TVA COAL ASH and RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

Electricity for all, at what costs in human suffering, costs to taxpayers and TVA ratepayers?

 

 

Arrowhead Landfill near Uniontown,  Al. (photo - southernstudies.org)

 

TVA COAL ASH and RACIAL DISCRIMINATION: ADEM (Alabama Department of Environmental Management) could loose all Federal funding, totaling near $54 million, due to discriminatory acts against minority peoples in the State of Alabama claims environmental groups and their attorneys.

The claim originated as a result of ADEM's refusal to meet with concerned citizens and environmental groups due to the dumping of TVA coal ash which has contaminated local water supplies in Uniontown, Alabama. Other states have refused to accept TVA's coal ash due to high contamination levels of dangerous substances such as Arsenic, Mercury, and other heavy metals.

 

This action is poised to cost Alabama taxpayers and TVA ratepayers an enormous amount of money. Discrimination, mismanagement and corruption does not bring positive results. Read more, including the full press release from concerned citizens and their attorneys at  http://scottsborostories.blogspot.com/2013/08/tva-coal-ash-and-racial-discrimination.html

 

The Proposed Scottsboro Boys Pardon - Is Not Representative of Justice

Original Photo (owned by G.L. Morgan) Entitled "Enjoying Their Freedom," July 26, 1937: Samuel B. Leibowitz and the 4 Scottsboro Case defendants wave farewell as they leave for New York after viewing a movie in Cincinnati, Ohio. The four which were freed: Eugene Williams, Roy Wright, Willie Roberson and Olen Montgomery.

The proposed "Scottsboro Boys" pardon is a faux pardon. A politically motivated feel good measure which does not represent justice in any sensible terms. http://www.waaytv.com/news/local/story/Morgan-Co-republicans-ask-for-Scottsboro-Boys/0SmrAf1w3U2K2NXR9KleAA.cspx

Legal Definition of Pardon: The action of an executive official of the government that mitigates or sets aside the punishment for a crime. The granting of an unconditional pardon fully restores an individual's civil rights forfeited upon conviction of a crime and restores the person's innocence as though he or she had never committed a crime.

Pardon facts in Alabama: Under the Alabama Constitution, the pardon power is shared between the Governor and the Legislature.The Constitution gives the Legislature the power to regulate the administration of pardons... http://www.pardon411.com/wiki/Alabama_Pardon_Information
--Mason v. State, 103 So.2d 337 (Ala. Crim. App. 1956)(“Instead of blotting out the existence of the guilt of an offender, the very acceptance of a pardon is an implied acknowledgement of guilt . . . .A pardon cannot wipe out the historical fact of the conviction, and as appropriately stated by one court, it involves forgiveness, and not forgetfulness.”) aff’d, 103 So.2d 341 (1958); see also Randolph County v. Thompson, 502 So.2d 357 (Ala. 1987)
--Any arrest or conviction will continue to be part of the criminal history record even if a pardon is granted. Johnson v. State, 421 So.2d 1306 (Ala. Crim. App. 1982), cert. denied, 439 So.2d 1340 (Ala. Crim. App. 1983). Alabama does not have an option for expungement of a conviction.


It is not possible to make the Scottsboro Defendants whole again by the proposed faux pardon. What is the purpose of this pardon and is it possible to acquire Justice in this case? I say, "if you want justice, put your money where your mouth is," I make two suggestions and explore the issues: http://thedailysentinel.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/article_cd5a372e-ed29-11e1-ac96-001a4bcf887a.html

Links to news reports on the proposed faux pardon:

Birmingham News- http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/08/pardons_sought_for_the_remaini.html#incart_river_default

Huntsville Times Opinion-
http://blog.al.com/times-views/2012/08/pardoning_the_scottsboro_boys.html

Scottsboro Daily Sentinel- http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_ba6b64a2-e8bb-11e1-a20a-0019bb2963f4.html   OpEd- http://thedailysentinel.com/opinion/editorials/article_6535445e-eb99-11e1-acad-0019bb2963f4.html 

Scottsboro Stories: http://scottsborostories.blogspot.com/

Scottsboro residents upset over long-standing drainage problem...

Story Link: Scottsboro residents upset over long-standing drainage problem - WAFF.com: North Alabama News, Radar, Weather, Sports and Jobs-

Flooding faults...It's their fault, no it's their fault, no it's their fault. No who's on first, no whose on second. Double talk and refusal to accept responsibility.
*
Priorities...Recreation or infrastructure? Failed drainage, urban blight, neglect. But new soccer fields, tennis courts and a splash park are far more important than adequate infrastructure to prevent flooding. The continued neglect of the minority community can not be tolerated. You witness the results of this trend of continuing neglect on the above video link.
*

Recreation Project will cost near $4 million dollars. http://arklite.blogspot.com/2010/08/scottsboro-city-council.html
http://thedailysentinel.com/story.lasso?ewcd=d696a97a94680997

*
Priorities seem to be confused with our current leadership. Which is more important, infrastructure or recreation?
*
Here's the problem folks, a larger well planned drainage system usually does not have a nice big bronze "vanity plaque" on it that lists those who built the ditch. Maybe a large "vanity plaque" should be erected with a drainage project, maybe then an adequate drainage system could be built.
*
A larger well planned drainage system will cost many millions but it must be accomplished or we will experiance flooding problems on a much more frequent basis due to development changing the course of smaller waterways and over stressing historical area drainage. Changing climate patterns will also result in more extremes in weather. Scottsboro's drainage system must be improved sooner rather than later and must receive a high priority.