Fagan sought more than $659,000 related to moving his business for
the planned mixed-use redevelopment known as Machinery Row, north of
Water Street and east of Marquette Street. Fagan’s lawsuit requested
compensation for damages he said he incurred because of how the city
handled the project.
Fagan, the sole plaintiff, and his attorney Todd Terry had asked for a
default judgment in their favor.
The City Attorney’s Office sought
dismissal, based on the contention that the city and its officials were
never properly served with summonses.
In Racine County Circuit Court Judge David Paulson’s courtroom
Tuesday, Terry put the woman on the stand who had prepared the documents
to be served to the defendants, and then the process server who was
used. He tried to establish that there was a careful process and
unbroken chain of command.
City Attorney Scott Letteney then called nine city employees to
testify, both about whether any of them had seen a summons come in with
the complaint — none had — and their processes for handling court
documents that are served at City Hall.
Paulson concluded the summonses were not served with the other
documents. He denied Fagan default judgment and dismissed the lawsuit —
but without prejudice, meaning Fagan can refile his suit.
Hello, my monsters and friends! How are you? Did you have a good Memorial Day weekend? It was hot as hell. It's supposed to get hot again tomorrow, but who knows? No one has seen Mother Nature in over a year. I wonder if climate change killed her? Oh my. Do the sudden shifts and extremes of weather annoy you? We rack up some pretty wack temperatures during a year. I like it warm in the summer, but not hot. Of course, I rarely get my preference. It's been a damp, cool spring. I wonder what summer will bring. The boys say the garden is still too wet to work in. Let's hope that summer brings whatever is best for the farmers.
I believe a subtropical storm, Alberto, is touching down in Florida. Ever notice how much weird stuff happens in Florida? Every day there is some short news clip about Florida. So, yeah, Floridians don't have to shovel snow or deal with the bitter cold. However, we don't have to deal with hurricanes, or alligators overrunning the place, or the crème de la crème of idiot drivers concentrated in one spot, or all the other things you read about Florida in the paper or online. Peace, Floridians. Just pointing out the obvious.
Memorial Day traditionally signifies the beginning of summer. I can't believe that it's here already. Just yesterday it was January, wasn't it? They say that time goes faster as you grow older. That's certainly true for me. By the time I adjust to summer, it will be fall. What's everyone in such a hurry for?
How about this?
Racist Roseanne is off the air. Her revived program was a big moneymaker for ABC. It didn't matter - ABC did the right thing even though it hurt themselves. Bravo!
Enjoy the weather to come. Before you know it, the 4th of July will be here. That's the day I avoid the parade and fireworks now. Everyone goes crazy and drinks like a fish. I'm better off watching the parade on TV. _____________________________ Please donate: paypal.me/jgmazelis If you don't like PayPal, send me a note at madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com and I'll send you my street address so you can send a check or money order. Thank you.
MOUNT PLEASANT — Midwest
Environmental Advocates on Tuesday announced its filing of a legal
action in opposition to a multimillion-gallon daily water diversion from
Lake Michigan for Foxconn Technology Group.
On
Friday, the last day an objection could be filed, MEA filed its
petition under the Great Lakes Compact to challenge the state Department
of Natural Resources’ April 25 approval of the City of Racine’s request
to divert 7 million gallons per day of water outside the Great Lakes
Basin.
“This legal challenge is
essential, as Wisconsin’s approval of the Lake Michigan water diversion
requested by Racine tests the integrity of the Great Lakes Compact by
ignoring a key requirement of the historic agreement entered into by the
eight Great Lakes states and enacted into federal law,” stated MEA
attorney Jodi Habush Sinykin. “This mistake must be corrected to defend
the Great Lakes Compact and to protect our magnificent Great Lakes in
the near and distant future.”
For the last two week Drew and I have been looking for a car. Yesterday we found a Ford Escape so we are saying goodbye to our Chevy HHR that is going to my daughter and saying hello to the Ford Escape.
WILL Press Release | WILL and Brown County Taxpayers Association Respond to Lawsuit
Question why county bothered to have original case dismissed
May 24, 2018 – Green Bay, Wisconsin – Yesterday,
Brown County filed a lawsuit reopening a dispute over the legality of
its new 0.5% sales tax. A previous suit, brought by the Brown County
Taxpayers Association (BCTA) and a Brown County resident, argued the tax
was illegal because state law says a county can only create a sales tax
“for the purpose of directly reducing the property tax levy.” Brown
County’s sales tax would not reduce the property tax levy and is
intended to fund a slew of new projects. The suit was dismissed on a
procedural technicality.
