Below is the complete "Platform for a 21st Century Hickory" as created by Dr. Joseph Inglefield, Joe Brannock, and myself. We encourage others to come forward with their ideas on how to move the community forward. If candidates want to express themselves here, then we will provide a fair platform. Dr. Inglefield and Joe were accused in an advertisement in the Hickory Daily Record a couple of weeks ago of not standing for anything and doing all of this for personal political gain. When you see this detailed platform, you see that nothing could be further from the truth. These are the ideas that can move this community forward.
1) Term Limits - We need to break the cycle of having Mayors and City Council members that serve on the bench for a generation. Thank You for your service, but such a system lends itself to stagnation. We need inspiring leaders to inspire citizens. It is time for fresh new ideas. We need to encourage people to serve on the Council and then move on to seek other offices or other ways to participate in the political system and to turn over the reins to others to create more depth to the community's leadership and varied interests.
2) Independent Boards and Commissions - to lend a non-partisan
perspective to the intended purpose/mission of the group. We need
policies related to Nepotism and adherence to guidelines of term limits
so that members of boards and commissions are not actual proxies of City
Council members. We should not see business partners of Council
members serving under Council members on Boards, Commissions, and Task
Forces where there can be even a perception of a conflict of interest.
3) National Studies and Surveys - that rank us seriously low. Expedite processes to study how they came to their conclusions and what we need to do
to correct the circumstances; including contacting those who created
and implemented the study to get their thoughts on what it would take to
address the negative issues. We need to look at improving every year,
not regressing or responding to these scientific surveys.
4) An Agenda on Health and Wellness... The Gallup-Healthway study
is a prime example of a valid scientific study that casts a negative
light on Hickory. How do we address what this study finds? Dr. Jody
Inglefield admits that he doesn't have all of the answers, buts says
that is why we need local health professionals to weigh in, but what
does stand out is the negative issues this community faces involving
health.
5) We need to do what we can to help small business, start up businesses, and local Entrepreneurs move forward.
This encourages entrepreneurship, which puts people to work. We will
find a way to create and facilitate a microlending-entrepreneurial plan
in this community. We think this is a vital mission and purpose that the
city's Business Development Commission should embrace.
6) Public Information should be user-friendly, open, and accessible in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 132.
We understand that when legal issues and private negotiations related
to Economic Development arise that there will be a need to keep certain
information secret, but as those issues are resolved that information
should be immediately accessible. To the greatest extent possible,
information should be available electronically online. When information
is from the pre-electronic era, it should be made accessible for a
minimal cost (10-cents per page) and within 5 business days of the
request being made. The key is that there should not be games played
with Public Information.
7) Better Dialogue with the Public - we need all Hickory governmental agencies and their
staff to be open, truthful, honest, helpful and transparent. Willing to
discuss and carry on open dialogues with the citizens.
8) Non-Profit Agencies applying for funding from or
through the city, utilizing City Resources, whether grants or loans,
must be willing to open their books and be subject to an audit (if
necessary). Agencies, after a defined period (after start-up), would not
be able to receive funding in consecutive years from the city.
9) We need new and better defined rules about what constitutes Conflicts of Interest and
the ability to construct a Citizen Review Board to look into such
matters, since there is a Circular Conflict of Interest in the
relationship between the City Manager, Staff, and the Council. And the
sanctions issue needs to be clearly defined also. The head of the review
board would be the acting city Ombudsman and these people will rotate
on and off of this board annually.
10) Empowering Neighborhood Associations to create Community Leaders - We will help to make them, Neighborhood Associations,
independent by helping them achieve 501-(c)3 status so that they can
have local personal agendas that are tailor made for the characteristics
of their micro-community or neighborhoods. We don't want to operate
neighborhoods through top-down authority. We want to sow seeds of
participation in the neighborhoods from the grass roots, up and into the
city's boards and commissions, and helping to create a future City
Council that works in the best interests of all its citizens and takes
into account every nook and cranny of Hickory.
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Saturday, August 31, 2013
Friday, August 30, 2013
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Joe Brannock Initiative "Empowering Neighborhood Associations to create Leadership"
10) Empowering Neighborhood Associations to create Community Leaders - We will help to make them, Neighborhood Associations, independent by helping them achieve 501-(c)3 status so that they can have local personal agendas that are tailor made for the characteristics of their micro-community or neighborhoods. We don't want to operate neighborhoods through top-down authority. We want to sow seeds of participation in the neighborhoods from the grass roots, up and into the city's boards and commissions, and helping to create a future City Council that works in the best interests of all its citizens and takes into account every nook and cranny of Hickory.
Last year during the referendum, Joe Brannock and I had to make our way around this community as he debated the merits of Ward specific voting. What we discovered was that the areas with the strongest neighborhood associations were the areas in which it was necessary to organize in order to achieve objectives in that specific area of Hickory. Areas whose needs were many times neglected. The associations that take the process most seriously are the Lakeland Park Association, Highland Park Association, West Hickory Association, Green Park Association, and the Concerned Citizens of Ridgeview.
The problem is that these associations currently have to go through Hickory Inc. in order to achieve their desired objectives and if the neighborhood's objectives don't fall in line with the Power Structure (Mayor, Council, City Hall, and the Establishment), then those objectives are road blocked. We would like to break down the walls.
Joe Brannock is the one who envisions a way to move forward and he explains it all below:
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - New Rules on Conflicts of Interest
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - City Funding of Non-Profit Agencies
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Better Dialogue with the Public
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Public Information
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Helping Small Business, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurs
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - an Agenda on Health and Wellness
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Learn from National Studies & Surveys
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Independent Boards and Commissions
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Term Limits
Last year during the referendum, Joe Brannock and I had to make our way around this community as he debated the merits of Ward specific voting. What we discovered was that the areas with the strongest neighborhood associations were the areas in which it was necessary to organize in order to achieve objectives in that specific area of Hickory. Areas whose needs were many times neglected. The associations that take the process most seriously are the Lakeland Park Association, Highland Park Association, West Hickory Association, Green Park Association, and the Concerned Citizens of Ridgeview.
The problem is that these associations currently have to go through Hickory Inc. in order to achieve their desired objectives and if the neighborhood's objectives don't fall in line with the Power Structure (Mayor, Council, City Hall, and the Establishment), then those objectives are road blocked. We would like to break down the walls.
Joe Brannock is the one who envisions a way to move forward and he explains it all below:
Hickory needs new leadership!
Young people need to get involved. New and fresh ideas need to be explored as we try to build a Hickory that can compete in the 21st century.
Too many barriers exist to nearly anyone interested in serving in an elected office. We need a place where new leadership can be molded and tested. I believe this should start at the neighborhood level.
Hickory is fortunate to already have a network of neighborhood associations scattered across the city. Some are more organized than others. Some are more active than others. And while these neighborhood associations have served our city well over the past, most have seen a decrease in involvement with their members.
While these associations do work hard to advocate for the needs of the neighborhood, the reality of achieving any of their goals is still directly reliant upon the City providing the funding. In this way, the City, to a degree, 'controls' what these associations can and can't do. The good news is this can be fixed. But how? By creating Neighborhood Non-profits.
I believe the City should partner with these associations and assist them in setting up their own 501(c)3 non-profits. This would allow the neighborhoods to expand their goals, reinvigorate their membership, and create a place that would allow citizens to become involved in a very meaningful way.
By elevating these associations to non-profit status, you expand what projects can be considered by expanding how those projects can be funded. Whereas now projects are greatly limited to what the city will fund, non-profits would have many more funding avenues available to them. With their new status, associations would be eligible to apply for state or federal grants - in their own name - as well as various state and national foundations that offer funding. But perhaps the most unique funding opportunity is right within the neighborhood itself. Local businesses located in or adjacent to these neighborhoods would have new way of giving back to the communities they serve. These businesses could now make tax-deductible investments in the local communities and help to directly meet the needs of their neighbors.
With this new influence would also come a revived interest to get involved. Attendance at neighborhood association meetings would increase, because the opportunity to be a part of something truly meaningful would exist, and a breeding ground for tomorrow's leaders would be created.
While these new Neighborhood Non-profits help serve as leadership incubators, we are still only half-way to meeting our goals of new leadership for Hickory. By coupling these revived Neighborhood Associations with a firm commitment to term limits, we bring down nearly every barrier to entry with regard to public service/elected office.
Too often qualified candidates aren't elected due to a system that overwhelmingly favors incumbents. And all too often defeated candidates simply go away. Neighborhood non-profits would help build good candidates into great candidates. Term limits would serve to entice candidates to stay involved (perhaps through a neighborhood association), knowing that eventually the opportunity would exist where their Council seat would be an open seat - leveling the playing field for everyone.
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - New Rules on Conflicts of Interest
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - City Funding of Non-Profit Agencies
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Better Dialogue with the Public
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Public Information
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Helping Small Business, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurs
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - an Agenda on Health and Wellness
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Learn from National Studies & Surveys
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Independent Boards and Commissions
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Term Limits
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - New Rules on Conflicts of Interest
9) We need new and better defined rules about what constitutes Conflicts of Interest and the ability to construct a Citizen Review Board to look into such matters, since there is a Circular Conflict of Interest in the relationship between the City Manager, Staff, and the Council. And the sanctions issue needs to be clearly defined also. The head of the review board would be the acting city Ombudsman and these people will rotate on and off of this board annually.
The City Council inherently receives inside information. What do you think you call the information they receive in closed chamber sessions?
Inside Information isn't necessarily a bad word. It means that you are privy to information that the outside world isn't. Once again this is where transparency comes into play. Conceptual Authoritarian governments believe in absolute control of information. Absolute Control of Information empowers the government over the people and turns people into subjects... Subjected to Authoritarian Power.
Those who control the information in an authoritarian fashion decide who they will disseminate the information to. They pick the winners and the losers. If they like you, or maybe they need your help (or a favor), then they might tell you about a project that hasn't been made public yet. One thing you can guarantee, if they don't like you or you aren't connected to the power structure, then you will be kept out of the loop.
The free flow of information is very important in a free society and this needs to be taken seriously by leaders in a Representative Democracy.
We are constantly told that the message delivered to the outside world is important and needs to be positive; and I agree. The appearance of impropriety sends a message of impropriety and thus sends a very negative message to the public. As the elected leaders of the community, the council are the top hosts of the community. Civilized people are taught that as a host you serve yourself last, after all of the guests have been served. Your job as a host is to make sure that the people you are serving are taken care of, not that they are to take care of you.
Rudy Wright basically said that he and the city council are compelled to vote on all issues and that is the law. He is wrong. If he believes there is a conflict of interest, then he can always recuse or abstain. They cannot force him to vote on an issue. An abstention automatically counts as a yes vote. This has happened before. Other legislative bodies have a provision to allow voting yes, no, or present. That way you have an option other than a yes vote or a no vote. What is wrong with voting present? When council members know that other members have conflicts, and they sit idle and don't illuminate such information, then they are accomplices to the conflict.
If you feel compelled to vote... obligated to vote on every issue.. then you are obligated to be transparent about the issue. As an elected official, the voters will pass final judgment and make the final decision, with their vote, about how one votes and whether one has had too many conflicts of interest.
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - City Funding of Non-Profit Agencies
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Better Dialogue with the Public
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Public Information
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Helping Small Business, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurs
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - an Agenda on Health and Wellness
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Learn from National Studies & Surveys
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Independent Boards and Commissions
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Term Limits
The City Council inherently receives inside information. What do you think you call the information they receive in closed chamber sessions?
Inside Information isn't necessarily a bad word. It means that you are privy to information that the outside world isn't. Once again this is where transparency comes into play. Conceptual Authoritarian governments believe in absolute control of information. Absolute Control of Information empowers the government over the people and turns people into subjects... Subjected to Authoritarian Power.
Those who control the information in an authoritarian fashion decide who they will disseminate the information to. They pick the winners and the losers. If they like you, or maybe they need your help (or a favor), then they might tell you about a project that hasn't been made public yet. One thing you can guarantee, if they don't like you or you aren't connected to the power structure, then you will be kept out of the loop.
