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."
Scottsboro, Alabama City Hall (photo by G. Morgan)
Swearing In Ceremony
Public Officials Swearing In Ceremony, Honorable Wallace Haralson, Presiding. Place 1 Council Member Ralph Dawe; Place 2 Council Member Anita Tolliver sworn in by the Honorable Jennifer Holt, Presiding Jackson County Circuit Clerk Judge. Mayor Jim McCamy sworn in by the Honorable Don Word, District Court Judge.
Video Swearing In Ceremony
Organizational Meeting - Agenda
Organizational Meeting Video
City of Scottsboro Facebook Video: https://www.facebook.com/JimMcCamy/videos/1547898538752000/ Hmm - quote from City of Scottsboro's Facebook site - "Jim McCamy for Mayor of Scottsboro," end quote. This video was taken by a Scottsboro City Employee, this is not a mayoral candidate video. Mayoral candidacy connected to the City of Scottsboro? All hades was raised about former Mayor Shelton's letter on Scottsboro Letterhead asking for support in his election. The Secretary of State says the "FATPAC (undisclosed contributors), which made a big deal regarding the letterhead controversy, circumvented election contributions law. "Contributions in Kind" must be reported.
UPDATE - August 25, 2020 - McCamy wins Mayor's election, FATPAC (link below) Forwarding Alabama Together, mysteriously disappears from Facebook after disinformation and deceit aimed at the current Mayor Robin Shelton.
FYI regarding FATPAC,
Forwarding Alabama Together, attack ad which included current Scottsboro Mayor
Robin Shelton attack on Facebook.
Secretary of State, John Merrell calls the venture a circumvention of
state law.
"Funding source of
campaign attack ad remains a mystery" - By Eric Fleischauer www.decaturdaily.com
" —
An attack ad released on Facebook two days before the municipal election
slammed the candidate who most aggressively challenged incumbent Decatur Mayor
Tab Bowling, but voters still have no way to figure out who paid for it.
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill last week called the secretive venture
a circumvention of state law. The candidate who was the target of the ad, David
Childers, said it prevented him from being in the runoff."
POLITICAL HIT JOB VIA FACEBOOK SCHEME TO DISCREDIT MAYOR, GAVE MCCAMY AN ELECTION ADVANTAGE?
The mysterious, alleged PAC site claimed Shelton committed criminal acts, some on the site went so far as to claim Mayor Shelton had committed a Class C Felony without any definitive proof as to court opinions, AG opinions, Ethics Commission Opinions. McCamy claimed he knew nothing about the site until a link was forwarded to him. My thoughts, I don't believe McCamy, his claim was the same as FATPAC, Shelton's letter violated state law, so says Jim McCamy. More discussion on this below.
Scottsboro Mayors Race and the FATPAC Controversy (Forwarding Alabama Together (FATPAC) https://www.facebook.com/ForwardingAlabamaTogether Disclosure on Facebook listed the Montgomery, Alabama phone number as 706-662-9343
The Letter from Mayor Shelton (click on image to expand view).
(pg1) Photo by FATPAC, Fair Use for non-profit news reporting and commentary
(pg2) Photo by FATPAC, Fair Use for non-profit news reporting and commentary
After speaking to Mayor Shelton, Mayor Candidate Jim McCamy,
Forwarding Alabama Together (FATPAC) a Montgomery, Alabama PAC representative (Facebook disclosure - Montgomery, Alabama phone number as 706-662-9343) and many others. Mayor Shelton states he spent his own money in the preparing, copying,
mailing, writing and distribution of the letter, not utilizing any City of
Scottsboro resources.
What specific part of the law, Code of Alabama 36-25-5, https://codes.findlaw.com/al/title-36-public-officers-and-employees/al-code-sect-36-25-5.html
, says a governor, state representative,
commissioner, city council member, mayor or any other elected political
official may not use a political entities letterhead, where he or she is an
office holder, and say thank you, stating accomplishments, vote for me. That is
not, to my thinking, receiving personal gain. Personal gain refers to utilizing
ones elected position and/or government resources facilitating or gaining
financial benefits for business, self, family or an associate’s financial gain.
Utilizing the ideology that political opponents say that an incumbent may not
utilize the letterhead of the office he or she holds in a letter to say thank
you, here are my accomplishments, vote for me, and doing that is an illegal act
is ridiculous. I say, show me specifically where it says that specific act is
illegal, in our laws, court rulings, AG Opinions, Secretary of State, or Ethics Commission opinions or rulings.
Thinking about the history of politics in the Scottsboro Mayor’s
race, the involvement of former political officials and employees of
the City of Scottsboro is questionable in this scheme, including the current candidate for
Mayor Jim McCamy running against the incumbent Mayor Robin Shelton. McCamy says
he knew nothing about this FATPAC until someone forwarded him a link. McCamy indicates he does not appreciate my
accusations in slamming him, that I “don’t know what I’m talking about,”
regarding TVA, Washingtonian, Democrat Party politics and further states, “Pretty
clear where you are.” Others say, wrongfully, in their discussion of this issue
that I have slandered them, which I point out they are wrong. Stating I do not
trust a specific individual or a group of individuals further than I can throw City Hall is not slander.
