one.
I have heard that at least two Council members refuse to do so because “it might be used against them.”
Citizens are entitled to hear where their elected officials stand on these issues. At least Councilmen Vickers, Wright, and Yost have stated publicly that they support biomass, even though black infants are already dying in Valdosta at a rate twice as high as white infants. According to Mr. Wright,
A letter from a local physician —Dr. Noll
Because it would be monitored?Continue readingOur community could subsequently also “monitor” increases in respiratory illnesses, cancer rates, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality rates. Just ask the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society, and the American Heart Association.
This is incredible. A city council member who still hides behind an EPD air permit, and who chooses to ignore the testimony of thousands of medical professionals throughout the United States. At the same time, we have a City Council that continues to isolate itself from its citizens with a policy that undermines open dialogue.
The continued silence of our City Council and Mayor in regard to biomass is mind-boggling. Haven’t they noticed the developments of the past couple months? The regular protests? Hundreds and hundreds of signatures and voices in opposition to biomass? Ashley Paulk’s statement? George Bennett’s statement? Even a statement, it appears, by Wesley Langdale who said that biomass is economically not feasible … which is something WACE stated as far back as October 2010, supported by an article from the Wall Street journal called “(Bio)Mass Confusion”.
Dr. Mark George once asked all City Council members the following question: “What is it you still need from us, so that you understand that biomass is a bad deal”? To my knowledge that question was never answered.
Last night I shared a letter from a local physician
Everyone agrees there’s a problem with education — pro and con CUEE @ LCDP 2 May 2011
Proponents and opponents of school unification even agree on many of the details. They just don’t agree on the solution. CUEE believes that unification will somehow lead to solutions to all this, and believe is the word they use, because they have no evidence. Opponents such as me don’t see any plan to get to better education, and some think that unification will cause problems that CUEE is not even considering, just like integration did in 1969.
Here’s a pair of pie charts from 2008 from Who’s losing in Winnersville? a project unification opponent Dr. Mark George was involved in:
And here is a similar comparison from CUEE using data from 2009-2010.: Continue reading
He didn’t like it —Roger Budd III @ VCC 21 April 2011

Here’s the video:
He didn’t like it —Roger Budd III @ VCC 21 April 2011
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.
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Expense accounts and televised meetings —Nolen Cox and Dan Davis @ VCC 21 April 2011

Dan Davis said he had similar concerns about the city’s travel policy. He added that he thought “these meetings should be televised”. That got a brief round of applause. Hm, that sounds like something I’ve suggested several times to the same council. Since Dan Davis and I couldn’t get much farther apart on most political issues, maybe televised meetings are an issue with bipartisan support!
They both talked about expenses for sales representatives. I wonder if that’s all they think elected officials are.
Here’s the video: Continue reading
The mayor’s expenses —Roy Taylor @ VCC 21 March 2011

Here’s Part 1 of 3:
The mayor’s expenses —Roy Taylor @ VCC 21 March 2011 Part 1 of 3:
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.
The attorney continued with request number 2, Continue reading