The free flow of information is very important in a free society and this needs to be taken seriously by leaders in a Representative Democracy.
We are constantly told that the message delivered to the outside world is important and needs to be positive; and I agree. The appearance of impropriety sends a message of impropriety and thus sends a very negative message to the public. As the elected leaders of the community, the council are the top hosts of the community. Civilized people are taught that as a host you serve yourself last, after all of the guests have been served. Your job as a host is to make sure that the people you are serving are taken care of, not that they are to take care of you.
Rudy Wright basically said that he and the city council are compelled to vote on all issues and that is the law. He is wrong. If he believes there is a conflict of interest, then he can always recuse or abstain. They cannot force him to vote on an issue. An abstention automatically counts as a yes vote. This has happened before. Other legislative bodies have a provision to allow voting yes, no, or present. That way you have an option other than a yes vote or a no vote. What is wrong with voting present? When council members know that other members have conflicts, and they sit idle and don't illuminate such information, then they are accomplices to the conflict.
If you feel compelled to vote... obligated to vote on every issue.. then you are obligated to be transparent about the issue. As an elected official, the voters will pass final judgment and make the final decision, with their vote, about how one votes and whether one has had too many conflicts of interest.
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - City Funding of Non-Profit Agencies
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Better Dialogue with the Public
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Public Information
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Helping Small Business, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurs
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - an Agenda on Health and Wellness
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Learn from National Studies & Surveys
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Independent Boards and Commissions
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Term Limits
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - City Funding of Non-Profit Agencies
8) Non-Profit Agencies applying for funding from or through the city, utilizing City Resources, whether grants or loans, must be willing to open their books and be subject to an audit (if necessary). Agencies, after a defined period (after start-up), would not be able to receive funding in consecutive years from the city.
We have seen Housing and Urban Developments (HUD) grants consistently go to the same entities without other organizations given due consideration. This happens annually during a city council meeting held in June. These are Federal Government grants that are filtered through the city government and there needs to be more transparency relating to the reasoning involving the allocation of these funds. We need to know who staff didn't recommend as well as who they obviously recommended.
We have also seen allocations directly budgeted and funded from the City of Hickory to the same community organizations annually. The requests for funding take place in February of each year. Essentially, over the years, we have seen that the presentations are the same with plugged in numbers. No one is saying that these entities aren't deserving . We would all just like to hear from all organizations looking for funding and we would like to see the Public-Private funding mechanisms encouraged and expanded.
As has been stated here before. Hickory Inc. should not be in the business of picking winners and losers; choosing favorites based upon relationships and such. If the city is going to participate in the funding of non-profit endeavors, then it must expand its outreach at the same time it ensures that these agencies are not dependent upon the city for their existence.
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Better Dialogue with the Public
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Public Information
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Helping Small Business, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurs
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - an Agenda on Health and Wellness
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Learn from National Studies & Surveys
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Independent Boards and Commissions
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Term Limits
We have seen Housing and Urban Developments (HUD) grants consistently go to the same entities without other organizations given due consideration. This happens annually during a city council meeting held in June. These are Federal Government grants that are filtered through the city government and there needs to be more transparency relating to the reasoning involving the allocation of these funds. We need to know who staff didn't recommend as well as who they obviously recommended.
We have also seen allocations directly budgeted and funded from the City of Hickory to the same community organizations annually. The requests for funding take place in February of each year. Essentially, over the years, we have seen that the presentations are the same with plugged in numbers. No one is saying that these entities aren't deserving . We would all just like to hear from all organizations looking for funding and we would like to see the Public-Private funding mechanisms encouraged and expanded.
As has been stated here before. Hickory Inc. should not be in the business of picking winners and losers; choosing favorites based upon relationships and such. If the city is going to participate in the funding of non-profit endeavors, then it must expand its outreach at the same time it ensures that these agencies are not dependent upon the city for their existence.
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Better Dialogue with the Public
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Public Information
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Helping Small Business, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurs
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - an Agenda on Health and Wellness
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Learn from National Studies & Surveys
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Independent Boards and Commissions
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Term Limits
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Hickory United... Political Heavyweight or a Tempest in a Teapot
The Hickory United Political Action Committee (PAC) announced their endorsements for the upcoming Hickory City Election.
Hank Guess was endorsed by his speechwriter Dr. Glenn Pinckney for the 4th Ward, Farmer's Market Hotdog salesman David Crosby endorsed Hickory Insider David Zagaroli for the 5th Ward, and Former City Councilman and Hickory United Co-Chair Phil Yount endorsed incumbent Jill Patton of the 6th Ward for a third term. Now for the big surprise of the evening... Hickory United failed to endorse any candidate running for Mayor.
Where does this leave us? Hickory United went out on a limb to endorse the incumbent from Ward 4, Sally Fox's handpicked successor for Ward 5, and as if they needed to the unopposed incumbent from Ward 6. That's right, they actually endorsed the unopposed incumbent from Ward 6.
Talk about safe bets... Could there be a more Pro Status Quo ticket than this? I guess it is too much of a gamble to endorse the current three term incumbent Mayor Rudy Wright???
Mr. Mayor are the winds of change a blowin? Is it uncomfortable out there by yourself on that limb?
There were 19 people in the room, 5 people I know personally, and 9 associated with Hickory United. So out of several hundred Robocalls, there were five people who felt compelled enough in what Hickory United had to say to attend this meeting... And there was no known media presence.
Not only is there a lack of support at the top of the ticket. They are supporting personalities for their name and not anything that they stand for. These are the people who have brought us to where we are today. They support and represent the Status Quo and that Status Quo is:
* 30,000+ Job losses over the past decade
* 10%+ Unemployment
* Lowest per Capita income in North Carolina
* A realization that a property tax increase is imminent
* The 5th most miserable place in the nation according to a Gallup-Healthway study.
Let me put this year's elections into some historical context... The United PAC fails to see reality. In this year alone, there are more candidates challenging incumbents than in the previous 10 years combined.
Stay tuned for a groundbreaking announcement coming next week!
Hank Guess was endorsed by his speechwriter Dr. Glenn Pinckney for the 4th Ward, Farmer's Market Hotdog salesman David Crosby endorsed Hickory Insider David Zagaroli for the 5th Ward, and Former City Councilman and Hickory United Co-Chair Phil Yount endorsed incumbent Jill Patton of the 6th Ward for a third term. Now for the big surprise of the evening... Hickory United failed to endorse any candidate running for Mayor.
Where does this leave us? Hickory United went out on a limb to endorse the incumbent from Ward 4, Sally Fox's handpicked successor for Ward 5, and as if they needed to the unopposed incumbent from Ward 6. That's right, they actually endorsed the unopposed incumbent from Ward 6.
Talk about safe bets... Could there be a more Pro Status Quo ticket than this? I guess it is too much of a gamble to endorse the current three term incumbent Mayor Rudy Wright???
Mr. Mayor are the winds of change a blowin? Is it uncomfortable out there by yourself on that limb?
There were 19 people in the room, 5 people I know personally, and 9 associated with Hickory United. So out of several hundred Robocalls, there were five people who felt compelled enough in what Hickory United had to say to attend this meeting... And there was no known media presence.
Not only is there a lack of support at the top of the ticket. They are supporting personalities for their name and not anything that they stand for. These are the people who have brought us to where we are today. They support and represent the Status Quo and that Status Quo is:
* 30,000+ Job losses over the past decade
* 10%+ Unemployment
* Lowest per Capita income in North Carolina
* A realization that a property tax increase is imminent
* The 5th most miserable place in the nation according to a Gallup-Healthway study.
Let me put this year's elections into some historical context... The United PAC fails to see reality. In this year alone, there are more candidates challenging incumbents than in the previous 10 years combined.
Stay tuned for a groundbreaking announcement coming next week!
Sunday, August 25, 2013
You make the call: John Miller and the United PAC
You make the call, is there a Hickory Daily Record/John Miller bias in the upcoming City Election? If this is the policy regarding the upcoming election, then how could the letter from Candidate Hank Guess run in Sunday's Hickory Daily Record:
Hank Guess's Martin Luther King Letter pandering to the African American community - August 25, 2013 in the HDR
Hank who wrote this letter for you?
Mr. Miller care to comment?
Mr. Miller served on the committee that named the structure on Union Square, only a few months after he had been hired as the Editor of the HDR. He was supposed to report on that issue in an unbiased fashion. Was he compromised in his reporting on Sails on the Square issues and subsequently the Referendum on Ward Specific Voting?
He attended at least one No Steps Backwards Coalition meeting (now known as the United PAC) and despite invitations has not attended one Citizens for Equity in Government meeting yet? What's up with John Miller? Will he be at the United PAC meeting this evening?
Prove me Wrong United PAC -- Your candidates will be Mayor Rudy Wright, 4th Ward Hank Guess, 5th Ward David Zagaroli, and like it even matters 6th Ward Jill Patton. Maintaining your interest in the status quo is the goal. Thank You former City Councilman, and Jill Patton's neighbor, Phil Yount. The fix, as usual, is in.
July 24, 2013 - 9:04pm from jmiller@hickoryrecord.com
Here’s the policy for political candidates this election cycle:
The HDR policy for political candidates’ comments during the current election cycle:
1) No letters to the editor by a candidate will be published.
2) One news release provided by a candidate will be published prior to 2013 primary or general election, no more than 500 words.
3) Comments in news stories related to their campaign will be published.
4) A Q&A with the newspaper for each candidate is planned prior the primary and general election.
5) Candidate are free to buy political advertising.
John Miller
HDR Editor
Hank Guess's Martin Luther King Letter pandering to the African American community - August 25, 2013 in the HDR
Continue to fight for what’s right
50 years ago on a hot Washington day, the conscience of America was awakened by the stirring voice of the young Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Nine years had passed since the Supreme Court had declared that the shackles of Jim Crow must fall away, but still the weight of oppression bore down on African-Americans throughout the nation. Just months earlier Alabama Gov. George Wallace had defiantly sneered, “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever!” But now this intransigence was forced to come face to face with the eternal wisdom of God’s grace and America’s founding creed.
One is hard pressed to choose a favorite line from King’s eloquent call, but for me it would have to be: “I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.” Less than a year after Dr. King’s speech the tide of justice surged when President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act and dealt a death blow to segregation throughout our nation. One man had stood up and rallied a nation to fulfill both the letter and the spirit of our nation’s founding.
As we well know, the struggle for America to preserve the liberty of all our citizens is a never-ending one.
As the City Council person for Ward 4 it is a cause that I am dedicated to and strive each day to promote. I ask every citizen to join with me in working to ensure that Dr. King’s dream remains a reality for all future generations.
I thank you for the opportunity to serve on the Hickory City Council and I look forward to continuing to work to ensure that Hickory remains a beacon for the foothills and the great state we all love. May God Bless us all.
HANK GUESS
Ward 4, Hickory City Council
Hank who wrote this letter for you?
Mr. Miller care to comment?
Mr. Miller served on the committee that named the structure on Union Square, only a few months after he had been hired as the Editor of the HDR. He was supposed to report on that issue in an unbiased fashion. Was he compromised in his reporting on Sails on the Square issues and subsequently the Referendum on Ward Specific Voting?
He attended at least one No Steps Backwards Coalition meeting (now known as the United PAC) and despite invitations has not attended one Citizens for Equity in Government meeting yet? What's up with John Miller? Will he be at the United PAC meeting this evening?
Prove me Wrong United PAC -- Your candidates will be Mayor Rudy Wright, 4th Ward Hank Guess, 5th Ward David Zagaroli, and like it even matters 6th Ward Jill Patton. Maintaining your interest in the status quo is the goal. Thank You former City Councilman, and Jill Patton's neighbor, Phil Yount. The fix, as usual, is in.
Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- August 25, 2013
We Will Now See Massive Panic Across World Markets - King World News - Michael Pento - August 24, 2013 - While officials from the Federal Reserve gather in Jackson Hole Wyoming this week to bemoan that inflation isn’t yet high enough for their liking, the truth is that inflation is already ravaging the middle class....
