Picard not running again....

Bob. you have my vote should you decide to run. We need more people on council like we currently have to guide us down the right path. History and past results have told us we are on the right road to recovery for the city. Just look at how well the city has done the last three decades with the type of people we have put behind that council desk. Stay the course Bob. Full speed ahead with your agenda. Remember, the city leaders are always right and have the city and it's residents as their main focus.

If the news that we are losing Danny Picard is true, we could sure use another one just like him. Hate to lose a person who has done so much for the city during his tenure as a councilman. A great follower for sure.

swohio75 wrote: I appreciate Dan's service to his community.  He didn't say much, which often made him come across as indifferent, uninterested or uninformed.  But I don't think that was the case at all. Most recently, his comments on the Metro Park River Center deal/project in relationship to wanting $ from the city nailed it. My guess is that you will see a couple of younger folk (27-45) run for the seat, which would be a good thing.

OK Buddha

We knew Picard was not going to run again. Agree with Vet, you should run! BTW, Picard has had as much or more thoughtful input as any other council member. But we do need younger energetic people on council who will not be “bobble heads.” And most importantly, they must keep themselves thoroughly informed about the issues and ordinances they will be asked to consider. They should ask questions and join discussion in council meetings if they have ANY doubt about any issue. That would require knowing when clarification is needed and what questions should be asked.

But first let’s address some unfinished business … your quit of and rapid return to this forum.

You said:

“Well John,

Make all the fun you want.  I'm not scared of your petty little insults.  You have no idea who I am nor what I am capable of.”

That sounds like a threat !!!   Obviously you have not scared us.   But, maybe you should explain just who you are and what you are capable of. And petty insults FROM your direction have been answered in kind at times.

You said: “ It is a shame that someone can't just have a differing opinion and method without being shouted down.”

So, YOUR differing opinion, among all the other differing opinions expressed here, is the only one that should automatically be accepted as gospel? You are starting to sound like city hall. They would prefer our silence to having our opinions expressed on this forum. Thankfully we do have this forum where everyone has a voice if they so chose.

You said: “This is one of the more viewed topics - because some solutions are being presented - people are finding out that there's folks here who actually care about the city more than their overly petty complaints.”

What solutions? And if you think our complaints are so petty, why are you so adamantly opposed to us expressing them? Your comments which are so glibly told, are the only ones worth posting???   For years we have continually stated what we see as problems which need to be addressed. If we didn’t care deeply about our city we wouldn’t be here at all.

You said: “I'm beginning to think that this forum may be part of the reason that this city can't get anywhere.  Too much bickering over the past - not enough outlook for the future.”

There is good reason why we refer to the past.   It’s to compare the present poor condition of the city with the “good” past when we had good schools, good jobs (with industries located in town), broad tax base and great amenities … like swimming pools, golf course, choices for shopping, money in the city coffers… etc.

A housing deficit didn’t exist then!!! Ooooh, then the city brought in Section 8 housing thinking that they could bring money in through that program, but instead they succeeded in making Middletown a ghetto. AK Corporate Offices moved out taking most of our high end jobs with them. Their white collar work force moved out too. Then we continued to lose industry, commercial and retail businesses and more residents who had to go elsewhere for employment. City coffers dwindled to nothing because we had no tax base. Section 8 housing attracted lower income people or people without jobs who are inherently prone to becoming drug addicts who resort to thievery to maintain their habit. The current murder rate in Middletown is above the rate of all of last year and could be directly related to the Section 8 debacle.


And you said “This topic is almost #2 in all time views on this forum (from what I can see - no report to view, just anecdotal evidence and it's only 2.5 weeks old) - and was headed for #1 - but who cares anymore.”

If you think so little of this forum why are you back? So far you have only revisited and bickered about what we have already discussed many times and have presented the facts to back it up.. The city has been unable to refute our claims. The reason there are so many viewings is ... city hall ‘s trolls were viewing that topic so often. Perhaps they are looking for someone they think they can groom and support to become another bobble head council member. I predict their success.. They can offer you many things but to whom much is given much is required. Hopefully you will see through this ploy if it is attempted.

This is not the first time you threatened to quit this board, then cried wolf and expected to be placated and patted on the head. That is what city hall will do unless you wake up to their method of operation. Beware of those who are bearing gifts.   If and when they apply the blinders it could become an easy slide into the city quagmire and you may begin to believe everything they tell you just because they are the powers that be.

Whistlers Mom,

Bob:
"There are solutions. The downtown master plan should be tabled. Downtown monies should be carefully scrutinized - and if we are pushed into dealing with nuisance properties - easiest cheapest way out always best. Furthermore - all of downtown should be razed - with the push toward industry and businesses that need large space and parking for employees. Let's put the property to better use. Let's maybe turn it all in to solar fields and power our community with less help from CG&E. Run the Section 8 problem out - and turn the houses over to investors at bargain basement prices and let the market figure it out. Deal with the problems and focus on the development of the community. Discourage builders from coming to Middletown - but realize that right now there's no demand for housing in Middletown. We need to thin out the housing stock we have - before we build more. Thinning out the stock is the shorter answer. Encourage and incentivize businesses (especially retail) to build here where they bring hundreds of jobs with each store. Get more east end retail/professional dev - and rebuild the industrial side of the city - both bringing thousands of jobs. You want to fix this town - I'm telling you jobs are the key. Jobs = tax revenues from all sources. The more the merrier"

Good overview. That's why you should run for council. You have a grasp on the overall issues in the city and you seem to have the passion and interest to pursue those issues.

