Alternative news and discussion for Scottsboro, Jackson County Alabama and the Tennessee River Valley as I see it. Responsible comments to articles welcome. As always, "Watch for Snakes," particularly those wearing suits.
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."
Jackson County Courthouse, North Entrance (photo by G. Morgan)
Support the First Monday Trade Days event around the Courthouse Square in Beautiful Downtown Scottsboro, Alabama. The oldest known photo of the First Monday Event, called Jockey Day or Horse Swappers Day, Summer 1915. (Photo owned by G. Morgan)
Discussion of the Historical Documents Board and Display issues, including Ten Commandment Displays with Commission Chair Tim Guffey.
AGENDA
(Click on image for an expanded view.)
It was stated the historical Documents Board would be an Advisory Board to the Jackson County Commission. The Board must raise money to construct and/or erect displays in which they choose, no county funds may be spent. As an Advisory Board the Board's meetings will be secretive, no public disclosure unless the board chooses otherwise. The Board will make a recommendation to the Jackson County Commission, then the Commission will approve or disapprove the recommendations.
Does the Historical Documents Board know what they have gotten themselves into? Have their duties and responsibilities been explained? Some members indicate no, they did not realize they were selected for the board or knew of their responsibilities or liabilities. (1:15PM April 24, 2019)
Quote from John Porter, Esquire Jackson County Commission Attorney, begin at 14:18 in the Commission YouTube video, stated: ". . .government, county funds can not be used to defend or in litigation. . ." Not only will the Historical Documents Board be responsible for raising all money in the construction or erection of the historical documents on Courthouse Property, they will, according to the statement of the county attorney, be responsible for defending themselves if or when they are sued in Federal Court for the documents they may plan to place on county property, even if the county approves placement of the documents, icons or statuary. See video below or at this link: https://youtu.be/kYA4PO_rhmA
Historical Documents Board
(Click on document to enlarge image.)
VIDEO and COMMISSION CHAIR INTERVIEW at END of VIDEO
Interviews of Public Officials in the City of
Scottsboro reveal allegations of alleged Criminal Conspiracy and False
Statements relating to allegations of theft and possible criminal sexual
harassment and violation of city personnel policy - Creation of a Hostile Work
Environment, within the Municipal Court System of the City of Scottsboro. A
result of alleged false statements and personnel misconduct, involving local
allegations and allegations made to the Alabama Attorney General by appointed
Public Officials.
According to those interviewed, this was an alleged
planned personal attack against one or more female employees of the City of
Scottsboro, thus the alleged conspiracy and the alleged submission of false
statements.
There appears to be an effort to cover-up alleged
false allegations of theft/misappropriation of government funds from the
Municipal Court System. Interviews of Public Officials and employees of the
City of Scottsboro reveal there is an EEOC complaint which the City of
Scottsboro must answer soon. Interviews reveal there is an ongoing Alabama
Attorney Generals Investigation.
The alleged criminal activity involves current and
former Scottsboro Public Officials, both appointed and elected. Information
regarding specific complaints and disciplinary actions, including reports is
what these Public Records Requests concern.
UPDATE - PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST
As of April 22, 2019 the following request for Public Records dated March 19, 2019, as indicated below, has not been honored.
The City of Scottsboro Alabama hired an outside Attorney to conduct an inquiry/investigation into allegations of specific individual Public Officials were allegedly creating a hostile work environment and possible violations of Federal Law relating to Sexual Discrimination of Female Employees; the outside Attorney was Ms. Hope Hicks, Esquire, was paid $11,800 for her professional opinion/attorney fees, (disclosed in February 25the City Council meeting, agenda item 3 approved (update this blog story Apr. 25, 2019)) findings or report. To date the Public Records Request, as described below, has not been fulfilled, however the request is under review by the City Attorney.
I have inquired weekly to the Mayor and City Clerk of Scottsboro, Alabama regarding this request. It has been discovered via inquiry there are specifically 3 documents pertaining to this request, possibly more documents, which includes related disciplinary action documents.
This request serves a public purpose to disclose the events and conduct of Public Officials within the City of Scottsboro involving either alleged illegal conduct or violation of public policy or personnel policy of the City of Scottsboro.
The citizens of the City of Scottsboro have a right to know about inappropriate behavior of Public Officials which unfortunately has all the appearances, and evidence disclosing a pattern of wrongful conduct on the part of appointed Public Officials, relating to sexual discrimination and the creation of a hostile work environment. Specifically in this incident, involving the Scottsboro Municipal Court System and the City of Scottsboro's Finance Director. Information has also been received that a former elected official of the City of Scottsboro may have contributed as an antagonizer or instigator regarding the alleged unlawful act or violation of public policy regarding creation of a hostile work environment and/or sexual discrimination as a factor in the allegations.