To prove my point, the government’s official reading on core CPI inflation (one of the Fed’s preferred metrics that removes food and energy prices) increased just 1.7% from July 2012. So, in the mind of those who control the value of our currency, inflation is well below their target of 2%; and therefore needs to be increased.
Nevertheless, let’s try another, more real-world way of calculating the data. The labor department correctly judges that prices paid for shelter should be a significant proportion of the core CPI calculation (about a 40% weighting). According to the Labor Department, prices for shelter increased only 2.3% from July of last year.
However, according to the National Association of Realtors, existing home prices surged 13.7% year-over-year. And according to the Commerce Department, new home prices jumped 8.5% year-over-year. If you include the increase in the other items in core CPI ex-housing (up 1.2% year-over-year), a more accurate measurement of core CPI can be achieved. Consumer prices would be up 5.1% from the year ago period -- assuming you simply average the cost of purchasing a new home with that of an existing home.
In reality, existing home purchases exceed the number of new home sales and would therefore increase the core rate reading. The difference between the government’s data and what is collected from private sources is that the Bureau of Labor Statistics measures the imputed rental value of homes, instead of actual increases in what consumers have to pay for real estate.
A core rate of inflation that is rising north of 5% year-over-year should send shivers down the spines of those at the Fed, and consumers alike. However, amazingly Mr. Bernanke is still debating if a $3.6 trillion Fed balance sheet and the $85 billion worth of new credit creation each month is doing enough damage to the value of the dollar. The Fed’s inflation is especially painful to the middle class, due to the fact that real median incomes have fallen 6.1% since the start of the Great Recession, which began in December 2007.
Our economy is so addicted to money printing that the Fed can’t agree on when, or even if, it should reduce the level of its asset purchases. Mr. Bernanke’s confusion over monetary policy is evident, despite the fact that he has built up a stock, bond and real estate bubble. This trifecta of asset bubbles exists concurrently for the first time in American history.
Our central bank will soon have to decide whether or not it will continue allowing these bubbles to grow to a more dangerous level (intractable inflation); or to start selling trillions of dollars worth of bonds and send interest rates soaring. We have already witnessed what a mere one percent increase in mortgage rates did to new home sales (down 13.4% in July, the lowest level in 9 months). This occurred without the Fed tapering its purchases of MBS and Treasuries by even one dollar. Just imagine what will happen to interest rates when the Fed not only stops buying that debt; but also starts unloading its balance sheet.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jobless picture is worse than you think: Gallup - CNBC - August 22, 2013 - While Gallup's numbers have offered significant divergences from the Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the two numbers had been running fairly close for most of the year. In fact, Gallup's tally actually briefly slipped below the government's in April when it recorded 7.4 percent, compared to the BLS number then of 7.5 percent. Since reaching that April bottom, though, Gallup's numbers have surged and tracked above 8 percent for August, reaching their highest level since hitting 8.7 percent in mid-March 2012. The trend comes at a ticklish time for the economy. The Federal Reserve is contemplating an exit from its quantitative easing program in which it buys $85 billion a month in Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities. Central bank policymakers have tied the potential QE pullback to an unemployment rate—as recorded by the BLS—in the 7 percent range, while 6.5 percent would be the minimum hurdle before the Fed would start raising its target interest rate again. While Gallup's numbers can be volatile, they have portended rises in the official rate. The data set is limited, but in previous occasions when the divergence was more than 1 percentage point "the BLS unemployment rate was flat to up over the next three months," Bespoke Investment Group said. To be sure, there are major caveats. The Gallup numbers are not seasonally adjusted, and surveying methodologies differ substantially. "The BLS method is statistically more rigorous. With the Gallup, you're basically doing a poll," said Jacob Oubina, senior economist at RBC Capital Markets. "The Gallup is more of a sentiment-type indicator. Either way, the unemployment rate doesn't really give you a good indicator of the true state of the labor backdrop." Instead, Oubina recommends focusing on the employment-to-population ratio. The news doesn't get any better there, though. The government puts that number at 58.7 percent, a level from which it has deviated little over the past four years since the end of the financial crisis and Great Recession. According to Gallup, that measure is 43.8 percent, plunging over the years from 63.5 percent in January 2010. It's not known whether the Fed is paying attention to what Gallup's polling shows. If it is, the discussions at the September Open Markets Committee meeting over tapering QE could take on a different tone. "The employment-to-population ratio is basically bumping along the lows of the cycle," Oubina said. "We definitely still have a long way to go."
Gallup: Unemployment Rate Jumps from 7.7% to 8.9% In 30 Days - Breitbart - John Nolte - August 21, 2013 - Outside of the federal government's Bureau of Labor statistics, the Gallup polling organization also tracks the nation's unemployment rate. While the BLS and Gallup findings might not always perfectly align, the trends almost always do and the small statistical differences just haven't been worthy of note. But now Gallup is showing a sizable 30 day jump in the unemployment rate, from 7.7% on July 21 to 8.9% today. This is an 18-month high. At the end of July, the BLS showed a 7.4% unemployment rate, compared to Gallup's 7.8%. Again, a difference not worthy of note. But Gallup's upward trend to almost 9% in just the last three weeks is alarming, especially because this is not a poll with a history of wild swings due to statistical anomalies. Gallup's sample size is a massive 30,000 adults and the rolling average is taken over a full 30 day period. Gallup also shows an alarming increase in the number of underemployed (those with some work seeking more). During the same 30-day period, that number has jumped from 17.1% to 17.9%.
Obamacare, tepid US growth fuel part-time hiring - Reuters through CNBC - August 21, 2013
The end of the dollar store recovery - CNN Money - Nin-Hai Tseng - August 23, 2013 - Dollar stores were one of the few bright spots in U.S. retail during the Great Recession as cash-strapped consumers looked to do more with less. And while many are still going to these discounters for bargains, they're also buying less. On Thursday, Dollar Tree (DLTR) reported that its second-quarter profit rose 4.6% from a year earlier -- its stock jumped after the discount retailer raised its forecast for the rest of the year, but profits reflected a relatively modest increase for a company that saw double-digit earnings growth for the past five years. This follows as other dollar stores saw sales slow down from their rapid rise during the recession. The discounters are still generally pleasing Wall Street, but they acknowledge that shoppers are being more cautious about spending. In July, earnings for Family Dollar (FDO) topped analysts expectations, but Chairman CEO Howard Levin warned consumers are cautious about their spending, adding that while sales of items like food and beauty products did well, sales of discretionary items (wants vs. needs) continued to slow. Similarly, Dollar General (DG) noted many consumers had less to spend.
Why the new homes plunge doesn't tell the full story - CNBC - August 23, 2013 - Don't let the sharp plunge in new home sales mislead you: it's a tale of two housing markets, says one investor. "What we're learning about the housing market over here is that it's really bifurcated in that you have a lot of private-equity type money and more leveraged-type money buying up some of the older houses that have been in foreclosure, short sales," said Yra Harris, partner at Praxis Trading. This sizable investment has propped up sales of existing homes in the U.S. to their highest level in more than three years. But homes fresh to the market aren't faring nearly as well, new data showed on Friday, casting a shadow over the country's housing recovery.
"The new housing market where they're not as involved is showing a different pattern," Harris said.
New home sales drop - Sales of new single-family homes in the United States fell sharply in July to their lowest level in nine months. They dropped 13.4 percent to an annual rate of 394,000 units, the Commerce Department said on Friday. While government housing data is often subject to large revisions, the reading was well below expectations and could be a sign that a recent surge in mortgage rates is weighing on the economy. The data could weaken the case for the U.S. Federal Reserve to reduce its support for the economy by the end of the year. It also casts doubt on Wall Street expectations that the Fed will begin reducing monthly bond purchases next month.
Bee-killing pesticide found in garden store plants: What does it mean? - NBC - Alan Boyle - August 14, 2013 -A type of pesticide that's a focal point in the controversy over endangered honeybees has turned up in garden-store plants sampled by Friends of the Earth. Other bee experts say the pilot study on neonicotinoids adds an important twist to the plight of the bees — but stress that more rigorous research needs to be done. The study, co-authored with the Pesticide Research Institute and titled "Gardeners Beware," reported finding traces of neonicotinoid pesticides, or neonics, in seven of 13 plants purchased from garden stores in California's San Francisco Bay area; the Washington, D.C. area; and Minnesota's Twin Cities. The plants included tomatoes, squash, salvia and flowers that would be attractive to pollinators. “Our investigation is the first to show that so called 'bee-friendly' garden plants contain pesticides that can actually poison bees, with no warning to gardeners," Lisa Archer, director of the Food and Technology Program at Friends of the Earth-US, said in a news release accompanying Wednesday's 34-page report. “Bees are essential to our food system and they are dying at alarming rates. Neonic pesticides are a key part of the problem we can start to fix right now in our own backyards."
Friends of the Earth kicked off a "BeeAction" campaign to draw attention to the pesticide issue. It said petitions bearing more than 175,000 signatures were delivered to Lowe's, Home Depot, Target and other garden retailers, asking the stores to stop selling neonicotinoids and plants pre-treated with the pesticides...
Daily World Climate News
To prove my point, the government’s official reading on core CPI inflation (one of the Fed’s preferred metrics that removes food and energy prices) increased just 1.7% from July 2012. So, in the mind of those who control the value of our currency, inflation is well below their target of 2%; and therefore needs to be increased.
Nevertheless, let’s try another, more real-world way of calculating the data. The labor department correctly judges that prices paid for shelter should be a significant proportion of the core CPI calculation (about a 40% weighting). According to the Labor Department, prices for shelter increased only 2.3% from July of last year.
However, according to the National Association of Realtors, existing home prices surged 13.7% year-over-year. And according to the Commerce Department, new home prices jumped 8.5% year-over-year. If you include the increase in the other items in core CPI ex-housing (up 1.2% year-over-year), a more accurate measurement of core CPI can be achieved. Consumer prices would be up 5.1% from the year ago period -- assuming you simply average the cost of purchasing a new home with that of an existing home.
In reality, existing home purchases exceed the number of new home sales and would therefore increase the core rate reading. The difference between the government’s data and what is collected from private sources is that the Bureau of Labor Statistics measures the imputed rental value of homes, instead of actual increases in what consumers have to pay for real estate.
A core rate of inflation that is rising north of 5% year-over-year should send shivers down the spines of those at the Fed, and consumers alike. However, amazingly Mr. Bernanke is still debating if a $3.6 trillion Fed balance sheet and the $85 billion worth of new credit creation each month is doing enough damage to the value of the dollar. The Fed’s inflation is especially painful to the middle class, due to the fact that real median incomes have fallen 6.1% since the start of the Great Recession, which began in December 2007.
Our economy is so addicted to money printing that the Fed can’t agree on when, or even if, it should reduce the level of its asset purchases. Mr. Bernanke’s confusion over monetary policy is evident, despite the fact that he has built up a stock, bond and real estate bubble. This trifecta of asset bubbles exists concurrently for the first time in American history.
