What is your definition of Government?

I don't really understand people. I don't understand the Rich, the Middle Class, or the Poor. What do I mean by that? I don't know what they want. I don't know what they are looking for. I just know that the way things currently are is not sustainable and yet it seems that most people are clueless about what is going on around them. I look at the headlines in the local papers and they deal with the trivialities of life.

What do I see? I see rigged financial markets, inept and corrupt governmental leadership, I see mega-corporations that can basically do whatever they want by throwing their weight (money) around, I see costs taking off in the core necessities of life, and I see people that are clueless about priorities and preparation. Why do today what can be put off until tomorrow?

I know that I need to worry about myself, my friends, and those who are willing to listen and educate themselves about the relevant issues we are facing today. I need not worry about those who look at me as a pessimist. I am not a pessimist, but I am also not a wild-eyed optimist either. I believe that what we are setting up to go through is going to bring realistic expectations back to the forefront.

What we are seeing is a systemic problem. We are living in a time of flawed logic based upon unbalanced priorities. We are obsessed with consumption and pleasure based on Hedo-Economics. We must get back to realistic principles that take into consideration production, responsibility, conservation, thrift, and creating value.

Nearly two years ago we went down the path that has put us in the position we are in today. In the middle of September 2008, we set a course for spending our way into oblivion with no destination charted and no logical course established. All we did then and all we are doing now is throwing trillions into what appears to be a black hole. It sure seems that the more money that we put into this system that has been created, the deeper we go into the hole.

Now we are seeing the implosion of the European financial system. The Euro is close to freefall status with Greece leading the way and likely showing the fate of the other nations soon to follow in the Eurozone. The formation of the European Union and subsequent currency was supposed to create economic stability amongst its member states and keep this exact type of meltdown from happening.

This is all happening, because of the same uncontrolled and unregulated derivatives market that caused the Housing and Credit Bubble to burst here in the United States two years ago. And here we go again with governments looking to bailout the nations who have staggering debt burdens. In the history of mankind, has that really ever worked?

The heads of state are telling us to spread the wealth, while the World's conglomerate banking interests are consolidating the wealth and thus the power under their own corporate umbrella. Wake Up Folks, you are witnessing the undercurrent that has all of the makings of a James Bond Movie Plot, but this is real.

The problems we are facing are systemic. We have systemic fraud that has metastasized its way throughout the entire world's economic, political, and cultural system. It is like poison ivy that has invaded our property and has been allowed to fester long enough until the roots have become deep-seated. There are no easy solutions. It must be dealt with head on. You must dig out what you can and smother the rest. The problem will only worsen if you ignore it.

We are going to need government to help solve this issue, if we don't want the World to become Hell on Earth. But, it must be government of, by, and for the people. The governmental system we are seeing today is not working. Currently government is a Class System in and of itself. Here in the United states it was never meant to be that way. The Government was meant to represent the people's interest, not the bureaucracy's interest. We have way too many people who are getting rich as members of the bureaucracy, or attached to the bureaucracy, at a time when the Free Enterprise system is reeling. That is not the American System.

We are seeing a disintegration of our known way of life. Yes, we are headed into uncharted territory. This is not a normal business cycle. The Dollar is tied to the other World Currencies and Economies and as they go, we will be sure to follow, unless our nation's leaders begin to take steps to shore up the United States' sovereignty.

In my opinion, what we are going to see is strong inflation in staple commodities (Food and Energy) and you are going to see deflationary pressures on the discretionary economy (Luxury purchases, such as electronics, vacations, new cars, etc.).

People are going to have to help one another and this will be quite the conundrum, if we expect this help to come from the government side, because the issues we face could become quite overwhelming. How are we going to make available the resources under the current context of the Government's Bureaucratic Economics?

The government is going to have to become more responsive to the people. The government is not the bureaucracy. The government is the people. Currently, we see that the government, on all levels, has lost its mooring to its constituents and to it's constitution. Our government, as in the bureaucracy, no longer represents the values of the people. It represents the values of the employees of the government. This is another issue, when we look at its stability and sustainability.

The citizens are going to have to take back control of the government and that is hard to do when so many people don't seem to care. But, you know if you have been touched by the spirit of Liberty, and that spirit makes you understand that it is our obligation to put people into office that will represent credibility and accountability by instilling the tenants of fairness and justice for all. We need to be able to trust the leadership of our country. I know that this is going to be a long, hard, tedious struggle; but it is a struggle that we, the chosen, must endure.

The Backwoods Corporatists want to throw up road blocks to stop access to 21st Century High Speed Broadband

Notes from the Raleigh News and Observer show how the Conglomeration of Cable, Telephone, and other data communications providers are doing everything they can to keep progress from taking place and to protect their niche interests and soon to be antiquated capital cash-cow investments.

NC cities, cable still at odds on broadband entry - News and Observer - Gary D. Robertsen - 5/9/2010 - a summary of the article points out several issues.

Big telecoms in North Carolina keep fretting about towns like Wilson and Salisbury getting into the broadband business. Ever since a 2005 appeals court ruling upheld the right of towns and cities to offer high-speed Internet to their residents, large cable and phone companies have been urging the General Assembly to throw obstacles in the way. Local governments, they argue, don't have to pay taxes and can subsidize their rates to undercut the corporate competition.

Those efforts, however, have failed as mayors and local governments argue the big companies won't offer the kind of super-fast Internet at reasonable prices they say attracts high-tech industries. "We're trying very hard by providing broadband to bring new local businesses to our community, to bring jobs," said Salisbury Mayor Susan Kluttz, whose city has borrowed to build a $30 million fiber-optic network it will begin testing in a few months....

A 2005 Court of Appeals ruling involving then-BellSouth Corp. and the city of Laurinburg, which leased its fiber-optic network to outside customers, determined high-speed Internet fell under the definition of cable television. Only a few municipalities have entered into the broadband network business since then. Wilson has made the most dynamic effort. Wilson city officials borrowed $28 million, without a referendum by voters, to lay the fiber-optic lines and build other infrastructure to create Greenlight, which offers cable, phone and Internet service...

Greenlight has drawn nearly 5,000 household customers since it began offering the service in 2008. According to its website, it has the fastest residential Internet speed in North Carolina: 100 megabits per second, compared to 15 megabits offered to Time Warner residential customers in Wilson....

Sen. David Hoyle, D-Gaston, recently proposed a moratorium on local governments getting into the business while the issue is studied further. Hoyle backed down after opposition from the North Carolina League of Municipalities and several companies including Google, Intel and Alcatel-Lucent. But he replaced the proposal with a requirement that any debt incurred for building a broadband network must be approved in a referendum. "What's wrong with the people being allowed the right to vote on debt that they're going to be responsible for repaying?" Hoyle asked. Kelli Kukura, a lobbyist for the league, said cable television groups have spent hundreds of thousands defeating referenda on similar broadband projects in other states, with ad blitzes on their own cable TV systems...

More efforts at a compromise are likely on the horizon. High-speed Internet service could mean the difference between economic prosperity and malaise for small towns in North Carolina. "In the 21st century, broadband is what electrification and water and sewer were in other centuries," said Rep. Jennifer Weiss, D-Wake.

It is amazing how much time, money, and efforts have been utilized to stop progress, especially on this issue, here in the Great State of North Carolina. Do representatives in this State represent the Corporate interests or the well being and quality of life of their constituents?

If asked, here in our area, about a referendum on Telecommunications in our area, how would our citizens respond? I am sure that they would be weary of the price tag, but those of us who believe in modern cutting edge technology can fight that fight with one word -- CHARTER!!!