I find it hard to believe that an Attorney paid in excess of $11,000 to conduct an inquiry/investigation into the creation of a hostile work environment, specifically when there has been established patterns regarding policy or law violations, would not produce a work product which would make either recommendations or identify wrongful conduct of parties involved and or corrective actions which should be taken.
Verbal conversation with the City Attorney revealed, he is examining documents, however he stated, there exists a 2001 Attorney General's Opinion allowing for no disclosure of some of the documents. I asked of the City Attorney to please cite the specific reasons for the non-disclosure; his answer would be, no records available to be released, as to a reason of non-disclosure. When asked how long will it be, he stated: "When I have time." The City Attorney did state there was one record at this time which could be released. I informed the City Attorney to please provide all documents at one time or cite reasons for non-disclosure at the time of the records release.
Date of Request - March 19, 2019
Under the Alabama Open Records Law 36-12-40 et seq., I am requesting an opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of said public records, (Describe the records or information sought with enough detail for the public agency to respond.)Also give the reason why you wish to review these records. (You must give a valid reason)
Dates of Records Requested – September 1, 2018 thru March 15, 2019
1)Records Requested: Consultation Report, Memorandums of Record, Human Resource Management Report from Ms. Hope Hicks, Esq., an Attorney hired to conduct - Inquiry, Findings or Suggestions relating to the Scottsboro Municipal Court and personnel employed by the City of Scottsboro Municipal Court, and/or within the City of Scottsboro as an Employer of employees, as a result of complaints relating to Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, the Creation of a Hostile Work Environment, or a violation of Civil Rights as it relates to employees of the City of Scottsboro.
2)Records Requested: Complaints of Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, and Creation of a Hostile Work Environment relating to the Employees of the City of Scottsboro working in the Municipal Court of Scottsboro, Alabama. Complaints made to Mayor, Human Resources Director, and/or the consulting Attorney, Ms. Hope Hicks, Esq., regarding the previously mentioned subject matter.
3)Records Requested: Any Findings, Memorandums, Documents or Reports related to the subject matter requested above, within the date range listed above, including documents from City of Scottsboro’s Mayor, any City Council Member, Human Resource Director, Municipal Court Judge, or Finance Director.
Records Requested are to be utilized for non-profit news reporting on my blog, “In the Boro,” https:arklite.blogspot.com. Records provided may be released to other area media outlets. Information requested serves a public purpose to inform citizens.
Oldest known photo of the First Monday event held around the Courthouse Square in Beautiful Downtown Scottsboro, Alabama every month. Called Jockey Day or Horse Swappers Day in 1915. (photo owned by G. Morgan) Y'all come on out and support this oldest continuing historical event in Scottsboro, more info http://cityofscottsboro.com/index.php/events/first-monday
VOLUME 1 - Conclusive Statement - "[The] report provides detailed explanations of the Office's charging decisions,
which contain three main components.
First, the Office determined that Russia's two principal interference operations in the 2016
U.S. presidential election-the social media campaign and the hacking-and-dumping operations violated U.S. criminal law. Many of the individuals and entities involved in the social media
campaign have been charged with participating in a conspiracy to defraud the United States by
undermining through deceptive acts the work of federal agencies charged with regulating foreign
influence in U.S. elections, as well as related counts of identity theft . See United States v. Internet
Research Agency, et al., No. 18-cr-32 (D.D.C.). Separately, Russian intelligence officers who
carried out the hacking into Democratic Party computers and the personal email accounts of
individuals affiliated with the Clinton Campaign conspired to violate , among other federal laws,
the federal computer-intrusion statute, and the have been so char ed. See United States v.
Ne ksho, et al., No. 18-cr-215 D.D.C ." Harm to ongoing matter and Personal Privacy - Approximately 4 lines Redacted.
Second, while the investigation identified numerous links between individuals with ties to
the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump Campaign, the evidence was
not sufficient to support criminal charges. Among other things, the evidence was not sufficient to
charge any Campaign official as an unregistered agent of the Russian government or other Russian
principal. And our evidence about the June 9, 2016 meeting and WikiLeaks's releases of hacked
materials was not sufficient to charge a criminal campaign-finance violation. Further, the evidence
was not sufficient to charge that any member of the Trump Campaign conspired with
representatives of the Russian government to interfere in the 2016 election.