Our central bank will soon have to decide whether or not it will continue allowing these bubbles to grow to a more dangerous level (intractable inflation); or to start selling trillions of dollars worth of bonds and send interest rates soaring. We have already witnessed what a mere one percent increase in mortgage rates did to new home sales (down 13.4% in July, the lowest level in 9 months). This occurred without the Fed tapering its purchases of MBS and Treasuries by even one dollar. Just imagine what will happen to interest rates when the Fed not only stops buying that debt; but also starts unloading its balance sheet.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jobless picture is worse than you think: Gallup - CNBC - August 22, 2013 - While Gallup's numbers have offered significant divergences from the Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the two numbers had been running fairly close for most of the year. In fact, Gallup's tally actually briefly slipped below the government's in April when it recorded 7.4 percent, compared to the BLS number then of 7.5 percent. Since reaching that April bottom, though, Gallup's numbers have surged and tracked above 8 percent for August, reaching their highest level since hitting 8.7 percent in mid-March 2012. The trend comes at a ticklish time for the economy. The Federal Reserve is contemplating an exit from its quantitative easing program in which it buys $85 billion a month in Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities. Central bank policymakers have tied the potential QE pullback to an unemployment rate—as recorded by the BLS—in the 7 percent range, while 6.5 percent would be the minimum hurdle before the Fed would start raising its target interest rate again. While Gallup's numbers can be volatile, they have portended rises in the official rate. The data set is limited, but in previous occasions when the divergence was more than 1 percentage point "the BLS unemployment rate was flat to up over the next three months," Bespoke Investment Group said. To be sure, there are major caveats. The Gallup numbers are not seasonally adjusted, and surveying methodologies differ substantially. "The BLS method is statistically more rigorous. With the Gallup, you're basically doing a poll," said Jacob Oubina, senior economist at RBC Capital Markets. "The Gallup is more of a sentiment-type indicator. Either way, the unemployment rate doesn't really give you a good indicator of the true state of the labor backdrop." Instead, Oubina recommends focusing on the employment-to-population ratio. The news doesn't get any better there, though. The government puts that number at 58.7 percent, a level from which it has deviated little over the past four years since the end of the financial crisis and Great Recession. According to Gallup, that measure is 43.8 percent, plunging over the years from 63.5 percent in January 2010. It's not known whether the Fed is paying attention to what Gallup's polling shows. If it is, the discussions at the September Open Markets Committee meeting over tapering QE could take on a different tone. "The employment-to-population ratio is basically bumping along the lows of the cycle," Oubina said. "We definitely still have a long way to go."
Gallup: Unemployment Rate Jumps from 7.7% to 8.9% In 30 Days - Breitbart - John Nolte - August 21, 2013 - Outside of the federal government's Bureau of Labor statistics, the Gallup polling organization also tracks the nation's unemployment rate. While the BLS and Gallup findings might not always perfectly align, the trends almost always do and the small statistical differences just haven't been worthy of note. But now Gallup is showing a sizable 30 day jump in the unemployment rate, from 7.7% on July 21 to 8.9% today. This is an 18-month high. At the end of July, the BLS showed a 7.4% unemployment rate, compared to Gallup's 7.8%. Again, a difference not worthy of note. But Gallup's upward trend to almost 9% in just the last three weeks is alarming, especially because this is not a poll with a history of wild swings due to statistical anomalies. Gallup's sample size is a massive 30,000 adults and the rolling average is taken over a full 30 day period. Gallup also shows an alarming increase in the number of underemployed (those with some work seeking more). During the same 30-day period, that number has jumped from 17.1% to 17.9%.
Obamacare, tepid US growth fuel part-time hiring - Reuters through CNBC - August 21, 2013
The end of the dollar store recovery - CNN Money - Nin-Hai Tseng - August 23, 2013 - Dollar stores were one of the few bright spots in U.S. retail during the Great Recession as cash-strapped consumers looked to do more with less. And while many are still going to these discounters for bargains, they're also buying less. On Thursday, Dollar Tree (DLTR) reported that its second-quarter profit rose 4.6% from a year earlier -- its stock jumped after the discount retailer raised its forecast for the rest of the year, but profits reflected a relatively modest increase for a company that saw double-digit earnings growth for the past five years. This follows as other dollar stores saw sales slow down from their rapid rise during the recession. The discounters are still generally pleasing Wall Street, but they acknowledge that shoppers are being more cautious about spending. In July, earnings for Family Dollar (FDO) topped analysts expectations, but Chairman CEO Howard Levin warned consumers are cautious about their spending, adding that while sales of items like food and beauty products did well, sales of discretionary items (wants vs. needs) continued to slow. Similarly, Dollar General (DG) noted many consumers had less to spend.
Why the new homes plunge doesn't tell the full story - CNBC - August 23, 2013 - Don't let the sharp plunge in new home sales mislead you: it's a tale of two housing markets, says one investor. "What we're learning about the housing market over here is that it's really bifurcated in that you have a lot of private-equity type money and more leveraged-type money buying up some of the older houses that have been in foreclosure, short sales," said Yra Harris, partner at Praxis Trading. This sizable investment has propped up sales of existing homes in the U.S. to their highest level in more than three years. But homes fresh to the market aren't faring nearly as well, new data showed on Friday, casting a shadow over the country's housing recovery.
"The new housing market where they're not as involved is showing a different pattern," Harris said.
New home sales drop - Sales of new single-family homes in the United States fell sharply in July to their lowest level in nine months. They dropped 13.4 percent to an annual rate of 394,000 units, the Commerce Department said on Friday. While government housing data is often subject to large revisions, the reading was well below expectations and could be a sign that a recent surge in mortgage rates is weighing on the economy. The data could weaken the case for the U.S. Federal Reserve to reduce its support for the economy by the end of the year. It also casts doubt on Wall Street expectations that the Fed will begin reducing monthly bond purchases next month.
Bee-killing pesticide found in garden store plants: What does it mean? - NBC - Alan Boyle - August 14, 2013 -A type of pesticide that's a focal point in the controversy over endangered honeybees has turned up in garden-store plants sampled by Friends of the Earth. Other bee experts say the pilot study on neonicotinoids adds an important twist to the plight of the bees — but stress that more rigorous research needs to be done. The study, co-authored with the Pesticide Research Institute and titled "Gardeners Beware," reported finding traces of neonicotinoid pesticides, or neonics, in seven of 13 plants purchased from garden stores in California's San Francisco Bay area; the Washington, D.C. area; and Minnesota's Twin Cities. The plants included tomatoes, squash, salvia and flowers that would be attractive to pollinators. “Our investigation is the first to show that so called 'bee-friendly' garden plants contain pesticides that can actually poison bees, with no warning to gardeners," Lisa Archer, director of the Food and Technology Program at Friends of the Earth-US, said in a news release accompanying Wednesday's 34-page report. “Bees are essential to our food system and they are dying at alarming rates. Neonic pesticides are a key part of the problem we can start to fix right now in our own backyards."
Friends of the Earth kicked off a "BeeAction" campaign to draw attention to the pesticide issue. It said petitions bearing more than 175,000 signatures were delivered to Lowe's, Home Depot, Target and other garden retailers, asking the stores to stop selling neonicotinoids and plants pre-treated with the pesticides...
Daily World Climate News
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Protesting is the American way.
I saw people are protesting Obama at overpasses with "Impeach Obama" signs. A couple of guys were arrested last weekend at an overpass in Missouri. They basically had their First Amendment rights impeded upon and the police said that it was a failure to obey orders. If the police are violating your Constitutional rights, and you are breaking no valid law, then you have every right to express yourself and anything they say or do is superseded by your Constitutional rights. If they order you to go jump off a building, you don't have to.
And by the same token I have seen people associated with the right of the Republican Party here in North Carolina getting beyond upset over the people on the left of the Democrat Party protesting through what they call "Moral Mondays" and thinking that government officials should forcibly put a stop to it.
The Moral Monday Protesters - Civitas - Database
Art Pope-funded group launches database targeting Moral Monday arrestees - Facing South
Protesting is the American way. I don't necessarily agree that these protests are effective, but I do believe in these people's right to protest. Expressing oneself about issues one is passionate about is a healthy exercise in Democracy. Freedom of expression is one of the founding principles of this nation and yet we see every side of the political spectrum, especially those in power, aiming to shut those that they disagree with down. We see people on the left wanting to see people on the right arrested and people on the right wanting to see people on the left arrested. Would you want to be arrested for lawfully protesting what you oppose?
We should be tolerant of one another and do more listening. In the above examples we see that this authoritarian desire to control others and suppress expression has become all to prevalent in our modern culture. In my opinion, the final outcome of shutting people down if those in power do not agree with them takes us to a very bad place.
And by the same token I have seen people associated with the right of the Republican Party here in North Carolina getting beyond upset over the people on the left of the Democrat Party protesting through what they call "Moral Mondays" and thinking that government officials should forcibly put a stop to it.
The Moral Monday Protesters - Civitas - Database
Art Pope-funded group launches database targeting Moral Monday arrestees - Facing South
Protesting is the American way. I don't necessarily agree that these protests are effective, but I do believe in these people's right to protest. Expressing oneself about issues one is passionate about is a healthy exercise in Democracy. Freedom of expression is one of the founding principles of this nation and yet we see every side of the political spectrum, especially those in power, aiming to shut those that they disagree with down. We see people on the left wanting to see people on the right arrested and people on the right wanting to see people on the left arrested. Would you want to be arrested for lawfully protesting what you oppose?
We should be tolerant of one another and do more listening. In the above examples we see that this authoritarian desire to control others and suppress expression has become all to prevalent in our modern culture. In my opinion, the final outcome of shutting people down if those in power do not agree with them takes us to a very bad place.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Newsletter about the City Council meeting of August 20, 2013
` I began recording the City Council late last year, because of my desire that the City do it on their own as any modern 21st century community began doing long ago. I had people tell me that they couldn't make it to the meetings, but they would like to see what is going on. I was also told by some council members that my summaries did not truly reflect the record, so having a video/audio recording cannot be misinterpreted.
So below is the City Council meeting. Beside each agenda item, you will see the minute:second. You can drag the marker on the video display to the point in the broadcast that you are interested in seeing.
Due to a technical difficulty the Video starts at the 5:49 mark
Agenda about the City Council meeting of August 20, 2013
Special Presentations
A. (2:30) Presentation of the Carolina Cycle Challenge by Mandy Pitts and John Link
* Carolina Cycle Challenge Website
Hound: (Brett's father responds to this in the comment section. I did not mean to say that the bike ride that Vicar Powell created at Mt. Olive was Brett's Ride or she had anything to do with it. Sorry if I caused a misunderstanding in my writing. My point was in my personal disappointment about Brett's name being taken off of the ride.
It is a shame to me that this bike ride will no longer be known as Brett's Ride. The origins of a bike ride were at my church, Mount Olive Lutheran. Vicar Vickie Powell (now Reverend) back in 1999 helped to create a bike ride as part of her mission. Each Vicar has to fulfill a mission during the year they spend with us before heading back to the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina. Brett was a teenager and participated in it and like the many young people at Mt. Olive he really enjoyed it. Brett's Grandfather Walter Hitchcock was a Pastor at Mount Olive for 24 years.
We had the Bike Ride at Mount Olive for a few years. When Brett faced his battle with cancer, he was asked what he wanted to do and this Bike Ride was part of his mission. He was a brave young man and an inspiration to all who face the ultimate adversity. He had so many friends. My cousin's were his age and knew him very well. His name needs to always be synonymous with this bike ride.
(In the comments section, Brett's father explains the origins of the bike ride and why they decided to take Brett's name off of the Bicycling event. Thank You for the information Mr. Gosnell. Sorry for having some of this wrong.)
Mr. Gosnell comment,
"Brett’s family preferred that his name not be associated with the new ride. We believe that the new event would be better served developing their “brand.” Quite frankly, many members of the Brett’s Ride committee, including Brett’s family, were exhausted after nine years of planning and organizing the event. Since none of Brett’s family planned to be involved with the new ride and Brett wasn’t around to approve the use of his name, we felt it was better that they give the event another name.
Brett’s family, as well as the Brett’s Ride Committee, strongly supports the Carolina Cycle Challenge. We are honored that the Rotary clubs and the City of Hickory decided to continue an annual cycling event. I am very much looking forward to riding in the coming event – something I was never able to do at Brett’s Ride."
B. (10:15) Business Well Crafted Award: Lenoir-Rhyne University by Alan Jackson and Lenoir-Rhyne University President Wayne Powell
Hound: Lenoir - Rhyne is a vital part of this community. It is also "THE" Lutheran University here is the mid atlantic region. So many of us have a connection with family members, friends, and associates who received their formal education at LR. They do deserve recognition for their work in the community.
* Lenoir-Rhyne a "Business. Well Crafted." - Hickory Inc. Statement
* Business Well Crafted - Lenoir Rhyne Web Page
C. (19:20) Announcement of a Community Gift to the City by Andrea Surratt, Robert Lackey, and Robert Lackey Jr.
* Hickory Inc. statement on this gift of property development at Geitner Park
* Deidra Templeton Lackey obituary from December 2011
* Donation to expand Geitner-Rotary Park announced at Hickory City Council meeting - Hickory Daily Record - John Tinkelenberg - August 20, 2013
Hound: This is an amazing gift and legacy provided by the Lackie family to the people of Hickory. And it would be wonderful if other's could/would be generous in such a fashion related to benevolent endeavors in the community going forward.
