JAMES MADISON QUOTE - 1822

"A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives."

SCOTTSBORO WEATHER - SUN & MOON RISE

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Scottsboro City Council, June 23, 2014



                                                  AGENDA
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City Council Election qualification begins on July 1, 2014 thru July 15, 2014. Election will take place on Tuesday August 26, 2014.


Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Jackson County Commission Regular Session and Open Government Failure - Secret Decisions, Secret Settlements



Scottsboro, Alabama June 23, 2014 - Jackson County Commission Meeting - SECRETS - Secret financial settlement, secret decisions. Agenda states "litigation," but no court filing according to County Attorney John Porter. The County Attorney would not release any information as to parties involved or the terms of the settlement.

County Government secrets as a result of a weak Alabama Open Government Law. The Alabama Supreme Court gutted the Alabama Open Government Law and the Republican and Democrat Legislature enjoys their facilitation of secret government actions. Local governments such as this County Commission have historically abused the peoples right to know what their government is deliberating. 

                                            Meeting Agenda
Approvals
1) Bridgeport sidewalk Project, $5000.00 from commission. 2) Commission web site videos, CGI Communications. 3) Personnel consulting agreement, personnel policy & handbook improvements. 4) County District Lines approval - resolution to accept current district lines. 5) Public Purpose, assistance to Boy Scouts for hauling gravel to Camp Jackson. 6) Water treatment contract for boiler and air cooler. 7) Jim Green reappointed to EDA Board. 8) Council on Aging budget. 9) Secret decision, secret settlement - stated pending litigation on agenda. However, County Attorney stated there was no action filed in public court. The County Attorney would not release any names involved in the settlement nor terms of the secret agreement. Commissioner Ledwell voted no concerning  the secret financial agreement. The Chairman of the Commission was approved to fulfill the terms of the secret decision/agreement/financial settlement. Did this secret settlement involve the past County Administrator? 
 
Regular Session Video


Thursday, June 12, 2014

Corporate Censorship by News Media


An excellent reference on corporate censorship. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_censorship  Political censorship by news media is a fact. I have personally seen it and experienced this continuation of the corporate Culture War.

Censorship has been witnessed locally at Scottsboro's Daily Sentinel when writting on issues involving Scottsboro's City Personnel System ratings for city employees and the City's Mayor's Office historical responsibility for failing to improve the system.

Then, there are the so called public forums managed by Advance Digital, such as Al.Com's Scottsboro forum, where political corporate censors have successfully removed any and all political speech which does not support the current powers that be. 2 agent provocateurs utilized over 50 names for 7 years, and they are still there.  Al.Com's news media outlet's forums have been utilized to to convey personal threats, terrorist threats and defamation. Police reports were filed concerning terrorist threats and harassing communications. Local law enforcement and the DA's office failed to investigate. Video - 7 years of threats and defamation. http://youtu.be/ekILKBZwFHA

This type of political censorship by corporate news media is very bothersome; considering their responsibility to keep the citizenry informed.

Censorship by news media of political topics is indicative of the values of corporate fascism - the rise of the political corporatocracy. Welcome to the neu CSA, Corporate States of Amerika. On the national level, corporate news media censorship is widespread.  Project Censored news http://www.projectcensored.org/category/validated-independent-news/

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

City County Government Report - Jackson County Commission and Scottsboro City Council Meetings, Videos and Agendas

JACKSON COUNTY COMMISSION


                                AGENDA


SCOTTSBORO CITY COUNCIL


                                AGENDA

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

TVA PENSION PLAN TROUBLES

The expense of nuclear power has led to massive debt for the TVA. Is TVA on the verge of PENSION DEFAULT? Where is TVA's pension money going??

"TVA continues to withhold pension funding even as it collects funds specifically to cover pension costs from its ratepayers. Based on information I received from TVA through a Freedom of Information Act request, TVA expects to collect $528 million from its ratepayers in the current fiscal year, ending Sept. 30, 2014, to cover pension costs but plans to contribute only ...$250 million to the pension plan. In addition, TVA collected $539 million in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2013, and $530 million the previous fiscal year to cover pension costs, but contributed none of these funds to the employees' pension plan...It is unclear why TVA continues to withhold adequate funding from its employees' pension plan...it would be irresponsible for Congress to allow TVA to proceed unchallenged with its current pension funding policy."
http://www.pionline.com/article/20140526/PRINT/305269990/tva-falls-through-cracks-as-plan-funding-deteriorates?template=print
(Posted under the provisions of Section 107, U.S. Copyright Office Fair Use Rule - Non-profit, environmental & open government education: "Section 107 contains a list of the various purposes for which the reproduction of a particular work may be considered fair, such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, nonprofit educational purposes and research. Link: http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html )

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Scottsboro City Council Work Session, June 2, 2014



                                               AGENDA
One item on the agenda, Bynum Recreational Trail - approximately $100,000 cost of grant. City of Scottsboro's share is $20,000.