After discussions with everyone involved, I'm not buying
any of this FATPAC nonsense 2 days before the municipal elections. Now, after the election, FATPAC disappears, my thinking,this was a political hit job by those seeking revenge against Shelton, and I do not believe McCamy was unaware about this scheme as he claims. Reason, he stated to me Shelton's letter violated state law, that was the FATPAC claim. Another question comes to light: Was the FATPAC site an "in-kind political contribution" not claimed, in my opinion an issue worth investigation
UPDATE: August 26, 2020 - Inquiries Reveal More and First Amendment Issue The letter pictured above raises another issue. It is a huge issue. Think about this - if the letter is illegal, is political campaign ads which show a government building, office or public entity seal where the politician serves/works illegal? Restriction of Political Speech vs Ethics or Public Official restriction laws and regulations? My problem with the Facebook FATPAC site is the hidden agenda, now it has mysteriously disappeared from Facebook. It appears to have been a political hit job. I have received info that it originated and was facilitated from a former local politician seeking revenge. Inquiry reveals it was political party connected. This is what happens when a politician uses a political party for support, non-partisan election, then the opposing party hits you back, with FATPAC. See the Republican Party photo.
Fair Use for non-profit news and commentary; photo imagery from a public Facebook political site, Robin Shelton for Mayor.
NEXT UP, FCC VIOLATIONS, CELL PHONE ROBO CALLS
From the FCC ( link - https://www.fcc.gov/political-campaign-robocalls-robotexts ) - Political campaign-related autodialed or prerecorded voice calls (including autodialed live calls, prerecorded voice messages, and text messages) are:
Not allowed to cell phones, pagers, or other mobile devices without the called party's prior express consent.
Not allowed to protected phone lines such as emergency or toll-free lines, or lines serving hospitals or similar facilities, unless made with the called party's prior express consent.
Allowed when made to landline telephones, even without prior express consent.
Photo's of Robo Calls sent enmasse to Cell phones by McCamey, Mayor Elect, and Mayor Shelton
Fair Use of political campaign photos for non-profit news reporting and commentary.
Fair Use of political campaign photos for non-profit news reporting and commentary.
Another issue regarding political campaign speech restriction laws vs First Amendment rights of political speech.
FYI - I'm temporarily discontinuing the video of government meetings until after October 1, 2020. Also, I will not be conducting further interviews regarding the city elections. It was my plan to interview the Board of Education, Place 5 race candidates and the City Council candidates. Good luck and God Bless to all who endeavor to serve the citizenry in Scottsboro. Reason for temporarily discontinuing the videoing of government meetings in Scottsboro, Jackson County Alabama. - There are 3 counties in Alabama at this time which have a very high risk regarding transmission of the Covid-19 infection; Jackson County is one of them with a positive infection rate of over 20%. https://alpublichealth.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/b585b67ef4074bb2b4443975bf14f77d
Please wear face masks when in public and maintain social distancing. No one has the right to create a public health nuisance. Information on the SARS-CoV-2, Covid-19 pandemic, all sources referenced and cross checked for reliability - https://arklite.blogspot.com/2020/03/scottsboro-alabama-march-15-2020_15.html
The interviews consisted of an introduction and four questions which were provided to the candidate for Mayor prior to the interview. #1 Why should a citizen of Scottsboro vote for you as our Mayor? #2 What do you see as major problems of our city, if any, and how do you propose to resolve the problem(s) identified? #3 What do you see that is great about Scottsboro? #4 Is there anything you would like to add?
Patrick Woosley (2nd from left), Election Certificate for Place 4 of Board of Education, no opposition, presented by Patrick Stewart (2nd from right), President Scottsboro City Council (photo by G. Morgan)
VIDEO Regular Session
JACKSON COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING - AGENDA AND VIDEO LINK (after agenda below) - JULY 27, 2020
Jackson County Commission July 27, 2020 (Fair use for non-profit news reporting and commentary - photo capture from commission's Facebook live video.) Note, no social distancing, no masks.
Many thanks to the Council and the Mayor for your mask and social distancing policy in the council chamber.
Updates 1 and 2 posted.
City Council Agenda
City Council Video
Urban Blight - Questions by Dr. Gary Spears brought forward to the Scottsboro City Council.
Second Update - Video Urban Blight, North Houston and Mary Hunter Ave. and West Willow and Broad Street
Update 1 - July 14, 2020 --: Council Member Mashburn discusses the County Park Rd. U.S. Hwy. 72 Safety Project at 24min. 30 sec into the city council video, posted after the city council agenda above, during the reports section.
Council Member Greg Mashburn, photo from www.cityofscottsboro.com "City Council Members;" fair use for non-profit news reporting and commentary
Facebook has permanently suspended my account, CENSORED, for telling the truth about Donald Trump's criminal history and disclosing facts about racial discrimination in Scottsboro and our nation. Garry Morgan : 03/15/2025
Copyright Info
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.