Contrary to initial reports in the Green Bay Press Gazette,
the County is not seeking to have the judge throw anything out (the
first case was dismissed without prejudice and not appealed), and is not
asking BCTA to pay its eyebrow-raising $125,000 legal tab from the
first suit. Instead, the County is doing exactly what BCTA tried to do
in the first case – seeking a ruling on whether the sales tax is legal.
“Brown County says they want a judge to decide whether the sales tax
is legal,” said Rich Heidel, President of BCTA. “That’s all we asked
for in our original lawsuit. Why did the County waste everyone’s time
and money getting the first case dismissed on a technicality? We
could’ve been done with this already. The judge in the first case was
going to hold a final hearing in April if the case hadn’t been
dismissed. We tried to get this done as quickly as possible. They
wanted to slow it down.”
The County’s focus on “saving” property taxpayers money by
implementing a sales tax is beside the point. “Whether the $147 million
in new spending is a good idea or not is irrelevant,” said Heidel.
“What matters is whether the sales tax is legal. And it isn’t, because
it was used to pay for new spending instead of for reducing the property
tax levy as required by state law.”
BCTA also objects to County Executive Troy Streckenbach’s absurd
characterization of the group as somehow having limitless resources.
The small group has virtually no assets and could never have afforded to
hire an attorney to protect their rights without the Wisconsin
Institute for Law & Liberty offering pro bono legal services.
“Selling the County as some poor David up against our Goliath is
ludicrous on its face,” explained Rick Esenberg, President & General
Counsel of WILL. “The County went out and hired some of the best – and
most expensive – lawyers in the state and can vote to spend effectively
however much it wants on litigation. We’re far more limited in our
available resources.”
More information about the case is available here.
Please be sure to read this excellent article from Belt Magazine about:
How Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Got Taken in the Foxconn Deal
Regardless, while the general assumption has been that the Wisconsin
plant will produce large LCD panels, suitable for the biggest TV sets
being sold, The China Post reported on August 12 that a Sharp
official described the proposed U.S. plant as focused on making small
LCD panels, primarily for the automotive market. Just more evidence that
what Gov. Walker and his team have envisioned is unlikely to come to
pass.
Regardless of the final nature of Foxconn’s development in Wisconsin,
Gov. Walker’s conceit that an insular manufacturing site will somehow
be the viral start of what he is calling “Foxconn Valley,” a Midwestern
Silicon Valley, is the kind of magical thinking which would be comical
if it didn’t involve decades of dipping into the wallets of Wisconsin
taxpayers. http://beltmag.com/wisconsin-gov-scott-walker-got-taken-foxconn-deal/
Further
note that Corning has already REFUSED to come to Wis Valley unless the
already beleaguered and overburdened Taxpayers of SE WI pay for their
manufacturing facility:
"If Foxconn Technology Group is going to build a Gen 10.5 LCD fabrication
facility in Mount Pleasant, then a manufacturer of glass substrates
will have to locate on the same property. The head of the company
expected to build the plant, however, made it clear this week his firm
would not be carrying all of the cost to do so.
Wendell Weeks, Corning chairman and chief executive officer, said
during an earnings call this week that the strategy the company has laid
out makes it clear that “we weren’t going to put in new melting
capacity for display unless we get two out of every three dollars from
others and that we could keep 100 percent of the revenues and profits.”
Alderman Jeff Coe is alleged to have made this remark, when denying Vapemeisters an alcohol permit:
Online records show that the committee recommended denial after First
District Alderman Jeff Coe raised concerns about underage people being
around alcohol and the possibility of setting “a precedent for approving
other businesses within the city to sell alcohol so long as they serve
some food.”
*WOW* Is
Alderman Jeff Coe confused? Alcohol & Food are a staple in Racine,
WI. So what's the problem? Has his hand not been greased?
I'd have to agree with the sentiment of the owners of the Establishment:
Last week, the Public Safety and Licensing Committee recommended denial
of the shop’s application. The recommendation, given at a Tuesday
committee meeting, left Jeff Kurth, the lounge’s general manager, in his
words “confused and baffled.” It’s a recommendation he hopes the City
Council will overturn at its meeting on June 5.
Does "Pay to Play" rule Racine?
And
I personally refuse to believe that Alderman Jeff Coe is a Teetotaler.
He appears to be a regular at many Downtown Bars which serve alcohol and
food.
I guess that the SHAKEDOWN has now come into play - So what's the VIG? Jeff Coe drinks for free?
Today's Journal Times E-edition headlines on Memorial Day
lacks any respect for those who gave so much for our freedom. Another
RJTimes fail.
Beginning in 1868, after the Civil War, the holiday
was established to honor the Americans who died fighting for the United
States. Some 150 years later, the day lives on as a reminder to
commemorate and honor the people who sacrificed their lives for the
freedom of their country.