Bob:
"WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU WANT ME TO RUN?!?!?! With the way you treat me on this forum - I have to assume that statement was meant as a joke"

No joke. Run for office Bob. Be strong. Don't show weakness and play the victim here by saying "the way you treat me" statements.

Bob:
"Whenever I post my opinion, you, VietVet and a couple others start belittling me, calling me 'Bobby'......"

Bob....Robert....Bobby....all used as your first name, right? Look at your caption at the end of each post. You belittle yourself as to weight. You are doing to yourself, the same thing you are accusing us of doing here. And there you go again with the victim routine...."a couple others start to belittle me".....be strong Bob. Tell us to go to he-- if the teasing upsets you. The meek will never inherit the earth. Be more like Patton and get rid of the "feelings hurt/victim" theme.

Bob:
"We are supposed to be adults - so let's act like it."

Thank you for the reminder. I will try to correct the error of my ways.

buddhalite wrote: <span style=": rgb251, 251, 253;"><i style="">They do not want to be engaged with the people. They could care less about the citizens. They do not represent any of us and are just there to make official, the plans laid out before them with no comments or questions necessary. Been happening for years. </span> <span style=": rgb251, 251, 253;"><i style=""> </span> <span style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">All I can say, viet, is that if you had actually bothered to show at tonight's get together at the wonderful and fantastic Java Johnny's - you wouldn't make that statement.</span> <span style=": rgb251, 251, 253;"> </span> <span style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">Bob</span>

Different than what I described buddhalite? How did it go at your meeting? How many showed from this forum? Was it a pleasant discussion or were there some heated moments? Good reason I was not there....gotta caregive.

I guess I must have missed something along the way with Picard. I always watched or attended council meetings in the past. All I saw was a bumb on a long very limited input. Was not able (or not willing) to speak out during the HUD fiasco. I do remember him saying at the time to Doug A. When you know something,council should know also. But we all know what happened there. We still have never heard what the "special council " cost us tax payers. But hopefully we can have some one with a civic minded attitude to run for council. I do believe Doug is trying to turn things around and I will give credit where credit is due but when pushed to a corner I still see that old mentality come through. Rome wasn't built in a day and it will take time but I think we can have a great Middletown again in the future. JMO

VietVet -

Let's give Ami Vitori, Barker or Gordon a shot at a council seat. Joe Mulligan has had his time behind the council desk and, as I recall, did very little and usually went along with the yes voting consensus without asking any questions for detail before the vote. (He is in the cloned circulating candidate scheme that usually occurs with school superintendents and is as "cookie cutter" as they come). In other words, with Joe Mulligan, we all get Larry Mulligan Lite, Bronston and the other yes nodding bobbleheads. Clueless wonders who automatically go along with anything laid before them walking the direction they are told to walk. Wonder why we vote if candidates who give us more of the same are our only choices? I will vote for only new candidates because I want to attempt to purge the incumbents and will continue that trend until we finally, if possible, get five people who will demonstrate new behavior and start asking the who, what and why questions that should have been asked decades ago. And, if the newly elected council people don't get it done right, they need to go too. Anyone can sit behind a council desk and blindly agree with the city manager, then offer their pre-programmed vote. Just takes an individual to nod the yes motion......which is what we have now and have had in the past.

Want change, vote new until the change you desire happens. Replace the poor performing incumbents and stop voting for the same old tired retreads that have failed before and who recycle themselves looking for a political place to land. Just look at what we have gotten from people like Larry Mulligan for so many years on council........nada....just the same old song and dance with no real content. Typical poor council member quality. Says the "good positive" things we all want to hear but know better than to believe.

Same for the School Board. We have some on the school board who have remained incognito their entire stay. We hear from Urso once in a while and use to hear from Marcia Andrew occasionally. Never anything of a continual nature as to updating us about the schools. Most remain anonymous during their stay. Why? Afraid to confront the public on school problems? How about an open dialogue from the school board outside the normal "school board" meetings? An open forum perhaps? I'd like to ask Urso about the proficiency scores and why they are pathetic after all the new schools, new technology, new teaching methods, etc. I'd like to ask Urso about why the low indicator numbers are never mentioned anymore. Almost as if they are trying to keep the low performance out of sight and mind with the taxpaying public. I'd like to ask Urso what he thinks we will get on our ROI on this mega school complex being built on N. Breile and will it be worth the cost? We never get back what we put into our schools in this town. Haven't for decades.

Rant over.

My biggest issue with city council is they seem to work for Doug Adkins. That should be the other way around, the city manager is supposed to work for city council. If elected I want to serve the people period. The city doesn't grow If the people don't. Thanks Roy Gordon