The simpler people in this area may not see the connection between high-speed broadband and economic development, but they certainly despise the boogie man that Charter Communications has turned itself into in our area and the people in Hickory aren't too enamored with CenturyLink (aka Embarq, Sprint, Century Telephone, or whatever they are called next week)..

Wilson's local Broadband infrastructure service - Greenlight - offers a package of 10Mbps internet (up AND down), HDTV w/DVR, and Phone service for $119 per month. a higher tier package consisting of 20Mbps (up/down), television with all premium channels, and phone is $170/month. These aren't teaser rates. These are everyday packages! Do Charter, Embarq, or anyone else offer this kind of service at anything competitive with this kind of price?

I understand that the local populace might worry about the initial cost of the outlay of this infrastructure and the management of the system. There will be a tax cost associated with such a project, but it is a true investment that holds merits of value.

As State Representative Jennifer Weiss of Wake County stated. "In the 21st century, broadband is what electrification and water and sewer were in other centuries."

Folks, this is how we communicate with one another. Are we going to let corporations hamper our ability to communicate with one another? This is the interstate highway of communications. We want to drive at faster speeds and these companies want us on dirt roads. I think that I have expressed in this blog the importance of the Broadband issue to our area. Any tax increases, in the name of this effort, should be 100% earmarked to this effort only and the entity should be established and operated completely in the open.

I think, along with many of my compatriots in this effort, that people would be willing to approve some increase in taxes in the name of this effort, if they feel that this effort would be fruitful towards the creation of new jobs, more competitive pricing, increased educational opportunities for the populace, increased opportunities and support for our existing industries, and a greater quality of life in general.

We all hope that the Google effort comes our way, but there is certainly nothing wrong with having contingency, thoughts, ideas, and plans available if we are not chosen by Google.

Response to comments about Chicken Salad

The following article is a response to Mr. Gary Ewing's comments regarding the airport issue discussed in the previous article entitled Making Chicken Salad out of Hickory City Government. I really want to thank Mr. Ewing for his input and context regarding the comments associated with the airport issue.

The third comment is not attributable to me. I have never left an anonymous comment on this blog.

But, I don't have a problem with others leaving anonymous comments. I have found over time that those comments are usually very reliable. People leave anonymous comments, because the information may be sensitive to their livelihood and subject to retaliation, so I don't mind anonymous comments that bring further context and dialogue to the discussion at hand.

Mr. Ewing, I don't believe that the person who posted this comment intended to besmirch you. I also know that besides yourself and Joe Brannock, that Steve Ivester was on that commission and so there were definitely aviation experts on board. I would love to hear about your notes. I certainly want to get together with anyone that will make themselves available to me, so that I may better understand this issue and the reason why our community's airport is being allowed to continue to flounder.

Just look at the common thread of most of the task forces that are created in this city. There are always people with great knowledge and passion associated with those endeavors, but in the end the people at the helm of the Whitener building do what they want to do, which I have heard many times runs contrary to the findings of the task forces.

As Joe stated, "the City had already decided what it wanted out of the Task Force."

Here is what I understand and believe. If the people at the helm of Hickory City government want your opinion, they will ask you for it. They know where they want to take us and they don't care to have people that they feel lack proper knowledge having any input.

I don't believe that it is about the city reacting versus acting. They act on what they consider to be their priorities (lifestyle issues, such as Graffiti and Drinking). The reason that they don't act on tough issues (usually dealing with economic growth), unless it is laid in their lap, is because it might be risky and there may be negative political consequences associated with any failures.

The general practice does not involve conservatism or conservative values, because lord knows how many times that they have been all too willing to interject themselves into issues of personal lifestyle and preference.

This city follows a route of austerity. They are very frugal and risk averse in practices of economics and social engineering. Austerity is associated with strictness, sternness, forbidding and uncompromising character. That describes this city in many ways. They tend to pigeonhole people and ideas. They have a playbook that they adhere to and do not deviate from.

I will not name names, but those who pay attention know them. They have one person that they go to about Economic Development. They have one person that they go to about statistics and demographics. They have one person that they go to about commercial real estate. They have one person that they go to about real estate development. They have one person that they go to about banking issues. And if you aren't one of those people, then basically you have no input.

The issue is about control of outcomes. And therein lies the problem. You cannot have creativity when you live in such a static world. The world is complex and ever evolutionizing and unpredictable. A world of such unknowns demands creative, "outside of the box" thinking. You cannot harness individuals (or concepts) with that type of mindset and ability.

We seem to have city leadership that refuses to accept and participate in this principle (of an exponentially changing world). Therefore we are stuck and cannot move forward from what have become dark ages for our community.

It's like a person that is standing still on the side of the road, while the car they were riding in drives off into the sunset. We may as well be moving backwards. It's a risk to hitch that next ride. We want to get to our destination, but we ain't gonna get there, if we don't trust ourselves to hitch that next ride. So let's get goin' people.

I have been told that I am too political. Well, I see things that just aren't right and I refuse to accept that "that is just the way things are" mentality. I have been told a lot of stuff that I don't want to believe, but it all keeps adding up.

I just want people to do the right thing. We have all made mistakes, but if we can move past where we are right now, and get back on the right track, I would be happy. All I ever wanted was what was sold to me as the American dream. Well, we aren't going to get there on the path that we are presently on.

I am an outsider and I don't want to be a member of a cabal. I truly want to see equality in justice and the pursuit of happiness. I want everyone to have a chance to succeed in this community. I am tired of seeing a rigged game!

Making Chicken Salad out of Hickory City Government

Sunday Morning in the Hickory Daily Record we once again were brought journalistically to the scene of the Buffalo's Sinkhole fiasco (Will the sinkhole ever be more than a hole in the ground? & Sinkhole timeline). Personally I don't see how this is a pertinent story, I thought we were past all of this. Must have been a slow news cycle. I guess since the L-R Boulevard extension issue was brought to closure in April that somehow the HDR thinks they can magically wave a wand and see this process brought to an end also.

Personally, I feel that the Sinkhole issue is old news in and of itself. I thought so when I wrote the editorial on August 10, 2007 entitled Buffalo's dumpsite drama too personal for city's leaders? After nearly three years, I still believe that the city can remedy all of this by condemning the property and cleaning it up, but the city has steadfastly refused to do so.

I love the Orwellian double speak from the City Manager that is provided in this article:

Hickory Manager Mick Berry said that's because currently, Mason's not violating any ordinances, despite the fact there's grass and small plants growing out of the mound of dirt on the property.

"Our code supports the property owners," he said. "We're not heavy-handed. He had to get the water flowing through the culvert, which he did. And he had to push the dirt into the hole or level it out, and he did. It doesn't look pretty, but he's in compliance."

The property also has to be fenced in, which Mason has done.

And although Hickory has sent Mason letters in the past, saying he was violating the public nui-sance ordinance, Mason has never had to pay a fine, Berry said.

"We use the possibility of the fines to get the property owner to (fix the property)," he said.

Raise your hand if you haven't heard the Mayor (and inferences from the City Manager) berating Mr. Mason over this issue in the past and using this issue as a political talking point. Do you remember all of the heavy handed propaganda that took place over this issue, especially in 2006 and 2007?

The light is shown on this issue by a comment at the bottom of the HDR article that relates to what many of us have heard behind the scenes:

Because of Rudy running his mouth, the City of Hickory (through its insurance carrier) paid the sinkhole folks $400,000.00 (no, that's not a typo - Four Hundred Thousand Dollars) to settle the lawsuit. They then tried to cover it up by making the settlement "confidential", despite the fact that state law says you can't do that.