Persons Requesting to Be Heard
A. (43:00) Cliff Moone thanked City Staff Attorney for providing some information about the City's Video Recording of Council meetings that he had requested.
New Business - Public Hearings
1. (44:45) Voluntary Satellite Annexation of Property Located at 1076 Fox Chase Drive containing .42 acres.
New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. (49:50) Vacant Building Revitalization and Demolition Grant Agreement for ZLoop Knitting Mill, LLC.
Hound Comment on the meeting
Wonderful coincidence that what I have mentioned as part of the 21st Century Hickory Platform was incorporated into this meeting. John Link talks about Fitness Well Crafted, where I have mentioned Dr. Jody Inglefield's Wellness Well Crafted. It is more than words folks. It is actions. And the City Inc. has nothing to do with this bike ride other than providing some police officers to monitor it and propaganda.
Then we have the mention by Alan Jackson of Microlending. Microlending came from Harry Hipps campaign four years ago. And we have seen the actions taken upon this subsequently - none. Joe Brannock is taking up this cause along with Dr. Inglefield. As a person who has a finance background it is something I truly believe in and that is probably the reason why it hasn't seen the light of day. Mayor Wright and Mick Berry are smothering the opportunity. The BDC can talk about it all day long, but talk is cheap. We need people that can help them facilitate such endeavors.
So below is the City Council meeting. Beside each agenda item, you will see the minute:second. You can drag the marker on the video display to the point in the broadcast that you are interested in seeing.
Due to a technical difficulty the Video starts at the 5:49 mark
Agenda about the City Council meeting of August 20, 2013
Special Presentations
A. (2:30) Presentation of the Carolina Cycle Challenge by Mandy Pitts and John Link
* Carolina Cycle Challenge Website
Hound: (Brett's father responds to this in the comment section. I did not mean to say that the bike ride that Vicar Powell created at Mt. Olive was Brett's Ride or she had anything to do with it. Sorry if I caused a misunderstanding in my writing. My point was in my personal disappointment about Brett's name being taken off of the ride.
It is a shame to me that this bike ride will no longer be known as Brett's Ride. The origins of a bike ride were at my church, Mount Olive Lutheran. Vicar Vickie Powell (now Reverend) back in 1999 helped to create a bike ride as part of her mission. Each Vicar has to fulfill a mission during the year they spend with us before heading back to the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina. Brett was a teenager and participated in it and like the many young people at Mt. Olive he really enjoyed it. Brett's Grandfather Walter Hitchcock was a Pastor at Mount Olive for 24 years.
We had the Bike Ride at Mount Olive for a few years. When Brett faced his battle with cancer, he was asked what he wanted to do and this Bike Ride was part of his mission. He was a brave young man and an inspiration to all who face the ultimate adversity. He had so many friends. My cousin's were his age and knew him very well. His name needs to always be synonymous with this bike ride.
(In the comments section, Brett's father explains the origins of the bike ride and why they decided to take Brett's name off of the Bicycling event. Thank You for the information Mr. Gosnell. Sorry for having some of this wrong.)
Mr. Gosnell comment,
"Brett’s family preferred that his name not be associated with the new ride. We believe that the new event would be better served developing their “brand.” Quite frankly, many members of the Brett’s Ride committee, including Brett’s family, were exhausted after nine years of planning and organizing the event. Since none of Brett’s family planned to be involved with the new ride and Brett wasn’t around to approve the use of his name, we felt it was better that they give the event another name.
Brett’s family, as well as the Brett’s Ride Committee, strongly supports the Carolina Cycle Challenge. We are honored that the Rotary clubs and the City of Hickory decided to continue an annual cycling event. I am very much looking forward to riding in the coming event – something I was never able to do at Brett’s Ride."
B. (10:15) Business Well Crafted Award: Lenoir-Rhyne University by Alan Jackson and Lenoir-Rhyne University President Wayne Powell
Hound: Lenoir - Rhyne is a vital part of this community. It is also "THE" Lutheran University here is the mid atlantic region. So many of us have a connection with family members, friends, and associates who received their formal education at LR. They do deserve recognition for their work in the community.
* Lenoir-Rhyne a "Business. Well Crafted." - Hickory Inc. Statement
* Business Well Crafted - Lenoir Rhyne Web Page
C. (19:20) Announcement of a Community Gift to the City by Andrea Surratt, Robert Lackey, and Robert Lackey Jr.
* Hickory Inc. statement on this gift of property development at Geitner Park
* Deidra Templeton Lackey obituary from December 2011
* Donation to expand Geitner-Rotary Park announced at Hickory City Council meeting - Hickory Daily Record - John Tinkelenberg - August 20, 2013
Hound: This is an amazing gift and legacy provided by the Lackie family to the people of Hickory. And it would be wonderful if other's could/would be generous in such a fashion related to benevolent endeavors in the community going forward.
Persons Requesting to Be Heard
A. (43:00) Cliff Moone thanked City Staff Attorney for providing some information about the City's Video Recording of Council meetings that he had requested.
New Business - Public Hearings
1. (44:45) Voluntary Satellite Annexation of Property Located at 1076 Fox Chase Drive containing .42 acres.
New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. (49:50) Vacant Building Revitalization and Demolition Grant Agreement for ZLoop Knitting Mill, LLC.
Hound Comment on the meeting
Wonderful coincidence that what I have mentioned as part of the 21st Century Hickory Platform was incorporated into this meeting. John Link talks about Fitness Well Crafted, where I have mentioned Dr. Jody Inglefield's Wellness Well Crafted. It is more than words folks. It is actions. And the City Inc. has nothing to do with this bike ride other than providing some police officers to monitor it and propaganda.
Then we have the mention by Alan Jackson of Microlending. Microlending came from Harry Hipps campaign four years ago. And we have seen the actions taken upon this subsequently - none. Joe Brannock is taking up this cause along with Dr. Inglefield. As a person who has a finance background it is something I truly believe in and that is probably the reason why it hasn't seen the light of day. Mayor Wright and Mick Berry are smothering the opportunity. The BDC can talk about it all day long, but talk is cheap. We need people that can help them facilitate such endeavors.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Better Dialogue with the Public
7) Dialogue - we need all Hickory governmental agencies and their staff to be open, truthful, honest, helpful and transparent. Willing to discuss and carry on open dialogues with the citizens.
In speaking with Jeff Brittain about his Mayoral Candidacy, he espoused his support to have regular townhall meetings with the people of Hickory. This is something that I have believed in for years, but I was told by City Council members that they had reservations, because they didn't want to sit through an attack session. I honestly don't think that people are going to verbally attack the City Council during such a meeting. People might express disagreements with the council, but I wouldn't expect shouting matches.
The problem is that this Mayor and Council seem to have an obsession about controlling messages. Somehow saying the same talking points over and over again is supposed to lead to results. Constantly spinning the message is supposed to keep the message on track until the final desired outcome is achieved.
Unfortunately that isn't how life works. You have to cite the goal you are looking to achieve and allow open input and free thinking methodology to define, design, and map out processes and then keep all options available moving forward. There must be defined targets of accountability along the way to assess whether you are on the path towards successfully achieving the goal. Adaptability, Flexibility, and Nimbleness are the keys towards successful endeavors in life.
Public officials should listen to everyone, whether they are actual supporters or not. Just because people have different ideas than you may have does not mean that they want to tear down the City. You must get outside of the group of like minded friends and yes men to find out what is really going on around here socially and economically. Having open-minded, democratic governance brings buy-in and acceptance from the public at-large versus doing things behind closed doors and manipulating processes to avoid input, which leads to ambivalence and eventually hostility when you are seen as picking winners and losers and the winners are always the circle that surrounds you. Any wonder why we don't have "Unity" in the Comm"UNITY"?
Jeff Brittain for Mayor Flyer
Click on the Flyer and Ctrl+ will magnify it.
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Public Information
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Helping Small Business, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurs
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - an Agenda on Health and Wellness
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Learn from National Studies & Surveys
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Independent Boards and Commissions
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Term Limits
In speaking with Jeff Brittain about his Mayoral Candidacy, he espoused his support to have regular townhall meetings with the people of Hickory. This is something that I have believed in for years, but I was told by City Council members that they had reservations, because they didn't want to sit through an attack session. I honestly don't think that people are going to verbally attack the City Council during such a meeting. People might express disagreements with the council, but I wouldn't expect shouting matches.
The problem is that this Mayor and Council seem to have an obsession about controlling messages. Somehow saying the same talking points over and over again is supposed to lead to results. Constantly spinning the message is supposed to keep the message on track until the final desired outcome is achieved.
Unfortunately that isn't how life works. You have to cite the goal you are looking to achieve and allow open input and free thinking methodology to define, design, and map out processes and then keep all options available moving forward. There must be defined targets of accountability along the way to assess whether you are on the path towards successfully achieving the goal. Adaptability, Flexibility, and Nimbleness are the keys towards successful endeavors in life.
Public officials should listen to everyone, whether they are actual supporters or not. Just because people have different ideas than you may have does not mean that they want to tear down the City. You must get outside of the group of like minded friends and yes men to find out what is really going on around here socially and economically. Having open-minded, democratic governance brings buy-in and acceptance from the public at-large versus doing things behind closed doors and manipulating processes to avoid input, which leads to ambivalence and eventually hostility when you are seen as picking winners and losers and the winners are always the circle that surrounds you. Any wonder why we don't have "Unity" in the Comm"UNITY"?
Jeff Brittain for Mayor Flyer
Click on the Flyer and Ctrl+ will magnify it.
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Public Information
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Helping Small Business, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurs
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - an Agenda on Health and Wellness
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Learn from National Studies & Surveys
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Independent Boards and Commissions
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Term Limits
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Public Information
6) Public Information should be user-friendly, open, and accessible in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 132. We understand that when legal issues and private negotiations related to Economic Development arise that there will be a need to keep certain information secret, but as those issues are resolved that information should be immediately accessible. To the greatest extent possible, information should be available electronically online. When information is from the pre-electronic era, it should be made accessible for a minimal cost (10-cents per page) and within 5 business days of the request being made. The key is that there should not be games played with Public Information.
Hickory Incorporated has long played fast and loose with the spirit of the law when it comes to providing Public Information. This led to the arrest of Rebecca Inglefield on September 13, 2012. Most people walk away in frustration when they find obtaining information to be riddled with such obstacles. Some people seem to think that this is alright and people should have to jump through hoops to obtain information or that they should not be provided information. If that is the case, then kiss free society goodbye. The level of control of information defines the level of Liberty (less) versus Tyranny (more).
Hickory City Officials tell you that the information you are going to get is the information you are entitled to under the law. What they don't tell you, but imply, is that it is going to be their interpretation of what they can get away with under the law and not a gram or an inch more. If you are a regular citizen and you don't understand the information, then tough, you'll have to go get a lawyer. If you are a lawyer, then you will have to meet them in court, because they aren't going to be forthright until a judge orders them to be and they have exhausted all appeals.
I don't want to say this. No one wants to say this, but it is what we have experienced as we have sought the costs associated with the Sails on the Square project. We have sought the actual and associated costs of the fabric the "Sails" are made of and we have met a stone wall every step of the way.
Any of the candidates who embrace this platform will help to tear down that wall!
(Play Song) John Crone’s new single “Blurred Lines” featuring TI, Pharrell, Robin Thicke, and Rudy Wright
I am in no way associated with the site that created the song above. I have been accused of being the creator of this tumblr site, but it is very raw and has vulgar material. These vulgarities damage the credibility of the message, but I don't think the author cares, because it is a parody site.
I think whomever created the site is very creative, but way over the top when it comes to the message. They took my material and the Conover Crusader's material and enhanced it in a very creative way. So I wanted to allow you to be able to hear the song without going to the actual site, because it fits very well with what we are discussing when it comes to the Hickory Incorporated relationship with Citizens and the spirit of Public Information Laws.