“Memorial Day" isn't just about
honoring veterans, it's honoring those who lost their lives. Veterans
had the fortune of coming home. For us, that's a reminder of when we
come home we still have a responsibility to serve. It's a continuation
of service that honors our country and those who fell defending it.”
Pete Hegseth
An impersonator of Kim Jong Un was spotted in Singapore over the weekend.
The
man, who goes by the name Howard X, said he was in Singapore to wish
for a successful summit between the actual Kim and U.S. President Donald
Trump.
It's not yet clear if the summit will actually take
place. Trump announced last week he had pulled out of the event, but
then suggested it may still happen.
"Regardless of the final nature of Foxconn’s development in Wisconsin,
Gov. Walker’s conceit that an insular manufacturing site will somehow be
the viral start of what he is calling 'Foxconn Valley,' a Midwestern
Silicon Valley, is the kind of magical thinking which would be comical
if it didn’t involve decades of dipping into the wallets of Wisconsin
taxpayers"
RACINE COUNTY — The release of a
video on Wednesday of an incident between Milwaukee Bucks player
Sterling Brown and the Milwaukee Police Department has received
nationwide attention and some local candidates have weighed in on the
topic.
In January, Brown was
approached by police for illegally parking horizontally across several
spaces in a Walgreens parking lot in Milwaukee around 2 a.m.
The
body camera from one police officer shows several officers around Brown
and asking him to take his hands out of his pockets. Shortly after
that, Brown was tackled to the ground, and a police officer clearly
yells “Taser, Taser,Taser.” A moment after that, Brown is heard groaning
while being shot with a stun gun.
During a press conference, MPD Chief Alfonso Morales apologized to Brown and said the officers “acted inappropriately.”
The incident has caused multiple officers to be suspended.
Good morning everyone I hope you have had a good week. Yes I am back to do your Four for Fridays this week and Drew is back to work. I will let you know it was a long week with him home and with him doing his birding since it is migration time. Here are your questions for this week.
1) Are you ready for the warm and humid weather we are going to be having?
In Hudson, Fla., Brandon McCray, 47, came unglued on Tuesday, May 1,
after discovering two of his socks missing. When suspicion fell on his
roommate, Frank Smith, 53, McCray attacked him with a sword, according
to WTVT. The attack continued as McCray also struck and injured two
women living at the home. Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies said Smith
nearly lost several fingers trying to defend himself. Deputies arrested
McCray at a neighbor’s house on charges of attempted homicide and
battery. Must Be a Millennial Thing
As finals were ramping up at the University of Utah at the end of
April, one student’s class project went viral: Senior Nemo Miller
created a stand-alone closet—placed in the J. Willard Marriott
Library—where stressed-out students could go for a good cry. KSL-TV
reported “The Cry Closet” caught on quickly; even with a suggested
10-minute limit, @Gemini tweeted, “I stayed 11 minutes, but I feel so
much better. Thank you to whoever built this. Can we add a box of
tissues, please?” Miller filled the closet with stuffed animals and soft
materials. “I think everyone just needs a safe space sometimes,” she
said, “even if it’s in a very public place.” Terrus Incognito?
A French museum dedicated to the work of painter Etienne Terrus
announced April 27 that more than half of its collection from the
19th-century artist are forgeries. The Terrus Museum in Elne, where he
was born, gathered a group of experts to inspect the works after a
visiting art historian noticed some of the paintings depict buildings
that were not constructed until after Terrus’ death. In all, 82
paintings were determined to be fake. BBC News reported that the town’s
mayor, Yves Barniol, called the situation “a disaster” and apologized to
museum visitors. High on the Hog
On Yaji Mountain in China, hog farmers are experimenting with
high-rise hog breeding facilities that house 1,000 head of sows per
floor. Xu Jiajing, manager of Guangxi Yangxiang Co. Ltd., told Reuters
that the “hog hotels save energy and resources. The land area is not
that much, but you can raise a lot of pigs.” The buildings range from
seven floors to 13, with elevators to move both people and pigs. “How Much for the Little Girl?”
The grandmother of a 7-year-old girl in Marietta, Ga., became alarmed
on Monday, May 7, when a stranger started following her and the little
girl around a Kroger store. WXIA-TV reported that Einodd Samimi had
earlier approached the grandmother at a nearby Walmart and asked if he
could “have” her granddaughter for $100. Turned down, he later upped the
ante at Kroger, offering to purchase her for $200 and commenting on the
little girl’s “pretty hair.” The grandmother confronted Samimi, drawing
a large crowd of shoppers who chased him through the store and to his
car. Police arrested Samimi at his home on charges of enticing a child
and criminal solicitation. Parrot Parrots Dog
Police in Loerrach, Germany, responded on Monday, May 14, to
complaints about a domestic disturbance after a neighbor reported a loud
confrontation that had been going on for some time. But when they
arrived, they found a 22-year-old man arguing with his girlfriend’s
parrot, according to Metro News. The parrot had been making barking sounds like a dog, and the man became annoyed with it. No charges were filed. Fast Food Gone Weird
@BurgerKing was looking for love in all the right places on May 9
when workers changed a Boston location’s sign to read: “@Wendys ...