Third, the investigation established that several individuals affiliated with the Trump
Campaign lied to the Office, and to Congress, about their interactions with Russian-affiliated
individuals and related matters. Those lies materially impaired the investigation of Russian
election interference. The Office charged some of those lies as violations of the federal false statements statute. Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying about
his interactions with Russian Ambassador Kislyak during the transition period. George
Papadopoulos, a foreign policy advisor during the campaign period , pleaded guilty to lying to
investigators about, inter alia, the nature and timing of his interactions with Joseph Mifsud, the
professor who told Papadopoulos that the Russians had dirt on candidate Clinton .in the form of
thousands of emails. Former Trump Organization attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to
making false statements to Congress about the Trump Moscow Project Approximately 3 lines Redacted Harm to Ongoing Matter And in February 2019, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia found that Manafort lied to the Office and the grand jury concerning his interactions and communications
with Konstantin Kilimnik about Trump Campaign polling data and a peace plan for Ukraine.
The Office investigated several other events that have been publicly reported to involve
potential Russia-related contacts. For example, the investigation established that interactions
between Russian Ambassador Kislyak and Trump Campaign officials both at the candidate's April
2016 foreign policy speech in Washington, D.C., and during the week of the Republican National
Convention were brief, public, and non-substantive. And the investigation did not establish that
one Campaign official's efforts to dilute a portion of the Republican Party platform on providing
assistance to Ukraine were undertaken at the behest of candidate Trump or Russia. The
investigation also did not establish that a meeting between Kislyak and Sessions in September
2016 at Sessions's Senate office included any more than a passing mention of the presidential
campaign.
The investigation did not always yield admissible information or testimony, or a complete
picture of the activities undertaken by subjects of the investigation. Some individuals invoked
their Fifth Amendment right against compelled self-incrimination and were not, in the Office 's
judgment, appropriate candidates for grants of immunity. The Office limited its pursuit of other
witnesses and information-such as information known to attorneys or individuals claiming to be
members of the media-in light of internal Department of Justice policies. See, e.g., Justice
Manual§§ 9-13.400, 13.410. Some of the information obtained via court process, moreover, was
presumptively covered by legal privilege and was screened from investigators by a filter ( or
"taint") team. Even when individuals testified or agreed to be interviewed, they sometimes
provided information that was false or incomplete, leading to some of the false-statements charges
described above. And the Office faced practical limits on its ability to access relevant evidence as
well-numerous witnesses and subjects lived abroad, and documents were held outside the United
States.
Further, the Office learned that some of the individuals we interviewed or whose conduct
we investigated-including some associated with the Trump Campaign---deleted relevant
communications or communicated during the relevant period using applications that feature
encryption or that do not provide for long-term retention of data or communications records. In
such cases, the Office was not able to corroborate witness statements through comparison to
contemporaneous communications or fully question witnesses about statements that appeared
inconsistent with other known facts.
Accordingly, while this report embodies factual and legal determinations that the Office
believes to be accurate and complete to the greatest extent possible, given these identified gaps,
the Office cannot rule out the possibility that the unavailable information would shed additional
light on (or cast in a new light) the events described in the report.
VOLUME 2 - Obstruction of Justice - Conclusive Statement: "[If] we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the President
clearly did not commit obstruction of justice , we would so state. Based on the facts and the
applicable legal standards , however , we are unable to reach that judgment. The evidence we
obtained about the President 's actions and intent presents difficult issues that prevent us from
conclusively determining that no criminal conduct occurred. Accordingly, while this report does
not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him."
Jackson County Courthouse, North Entrance photo by G. Morgan
COUNTY COMMISSION IS THIS THE ROAD YOU WANT TO TRAVEL??
Fair Use for Non-Profit News and Discussion, photo by Universal Life Church Monastery
"The right to religious freedom is guaranteed to all faiths in the United States. Obviously, Christianity remains the dominant religion – but does that mean Christians should get special treatment?"
The Jackson County Engineer, Jonathan Campbell commented that the bridge on County Road 82 is closed due to an unsafe structural support. After the meeting I asked Mr. Campbell how long he anticipated the bridge being closed, he commented unknown at this time, several weeks until repaired. County Road 93 is also closed due to slide damage, it is unknown when the repair to this road will be finalized, Mr. Campbell commented repairs will cost over a million dollars for this road.