It's interesting that in this timeline and article the HDR chose to completely forget about that little bit of info.

There seems to be a pattern here of the city using Civil Litigation in combination with Closed Session City Council meetings for political purposes. Apparently, City parties have consistently tried to usurp North Carolina General Statutes by requesting that settlements be kept confidential. If what they are doing is above board, then why does the city keep requesting that these settlements be kept out of public view? The appearance of impropriety is impropriety.

Look at the following comment posted on this blog in relation to the Randolph's Billiards Issue - Randolph's Billiards versus the City of Hickory and the Drinking Establishment Ordinance.

This relates back to the cleansing of Union Square that the Council has sought to accomplish.

People might recall that Cersil Brothers, who owned the old Ferguson Plumbing Building, sued the City over the refusal to issue their permits in August, 2008. They used a bunch of "funny math" about the number of arrests / incidents / etc at bars to support their call for a moratorium on the issuance of permits.

After several months, the City settled that case -- by paying out $10,000.00 to the Cersil Brothers, and that doesn't take into account the thousands paid to the various law firms to defend the action.

Ten Grand of Taxpayer's Money, not to build a taxpaying business within the City.

Yeah, that makes sense.

Oh, and the timing of that Settlement is pretty interesting, too -- it was approved on Election Day last November -- after Rudy, Sally and Jill had safely retained their seats. The vote came after the polls had closed, and after it'd been bumped on no less than three consecutive council meetings.

Wouldn't want those pesky facts out there to confuse the voters now, would we?

Coincidence? Then consider this - the Council also tried to sit on the release of the Settlement Agreement by inserting a "confidentiality" clause in it, despite the fact that state law specifically prohibits agreements with such provisions.

I was informed on Friday evening that Randolph's was granted their permits back on Friday May 7th at 5:30pm. This happened even after the Hickory Police Department had contacted Randolph's lawyer via certified mail, stating that they did not want to work with Randolph's management and the city wanted to go back to court to finish the hearing. The scheduled date would have been in September.

I have been told that before the alcohol permits were taken that Randolph's patrons were being written tickets left and right for parking in the City parking lot behind Randolph's. Apparently the issuance of these tickets has pretty much ceased since January. I have also heard that city employees have been directed not to frequent Randolph's and there would be consequences if they did.

The presiding Judge Beecher Gray stepped in and said he would rule on the motion to dismiss and he did. The City contended that they wanted to finish their case in court. The judge told them their case had already been heard and he would rule over the phone and then he proceeded to dismiss the case.

You see folks, this seems to be the rule around here. This is the heavy handedness that Mr. Berry states doesn't go on around here. Remember the open storage ordinance, was that not heading down a heavy handed path until certain people realized that they didn't have the numbers on council and cooler heads prevailed. I have also heard that the City of Hickory could possibly have to legally settle with the former establishment "127 North" over their heavy handed dealings with them and the losses of revenue that are directly attributable to those dealings.

When these city officials act in this manner are they representing you? Anything that city officials do, which the city is held monetarily liable for, is paid for by the taxpayers of the City of Hickory? Do you feel comfortable with the city throwing its weight around in this manner? Are you happy that a large portion of your tax fees are going to pay for unnecessary legal fees and settlements? All for what appear to be personal preferences, vendettas, and political purposes?

What are the rules pertaining to this Drinking Establishment Ordinance? I have never seen anything laid out in Black and White. Ambiguous ordinances, such as this, are what this city is known for creating and are just begging lawsuits. They are arbitrary and not equally enforced. Any laws constructed in such a manner are not worth the paper that they are printed on and are basically a waste of energy and effort.

Another good example of mismanagement is the Airport. Mind Blowing - The City's Mismanagement of the Hickory Regional Airport (and once again the story behind the story isn't pretty).

Part of what hasn’t been recognized here is that the sweetheart deal that Riverhawk’s predecessor got is DIRECTLY attributable to Mayor Rudy Wright.

Just after Mr. Wright took office, it was time to renegotiate with Profile Aviation. City Staff members had researched the earlier agreements and noted the problems – there was no control over Profile’s actions, essentially, and they acted as though they owned the airport. Hickory’s airport had a horrible reputation among pilots because of the way they were treated by Profile. Many opted to go to Morganton or Statesville for fuel (which was cheaper), service and overnight accommodations rather than to have to put up with the lack of service at Hickory.

There was a plan of action for improving things during the contract renegotiation. Unfortunately, Mayor Wright was good buddies with the guys that owned Profile. The result was that the discussion would occur in closed session at a council meeting and by the time Staff could meet the following morning already knew the negotiating parameters. Thus, nothing could be fairly negotiated because the other side already knew not only the strategy but the details of how it would be approached. Rudy was seen numerous times leaving Profile’s offices on Wednesday mornings, where presumably he’d briefed them on the prior evening’s meetings.

Imagine if the Panthers tried to play a football game, but the other side knew all their hand signals and how they intended to approach not only the game, but every single play. It’s much harder, if not impossible, to win that way – especially if the coach keeps intentionally sending you down the field the wrong way!

What ended up was a sweetheart deal that gave away the farm, all the cows on the farm, the crops yet in the ground and the farmer’s wife! That agreement was entered into over significant objections by virtually all of the staff members involved.

You can’t negotiate anything close to a fair deal under those circumstances. Look at the contract – there’s no independent audit provisions – Hickory’s income from the airport was based solely on what Profile TOLD them they made. There was no way to get to the books for an independent audit, no control over hours of operation, prices to be charged, etc.

Instead, all the control was given to Profile.

There was a chance to eliminate that when Riverhawk took over, but once again it was lost. We can thank Jill Patton and Brad Lail for failing to have any significant input into that, but in fairness, they had no records to review to know the issues. Instead, they knew only that which the contract allowed them to know – a contract that was overseen by Rudy for the benefit of his friends at Profile.

Hickory had a chance to take their airport back, but instead got a task force packed with people who either knew nothing about airports or were looking to skew the deal. How often does that kind of thing happen here? To figure it out, you really only have to look at who leaves and when. Tim Deike, who was the Airport Manager then, left about this same time. Coincidence? Or, like so many other department heads, did he realize that it’s not possible to fight that type of corruption without the support of a strong City Manager who has the balls to stand up for what’s right. Hickory could have easily taken over operations at the airport, and the income from those operations gone to make it self-sustaining. Instead, we end up with a tiny piece of the action, no control over the airport and once again the taxpayers get the short end.

Again, we see the City operating behind the scenes on this issue. From what I have heard the situation has worsened and there really is no chance of it getting any better. This issue is going to cost Hickory Taxpayers a bundle, when in essence the city has an asset of great value here. But, this venture is being operated under a buddy-buddy scenario and the guise of covering political missteps, instead of doing what is best for the citizens of the area at our airport. And is that not the essence of commonality that we are seeing involving all of these issues?

I heard Hal Row last week addressing the local economy. He stated that when the economy starts picking up, and times start getting better, that you usually start hearing things from people about business stirring up and things going on, but he hasn't been hearing anything. Well Hal, I'm hearing a lot of things about business in the area, but you and I aren't privy to those circles. We aren't invited. There seem to be all kinds deals being made in closed session at City Hall, at the meeting before the meeting, and/or on phone calls.

Which type of government do you trust, the meeting out in the open or the one behind locked doors? Didn't you always love the scenes when JR Ewing said, "Trust me?" These people are telling you to trust them. If everything is above board, then it is time to release all of these closed session minutes to the public. I seem to have misunderstood who these people are working for. Are they working for the Citizens of Hickory or Themselves?