Prom?” and posted a picture to Twitter. United Press International
reported that it took less than an hour for the red-headed fast-food
heartthrob, just a few doors down, to respond: “OK, but don’t get handsy
and we have to be home by 10.” In a classic love triangle, @MoonPie
expressed his disappointment: “I knew I should’ve asked sooner.”
Hello, my dears! How are you? Had enough rain? It's always something, isn't it? Señor Zanza and Junior say that the ground is too wet to work in the garden. In fact, it's all mud. Oh my. If only there were some way to keep our excess rain and use it when a drought hits. I hear that the farmers can't get out into their fields to plant. They're currently predicting more rain later in the week. "They" can go you know where.
Foxconn. Foxconn. Foxconn. There, that's the business news for this week. Oh yeah, and Foxconn. Foxconn can do no wrong. Foxconn is all powerful. Foxconn is our new God. Turn off the lights and repeat the name Foxconn over and over, The spirit of Foxconn will appear. Not pretty, is it?
This past week hasn't been pretty, either. A school shooting in Texas, All sorts of idiots arrested for crimes. Like the guy who stabbed his son for getting suspended from school. He also tortured him by making him stand in the unlit basement with no sleep. This unmitigated piece of crap should be dragged through the streets. I hate child abusers.
And I hate animal abusers. Abusers and bullies of all sorts should be exposed and jailed. Instead, they often get ahead in Racine. They'll use their colleagues and lie and lie. And win. Because Racine is corrupt. Mister Ex-Mayor Lying John made sure of that. Bribe and scheme to get further up the ladder in Racine.
Are we going to have a summit with North Korea or not? Does anyone know? If we are, what's to prevent Trump from shooting off his mouth as usual? That's the way North Korea has spoken to us for decades, but we dare not do likewise. Let's hope that Trump has something up his sleeve. Peace with North Korea would be a miracle.
Junior has had his second accident with Señor Zanza's car. Oh my oh my. That's his second accident in his first year of driving. I'm afraid to ask Señor Zanza what his insurance is costing him. Junior and the other driver are OK, but the same can't be said for the cars. Junior ran a red light and slammed into a car crossing the intersection. He wasn't texting, he was making out with his girlfriend. Where is his father in these formative, traumatic years?
Thank you one and all for reading my blog. I love my readers and always covet more. Tell your friends and neighbors about me. Share the love.
The weather is supposed to improve. Go out and enjoy what you can. The sun is rising right now and it looks strong. Have a great week.
_____________________________ Please donate: paypal.me/jgmazelis If you don't like PayPal, send me a note at madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com and I'll send you my street address so you can send a check or money order. Thank you.
I’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world,
ain’a? And yes indeed, I do believe that my buddy Herbie was onto
something when he said, “I swear the Russians have learned to dick with
our U.S. weather through their fancy commie computers, I kid you not.”
Focking-A.
For example, think we’ve had enough rain here this not-so-merry
goddamn damp month of May? Cripes, the other day I was about to shave,
looked into the mirror and thought I noticed a crop of sprouting chest
hair. What the fock, fresh chest hair at my age? On closer inspection, I
deduced that this growth was not of chest hair, no sir. It was moss. Focking moss. So now I got to piss away some time trying to find out if Medicare covers moss removal, what a world.
Anyways, I’m taking my Memorial Day holiday early, as in right about
now, so this page will be a tad light on the word count. Benefit to you
the reader is that the type size ought to be larger than usual, which
means you shouldn’t need to rent the Hubble Space Telescope just to take
a focking gander here.
But the main reason I’m not able to whip nor pump out a
heavy-dutifully thought-invoking essay for you’s this week is on account
that I be otherwise occupied with slapping together what I would intend
to be the “Art Kumbalek Gala Spew to Our 2018 Graduates Be They of
University; College; High, Tech, Trade, or Matchbook School; Middle
School; Academy Charter Institute of Some Learning for Young People;
Grade School; Prison Substance-Abuse Good-Neighbor Sanity Program for
Early Release; Pre-School; Nursery School; Daycare Center Who Employs a
Bus Driver Who Can Conduct a Head-Count.”
Why? Because it’s that time of year, and I could use a paying gig, you betcha.