FEEL GOOD POLITICS - Theocratic Right Wing Ideologies Instead of Sensible Leadership
Historical Documents Board was also on the agenda, item 2, an excuse for the 10 Commandment displays. An example of feel good Political Party ridiculousness before good sense. Take note of the article links listed, but I doubt if it will do any good regarding the right wing theocratic ideologues on the County Commission. The county has serious financial problems, what does the commission do, proposes to implement a Historical Documents Board as an excuse to display the Ten Commandments; this has the possibility of landing the County Commission in Federal Court costing the people of Jackson County hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more.
BAPTIST JOINT COMMITTEE ON RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Opposing Government sponsorship of Religion - "...government-sponsored Ten Commandments monuments violate government neutrality, lead to ‘desacralized’ religious texts."
UPDATE 4-12-19: OPEN MEETINGS REGARDING COMMITTEES
Regarding the Municipal Judge selection in Scottsboro, Alabama. My thoughts regarding Scottsboro City Council's failures regarding this issue in no way is a reflection on the selection of Daryl Eustice as the Municipal Judge, my personal thoughts are that he will make a fine Municipal Judge.
My concern is that of the processes of the Scottsboro City Council in their appointment of Advisory Committees, which in this case appear to circumvent the spirit and intent of the Alabama Open Meetings Act.
It is apparent there is an intentional element of secrecy within the Alabama Open Meetings Act regarding Advisory Committees. Any meeting of a committee appointed by the political body including the chair or president of the political body should be announced and open to the public. That is not the case regarding advisory committees. Advisory Committees allow for no disclosure of the deliberation process, it is my thoughts this goes against the Spirit and Intent of the Alabama Open Meetings Act.
UPDATE 4-9-19: Records request, City of Scottsboro, Al.
To date this record request has not been fulfilled. I have been informed by a Public Official there are records relating to this request. Info on this request provided to ACLU Sunshine in Government Program.
Public Records Request, Dated: 3-19-19
Under the Alabama Open Records Law 36-12-40 et seq., I am requesting an opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of said public records, (Describe the records or information sought with enough detail for the public agency to respond.)Also give the reason why you wish to review these records. (You must give a valid reason)
Dates of Records Requested – September 1, 2018 thru March 15, 2019
1)Records Requested: Consultation Report, Memorandums of Record, Human Resource Management Report from Ms. Hope Hicks, Esq., an Attorney hired to conduct - Inquiry, Findings or Suggestions relating to the Scottsboro Municipal Court and personnel employed by the City of Scottsboro Municipal Court, and/or within the City of Scottsboro as an Employer of employees, as a result of complaints relating to Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, the Creation of a Hostile Work Environment, or a violation of Civil Rights as it relates to employees of the City of Scottsboro.
2)Records Requested: Complaints of Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, and Creation of a Hostile Work Environment relating to the Employees of the City of Scottsboro working in the Municipal Court of Scottsboro, Alabama. Complaints made to Mayor, Human Resources Director, and/or the consulting Attorney, Ms. Hope Hicks, Esq., regarding the previously mentioned subject matter.
3)Records Requested: Any Findings, Memorandums, Documents or Reports related to the subject matter requested above, within the date range listed above, including documents from City of Scottsboro’s Mayor, any City Council Member, Human Resource Director, Municipal Court Judge, or Finance Director.
Records Requested are to be utilized for non-profit news reporting on my blog, “In the Boro,” https:arklite.blogspot.com. Records provided may be released to other area media outlets. Information requested serves a public purpose to inform citizens.
AGENDA
(Click on image to expand view.)
Daryl Eustice appointed as Scottsboro Municipal Judge.
Citizen presentation by Garry Morgan regarding committee meetings and the Open Meetings Act. Mr. Kennamer, City Attorney clarified Advisory Committees and Committees appointed by the "Body Politic."
Jackson County Courthouse, North Side photo by G. Morgan
AGENDA
(Click on image for an expanded view.)
Two Minute Video Short Take, Budget Problem
Budget Deficit Issues Cuts in Services
$500,000 to $700,000 budget deficit for Fiscal Budget Year 2020
Services and Employee cuts
Senior Assistance Programs including Council on Aging and Senior RX Program
Employee Health Insurance
Retiree Health Insurance
Rural Transportation
Cutting Courthouse Hours
Reducing Staff.
Cutting any External Funding Programs (if money is currently received) such as Volunteer Fire Departments, Rescue Squad, Libraries
Approximately $823,000 had to be returned to the County School System. The commission was retaining 5% of the money as a "pass through administrative maintenance fee."
The County Administrator Bob Manning stated to me in an interview, he believes the county has sufficient funds remaining to see the county through to the end of the current Fiscal Year which ends September 30, 2019, unless there is another emergency.