I am also reminded of Ray Hunt, a property owner in Southeast Downtown (across from Clark Tire). He told me about his tenant, who has not paid rent in a substantial period of time. Mr. Hunt had previously told this tenant that he was going to have to get his stuff off of the property, because he needed to have work done on the building so that he could find a new tenant, one that would pay their rent. The current tenant proceeded to go to the city to report Mr. Hunt's building as untenable. The City sent officials to the building and issued code violations, but they never contacted Mr. Hunt, who is the owner of the building. Mr. Hunt is upset about the city never contacting him about the violations and how they could be remedied. The city is bound to have methods to contact the man. What if this were you? Wouldn't you be upset?

The Hound -- And this is the reason why I keep this blog independent and go to the council meetings and report as much as I can to you about them, even when I know that most of y'all scan over most of it.

I am your personal eyewitness at City Council meetings. 75% of the time, there is no other independent news gathering source present at the City Council meetings. They just get the information from the City's Communication Director Mandy Pitts. They get the information that the city wants them to have. Mandy does a great job doing what she does, but who does she represent? Does she represent the citizens of Hickory or does she represent the City Bureaucracy? She is no different than a PR representative at a corporation.

Look at a Corporation with $80+ million in revenues and hundreds of millions of dollars in assets. Would our local media outlets not dig further into issues involving that company, if they were doing things that negatively affected the stockholders of that corporation? Would a reporter go to the CEO or President of a company and ask them questions and take their word as the Gospel? Or would they dig for verifiable information and try to obtain corroborating information involving the story?

You see that is the City of Hickory, a corporation that takes in over $80 million in revenue and has a budget that is approximately the same. Mayor Rudy Wright is the Chief Executive Officer, City Manager Mick Berry is the President, and the other Council members are the Board of Directors of the City of Hickory Incorporated. And the Citizens and people who pay taxes and for services in Hickory are the shareholders.

I'm not going to beat the Hickory Daily Record over the head, if anyone wants to do so, then feel free to do so in the comments section. What was written on Sunday was about pulling an old issue out of the playbook without bringing anything new to the topic. What was the purpose of the article?

I just wish that the HDR would look into these issues more in depth and maybe do a series on some of them. Nothing notable or worthwhile can be written in 500 words or less. Demand some real answers from the City, and if they don't answer, then tell the public that they wouldn't. Look up some of the business agreements and relevant court documents... Talk to the relevant parties... And do some behind the scenes intelligence gathering. The Keys should be relevance and purpose. HDR, we need you to fulfill your role as the community's newspaper.

The Plunge Protection Team and the Ponzi Economy

On Thursday afternoon, May 6, 2010, you witnessed what was a historical Wall Street market Roller Coaster ride. In a period of 30 minutes, you saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average fall right at 1,000 points and then bounce back (almost immediately) over 600 points. I know most of y'all get your info from the boob tube or reading the major syndicated newspapers, but deep down you know that you aren't getting the whole story and therefore you aren't getting the real story.

Webster Tarpley pretty much hits the nail on the head in the following summarization:



The President's Working Group on Financial Markets (the Plunge Protection Team) was created by Executive Order 12631,[1] signed on March 18, 1988 by President Ronald Reagan.

The Group was established explicitly in response to events in the financial markets surrounding October 19, 1987 ("Black Monday") to give recommendations for legislative and private sector solutions for "enhancing the integrity, efficiency, orderliness, and competitiveness of [United States] financial markets and maintaining investor confidence".[1]

What we are seeing is that the Stock market is rigged and it is not worthy of investment. Many of us learned that after the Tech Bubble burst in 2000 and the manipulation that took place in after 9/11. Pump and Dump has become the rule of the day. Only the big Wall Street cartel banks (Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Citi) can afford to play this game. It is a game of Inside Information and Market manipulation that is influenced by massive high volume triggered computer program trading.

These gigantic Financial Institutions are making money playing both sides against the middle. They make money playing long(on the way up) and then yo-yo shorting (on the way down) the market. They can also arbitrage the market trading millions of shares for fractions of a cent. When done by trading millions of stocks and not having to pay the transaction costs associated with the average investor's investments. And they make money through transaction costs by having their floor traders buy and sell stocks for clients (glorified bookies getting paid vigorish). We are told that this is what "makes the market." That is a load. They are privatizing the profits and nationalizing the losses. And all of this is facilitated by the World's Central Banks, including the United States Federal Reserve.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. How many times are the American people going to be duped by people who are supposed to have a fiduciary responsibility to act in our best interests. In the current Ponzi Scheme economy, we have seen the action of every man for himself exacerbated to its fullest extent. Personally, I have learned my lesson. For the rest of my life I will never invest in any securities and commodities traded on the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ ever again.

The Transnational Mega-Corporate Financial Institutions are consolidating assets and interests. They are larger and more powerful than most nations. They influence the decision making authority throughout our government. If we are going to take back our government and be a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, then we must divest ourselves of the financial interests that the financial institutions have influence over. The best thing we could ever do is boycott Wall Street and let the Oligarchs start attacking one another, because left to their own vises they will.

It is time to put an end to the Command Economy. You will not win in this system. This is a system of control. You cannot have a true market under this system. This is about consolidating power by accumulating wealth and buying off governments (elected officials and bureaucracies). Under this system, winners and losers will be chosen and odds are you will not be chosen as winners.

We are in a depression, not a recession. Many of you think that this is a normal business cycle and eventually things will naturally turn up. This is a structural problem that has been caused by corruption that has permeated throughout the social and economic system. As I have stated, we have built conflicts of interest, inside information, actions of provocateurs, etc. into the World Economic System and the system must be reset through valid Economic principles in order to begin growing again.

We cannot grow an economy by suppressing people. There has to be a middle class to buy products and services. People have to be able to advance socio-economically through hard work and perseverance and we are seeing the middle class destroyed under the current economic realities. What incentive do people have to be productive citizens and not trash the world, if they are essentially going to be turned into servants for the Fat Cats?

Max Keiser basically lays it all out there in explaining the Ponzi Economy:

You never know a good thing 'til it's gone

I was listening to that song by Kris Allen entitled "Gotta Live Like We're Dyin." It's a catchy tune of catch phrases that set me to thinking.

You never know a good thing 'til it's gone, because once you realize it's good, fate seems to always take it away from you. And no matter how hard you try to hold on, at some point in time you are going to lose your grip. I know that a few years ago, I was very much set in my lifestyle and I pretty much lost most of everything that I held dear during that time span and I am still dealing with the worst of the issues that were so bothersome during that time period. And I ain't down for the struggle.

Gotta live like we're dyin, cause you pretty much are from the moment you are conceived. Life is a paradox between the endurance of the struggle and the fragility of fate. I have been knocked down by what life represents these days and there are a lot of people in those circumstances, but it's easy to get beat down by the struggle and easy to understand why you want that clock to tick. It's alot easier to appreciate life when you are enjoying life and you feel happy and alive. When you are forced to do things you don't want to do and be places that you don't want to be, it is easy to wish that 86,400 seconds away.

When you are able to be with someone you love and be in a place you want to be, then you certainly need to appreciate those times and what you have. And aren't those always the times that go by way too fast. And aren't those always the fleeting moments. I certainly know that I want some stability and security in my life. Scrambling to survive certainly isn't endearing.