And what of my speaking-fee as it would affect you’s tight-budgeted
school administrators, not to mention the wanna-be embezzling lady
suburban-school bookkeepers undergoing divorce proceedings because
they’ve developed a gambling habit as to substitute for what had been
their wifely duties as required by the connubial boudoir?
To address your scholastic assemblage, I ask fifty bucks in cash
upfront to be followed by a case of ice-cold bottled beer following the
ceremony. Done and done.
And yes, I’ve got experience. I’ll always remember—and perhaps you
will, too—a commencing gig some years back over by the Wee-Wee Park Your
Tot Lot, Institution of Lower Learning (Bedwetters Welcome) Institute.
It was a memorable oratorical performance. I was interrupted
mid-speech several times, once even with applause when they mistakenly
thought my remarks were concluded, plus numerous other times when young
scholars were forced to visit the Poo-Poo room following the dropping of
a full-load drawers-side.
It was ’round about the time that I quoted the great American Eugene
Debs—“Years ago, I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I
made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on
Earth... While there is a lower class, I am in it, while there is a
criminal element, I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am
not free”—that most of the kids started bawling and I was asked to hit
the focking road.
I don’t know if those kids got much out of my discourse, but I sure
learned something: If I ever got another speaking engagement, I vowed to
be abso-focking-lutely certain to demand the case of ice-cold bottled
beer upfront, ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so.
Best damn epoxy I've ever used. It dries clear and strong. I don't know about the "weld" stuff, but I tend to believe them. Maybe I'll use that stuff when I patch up my truck's cracked grill. Black on black should make it easier. I'm tempted to use the epoxy on a star that's cracked my windshield. It's small, but too big for the epoxy cure at J F Auto Glass. $200 for a new windshield. The star has not changed shape or cracked anymore. I may just put a dab or two of the epoxy on there.
"Every May a month-long effort to celebrate older adults kicks off. While
it’s important to recognize the contributions seniors make in our lives
every day, Older Americans Month makes it an official celebration. It
is a tradition that dates back to the Kennedy administration."
It's a Samsung Galaxy 3 Tablet. They're currently producing Galaxy 9 Tablets, so mine is outdated. It was given to me by Time Warner Cable five years ago when I moved and signed up for a new package. After staying on the plan 3 or 6 months, they gave me a tablet. It was obsolete from the start.
However, it's really been acting up the past two weeks. Last week I lost my Wi-Fi. I couldn't connect for three days. Then, when I call to report it, it's working fine. I was watching Netflix in bed Sunday night when I lost my Wi-Fi again. Then yesterday, after charging it, I couldn't get the tablet to turn on. I must've hit the on button a few dozen times. Nothing. It was also cold; usually it's hot after being charged. This morning, I messed with it some more. I stuck the charger back on and tried the on button a hundred times. Nothing. I figured it wasn't even fit to be a doorstop. Too thin.
I put it down and forgot about it. A couple hours later, I tried to turn on the tablet again. As I clicked and clicked the on button, I saw a flash of light. No, it couldn't be. I hit the on button a few more times and it came on. It was connected to the Wi-Fi again and working properly. A message came on telling me to remove the charger because the battery was at 100%. OK. Hmm.
I almost threw it away. Of course, I'd have to smash it first to protect from identity loss. When Spectrum repair men were here, they told me not to expect much from the tablet. It was slow and full of shit. All I use it for now is to watch stuff in bed. This has happened before, but it never took that long to get it to turn back on. If it "dies" again, I'll wait a few days before I toss it in a drawer and forget about it. Sheesh.
While many people associate pets with
kids who can't wait to welcome the first cat or dog into their homes,
pets can benefit aging men and women as well. Metro Creative Services
Companion animals bring great joy to
their owners. The unconditional love cats and dogs provide appeals to
people of all ages. While many people associate pets with kids who can’t
wait to welcome the first cat or dog into their homes, pets can benefit
aging men and women as well.
It’s
not uncommon for seniors to feel lonely or depressed when they retire,
their children move away or they lose a spouse or close friend or
friends. The American Humane Society states that studies show pets help
seniors overcome loneliness and depression by providing affection,
company and entertainment. Pets also provide much-needed mental
stimulation, and many pet owners find their pets help them become more
physically active as well.
Seniors
who adopt pets may also feel a sense of purpose when helping animals
who may not have anywhere to live. This is particularly true of older
companion animals, which many young families are understandably hesitant
to adopt. Mature pets might be an ideal fit for seniors. When seniors
are looking to adopt a pet, there are various reasons why older pets or
particular animals might be the perfect fit for them.
Adult pets may already be house trained, saving seniors the trouble and effort of training them.