Hickory Incorporated has long played fast and loose with the spirit of the law when it comes to providing Public Information. This led to the arrest of Rebecca Inglefield on September 13, 2012. Most people walk away in frustration when they find obtaining information to be riddled with such obstacles. Some people seem to think that this is alright and people should have to jump through hoops to obtain information or that they should not be provided information. If that is the case, then kiss free society goodbye. The level of control of information defines the level of Liberty (less) versus Tyranny (more).
Hickory City Officials tell you that the information you are going to get is the information you are entitled to under the law. What they don't tell you, but imply, is that it is going to be their interpretation of what they can get away with under the law and not a gram or an inch more. If you are a regular citizen and you don't understand the information, then tough, you'll have to go get a lawyer. If you are a lawyer, then you will have to meet them in court, because they aren't going to be forthright until a judge orders them to be and they have exhausted all appeals.
I don't want to say this. No one wants to say this, but it is what we have experienced as we have sought the costs associated with the Sails on the Square project. We have sought the actual and associated costs of the fabric the "Sails" are made of and we have met a stone wall every step of the way.
Any of the candidates who embrace this platform will help to tear down that wall!
(Play Song) John Crone’s new single “Blurred Lines” featuring TI, Pharrell, Robin Thicke, and Rudy Wright
I am in no way associated with the site that created the song above. I have been accused of being the creator of this tumblr site, but it is very raw and has vulgar material. These vulgarities damage the credibility of the message, but I don't think the author cares, because it is a parody site.
I think whomever created the site is very creative, but way over the top when it comes to the message. They took my material and the Conover Crusader's material and enhanced it in a very creative way. So I wanted to allow you to be able to hear the song without going to the actual site, because it fits very well with what we are discussing when it comes to the Hickory Incorporated relationship with Citizens and the spirit of Public Information Laws.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Helping Small Business, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurs
5) We need to do what we can to help small business, start up businesses, and local Entrepreneurs move forward. This encourages entrepreneurship, which puts people to work. We will find a way to create and facilitate a microlending-entrepreneurial plan in this community. We think this is a vital mission and purpose that the city's Business Development Commission should embrace.
The BDC needs to be diverse and aggressive in its work. Marketing and promoting current business is fine, but it will not grow an economy that has lost thousands of jobs over the last several years. The BDC should be trying to attract “magnet” large businesses and focus on Cluster and Niche Economic Development that feeds off of the manufacturing and technical service skills of local citizens. This will generate “spin off” supportive small businesses. The Goal would be to expand and empower the scope of the BDC to facilitate tangible Economic Activity.
Hickory City Government has stood in the way of all of this. Rudy Wright has specifically stood in the way of this as he espoused on Hal Row's radio show in May 2011. The City Manager actually told a local citizen that it was illegal for Hickory Incorporated to get involved in a Microlending function, even though there are other local governments and other governmental agencies involved in such Economic Mechanisms/Activities.
This is a new day and we must think in a new way!
The BDC needs to be diverse and aggressive in its work. Marketing and promoting current business is fine, but it will not grow an economy that has lost thousands of jobs over the last several years. The BDC should be trying to attract “magnet” large businesses and focus on Cluster and Niche Economic Development that feeds off of the manufacturing and technical service skills of local citizens. This will generate “spin off” supportive small businesses. The Goal would be to expand and empower the scope of the BDC to facilitate tangible Economic Activity.
Hickory City Government has stood in the way of all of this. Rudy Wright has specifically stood in the way of this as he espoused on Hal Row's radio show in May 2011. The City Manager actually told a local citizen that it was illegal for Hickory Incorporated to get involved in a Microlending function, even though there are other local governments and other governmental agencies involved in such Economic Mechanisms/Activities.
This is a new day and we must think in a new way!
Monday, August 19, 2013
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - an Agenda on Health and Wellness
4) an Agenda on Health and Wellness... The Gallup-Healthway study is a prime example of a valid scientific study that casts a negative light on Hickory. How do we address what this study finds? Dr. Jody Inglefield admits that he doesn't have all of the answers, buts says that is why we need local health professionals to weigh in, but what does stand out is the negative issues this community faces involving health.
31.2% of the people in this community are defined as Obese and this does not include those who are overweight. A recent Gallup survey, related to the Well-Being index, from July 22 of this year shows that the Heart Attack Rates Double in Low-Wellbeing Metro Areas - Average of 5.5% in metros with lowest wellbeing have had heart attack. The Hickory Metro is ranked as the 5th lowest Metro area in the country in relation to Gallup's Well-Being study. In the survey on Obesity, we are the 19th most obese metropolitan area in the nation with 31.2% of the residents of this area defined as obese. Our community is the lowest ranked metro in North Carolina when it comes to obesity and also physical activity.
We need an Agenda on Health and Wellness. "Wellness Well Crafted" would encourage, not mandate, healthy lifestyles. We do this by creating programming and opportunities to exercise, eat right, create personal health goals, and preventative care that are user friendly and can be maintained through the various stages of life.
We talk about people having a negative outlook in the community. Healthy people tend to have better mental attitudes. That is a fact. When you take away opportunities for people to be active and lead healthy lifestyles and turn a blind eye towards people leading unhealthy lifestyles, then it leads to what we have here in Hickory. Parks, Greenways, and recreation programming need to become a key component of this wellness agenda.
According to an article from the Live Science Website entitled The Skinniest and Fattest US Cities Revealed - Jeanna Bryner, LiveScience Managing Editor - March 07, 2012
There are direct links that show that Health Disparities Across Incomes Are Wide-Ranging (Gallup - October 18, 2010); comparing those making less than $24,000 per year versus those with more income. Those in the lower income strata have greater chances of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attack, asthma, cancer, depression...
Those with more wealth do not seem to understand that the overall physical health of the community, as a whole, affects the economic health of the community and thus their own individual personal well-being. These are investments well worth making.
31.2% of the people in this community are defined as Obese and this does not include those who are overweight. A recent Gallup survey, related to the Well-Being index, from July 22 of this year shows that the Heart Attack Rates Double in Low-Wellbeing Metro Areas - Average of 5.5% in metros with lowest wellbeing have had heart attack. The Hickory Metro is ranked as the 5th lowest Metro area in the country in relation to Gallup's Well-Being study. In the survey on Obesity, we are the 19th most obese metropolitan area in the nation with 31.2% of the residents of this area defined as obese. Our community is the lowest ranked metro in North Carolina when it comes to obesity and also physical activity.
We need an Agenda on Health and Wellness. "Wellness Well Crafted" would encourage, not mandate, healthy lifestyles. We do this by creating programming and opportunities to exercise, eat right, create personal health goals, and preventative care that are user friendly and can be maintained through the various stages of life.
We talk about people having a negative outlook in the community. Healthy people tend to have better mental attitudes. That is a fact. When you take away opportunities for people to be active and lead healthy lifestyles and turn a blind eye towards people leading unhealthy lifestyles, then it leads to what we have here in Hickory. Parks, Greenways, and recreation programming need to become a key component of this wellness agenda.
According to an article from the Live Science Website entitled The Skinniest and Fattest US Cities Revealed - Jeanna Bryner, LiveScience Managing Editor - March 07, 2012
Supporting an abundance of research linking obesity with a long list of health ailments, those living in the 10 most obese areas were much more likely, compared with the skinniest cities, to report chronic diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and depression, at some point in their lives. For instance, compared with people living in the lowest-obesity cities, residents of the most obese areas were 70 percent more likely to report diabetes, 58 percent more likely to have had a heart attack, 30 percent more likely to report a diagnosis of depression, and 23 percent more likely to report high cholesterol, Gallup noted. [Infographic: Diabetes & Obesity in US]We are paying a price for not seriously investing in the community's health. You can read the above and see that serious investment in fitness pays for itself many times over. And yet, over the past decade we have seen recreational and fitness facilities/opportunities reduced and destructed. Exercise and Recreation should be more than afterthoughts in a city budget.
Obesity not only plagues the individual, it can also drain Americans' wallets, with the National Institutes of Health estimating the average incremental health-care cost for an obese person is $1,429 every year. With that number, Gallup estimates that in the 10 metro areas with the highest obesity rates, Americans cumulatively pay about $1 billion more in annual health-care costs than if those states had obesity rates of 15 percent.
For example, the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro area pays more than $400 million in unnecessary health-care costs each year because of its high obesity rate. If it reduced the obesity rate to 15 percent, the area could potentially save more than $250 million annually, Gallup estimates.
There are direct links that show that Health Disparities Across Incomes Are Wide-Ranging (Gallup - October 18, 2010); comparing those making less than $24,000 per year versus those with more income. Those in the lower income strata have greater chances of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attack, asthma, cancer, depression...
Those with more wealth do not seem to understand that the overall physical health of the community, as a whole, affects the economic health of the community and thus their own individual personal well-being. These are investments well worth making.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- August 18, 2013
Ron Paul "The Drug Companies And Insurance Companies Are The Ones Who Write These Laws!"
Ron Paul Dismantles Corporate Boondoggle Known as Obamacare - Brainchild of the insurance and pharmaceutical industries - Infowars.com - August 16, 2013 - Back in 2009, when Obamacare first began coagulating in the halls of government, Bill Moyers described Fowler as follows: “She used to work for WellPoint, the largest health insurer in the country. She was Vice President of Public Policy. And now she’s working for the very committee with the most power to give her old company and the entire industry exactly what they want: higher profits, and no competition from alternative non-profit coverage that could lower costs and premiums.” “Competition is a sin,” quipped John D. Rockefeller, a maxim as relevant to corporate mammoths like Wellpoint – the largest managed health care, for-profit company in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association – as it was in Rockefeller’s day. Senator Max Baucus and his aide, Elizabeth Fowler. The so-called public option, the idea that the government will create its own health insurance agency to compete with corporate leviathans, was never a serious consideration and was indeed anathema. It was a ploy crafted to trick persistently gullible Democrats into supporting yet another corporate swindle, this time enforced by the most violent and ruthless player on the block, the federal government. After Obamacare was rammed through Congress, Baucus, one of the biggest recipients in Congress of campaign cash from the healthcare industry, boasted about the architect of the legislation, Liz Fowler. “I want to single out one person,” Baucus said, “Liz Fowler is my chief health counsel. Liz Fowler has put my health care team together… She put together the White Paper last November 2008, [the] 87-page document which became the basis, the foundation, the blueprint from which almost all health care measures in all bills on both sides of the aisle came. She is an amazing person. She is a lawyer; she is a Ph.D. She is just so decent. She is always smiling, she is always working, always available to help any Senator, any staff. I just thank Liz from the bottom of my heart.” Finally, Baucus admitted earlier this year that Obamacare will result in a train wreck. Not because it is a corporate boondoggle enforced at gunpoint, but because, thanks to opponents of the legislation (which Baucus never bothered to read) and widespread criticism, primarily in the alternative media, millions of Americans oppose the scheme. “The American public is left to ponder if this would be happening if Senator Baucus didn’t consider reading the bill he was adamantly advocating as a waste of time,” writes Shoshana Weissmann. In fact, it wouldn’t have made a lick of difference because Baucus, and the rest of Congress, are in the pocket of the bankers and corporations. They are grocery clerks for the corporate state, that is to say the fascist state, as Mussolini characterized all such arrangements.