I certainly know that there are things that I wish I would have done and there are things I wish I wouldn't have done, but there isn't anything that I can't live with. I understand fate and I understand that you can't control people. We are all like atoms on this planet and as individuals our atomic particles affect everyone and everything around us. Our lives set off a chain of events that will affect everything in the Universe throughout infinity.

Life is what it is. It is much to complex to break down and diagnose while we are living. As individuals, we will never understand this world and the more we ponder, the more we understand how little we know, but the more we have to offer. The world certainly evolves.

Life just is what it is and the rat race created by materialism certainly doesn't make it any easier. You can't take all of that stuff with you when you leave this earth and our society needs to quit pushing the possession's mindset off on people. I want the good things to stay. I want them to come hang out so we can enjoy one another's company. Life shouldn't be about being on the go all the time. It should be about building lasting relationships and enjoying simple pleasures. Mr. Allen's idealism is right on, but the words certainly ring hollow in the world that surrounds me today.




Live Like We're Dying

Sometimes we fall down, can't get back up
We're hiding behind skin that's too tough
How come we don't say I love you enough
Till it's to late, it's not too late

Our hearts are hungry for a food that won't come
And we could make a feast from these crumbs
And we're all staring down the barrel of a gun
So if your life flashed before you,
What would you wish you would've done

Yeah, we gotta start
Looking at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that's ticking
Gotta live like we're dying

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying

And if your plane fell out of the skies
Who would you call with your last goodbye
Should be so careful who we live out our lives
So when we long for absolution,
There'll be no one on the line, yeah

Yeah, we gotta start
Looking at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that's ticking
Gotta live like we're dying

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying

You never know a good thing till it's gone
You never see a crash till it's head on
Why do we think we're right when we're dead wrong
You never know a good thing till it's gone

Yeah, we gotta start
Looking at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that's ticking
Gotta live like we're dying

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying

Like we're dying, oh, like we're dying..

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying..

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of May 4, 2010

This newsletter is about the Hickory City Council meeting that I attended this past week. City council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each Month in the Council Chambers of the Julian Whitener building.

At the bottom right of this page under main information links is a Hickory's Local Government link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the bottom of the page you will see the future dates for meetings scheduled for this year.

At the top of the page, if you click on the “Documents” link, 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.

Here is a summary of the agenda of the 5/4/2010 meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below

Invocation by Rev. Pat Pearce, Retired from First Baptist Church

Special Presentations:
A. Proclamation Presented to Chief of Police, Tom Adkins Proclaiming the Week of May 9 – 15, 2010 as “National Police Week” in the City of Hickory - The Mayor pointed out that there are approximately 900,000 Law Enforcement Officers serving in the U.S. In Hickory we have 118. Approximately 60,000 assaults on officers are reported each year, resulting in 16,000 injuries. Since 1792, more than 19,000 officers have been killed in the line of duty. 324 people were added last year, including 116 officers killed in 2009. May 15, 2010 is designated nationally as Peace Officer's day.

Chief Adkins accepted the award and mentioned Gerald Wayne Maynard who passed away in 1977. He mentioned some incidents, including an incident involving the Police Chief in Durham who had a bullet pass through the windshield of his car this past week. The Mayor mentioned a man in Charlotte who is trying to be protected from the death penalty after shooting two police officers in the head.

B. Presentation of Proclamation to Jim Powers Past President of Hickory Velo Club Declaring the Month of May as “Bike Month” in the City of Hickory. Jarrett Soles accepted the award. The Mayor stated that the bicycle is a viable, environmentally sound form of transportation and excellent form of recreation. The week of May 17-21 is being recognized as bike to work week by the League of American Bicyclists. The Mayor stated that we need to be more aware of cyclists on our streets and highways.

Consent Agenda:
A. Call for Public Hearing to Consider Ordinance Amendment to the Hickory Code of Ordinance; Chapter 18, Section 18-181 Definitions (Authorize Public Hearing for May 18, 2010)

B. Proclamation Proclaiming the Week of May 16 – 22, 2010 as “National Public Works Week” in the City of Hickory

C. Proclamation Declaring Thursday, April 22, 2010 as “Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company Day” in the City of Hickory

D. Proclamation Congratulating the Hickory ABF Freight Service Center for Receiving the 2009 ABF President’s Quality Award by Declaring May 18, 2010 as “Hickory ABF Freight Day” in the City of Hickory

E. Proclamation Proclaiming May 1, 2010 as “Fort San Juan Chapter, Hickory NC of the National Society Colonial Dames Seventeenth Century Day” in the City of Hickory

F. Approval to Donate a Teledyne-Gurley Surveying Instrument to South Caldwell High School - The City of Hickory Engineering Department requests approval to donate to South Caldwell High School a Teledyne-Gurley surveying instrument and tripod for educational purposes. This piece of equipment was purchased by the City in 1981 and has become outdated and is no longer useful to the Surveying Field Crew. A similar unit can be purchased on ebay for approximately $175. Ms. Jill Docherty of South Caldwell High School indicated this piece of equipment would greatly benefit the math department.

G. Approve Future Annexation Agreement From James and Natalie Anne Fogle for Property Located at 1855 30th Avenue Court, NE - James and Natalie Anne Fogle have requested to be connected to the City of Hickory’s water and sewer system without being annexed into the City limits and agree to be annexed in the future when the City finds it economically feasible. The Fogle property is located at 1855 30th Avenue Court, NE, which is identified on the Catawba County tax maps by PIN 3714-20-82-9415. Said property abuts the Lawsons Creek development and is immediately adjacent to the existing city boundary. Due to the existence of unimproved privately maintained street right-of-ways, the provision of sanitation and fire and police services, annexation at this time would be economically infeasible.

H. Approval of Application for a DPPEA Grant to Upgrade Recycling Convenience Centers in the Amount of $22,238 - Due to the timeline, Public Services had to submit their grant application to the DPPEA for a Recycling Grant by March 26, 2010. Said grant will be used to upgrade two recycling centers with the replacement of hook lift style containers and will allow the opportunity to transport three different kinds of materials to the Material Recycling Facility (MRF), while saving time and fuel. The two sites are located at the Public Services Complex and the Transfer Station. In reducing the amount of trips, the City saves about $226.44 per week and $11,774.88 per year in fuel and labor. The Grant application is for $22,238 in DPPEA funds and the City’s portion would be $4,448. The City would see a return on its portion of the project cost in less than a year.

I. Approve Revenue Sharing Agreement With Catawba County for the Heatherbrook Subdivision Water Project - According to Chapter 42 Division 2 of the Catawba County Code of Ordinances, it allows Catawba County to partner with municipalities who provide water service in unincorporated areas of the county to receive water service at no capital expense to the respective municipality. Catawba County is to fund all costs for infrastructure design, permit and construction and in turn, the City of Hickory is to provide operation, maintenance and management of those lines. Water rates are set and charged by theCity to customers of the system and the revenues are split equally between the City and County. Customers will be charged at the City’s outside rate. Revenues to the City are anticipated to grow to approximately $14,000 annually within the first five years of operation and will grow as more users of the system are incorporated. This project extends from an existing water line on West NC 10 Highway in the Bandys Township area of southwestern Catawba County. Staff recommends approval.

J. Approve Revenue Sharing Agreement With Catawba County for the Royal Heights Subdivision Water Project - According to Chapter 42 Division 2 of the Catawba County Code of Ordinances, it allows Catawba County to partner with municipalities who provide water service in unincorporated areas of the county to receive water service at no capital expense to the respective municipality. Catawba County is to fund all costs for infrastructure design, permit and construction and in turn, the City of Hickory is to provide operation, maintenance and management of those lines. Water rates are set and charged by the City to customers of the system and the revenues are split equally between the City and County. Customers will be charged at the City’s outside rate. Revenues to the City are anticipated to grow to approximately $8,000 annual within the first five years of operation and will grow as more users of the system are incorporated. This project consists of a water line on Royal Heights Circle and shall include approximately twenty two new customers.