State Senator Steve Livingston, Scottsboro, considers presentation by members of the Jackson County Commission
The Jackson County Commission met with the Jackson County Legislative Delegation at 5:30 PM Monday. This was a full meeting of the commission to discuss revenue issues and tax increases, the meeting to discuss the issues was not announced. I asked Commission Chair Tim Guffey after the Commission Work Session meeting if he had met with the Delegation, he stated they were meeting today after the commission meeting. There was no announcement of this meeting either in the earlier commission meeting or posted on the bulletin board where meeting notices are posted. Due to comments within the video it appears there may have been other unannounced meetings between the commission and delegation.
Today it would have been easy to recess the meeting in the Commission Boardroom and announce they would recall the meeting back to order across the street at the Legislative Delegation Boardroom.
VIDEO
Overview of County Budget Crisis, Presentation to Legislative Delegation
55% of the General Fund Budget goes to the Jackson County Sheriffs Department and Jail. The Sheriffs Department is requesting the Commission fund more vehicles for the Sheriffs Department. Jackson County, apparently, has no reserve funds.
Video of County Commission Delegation Meeting, some editing to shorten the video, all important context remains.
What is SPLOST? A special-purpose local-option sales tax (SPLOST), this issue was previously defeated in a local Jackson County vote. The local Republican Tea Party group brought in outside anti-tax representatives to conduct a campaign against the measure. Article from 2016 - Chattanooga Times Free Press: https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2016/apr/10/jackscounty-november-ballot-could-see-splost/359415/ Looking forward also requires a historical perspective, "In the Boro's" articles on the previous issues regarding SPLOST - https://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/splost The GOP in Alabama is willing to support an issue to raise the Gas Tax but not willing to give counties the ability to raise revenue without their express permission? A lack of self governance in Alabama is a hold over from Civil War reconstruction. Maintaining power over the people while deceiving the voters as to the legislators motives.
Video of the Jackson County Commission Work Session, Agenda Above.
All Rights Reserved for writings, video, photographs and art by Garry L. Morgan.
U.S. Copyright Office Fair Use Rule: "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
Total "In the Boro" Pageviews
Scottsboro Police Department Web Site
""The police are the public, the public are the police. The police are the only members of the public who are paid to give full time attention to duties that are incumbent on every citizen in the interest to community welfare and existence." - Sir Robert Peel, 1829 https://www.scottsboropd.org/
The Sunlight Foundation uses cutting-edge technology and ideas to make government transparent and accountable. Click on image to learn more.
THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY
"I can say with confidence that the federal government needs a major overhaul. Don’t get me wrong, most public servants in government are highly educated and dedicated professionals who are committed to “the greater good.” At the same time, the government has become a bloated bureaucracy that is based on past conditions and in too many cases, federal programs and policies can’t demonstrate that they are generating real results that benefit the American people."
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David Walker President and CEO The Peter G. Peterson Foundation http://www.pgpf.org/ ; former, recently served for 10 years, Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
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NPR's story on David Walker: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124460237
"public intelligence"
"What is Public Intelligence? Public Intelligence is an international, collaborative research project aimed at aggregating the collective work of independent researchers around the globe who wish to defend the public’s right to access information." http://publicintelligence.net/
A Nuclear Engineer's Report on the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant
Danger Zone: Aging Nuclear Reactors
Incident at Browns Ferry (PBS 1977)
History of nuclear power safety issues which the 1975 Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant fire brought forward. This video has been censored by the nuclear industry. The trillion dollar multinational nuclear death industry prefers to keep you the citizen in the dark and feed you crap.
Renaissance artists including Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio and others. Click on image for a tour. Left click & hold mouse to move image.
Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team/Mothers Against Tennessee River Radiation http://www.matrr.org/
"TVA at the Crossroads" a SACE Film.
"America is at an energy crossroads and the Tennessee Valley Authority has a choice to make: Will it cling to old coal power because of its historic significance or will it retire its oldest, dirtiest and least efficient plants and lead America into a clean energy future?" TVA At The Crossroads from SACE.
****************************I'm GARRY MORGAN, a Christian, U.S. Army (AMEDD) retired, Race Relations/Equal Opportunity Specialist (U.S.Army, Retired DOD-DRRI-DEOMI) a citizen of Scottsboro Alabama, a Baylor University grad-Go Bears, a political activist and a political Independent as I believe political parties divide the citizenry whom they are suppose to represent. We must learn the lessons of our history or we will surely repeat our mistakes. I think the greatest problem facing our nation is the massive national and personal debt.