Seniors
may find cats fit their lifestyles more than dogs, as cats are less
active and do not need to be walked or played with as much as dogs. Cats
also are small and easily maneuverable, meaning even seniors who have
arthritis or other physical limitations can easily care for cats. Many
cats are also content to spend long periods of time sleeping on their
owners’ laps.
Small dogs that can be active within the house
might be a good idea as well, especially for seniors with mobility
issues. They’re also easily transported to and from vet appointments.
It’s
important that seniors carefully weigh the benefits of adopting a pet
against any limitations they may have. Having a backup plan for care is
advantageous as well. Seniors should not adopt a pet if they anticipate
frequent travel or medical care that requires they be away from home for
long periods of time.
State, County, and Local Governments are investing $Billions$ in
borrowed money; abusing eminent domain, “Blight” designations, TIF
guidelines, Pollution Control Standards, destroying the preservation of
Farmland and Wetlands, while redirecting the natural flows and purity
of massive amounts of fresh water, along with a Healthy Environment, to
an Entity which promises to produce LCD TV screens – employing 13,000
people at an average salary of $53K each + Bennies, all to prop up the
Failed (and Bankrupt) Governments of SE Wisconsin – which continue to
loot and oppress the remaining, and largely poor, minority,
under-educated, criminal, and exploited underclass.
Meanwhile;
” Racine Floating A Sales Tax” City of Racine
commits-to-Paris-climate-accord while supporting Foxconn that exceeds
the pollution standards. Then suggesting a .5 sales tax after Racine
County spends millions on taking land from taxpayers to support Foxconn.
by Cal Thomas Tue, 5/15/2018 | Tribune Content Agency, LLC
The bitterness tour By Cal Thomas Tribune Content Agency
MELBOURNE, Australia — When you hear “world tour” you usually think of
superstars performing concerts in various cities for adoring fans. Not
so with the presidentially deprived, entitlement-driven Hillary Clinton.
Last week, Hillary Clinton came to Melbourne, Australia’s second
largest city, and to Sydney, its largest, with a huge chip on her
shoulder. The chip has been there since the 2016 election and seems to
be growing larger with every appearance.
As with almost everything else the Clintons do, it cost to hear her
bitterness. Those who went to hear Clinton speak, more than 5,000
people, paid between $200 and $500 Australian dollars (about $15 to $380
US). What they heard was criticism of President Trump and his foreign
and domestic policies. Not that long ago, Americans made an effort to
stop “partisan politics at the water’s edge,” but no more.
Especially with some Democratic politicians who seem to believe that
government belongs to them and when Republicans win an election it was
somehow stolen from its rightful owners.
Interviewed by former liberal Australian Prime Minister Julia
Gillard, Hillary Clinton eventually got to what she believes is the real
reason she lost to Donald Trump. It was misogynistic men and women who
voted the way their husbands told them to that prevented her from making
history, or if you prefer, herstory.
Hillary Clinton was at it even before the event began by tweeting that
President Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal was a “big mistake”
that actually makes the U.S. less safe. As if America would be safer by
trusting the biggest sponsor of terrorism in the world to live up to an
agreement when Iran’s religious and political leaders regularly speak
of their commitment to destroy us (and Israel, too).
In his account of her appearance, Chip Le Grand of The
Australian newspaper writes that while Hillary Clinton was “at times
disarmingly honest (that seemed to be a first), warm, funny and
optimistic,” she also appeared “self-serving and sad.”
Like a boxer who doesn’t know when to leave the ring, Hillary Clinton
is a two-time political loser who hasn’t gotten the message that she is
unlikeable and unelectable. She would do herself and the country (not to
mention the Democratic Party) a favor by retiring and leaving the scene
of her political accident.
There is still money to be made, however, and to the Clintons money is their catnip.
The Wall Street Journal reported last Friday: “…it’s Clinton
fundraising season. This has been true of every season of every year
since the late 1970s. But this is a particularly important moment
because of a major event that is now less than two weeks away. Last
month Axios reported: ‘Longtime Clinton supporters last week received an
invitation offering access to the family (the green invitation features
photos of Bill, Hillary and Chelsea) at a Clinton Foundation benefit on
May 24 in New York, at prices ranging from $2,500 (”Friend”) for
cocktail party and dinner, up to $100,000 (”Chair”) for “Leadership
Reception for two, a premium table of ten, program recognition as Gala
Chair and invitations to the Clinton Foundation Annual Briefing.’”
The now defunct Clinton Global Initiative (which not
surprisingly stopped receiving large donations after Hillary Clinton’s
defeat) spent a lot of donor money on a large staff, travel and
“miscellaneous” expenses. What do new contributors to the Clinton
Foundation hope to get in return for their donations? More bitterness,
perhaps?