Obama's Economic Approval Slips to 35% - Was 42% in June; decline mirrors drop in overall approval - Gallup - by Lydia Saad - August 15, 2013 -
A Blunder at the Money Factory - The New Yorker - David Wolman - August 13, 2013 -
For the past few years, the Federal Reserve has been preparing to introduce a redesigned hundred-dollar bill into circulation. It will have a Liberty Bell that changes color, a new hidden message on Ben Franklin’s collar, and tiny 3-D images that move when you tilt the bill this way or that. But delay has followed delay. And now again: The New Yorker has learned that another production snafu has taken place at one of the country’s two currency factories, according to a document from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The cause of the latest blunder is something known as “mashing,” according to Darlene Anderson, a spokeswoman for the bureau. When too much ink is applied to the paper, the lines of the artwork aren’t as crisp as they should be, like when a kid tries to carefully color inside the lines—using watercolors and a fat paintbrush. Anderson said this happens “infrequently.” Still, this foul-up is only the latest embarrassment for the bureau. The redesigned hundred-dollar bill was meant to be released in early 2011, but has been delayed for the past two years because of a massive printing error, separate from the recent mashing problem, in which some notes were left with a blank spot. This time, recent batches of cash from the Washington, D.C., plant contained “clearly unacceptable” bills intermixed with passable ones, according to a July memo to employees from Larry Felix, the bureau’s director. So the Fed is returning more than thirty million hundred-dollar notes and demanding its money back, Felix wrote. Another thirty billion dollars’ worth of paper sits in limbo awaiting examination, and Fed officials have informed the bureau that they will not accept any hundred-dollar notes made at the Washington, D.C., facility until further notice. Felix’s letter says internal quality-control measures should have prevented the bureau “from delivering defective work,” and that those responsible would be held accountable. The bureau now has to race to meet an October 8th deadline for delivering the year’s cash orders and to finally get the new hundred-dollar bill into circulation as promised. To that end, Felix has ordered the country’s other money factory, in Fort Worth, Texas, to accelerate its efforts. “There are dire consequences involved here because BEP sells Federal Reserve notes to the Board to finance our entire operation,” he wrote in the memo. “If the BEP does not meet the order, the BEP does not get paid.” The financial toll from the recent bungle is tough to know: the Treasury and the Fed have little interest in calculating it, let alone being transparent about it. Still, the direct cost probably isn’t greater than the sum of what the bureau pumps out in a few days. “Central banks are a bit like other businesses,” said Ben Mazzotta, a researcher at the Fletcher School’s Institute for Business in the Global Context who focusses on the costs of different forms of money. “They can draw down inventories or order additional product.” There are other costs, though. Taxpayers will have to pay to inspect, correct, produce, transport, and secure all the additional money that will replace the botched notes. Disposing of the bad bills? That’s on taxpayers, too, as are the additional hours spent making up for the mistake by employees of the bureau....
Fukushima apocalypse: Years of ‘duct tape fixes’ could result in ‘millions of deaths’- RT - August 17, 2013 - Even the tiniest mistake during an operation to extract over 1,300 fuel rods at the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan could lead to a series of cascading failures with an apocalyptic outcome, fallout researcher Christina Consolo told RT. Fukushima operator TEPCO wants to extract 400 tons worth of spent fuel rods stored in a pool at the plant’s damaged Reactor No. 4. The removal would have to be done manually from the top store of the damaged building in the radiation-contaminated environment. In the worst-case scenario, a mishandled rod may go critical, resulting in an above-ground meltdown releasing radioactive fallout with no way to stop it, said Consolo, who is the founder and host of Nuked Radio. But leaving the things as they are is not an option, because statistical risk of a similarly bad outcome increases every day, she said. RT: How serious is the fuel rod situation compared to the danger of contaminated water build-up which we already know about? Christina Consolo: Although fuel rod removal happens on a daily basis at the 430+ nuclear sites around the world, it is a very delicate procedure even under the best of circumstances. What makes fuel removal at Fukushima so dangerous and complex is that it will be attempted on a fuel pool whose integrity has been severely compromised. However, it must be attempted as Reactor 4 has the most significant problems structurally, and this pool is on the top floor of the building. There are numerous other reasons that this will be a dangerous undertaking.
The Middle Class Future
Ron Paul Dismantles Corporate Boondoggle Known as Obamacare - Brainchild of the insurance and pharmaceutical industries - Infowars.com - August 16, 2013 - Back in 2009, when Obamacare first began coagulating in the halls of government, Bill Moyers described Fowler as follows: “She used to work for WellPoint, the largest health insurer in the country. She was Vice President of Public Policy. And now she’s working for the very committee with the most power to give her old company and the entire industry exactly what they want: higher profits, and no competition from alternative non-profit coverage that could lower costs and premiums.” “Competition is a sin,” quipped John D. Rockefeller, a maxim as relevant to corporate mammoths like Wellpoint – the largest managed health care, for-profit company in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association – as it was in Rockefeller’s day. Senator Max Baucus and his aide, Elizabeth Fowler. The so-called public option, the idea that the government will create its own health insurance agency to compete with corporate leviathans, was never a serious consideration and was indeed anathema. It was a ploy crafted to trick persistently gullible Democrats into supporting yet another corporate swindle, this time enforced by the most violent and ruthless player on the block, the federal government. After Obamacare was rammed through Congress, Baucus, one of the biggest recipients in Congress of campaign cash from the healthcare industry, boasted about the architect of the legislation, Liz Fowler. “I want to single out one person,” Baucus said, “Liz Fowler is my chief health counsel. Liz Fowler has put my health care team together… She put together the White Paper last November 2008, [the] 87-page document which became the basis, the foundation, the blueprint from which almost all health care measures in all bills on both sides of the aisle came. She is an amazing person. She is a lawyer; she is a Ph.D. She is just so decent. She is always smiling, she is always working, always available to help any Senator, any staff. I just thank Liz from the bottom of my heart.” Finally, Baucus admitted earlier this year that Obamacare will result in a train wreck. Not because it is a corporate boondoggle enforced at gunpoint, but because, thanks to opponents of the legislation (which Baucus never bothered to read) and widespread criticism, primarily in the alternative media, millions of Americans oppose the scheme. “The American public is left to ponder if this would be happening if Senator Baucus didn’t consider reading the bill he was adamantly advocating as a waste of time,” writes Shoshana Weissmann. In fact, it wouldn’t have made a lick of difference because Baucus, and the rest of Congress, are in the pocket of the bankers and corporations. They are grocery clerks for the corporate state, that is to say the fascist state, as Mussolini characterized all such arrangements.
Obama's Economic Approval Slips to 35% - Was 42% in June; decline mirrors drop in overall approval - Gallup - by Lydia Saad - August 15, 2013 -
A Blunder at the Money Factory - The New Yorker - David Wolman - August 13, 2013 -
For the past few years, the Federal Reserve has been preparing to introduce a redesigned hundred-dollar bill into circulation. It will have a Liberty Bell that changes color, a new hidden message on Ben Franklin’s collar, and tiny 3-D images that move when you tilt the bill this way or that. But delay has followed delay. And now again: The New Yorker has learned that another production snafu has taken place at one of the country’s two currency factories, according to a document from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The cause of the latest blunder is something known as “mashing,” according to Darlene Anderson, a spokeswoman for the bureau. When too much ink is applied to the paper, the lines of the artwork aren’t as crisp as they should be, like when a kid tries to carefully color inside the lines—using watercolors and a fat paintbrush. Anderson said this happens “infrequently.” Still, this foul-up is only the latest embarrassment for the bureau. The redesigned hundred-dollar bill was meant to be released in early 2011, but has been delayed for the past two years because of a massive printing error, separate from the recent mashing problem, in which some notes were left with a blank spot. This time, recent batches of cash from the Washington, D.C., plant contained “clearly unacceptable” bills intermixed with passable ones, according to a July memo to employees from Larry Felix, the bureau’s director. So the Fed is returning more than thirty million hundred-dollar notes and demanding its money back, Felix wrote. Another thirty billion dollars’ worth of paper sits in limbo awaiting examination, and Fed officials have informed the bureau that they will not accept any hundred-dollar notes made at the Washington, D.C., facility until further notice. Felix’s letter says internal quality-control measures should have prevented the bureau “from delivering defective work,” and that those responsible would be held accountable. The bureau now has to race to meet an October 8th deadline for delivering the year’s cash orders and to finally get the new hundred-dollar bill into circulation as promised. To that end, Felix has ordered the country’s other money factory, in Fort Worth, Texas, to accelerate its efforts. “There are dire consequences involved here because BEP sells Federal Reserve notes to the Board to finance our entire operation,” he wrote in the memo. “If the BEP does not meet the order, the BEP does not get paid.” The financial toll from the recent bungle is tough to know: the Treasury and the Fed have little interest in calculating it, let alone being transparent about it. Still, the direct cost probably isn’t greater than the sum of what the bureau pumps out in a few days. “Central banks are a bit like other businesses,” said Ben Mazzotta, a researcher at the Fletcher School’s Institute for Business in the Global Context who focusses on the costs of different forms of money. “They can draw down inventories or order additional product.” There are other costs, though. Taxpayers will have to pay to inspect, correct, produce, transport, and secure all the additional money that will replace the botched notes. Disposing of the bad bills? That’s on taxpayers, too, as are the additional hours spent making up for the mistake by employees of the bureau....
Fukushima apocalypse: Years of ‘duct tape fixes’ could result in ‘millions of deaths’- RT - August 17, 2013 - Even the tiniest mistake during an operation to extract over 1,300 fuel rods at the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan could lead to a series of cascading failures with an apocalyptic outcome, fallout researcher Christina Consolo told RT. Fukushima operator TEPCO wants to extract 400 tons worth of spent fuel rods stored in a pool at the plant’s damaged Reactor No. 4. The removal would have to be done manually from the top store of the damaged building in the radiation-contaminated environment. In the worst-case scenario, a mishandled rod may go critical, resulting in an above-ground meltdown releasing radioactive fallout with no way to stop it, said Consolo, who is the founder and host of Nuked Radio. But leaving the things as they are is not an option, because statistical risk of a similarly bad outcome increases every day, she said. RT: How serious is the fuel rod situation compared to the danger of contaminated water build-up which we already know about? Christina Consolo: Although fuel rod removal happens on a daily basis at the 430+ nuclear sites around the world, it is a very delicate procedure even under the best of circumstances. What makes fuel removal at Fukushima so dangerous and complex is that it will be attempted on a fuel pool whose integrity has been severely compromised. However, it must be attempted as Reactor 4 has the most significant problems structurally, and this pool is on the top floor of the building. There are numerous other reasons that this will be a dangerous undertaking.
Fukushima's Radioactive Water Leak: What You Should Know - National Geographic - Patrick J. Kiger - August 7, 2013 - Tensions are rising in Japan over radioactive water leaking into the Pacific Ocean from Japan's crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, a breach that has defied the plant operator's effort to gain control. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday called the matter “an urgent issue” and ordered the government to step in and help in the clean-up, following an admission by Tokyo Electric Power Company that water is seeping past an underground barrier it attempted to create in the soil. The head of a Nuclear Regulatory Authority task force told Reuters the situation was an "emergency." (See Pictures: The Nuclear Cleanup Struggle at Fukushima.”) It marked a significant escalation in pressure for TEPCO, which has come under severe criticism since what many view as its belated acknowledgement July 22 that contaminated water has been leaking for some time. The government now says it is clear that 300 tons (71,895 gallons/272,152 liters) are pouring into the sea each day, enough to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool every eight days. (See related, “One Year After Fukushima, Japan Faces Shortages of Energy, Trust.”) While Japan grapples with the problem, here are some answers to basic questions about the leaks:
Q: How long has contaminated water been leaking from the plant into the Pacific?
Shunichi Tanaka, head of Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority, has told reporters that it’s probably been happening since an earthquake and tsunami touched off the disaster in March 2011. (See related: "Photos: A Rare Look Inside Fukushima Daiichi.") According to a report by the French Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety, that initial breakdown caused "the largest single contribution of radionuclides to the marine environment ever observed." Some of that early release actually was intentional, because TEPCO reportedly had to dump 3 million gallons of water contaminated with low levels of radiation into the Pacific to make room in its storage ponds for more heavily contaminated water that it needed to pump out of the damaged reactors so that it could try to get them under control. But even after the immediate crisis eased, scientists have continued to find radioactive contamination in the waters off the plant. Ken Buesseler, a senior scientist with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution who has analyzed thousands of samples of fish from the area, said he’s continued to find the high levels of cesium-134, a radioactive isotope that decays rapidly. That indicates it’s still being released. "It’s getting into the ocean, no doubt about it," he said. "The only news was that they finally admitted to this." (See related: "Photos: Japan's Reactors Before And After.")
Q: How much and what sort of radiation is leaking from the plant into the Pacific?