K. Approval to Apply for Twenty-Five Bulletproof Vests Through the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant - Consideration for the Hickory Police Department to apply for twenty-five bulletproof vests through the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant, whereby if awarded, the City would receive up to 50% reimbursement for each vest purchased. The estimated cost for each vest is $650 with a life expectancy of five years per vest. Funds are placed in the police department’s budget each year for the purchase of vests.

L. Request From Hickory Downtown Development Association for Use of Union Square for the “Spa on the Square” Event to be Held on June 12, July 17 and August 21, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

M. Amendment to Traffic Ordinance By Reducing the Speed Limit From 35 mph to 25 mph Along 31st Avenue, NW From the Intersection With North Center Street West Approximately 2,600 Feet to the Intersection With 3rd Street Drive, NW, 3rd Street Drive, NW From the Intersection With 31st Avenue, NW South Approximately 400 Feet to the Dead End, and 3rd Street Drive, NW From the Intersection With 31st Avenue, NW North Approximately 1,100 Feet to the Intersection With 33rd Avenue, NW - Under the City’s Traffic Calming Program an application was received for a speed limit reduction along 31st Avenue, NW as indicated above. Staff determined that a speed limit reduction from 35 mph to 25 mph would be acceptable, if the residents desired.

N. Amendment to Traffic Ordinance By Prohibiting On-Street Parking Along Both East and West Margins of 10th Street, NE From the Intersection With 37th Avenue, NE North Approximately 900 Feet to the Intersection With 9th Street Drive, NE - The above described on-street parking prohibition would eliminate permitted, but unmarked parking along this street segment. During periods when on-street parking activity has been observed, some vehicles were parked so that motorists were very constricted, and turning movements were made difficult, making one-lane roadway safety concerns with motorists having to pass parked vehicles with little or no margin. Motorists are primarily Winding Creek Subdivision residents and the developer favors on-street parking elimination. Although parking capacity may be slightly diminished, the Traffic Division concluded that the on-street parking needs to be removed.

O. Request From the Hickory Downtown Development Association to Add a Rain Date of June 6, 2010 to Their Use of Union Square Application Previously Approved by City Council on March 2, 2010 for the “Swinging Under the Stars” Event

P. Budget Ordinance Amendments
1. Budget $100 of International Council donations for expenditures to be used for the International Springfest event.

2. Budget $8,306 insurance claim check from Trident Insurance Company to the Parks and Recreation Department for storm damage to the Gazebo at Hilton Park on 02-10-10.

3. Budget $493 insurance claim check from The Members Insurance to the Police Department for damage to a Police vehicle on 04-21-10.

4. Budget $1,754 insurance claim check from Trident Insurance Company to the Fire Department for damages to Ladder 1's aerial device that occurred at Station 3 due to a ladder belt inadvertently sliding between the connector for the ladder controls and a cross member when device was activated on 3/26/10.

Q. Grant Project Ordinance Amendments
1. Accept $18,552 transfer from the General Fund and budget in the Police Firing Range Upgrade Project-Justice Assistance Grant (J.A.G.) Fund. This amendment is necessary to pay for an additional steel knee package, fencing, and miscellaneous expenses.

2. Accept $238 transfer from the Planning Department in the Brownfield Grant Project Travel line item. Travel to the Brownfield’s 2009 Conference in November was expensed to the Brownfield Grant however due to illness the travel was cancelled. The airline ticket was later used for non- Brownfield travel and therefore the funds need to transfer back to the Brownfield’s Project to cover the non-grant expense.

New Business - Public Hearings:
1. Voluntary Contiguous Annexation of the Property of D&H Real Estate, LLC Located at 2440 Century Place, SE Within McDonald Crossing Business Park - A petition was submitted by D&H Real Estate, LLC for voluntary contiguous annexation for property located at 2440 Century Place, SE, which is located in the McDonald Crossing Business Park. The property is currently being developed as the location of the new Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Clinic and requests to connect to the City’s water and sewer system. The property is located within the City’s extra-territorial jurisdictional area (ETJ) and zoned Planned Development – Mixed Use (PD-MU). The current assessed value of the raw property and estimated value of the construction of the medical clinic totals $3,636,857.00 and would generate approximately $18,184 in additional tax revenues. The property meets all the statutory requirements for voluntary contiguous annexation, and adequate public services are available.

New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Presentation of Parks and Recreation Facilities Needs Assessment In August 2009 City Council approved a Facilities Needs Assessment to be performed by Site Solutions. The analysis is designed to give a candid evaluation of any facilities that need to be expanded, improved, consolidated or closed. The Facilities Needs Assessment has been presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission and accepted during their April 13, 2010 meeting.

Mac McLeod began the presentation by addressing the origins of this plan. In August of 2009, the City contracted Site Solutions to conduct this needs assessment. They also prepared the Cloninger Mill master plan that was accepted previously by the council. The previous master plan from1997 is 13 years old, many of those recommendations have already been accomplished. Staff felt their was a need for a detailed analysis of all parks and recreation facilities. The analysis is a thorough evaluation of facilities that need to be expanded, improved, consolidated, or closed. The assessment will take the city through the next 10 years. The plan was accepted by the Parks and Recreation Commission at their April 13, 2010 meeting. mac introduced Derek Williams from Site solutions to make the presentation.

Mr. Williams stated that Site Solutions followed a three step process. They did an inventory of facilities, then an analysis of verifying standards for the community, and then utilized that to project needs and a plan of action. He stated that Hickory has an excellent array of types of parks.



10 Neighborhood Parks (Civitan, Cliff Teague, Fairbrook, Hickory City, Hickory Optimist, Jaycee, Southside Heights, Taft Broome, West Hickory, Westmont Recreation Center) - these are approximately 5 acre facilities. There are areas in the northern part of the city that aren't being served.

3 Community Regional Parks (Stanford Park, Henry Fork, Kiwanis) - 80 to 200 acres - they are well distributed throughout the community.

6 Civic Parks (Carolina Park/ Ivey Arboretum, Highland, McComb, Robinson, Shuford Gardens, Viewmont) - not recreational. Garden space and open space. These set a city apart through the image they project.

5 Recreation Centers/ Gymnasiums (Brown Penn, Highland, Neill Clark, Ridgeview, Westmont) - Hickory is well presented here. Highland is a truly outstanding facility.

428 acres of developed land (16 Baseball/Softball Fields, 14 Soccer/Football/Multi-Purpose Fields, 17 Tennis Courts, 37 Playgrounds, 17 Picnic shelters, 7 miles of trails, Skateboard Park, Disc Golf Course). Mr. Williams commended the city on it's two Senior Citizen centers for a community of this size. They are well maintained and programmed.

Needs Assessment - The standards established in the 1997 plan were very good standards.The standards in the new plan will match those pretty well. The City has adequate indoor facilities, Mr. Williams stated that the City has properties in the system that can meet the needs for properties in the Northern part of the city. He mentioned the Property at Sandy Pines that can be an excellent neighborhood park. He also mentioned utilizing the St. Stephens park as a joint use facility with the county. He next talked about the build out of the Cloninger Mill Park as a community park. It is in an area where we need parks in the northern part of the city.