Very sad.
Bill
Cruciger could easily double the staff of his roofing company, Roof
Rite, given how strong the economy is right now. And 20 years ago, it
wouldn’t have been that hard. There was always a mason or carpenter
around who could easily pick up the trade. But today, it’s nearly
impossible – especially given the opioid crisis, which has disproportionately hit men without college degrees.
“It’s
just mind-blowing how many people we hire who have never pounded a nail
before,” says his son, Chris Cruciger, who is general manager of the
family-owned company. “That’s why, when you come across someone with a
lot of experience and they tell you they can’t pass a drug test, it’s so
disappointing.”
The
Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce says 40 to 60 percent of
job applicants are failing drug tests. Once hired, some quit within
weeks or even hours. State Rep. Tim Schaffer (R) of Columbus says he’s
talked with HVAC contractors who, like Roof Rite, say they could double
the size of their operation if they could find qualified applicants.
“They are just begging for people who want to make $50,000 to $60,000
per year with a brief training program,” he says.
Indeed,
the challenge of finding qualified applicants for skilled labor jobs is
a statewide phenomenon. Employers here also talk about applicants who
don’t have the soft skills needed for a job interview, like writing a
résumé, dressing appropriately, or making eye contact.
“This
is not just one employer saying it, this is across the spectrum,” says
Chris Ferruso, legislative director for the National Federation of
Independent Business (NFIB) in Ohio, where it has 23,000 members.
Some
new initiatives are trying bridge that gap, with the goal of restoring a
sense of purpose for those who have struggled with opioid addiction,
while also enabling businesses to expand their reach and productivity.
The
Youngstown regional Chamber recently started a new program to cover the
cost of drug tests for employers. A local nonprofit, Flying High, has
established a robust program of recovery and job-training for both
recovering addicts and former felons, and built a network of more than a
dozen employers willing to hire their trainees.
And
in a bipartisan effort from Congress, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) of Ohio
teamed up last month with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R) from next-door
West Virginia to introduce the CARE Act,
which would provide $100 million in grants for communities or tribes
offering combined addiction recovery and job training programs – two
areas that are already federally funded but administered separately.
Combining the two would not cost taxpayers any more money, but would
help individuals in recovery see a clearer path forward.
“We
found fairly often that someone gets treatment, then can’t find a job,
and struggles on the streets,” says Senator Brown in a phone interview.
“If we can work on those programs together … when they are clean, they
can much more likely find a job.”
He
adds he’s willing to work across the aisle with majority leader Mitch
McConnell (R) of Kentucky, who has proposed similar legislation. “We
will work on this together,” he says.
CHAMBER OFFERS FREE DRUG-TESTING FOR EMPLOYERS
Ohio
has the second-highest overdose rate in the country, and the state
spent more than $1 billion fighting drug abuse and addiction in 2017.
But Gov. John Kasich (R) has come under fire for not investing even
more, as the trajectory for opioid deaths continues to slope sharply
upward. Meth is also on the rise in southern Ohio, and marijuana use is
pervasive.
An October 2017 report
from Ohio State University found that between 92,000 and 170,000 of
Ohioans are addicted to drugs. It also cited a report that estimated
that the opioid crisis had cost America $78 billion in 2013; more than
half of that cost was attributed to lost productivity.
That
is posing an increasing challenge for employers, particularly in trades
that involve heavy machinery. Because of the safety hazards of
operating such equipment while high, and because Ohio businesses can get
a discount on worker compensation premiums for maintaining drug-free
workplaces, many employers here require pre-hire drug tests and
sometimes screenings of current employees.
Some try to skirt those tests in creative ways.
BJ
Panchik of Steward Health Care/WorkMED outside Youngstown, whose office
administers drug tests for local employers, has seen it all. One boss
even tried to use a contraption called a Whizzinator to smuggle in
someone else’s urine and pass it off as his own.
“The hardest part sometimes is keeping a straight face,” she says.“But the fact of the matter is, it’s tragic.”
Last
month, the Chamber partnered with her office to provide free drug tests
for potential employees through a $20,000 grant. To help them get the
biggest bang for their buck, she found a kit that tests for 12 different
types of drugs, many of them opiates, and provides results within
minutes. It costs only $3.75 compared to $40 for the usual test, which
is sent by plane to Minnesota.
“The
high percentage of [drug test failures] is crushing our small companies
here in the market,” says Nick Santucci, director of education and
workforce development for the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber. “We’re
hoping that by covering that drug test costs, it will alleviate some of
the financial burden on the companies here.”
But
it’s not always that simple to match available resources with the need;
Mr. Santucci says that despite advertising the free drug-testing
program through various channels, including on social media, for a month
they haven't had a single company use it so far. And while his data
shows there are 17,875 job postings in the area, he often hears people
saying there are no jobs.