TEPCO said Monday that radiation levels in its groundwater observation hole on the east side of the turbine buildings had reached 310 becquerels per liter for cesium-134 and 650 becquerels per liter for cesium-137. That marked nearly a 15-fold increase from readings five days earlier, and exceeded Japan’s provisional emergency standard of 60 becquerels per liter for cesium radiation levels in drinking water. (Drinking water at 300 becquerels per liter would be approximately equivalent to one year’s exposure to natural background radiation, or 10 to 15 chest X-rays, according to the World Health Organization. And it is far in excess of WHO’s guideline advised maximum level of radioactivity in drinking water, 10 becquerels per liter.) Readings fell somewhat on Tuesday. A similar spike and fall preceded TEPCO’s July admission that it was grappling with leakage of the radioactive water. (See related: "Would a New Nuclear Plant Fare Better than Fukushima?")...
The Middle Class Future
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Agenda about the City Council meeting of August 20, 2013
This Agenda is about the Hickory City Council meeting that will take
place on the date listed above. City council meetings are
held on the first and third Tuesdays
of each Month in the Council Chambers of
the Julian Whitener building.
At right of this page under Main Information links is an Hickory's City Website link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the left of the page you will see the Agenda's and Minutes link you need to click. This will give you a choice of PDF files to upcoming and previous meetings.
You will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date. You can also look in the upper right hand corner of the front page of the Hickory Hound and (will soon) find the link to the past history of Hickory City Newsletters.
Here is a summary of the agenda of the meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below:
Please remember that pressing Ctrl and + will magnify the text and page and pressing Ctrl and - will make the text and page smaller. This will help the readability for those with smaller screens and/or eye difficulties.
City Website has changed - Here is a link to the City of Hickory Document Center
All materials and maps for this meeting are provide at this link:
Hickory City Council Agenda - August 20, 2013
Invocation by Rev. Bob Shoffner, Retired Lutheran Pastor
Special Presentations
A. Presentation of the Carolina Cycle Challenge
B. Business Well Crafted Award: Lenoir Rhyne University
C. Announcement of a Community Gift to the City
Persons Requesting to Be Heard
Consent Agenda:
A. Call for Public Hearing - For the Consideration of Voluntary Satellite Annexation of Property Located at 2633 Springs Road NE, Hickory, Containing 1.675 Acres (Authorize Public Hearing for September 3, 2013)
B. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Robert T. Link and wife, Heather Dawn Link and Travis W. McLeod and wife, Sonya McLeod to Robert George Hadley and wife, Elaine Verbyla Hadley in Oakwood Cemetery
C. Approval to Declare as Surplus Vehicle Emergency Equipment and Donate to the Cooksville Volunteer Fire Department. - Hickory Police Department is removing four police vehicles from the vehicle fleet that have reached the end of useful life. The emergency equipment including light bars and sirens have been removed from these vehicles and are no longer of use to the department. Staff request approval to donate four light bars, four light bar control units, four siren box control units and four siren speaker units to the Cooksville Volunteer Fire Department which is a nonprofit organization. Public Notice advertised on August 14, 2013 in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory Area.
D. Request from Hickory Police Department to Award Police Badge and Service Weapon to Retiring Deputy Chief Clyde Deal. - By authority of NC General Statute §20-187.2, City Council may award the service weapon and police badge to retiring Deputy Chief Clyde Deal upon his retirement from Hickory Police Department on September 1, 2013 after completing 30 years of qualifying service with Hickory Police Department. Upon approval from City Council, the police badge and service weapon will be declared surplus and removed from the City’s fixed asset inventory.
E. Approval of a Resolution and Lease Agreement Between the City of Hickory and the State of North Carolina Forest Services for Hanger W2 Located on the West Ramp of the Hickory Regional Airport. - The North Carolina Forest Service desires to lease the entire hangar/office space of
Hangar W2 for a period of ten years with the mutual option to renew said lease for one additional five year term. The rate will be $6,416.67 per month for the first year, every year thereafter during the term of said lease the rate will increase $2,000 per year to include any five year renewal term. Public Notice advertised on August 10, 2013 in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory Area.
Informational Items
A. Report of Mayor Wright’s Travel to attend a Meeting with the North Carolina League of Municipalities on August 5, 2013 (mileage - $195.49).
New Business - Public Hearings
1. Voluntary Satellite Annexation of Property Located at 1076 Fox Chase Drive containing .42 acres. - Crystal Kuhar has submitted a petition for the voluntary satellite annexation of .42 acres of property located in the Fox Chase Subdivision off Sandy Ford Road in Catawba County. The petitioner requested annexation in order to connect to the City of Hickory’s sanitary sewer system. The property currently serves as Ms. Kuhar’s primary residence. This public hearing was advertised on August 9, 2013 in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area.
New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Vacant Building Revitalization and Demolition Grant Agreement for ZLoop Knitting Mill, LLC. - The applicant ZLoop Knitting Mill, LLC, plans to spend $83,600 to demolish the former Walton Knitting Mill building located at 838 14th Street NE, Hickory. The grant program can reimburse up to $20,000 or 35 percent of eligible project costs, whichever is less for demolition projects. This project would be eligible for a grant in the amount of $20,000. After demolition the applicant will use the site as a parking lot for the adjacent development. The Business Development Committee reviewed the application and voted to recommend approval at their August 6th meeting.
2. Appointments to Boards and Commissions
At right of this page under Main Information links is an Hickory's City Website link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the left of the page you will see the Agenda's and Minutes link you need to click. This will give you a choice of PDF files to upcoming and previous meetings.
You will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date. You can also look in the upper right hand corner of the front page of the Hickory Hound and (will soon) find the link to the past history of Hickory City Newsletters.
Here is a summary of the agenda of the meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below:
Please remember that pressing Ctrl and + will magnify the text and page and pressing Ctrl and - will make the text and page smaller. This will help the readability for those with smaller screens and/or eye difficulties.
City Website has changed - Here is a link to the City of Hickory Document Center
All materials and maps for this meeting are provide at this link:
Hickory City Council Agenda - August 20, 2013
Invocation by Rev. Bob Shoffner, Retired Lutheran Pastor
Special Presentations
A. Presentation of the Carolina Cycle Challenge
B. Business Well Crafted Award: Lenoir Rhyne University
C. Announcement of a Community Gift to the City
Persons Requesting to Be Heard
Consent Agenda:
A. Call for Public Hearing - For the Consideration of Voluntary Satellite Annexation of Property Located at 2633 Springs Road NE, Hickory, Containing 1.675 Acres (Authorize Public Hearing for September 3, 2013)
B. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Robert T. Link and wife, Heather Dawn Link and Travis W. McLeod and wife, Sonya McLeod to Robert George Hadley and wife, Elaine Verbyla Hadley in Oakwood Cemetery
C. Approval to Declare as Surplus Vehicle Emergency Equipment and Donate to the Cooksville Volunteer Fire Department. - Hickory Police Department is removing four police vehicles from the vehicle fleet that have reached the end of useful life. The emergency equipment including light bars and sirens have been removed from these vehicles and are no longer of use to the department. Staff request approval to donate four light bars, four light bar control units, four siren box control units and four siren speaker units to the Cooksville Volunteer Fire Department which is a nonprofit organization. Public Notice advertised on August 14, 2013 in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory Area.
D. Request from Hickory Police Department to Award Police Badge and Service Weapon to Retiring Deputy Chief Clyde Deal. - By authority of NC General Statute §20-187.2, City Council may award the service weapon and police badge to retiring Deputy Chief Clyde Deal upon his retirement from Hickory Police Department on September 1, 2013 after completing 30 years of qualifying service with Hickory Police Department. Upon approval from City Council, the police badge and service weapon will be declared surplus and removed from the City’s fixed asset inventory.
E. Approval of a Resolution and Lease Agreement Between the City of Hickory and the State of North Carolina Forest Services for Hanger W2 Located on the West Ramp of the Hickory Regional Airport. - The North Carolina Forest Service desires to lease the entire hangar/office space of
Hangar W2 for a period of ten years with the mutual option to renew said lease for one additional five year term. The rate will be $6,416.67 per month for the first year, every year thereafter during the term of said lease the rate will increase $2,000 per year to include any five year renewal term. Public Notice advertised on August 10, 2013 in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory Area.
Informational Items
A. Report of Mayor Wright’s Travel to attend a Meeting with the North Carolina League of Municipalities on August 5, 2013 (mileage - $195.49).
New Business - Public Hearings
1. Voluntary Satellite Annexation of Property Located at 1076 Fox Chase Drive containing .42 acres. - Crystal Kuhar has submitted a petition for the voluntary satellite annexation of .42 acres of property located in the Fox Chase Subdivision off Sandy Ford Road in Catawba County. The petitioner requested annexation in order to connect to the City of Hickory’s sanitary sewer system. The property currently serves as Ms. Kuhar’s primary residence. This public hearing was advertised on August 9, 2013 in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area.
New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Vacant Building Revitalization and Demolition Grant Agreement for ZLoop Knitting Mill, LLC. - The applicant ZLoop Knitting Mill, LLC, plans to spend $83,600 to demolish the former Walton Knitting Mill building located at 838 14th Street NE, Hickory. The grant program can reimburse up to $20,000 or 35 percent of eligible project costs, whichever is less for demolition projects. This project would be eligible for a grant in the amount of $20,000. After demolition the applicant will use the site as a parking lot for the adjacent development. The Business Development Committee reviewed the application and voted to recommend approval at their August 6th meeting.
2. Appointments to Boards and Commissions
Friday, August 16, 2013
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Learn from National Studies & Surveys
3) National Studies and Surveys - that rank us seriously low. Expedite processes to study how they came to their conclusions and what we need to do to correct the circumstances; including contacting those who created and implemented the study to get their thoughts on what it would take to address the negative issues. We need to look at improving every year, not regressing or responding to these scientific surveys.
Leadership in the community has constantly given individual anecdotal evidence to compare to studies that sample thousands of individuals weighted according to various demographics representing hundreds of communities across the United States. It is pure foolishness to believe that they are just picking on poor ole Hickory.
We look at institutions like Gallup, which has been doing Surveys around the world since 1935. US News and World Reports is a publication that has been around since 1933. Forbes, is a publication, which is a conservative business oriented magazine, that has been around since 1917. These are not fly by night operations.
You may not like Michael Milken, but The Milken Institute has been around since 1991. It's look at the Best Performing Economies in the United States is respected by many business professionals and economists. The Milken Institute's mission is "to improve the lives and economic conditions of diverse populations in the United States and around the world by helping business and public policy leaders identify and implement innovative ideas for creating broad-based prosperity."
Unfortunately the Hickory Metro area has consistently ranked in the bottom 10% of these surveys over the last decade. These are Business and Economic Activity related surveys. We are failing in Business and Economic Activity. Embracing these surveys means that we are taking a hard look at ourselves and seriously looking to solve the issues we face, not throwing something up and seeing if it will stick and cover up problems.
We must accept how we are being ranked in order address the realities and perceptions of the economy in the community.
Leadership in the community has constantly given individual anecdotal evidence to compare to studies that sample thousands of individuals weighted according to various demographics representing hundreds of communities across the United States. It is pure foolishness to believe that they are just picking on poor ole Hickory.
We look at institutions like Gallup, which has been doing Surveys around the world since 1935. US News and World Reports is a publication that has been around since 1933. Forbes, is a publication, which is a conservative business oriented magazine, that has been around since 1917. These are not fly by night operations.
You may not like Michael Milken, but The Milken Institute has been around since 1991. It's look at the Best Performing Economies in the United States is respected by many business professionals and economists. The Milken Institute's mission is "to improve the lives and economic conditions of diverse populations in the United States and around the world by helping business and public policy leaders identify and implement innovative ideas for creating broad-based prosperity."
Unfortunately the Hickory Metro area has consistently ranked in the bottom 10% of these surveys over the last decade. These are Business and Economic Activity related surveys. We are failing in Business and Economic Activity. Embracing these surveys means that we are taking a hard look at ourselves and seriously looking to solve the issues we face, not throwing something up and seeing if it will stick and cover up problems.
We must accept how we are being ranked in order address the realities and perceptions of the economy in the community.
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