The Westmont Recreation Facility has issues involving age and American with Disability Act issues that limit program opportunities. Rather than investing more in the building, the City should consider its removal and the expansion of outdoor recreation opportunities. The Geithner building has great potential as a retreat center, but needs renovation. The City needs to review summer hours of some buildings (Neill Clark, Westmont). It is too hot to utilize these indoor facilities in the summer.

Mr. Williams next addressed the aquatics needs. He stated that the two pools in the City don't meet health code requirements. Municipalities are moving away from pools and towards spray parks and grounds, which are cheaper. Think water play as opposed to swim. The development is cheaper and the operation, which kids love, is much, much cheaper.

Most outdoor recreation facility needs are being met. 2020 needs include additions of 2 Football Fields, 3 Volleyball Courts, 3 Shuffleboard Courts, 3 Picnic Shelters, 10 Playground activities, 18 miles of Trails/Greenways, 2 Spraygrounds, 25 miles of Bike lanes, 10 miles of Blueways, 1 Disc Golf Course, 1 Dog Park).

The City should seek joint use collaborative efforts with Hickory City Schools, Adjacent recreation providers, area hospitals, and the YMCA. The city should look for opportunities for green operation and construction. The City should seek alternative funding mechanisms for park development and operation including grants, Public/Private venues, Partners for Parks, and Corporate Sponsorships.

Alderman Lail asked about a Park Ranger and what size do park systems get before that becomes a step that the City might want to take? Mr. Williams stated that they didn't really get into that. There are two decision points. What is their role, educational or law enforcement. larger cities have them take on both roles. Hickory does have parks that might want us to think about moving in that direction. Alderman Lail next asked about an outdoor amphitheater. Mr. Williams stated that that was taken into consideration for special events at one of our parks. The Council unanimously accepted the report.

The Hound likes what he has seen from the Hickory community when it comes to parks and recreation. I believe that the plan for the Cloninger Mill Park has been well thought out and I like the public-private partnership aspects that were built into the project and I sincerely hope that they come to fruition in the near future.

I also hope that the idea of the amphitheater is moved forward at a time when the funds are available. I believe such a project could truly bring value to our community. There could be outdoor music, plays, and movies associated with such a project. Businesses, such as restaurants and shops, would certainly want to be in close proximity to such a facility. The best part is that it would bring people to the city for events and keep our own citizens here, instead of them leaving to go spend money in surrounding areas.

2. Accept Offer to Purchase and Contract and Adopt Resolution Authorizing the Sale of City-Owned Property Located in Waterford Hills Phase 2 Subdivision at 1841 Waterbury Court to Thomas Hayes Construction, Inc. in the Amount of $31,969 - The offer is from Thomas Hayes Construction, Inc. for City owned property located in the Waterford Hills Phase 2 Subdivision at 1841 Waterbury Court. The property will be used for a single family home. The City purchased this property for the proposed future Southern Corridor from Startown Road to 33rd Street, SW. In 2005 City Council approved an alternate route and therefore, this parcel is no longer needed. The tax value of this parcel is $33,300 and Thomas Hayes Construction, Inc. has offered $31,969. The sale of this property will place it back on the tax registry. In 2008 City Council approved the sale of an adjoining lot for a single family dwelling. Staff recommends acceptance of Offer to Purchase, adoption of Resolution and authorization to advertise for upset bids. Todd Hefner made the presentation. Council gave unanimous consent.

3. Approval of Vacant Building Revitalization Grant Revisions - On April 20, 2010 City Council requested staff to modify the guidelines of the Vacant Building Program Grant pursuant to their recommendations. The grant program makes available matching funding of up to $25,000 per project for redeveloping vacant buildings in the City of Hickory. The proposed changes change the eligibility area of the program. Instead of requiring that the vacant building be within the Commercial Revitalization Area designated by City Council, the proposed changes open the program up to all non-residential buildings within the Hickory City limits (The program will be opened up to the entire city) that have been vacant for a period of 12 months or more. The revisions would also require applicants to invest at least $30,000 in eligible project costs in order to receive grant funding. Underutilized buildings would no longer be eligible for funding if the proposed changes are approved. Priority will be given to buildings with an end user in place. The revised guidelines will also give priority to vacant manufacturing and warehouse buildings. Dave Leonetti made the presentation and stated that the city has approved $198,000 in grants, including the Superior Self Storage next to WHKY and Black Investments next door to Aiken and Black tire. Mr. Leonetti went over the provisions listed above. The minimum investment threshold is meant to push smaller projects toward the Community Appearance Grants and Landscaping grants. The broad vision is meant to develop older buildings and substandard buildings, not just buildings that are vacant. The Commercial Revitalization Areas will be eligible for all grants.

Alderman Lail asked a question about guidelines involving the process where tenants may leave one property for another rendering the building they are leaving vacant. Dave stated that the language would require moving into a larger building, it does not address additional vacant buildings. Alder Patton stated that she would be opposed to any such provision. If someone is renting a building and decides that they would rather invest in and own a building, then such a provision might prevent them from making that investment. Alderman Lail stated Imagine a scenario where they are renting in one building and a landlord of a new (assume revitalized?) building encourages them to move into their building that utilized the grant. Alder Patton stated that that is something that should be taken under advisement, but it should not pigeon hole a capital investment.

Alderman Lail stated that this language shouldn't be a deal killer, but he believes that they do need to address that. Mayor Wright stated that their was a lot of language in there... We have room that gives flexibility. He doesn't want them to be trapped where they have to approve something they aren't really happy with. Alder Fox stated that they have opened this up, but there weren't a lot of buildings outside of the revitalization zones. So they were concerned with the revitalization areas on the map. She isn't sure that they need to get really strict on someone who is willing to move into these obsolescent buildings... She doesn't want to see the council strap themselves to the fact that someone is willing to take the chance and has a vision... They may be willing to leave a stable area to take this chance... Alderman Meisner stated that $25,000 (grant) in one section is a whole lot greater than $25,000 in another section.

The Mayor stated that there is room for the staff to say the benefit of redoing this building is the overriding factor. There isn't a checklist. We are on the right track to give staff more judgment. Alderman Lail stated that Council makes the final decision anyway. Alderman Seaver stated that an established business is going to save on some rent by moving to an area that may not be as established. Alderman Meisner stated that that is the great equalizer. Council unanimously consented.

The Hound personally feels that we should stop wasting our time listening to property owners whine about losing tenants to other property owners. That is the kind of thing rats do on a sinking ship. Once again, that is part of that cheap begets cheap mindset that pervades this area. If you take care of your tenant, then all things being equal they aren't going to move. Also, if a tenant becomes capable of becoming a property owner, then we should all celebrate, because that means their horizons are expanding. That might mean you need to find another tenant, but it also means that this community is creating a healthier, wealthier economic culture...

Also, as has been stated before, our economic viability does not reside in buildings. This sure does seem to point to the fact that some of us are obsessed with a few individuals of special interest over what would be best for the general populace. Honestly already, will the City ever realize that $25,000 is not going to make or break a multi-million dollar business deal. And the large vacant warehouses will cost millions to bring up to code. Marketplaces are determined by people, not buildings. If buildings aren't viable, then they just aren't viable.

The validity of the Operation No vacancy program rests upon the recognition of the buildings that are under disrepair. It isn't about the allowance the city is throwing in to sweeten the deal. If we begin to accommodate the ideas of the rail line, then some of these issues slowly begin to take care of themselves. If we work on the broadband issue and high tech industries, then I have no doubt that value can be found in some of these buildings as Business Accelerators. You see, it's about the marketplace.

