From The Journal News Saturday, July 1, 2017

MIDDLETOWN

Apprehending these three is a step forward but why have three known career criminals been freely walking the streets of Middletown? They (and their kind) are a major problem for our city, yet they have, for years, moved freely around Middletown spreading their poison. Has action been taken to re-incarcerate Taylor for parole violation (burglary)? Of course, it is easier and more profitable to send out our numerous inspectors (from overabundant revitalization bureaucracies) to harass and/or collect a court fine from an honest property owner who has peeling paint or 6 inch grass rather than keep track of known addicts, dealers and thieves. We should have fewer “inspectors” and more real police officers. This lack of priorities by city government, police and courts has been pointed out to city officials for many years, to no avail.

Adkins has convinced council that housing is the only problem in Middletown. He tells them what to think ... that if all the houses in Middletown were well kept and if anything small and over 50 years old were torn down, Middletown would automatically be wonderful! Do they really think that will hide the lack of jobs, the over abundance of section 8, the high crime, the high taxes, the lack of police protection, the terrible reputation and the low performing schools. This is why drug dealers, users and other criminals are attracted to Middletown and why we have lost almost all of our respected businesses, industries and residents.

Come on council, think about what is good for Middletown and stop being bobble-heads for Doug. Only you can stop the downward slide of our city. The real problems of Middletown are yet to be addressed, and this is and always has been your responsibility, not Adkins'.

Bob

“It’s funny” to you and the city government (is that the “we” you are referring to?) … but not funny to all of us on this forum. Sounds like, after your “personal and public conversations” with Adkins, you are satisfied with just making EXCUSES for council and Adkins so that they can absolve themselves and appear blameless for our problems. Pats on the head by Mr. A can be very effective! Adkins’ two and a half years as city manager, under his 5 year plan, has left us pretty much status quo; no significant improvements (other than downtown) and an overall continued downward spiral. His years as revitalization director only reinforced the then administration’s mismanagement which he claimed as experience for obtaining the city manager position. And our city council bought that!!! Why? During his tenure as revitalization director, the city lost control of, and all revenue from Section 8!!! How could council see that as positive experience on the part of Mr Adkins or especially see it as recommendation for him to become our city manager???

It seems odd to me that you have chosen to criticize the “Urinal News” (your description) for doing it’s best to malign Middletown when, for once, they are actually publishing the news as it happens. Previous to this they have chosen to publish an abundance of “news” which was dictated to them by the city administration about how city leaders were doing their best for Middletown. Maybe The Journal is becoming less slanted!!

Our police no doubt deserve our support. But, as so often noted, the causes of their current outlandish overload (which our surrounding communities are NOT experiencing anywhere close to this extent) is the PAST AND CURRENT mismanagement of our city. Mistakes of previous administration continue to plague us because there has been no REAL change in policy or procedure. This is and always has been the responsibility of city council not the city manager!! There has been, by council, a lot of denial of responsibility and finger pointing to the past. Council was/is responsible for killing the horse (our city) that was just flogged again.. Flogging dead horses will become unnecessary as soon as council decides to adopt policy and procedure that will improve the entire city, not just the favored downtown. Why has council allowed Adkins to tear down unoccupied (so called abandoned) homes in our better neighborhoods? Many of those homes could have been rehabbed to bolster instead of ruin our housing market and tax base. Those dilapidated, unsafe eyesores in rundown, drug infested neighborhoods that you pointed out (which should have been part of the previously razed, 400 properties) are still standing.

Why should we allow council to ignore past mistakes and continue to make the same mistakes over and over. And now you suggest that the city “ride its course” … to where? our more complete ruin? THAT IS THE PROBLEM. Council needs to change course, take conscious thoughtful consideration of our current situation, compare us to cities that are successful at solving similar problems (read Analytical’s posts!) and make some positive changes. Council should be initiating solutions that will set the past negative chain of events (created by mismanagement) into reverse. Hopefully, getting an initial start on solutions will snowball to the positive (just like past poor decisions snowballed to the negative). Council, will you continue to be dictated to by Adkins? Will you take the blinders off? Will you begin to represent ALL the people? Will you reverse the policies that have ruined our neighborhoods and schools? Because our council did not appreciate them, our best business and industry moved away… and took with them the jobs which were our tax base! Residents moved away to follow their jobs, leaving behind empty housing. Since all our councils have refused to recognize and own these mistakes they will continue to repeat them ad infinitum.

Adkins has already expressed that he has taken note of “other cities with less problems” that he could be managing instead of Middletown. We are surrounded by cities that are recovered and thriving. Why aren’t we? Should we expect that Adkins will jump ship soon, before his reputation and “experience” in Middletown becomes too difficult to explain for another prospective city management position in a less problematic city? Has he been sending resumes? Will city council recommend him?!?!?!?

Also, Spider is right:

“Arrest the opiate users after reviving them. Drunk drivers don't get sobered then let go---same with pot and other drugs. Quit sympathizing the junkies. Make middietown the last place where they want to be.”
Every additional arrest and prosecution should carry a stiffer penalty especially for drug dealing … then we will cease to be so inviting.
“Council has enough power to do a lot better, however they are part-time minimum wage volunteers. Still they have the power to steer the ship.”
WHEN will council begin to act responsibly? The time has been ripe for years so why not start NOW? If they didn’t feel that they could afford to spend the time or had the expertise to make an honest effort to represent our people, why did they run for office??? So far they have adopted Adkins’ advice to attend the meeting, vote as directed before hand and “go home as quickly as possible.” Granted it is increasingly difficult to find qualified people who are willing to tackle our troubled and mismanaged city. And many of our demoralized citizens are numb, apathetic and disinterested after their anger and protest has for many years fallen on deaf ears in the city building. Council truly earned this!!

And lastly, the career criminal who, according to the Journal, “has been arrested for numerous drug possessions and trafficking offenses, theft, forgery, burglary, abduction, failure to comply with lawful order, robbery and is currently on parole for burglary,” … was Joey R. Taylor of Carolina Street, Middletown ….. not (as you noted) Lattimore (address unknown) who’s crimes were misdemeanors.

May we celebrate this Independence Day with renewed hope for our city! Happy Fourth!!!

PS:    To Vet, just read your post! Always thoughtful, as opposed to someone who “could give a crap less” and who mindlessly parrots Mr Adkins, while claiming to know everything (and nothing).

PPS:     Vet, just read your second post. Aaaaaamen!!! And to Buddha’s repetitive “spewing” of self important, unprofessional, inconsiderate, thoughtless, etc. comments …. our city administration has certainly inspired you!           I under estimated the effects of a good head patting. Buddha, if you are tired of scrutinizing posts on this forum ..… then stop. Some of us on this forum are presenting possible solutions to city problems … you, on the other hand have only confronted the complaints (even made some) and you have ignored the offering of solutions. You keep “yammering” over and over and over … that what you are doing is so much better …… what was that you were doing? Don’t recall any specific solutions….. I see no lead to follow here.

Perhaps his intent is not to change city hall but to agree with them?!?!?