April
Caraway of the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board, for
example, has many people trying to get back into the workforce but
stymied by lack of a driver’s license or Social Security card, or by a
felony on their record – which, even if officially expunged, can’t be
erased completely due to the Internet.
“You
guys keep telling me there are all these open jobs in the Valley, and
I’ve got all these unemployed people – how can we get these people
jobs?” she asked the Chamber. So they worked together to create a list
of employers who would consider hiring felons. Anecdotally, she says,
recovery house mangers are now seeing a slight improvement in men being
able to land jobs.
WELDERS WIELDING DRY-ERASE MARKERS
Even
if all job applicants could pass drug tests, employers would still have
a problem, labor experts say. It stems from what many here see as an
unwise decision to push young people en masse toward four-year colleges rather than channeling some into vocational programs.
“We
have a long storied history of being a manufacturing powerhouse, and
unfortunately so many of those skill sets that are necessary, you just
can’t find in Ohio,” says Mr. Ferruso of NFIB.
The
problem is particularly striking in Youngstown, whose population has
shrunk from 165,000 to about 65,000 since its flourishing steel mills
shut down in the 1970s. Last summer it ranked as the most economically
distressed small or mid-sized city in America – ahead of places like
Flint, Mich., and Trenton, N.J. So employers are getting creative about
how to do more with the employees they have – and where to look for new
ones.
On
a recent day at the Columbiana Boiler Company, half an hour south of
Youngstown, close to a dozen career welders gathered around a glass
conference room table armed with schematic drawings or dry erase
markers. They are here in response to CEO Michael Sherwin’s challenge:
Devise a way to reorganize the shop operations for maximum efficiency.
The team with the best idea gets a cash bonus.
It’s
not just an academic exercise. Mr. Sherwin, whose company pays $40,000
to $80,000 a year with benefits, says he basically hasn’t stopped
looking for people for the past two years and still hasn’t been able to
fill his open positions.
He’s
also started looking for potential hires in unusual places – such as
Flying High, the nonprofit that helps those emerging from substance
abuse and/or prison get job training and reenter the workforce.
Mike
Oates, a recent graduate of their welding program, gets up at 4:30 a.m.
every day to put in 10-hour shifts at Columbiana Boiler, where he helps
make massive kettles that hold liquid zinc for galvanizing large metal
objects like cellphone towers and light poles.
“He’s been a great find,” says Sherwin. For the type of welding Mr. Oates does, “He’s probably No. 2 in the shop.”
For Oates, it’s a welcome opportunity to get his life back on track.
“Just
because someone makes a mistake in their life doesn’t mean they’re a
criminal,” says Oates, who hurt his back working in a steel mill in the
1990s, was prescribed opioid medication, and got addicted. He was
convicted of felonious assault and spent two years in prison. There, he
says he underwent a major transformation and emerged a passionate
Christian determined to help others. “You can’t live in your past,
because you’re never going to have a future.”
USAA Brings Poppy Memorial to Nation’s Capital May 25-27 to Honor the 645,000 Servicemembers lost since World War I
SAN ANTONIO – USAA announced that a temporary
memorial installation is coming to the National Mall and Memorial Parks
in Washington, D.C. this Memorial Day weekend. The Poppy Memorial is a
translucent structure that measures 133 feet long, 8 1/2 feet tall and
is filled with more than 645,000 poppy flowers — honoring every man and
woman that gave their life in service of our nation since World War I.
Inspired by the World War I poem, “In Flanders Fields,” the poppy is a
widely-recognized symbol of remembrance for these servicemembers. The
Poppy Memorial is a somber and powerful display that represents the
depth of national sacrifice by paying tribute to each individual.
“The poppy flower symbolizes those who gave the last full measure in
defense of our freedoms,” said Vice Admiral (Ret.) John Bird, USAA
Senior Vice President of Military Affairs. The Poppy Memorial visualizes
the magnitude of that sacrifice and reminds us all of the price that
was paid. We are grateful to the National Park Service for allowing us
to display this inspiring and educational exhibit among the permanent
monuments, as a testament to the enduring bravery of our men and women
in uniform.”
From May 25 through May 27, the Poppy Memorial will be open to the
public daily for viewing from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. The memorial will be
displayed on the southwestern side of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting
Pool – with the Lincoln Memorial to the west, the Korean War Memorial to
the south, the reflecting pool due north and the World War II Memorial
to the east. The more than 645,000 poppies are a combination of VFW
“Buddy”® poppies and poppies from the American Legion Family, both
programs designed to encourage Americans to wear poppies in remembrance
of the fallen.
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