If we continue the race to the bottom by stroking the egos and padding the pockets of a selective few local property owners, then we will continue to push the Least Common Denominator Economy that has been at the root of our problems for the last decade. We must focus on creating a marketplace and being about something. We don't have the Acropolis or the Eiffel Tower, so it is time to quit focusing our energy on the inanimate and start worrying about people and how we are going to create jobs and a livelihood for our citizens. How many buildings will be filled if the imploding economy turns into an imploding population?

4. Consideration of Proposed Voluntary Graffiti Removal Program -
Graffiti is a problem city wide. Council considered an amendment to the Chapter 20 Nuisance Ordinance at the April 20, 2010 meeting that will become effective on October 1, 2010. The proposed 50/50 Graffiti Removal Program will provide financial assistance to property owners that have been victimized by graffiti on their property structures. This initiative provides funding to offset the cost of cleaning up graffiti and to encourage redevelopment and reinvestment in the City. The program will ensure that property owners will have an alternative plan to clean up their property without penalty prior to the amendments to Chapter 20 Nuisances going into effect on October 1, 2010.

The property owners will be responsible for the clean up method, whether they hire a contractor or do the work themselves. Funding for the program will come from General Fund Reserves and a budget amendment will be forthcoming to the City Council. Staff estimates that the program will cost $25,000 in grant match dollars, but council can establish a maximum.Property owners will submit invoices/receipts to the Finance Department. The city will inspect that the graffiti has been removed. Property owners can only receive one grant and it cannot exceed $1,000 or 50% of the cost, whichever is less.

The city invites property owners to participate in the Graffiti Removal Program, which is voluntary. Police Adkins mentioned that the City has already begun making an inventory list of affected properties. The program will be announced through press releases, media coverage, and additional contact with property owners who have noticeable graffiti on their buildings. Property owners can call the Hickory Police Department at 261-2649 to report graffiti on their property. A HPD officer will come to the property to create a report of the graffiti and take pictures. The property owner is given an information packet and agrees to the terms of the program. Property owners are encouraged to refer to Graffitihurts.org for removal information. Property owners pay to have the graffiti removed.

The Graffiti program begins immediately. Property owners with Graffiti are contacted immediately, if possible. The public awareness event begins immediately. Property owners can continue to sign up for the program throughout the summer. Graffiti removal must be completed and turned in by September 15, 2010 so that final processing and inspection can occur before October 1, 2010. After October 1, 2010, the Council can consider the success and merits of the 50/50 program and determine whether to extend it or not.

Alder Fox asked how long it will take to get the word out? Chief Adkins stated that they are going to do all they can to get the word out, after October 1, it will be the property owners responsibility.Alderman Lail asked about the rationale of limiting property owners to one grant?Chief Adkins stated that what they tried to eliminate is on property owner with multiple properties wiping out the whole amount. Manager Berry stated that there concern was that this was a first come, first serve program and one owner could figure it all out and come in and tap into potentially the whole pot. Alder Fox stated that she knows potential owners of property and they could potentially use all of the funds in just one portion of the city and that leaves the rest of the city. owners that own 5,6,7 properties that have graffiti on them right now

Alderman Lail stated that he believes the city will have some interpretive issues with these guidelines. With regards to ownership that can come in many forms -- corporate, LLC, individual, husband, wife, and somebody can raise issues. And another question, does this apply to all graffiti. He can think of instances where it would be worth a $1,000 and other instances where they choose not to take the graffiti off of another portion of the building. It does not say that they have to remove all of the graffiti from the building (question)?

The Chief reiterated that after October 1 that it will be looked at as a nuisance and they will have to abate it. The Mayor asked about the penalty. Chief Adkins stated that it was the same Nuisance process. The City can clean it up using the city's contractor and bill them for it. The Mayor stated that they go onto property and mow grass. Is there any similar situation where they could expose themselves to the risk of damaging the property. Attorney Crone said that the city has the right under the ordinance to abate the nuisance and assess a lien against the property. The Mayor asked when would they decide to exercise the right and when will they decide that there is too much risk. Alderman Lail stated it is an ordinance and it would be terribly unfair to enforce it on some and not on others.

Alder Fox stated that this ordinance has already been put into place. Attorney Crone went through other scenarios of the Nuisance ordinance and stated that at some point in time you have to enforce the ordinance that you have passed. Alder Fox stated that this discussion is about the Pilot program, not about going on someone's property, that is in an ordinance that has already passed. We are looking to make inroads into getting 10 to 15 years of graffiti cleaned up. She questions whether they can get the word out.

Alderman Lail went over the issue where screening may be more appropriate than removal of graffiti. Alder Patton stated that even without the 50/50, the word would still get out. There would still be public awareness and notifications. There doesn't have to be a 50/50. Alderman Guess stated that he has heard from a lot of people on this issue and the biggest issue with him is the cost of $25,000 at a time when the city is laying off workers and not giving raises. The onus is the responsibility of the property owners and not the taxpayers.

Manager Berry addressed the issue of liability. He stated that the city will use a certified contractor so that there is liability on the contractor, because they will use generally accepted methods. There is precedent about how to do it. Attorney Crone stated that abatement doesn't mean that you have to scrape it off... It's whatever it takes to make... Mayor Wright stated that we can always revisit the ordinance and always revisit the program. Yes-5 (Lail, Meisner, Mayor Wright, Seaver, Fox) No-2 (Guess, Patton)

The Hound feels that the City has stepped into it on this one. And it isn't something smelly and sticky. They have stepped into a minefield of unintended consequences. There were many valid points made. Is the city really going to go clean someone else's property?

I also am weary of the Mayor continually pontificating about selective enforcement. When it comes to justice, people should be given due process and fair and equal treatment. Laws, Codes, and/or Ordinances should not be written ambiguously on terms that are open for interpretation. Guidelines formulated in such a manner invite legal remedy. And it sure seems that we have a City that is all too willing to head to court.

I have espoused a way to help begin this clean up in a manner that would involve public participation, goodwill, and civic pride; but instead we're going to head right down the path of the bureaucratic boondoggle. $25,000 paid to general contractors is not going to scratch the surface of the cost of this cleanup. I think Alder Fox understands that, when she says that 5 months isn't enough time and she mentions that $25,000 could be used by one property owner in one area -- BINGO!!!

Alderman Guess hit the nail on the head when he stated that this wasn't a priority at a time when City workers are being laid off or not getting raises, and this is utilizing taxpayer money during rotten economic times. Alder Patton thinks that property owners need to maintain their own property. And honestly, who can argue with that. I can't understand how Alderman Lail is against the ordinance, but for spending this money, I can understand the worry about the harshness of the nuisance process and the fact that property owner's property has been unwillingly harmed, but we can't pay for everyone's cleanup. That is a big slippery slope.

In October, when the City realizes that they made this a lot harder than it needs to be, then please come back and let the community play a role in this and have some buy-in. A community of, by, and for the people should be trusted to participate in an issue of civic pride. If Church and Civic organizations are allowed to play a role in this clean-up, then I believe that the graffiti issue will begin to get solved. We aren't even trying to address the cause or find permanent remedies. We are just throwing money at the problem and seeing if it will stick. Does it ever?

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*** If you get a chance please check out Solari.com. This is the site of Catherine Austin Fitts. The site was kind enough to post my article The Race to the Bottom. This lady is a mentor to me though I have not corresponded with her yet. I totally buy into her philosophy of Community Development and the idea of "Financial Ecosystem." She has a lot of great articles and my references cross paths with her quite often. If you want to learn the new wave of economic dialogue, I suggest you visit her site. Peace Out!!!