Katherine Harris, reincarnated?
Bradblog coverage, here and here.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Florida Republicans are into vote fraud conduct yet again, reminiscent of the 2000 presidential election theft.
Reported, here and here.
Katherine Harris, reincarnated?
Bradblog coverage, here and here.
What does it take to bleat piously via a coordinated ALEC ploy about voter ID as a counter to unproven speculation of voter fraud; while the fellow travelers in Florida are up to what else but their old fashioned favored flavor of voter disenfranchisement, aka voter fraud via purging valid voters from the voter rolls.
Katherine Harris, reincarnated?
Bradblog coverage, here and here.
Ars Technica has retrospective on the Oracle v. Google trial, and the copyrightabilty of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces).
Ars retrospective, here. Wikipedia on APIs, here. Groklaw has excellent live blogging coverage of the trial as it unfolded. The federal district court opinion is available online from Groklaw. The first Groklaw link will soon scroll far into older posts. The specific link to the Oracle v. Google opinion should remain stable.
Monticello stops broadband bond payments. Unlike Ramsey, the bonds were for something useful to existing residents and businesses, broadband and phone and cable services. Not subsidizing socialized land speculation adventure, nor subsidizing the creditworthiness of an out of state would-be Ramsey landlord with luxuriant ambitions, using town credit to get his private-sector gamble over the hump. Plus some thinking about conflict of interest.
Strib reports here. MPR reports, here and here. At least they were revenue bonds, so taxpayers can spit the hook because of insufficiency of revenue.
Ramsey's bonding? Ask City Hall. Ask your Ward council member, and ask how he/she voted. With every seat up for an election this cycle, ask each candidate; "What about all the bonding? What about all the Landform?"
And in passing, Monticello has been reported as running a town owned retail liquor outlet and has used its profitability in the past to cover for the fiber network. In Ramsey, that income stream is left to the private sector. With a liquor store owner on council that is unlikely to change unless and until the make-up of the council changes. Then what? Well, ask the candidates. If you cannot get a logical and sincere answer, figure whether that will affect how you vote. City minutes note Councilman Wise (in commenting on an exclusivity agreement proposal re "grocery-related items" in Town Center) openly noted on the record how he'd been trying unsuccessfully for years to get a constraint on permitted liquor retail outlets. That sounds fairly anti-competitive and pro-regulation for one professing Republican allegiance. It is as if the free market working it's invisible hand balancing act is fine, in the abstract. While that is ideologically interesting, it is clear Wise has not wrongly kept secret his preferences re the health of his business against levels of competition.
Another excellent question for candidates, incumbents with a voting record as well as challengers, "How do you foresee Flaherty and Collins hiring for the jobs it creates in a way that is honorable and above reproach?" And if there is a response that such a thing is wholly a private sector thing that citizens need not look at, a fair followup question is, "Is there anything special anticipated to be in it for you or family?" Or, specifically, "Do you are any close family member(s) expect to secure employment with the Flaherty rental operation?" Not that a problem can be proven to exist now, but the ideal is that no actual or potential conflict of interest should be tolerated, so that such questioning from citizens remains wholly valid, even if it is a public-interest question in the abstract, i.e., presently a hypothetical concern vs. some probable thing at present. Such questions arguably are more pertinent to present council members where much was done on 4-3 votes of the council, and where those in the four-vote majority bloc should be the ones most careful.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Some conflicts of interest are unavoidable, such as the one caused council member Wise, via plans for the Armstrong-Highway 10 realignment and the Sunwood realignment (in Town Center). It is evidenced by an eminent domain or agreed buy-out need, for the retail business Wise owns [e.g., below images from pp 277-278, of this link]:
Again, that conflict of interest caused by roadway planning in the City is unavoidable.
The only aspect of things that might matter to voters is whether the City and Wise contemplate his getting a highly preferable "sweetheart" relocation site, at Town Center or elsewhere, granted from the city, as part of any non-cash buyout arrangements. It appears to me that Wise has properly disclosed an intent to consider relocating in Town Center, where circumstances beyond his control demand he relocate somewhere; i.e., with Wise not being at fault at all for how he so far has handled disclosure.
An example of what Ramsey voters should or might ask council candidates about possible future conflicts of interest, consider Ward 2 where two of the candidates are business owners; incumbent Colin McGlone owning a contracting business, and challenger Mark Kuzma owning a printing business.
It is wholly valid, indeed arguably desirable for citizen-voters to ask McGlone whether if re-elected he would ever again bid upon and do contract business with the City; and to ask Kuzma if elected whether he would decline to bid on any commercial printing services the City might need while he is in office. (McGlone has done nuisance abatement business 2009-2010 for the Ramsey Police Department, yet the question is one of future intent more than past practices.)
While some may argue that such a consideration is largely irrelevant to a voting choice, each voter has his/her own criteria, which are protected by secret ballot so that a voter can use any criteria that voter, personally, deems relevant.
___________UPDATE___________
As best as I could determine, Colin McGlone owns an auction business, but has not done any business with the city through that firm. Hence, so far he is free of any conflict of interest worry that way.
_________FURTHER UPDATE_________
Palo Alto is reported to be abandoning a fiber-to-the-home initiative; this link. However, note this comment:
Municipal fiber seems the way to go, but the litigiousness of those providing for profit communication in the private sector is a nuisance, ya sure, ya betcha. Mean vested interests, with the filing fee and a lawyer willing, is all it takes to scuttle progress ...
Ramsey's bonding? Ask City Hall. Ask your Ward council member, and ask how he/she voted. With every seat up for an election this cycle, ask each candidate; "What about all the bonding? What about all the Landform?"
And in passing, Monticello has been reported as running a town owned retail liquor outlet and has used its profitability in the past to cover for the fiber network. In Ramsey, that income stream is left to the private sector. With a liquor store owner on council that is unlikely to change unless and until the make-up of the council changes. Then what? Well, ask the candidates. If you cannot get a logical and sincere answer, figure whether that will affect how you vote. City minutes note Councilman Wise (in commenting on an exclusivity agreement proposal re "grocery-related items" in Town Center) openly noted on the record how he'd been trying unsuccessfully for years to get a constraint on permitted liquor retail outlets. That sounds fairly anti-competitive and pro-regulation for one professing Republican allegiance. It is as if the free market working it's invisible hand balancing act is fine, in the abstract. While that is ideologically interesting, it is clear Wise has not wrongly kept secret his preferences re the health of his business against levels of competition.
 |
| Click image to enlarge. Here, for agenda context. |
Another excellent question for candidates, incumbents with a voting record as well as challengers, "How do you foresee Flaherty and Collins hiring for the jobs it creates in a way that is honorable and above reproach?" And if there is a response that such a thing is wholly a private sector thing that citizens need not look at, a fair followup question is, "Is there anything special anticipated to be in it for you or family?" Or, specifically, "Do you are any close family member(s) expect to secure employment with the Flaherty rental operation?" Not that a problem can be proven to exist now, but the ideal is that no actual or potential conflict of interest should be tolerated, so that such questioning from citizens remains wholly valid, even if it is a public-interest question in the abstract, i.e., presently a hypothetical concern vs. some probable thing at present. Such questions arguably are more pertinent to present council members where much was done on 4-3 votes of the council, and where those in the four-vote majority bloc should be the ones most careful.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Some conflicts of interest are unavoidable, such as the one caused council member Wise, via plans for the Armstrong-Highway 10 realignment and the Sunwood realignment (in Town Center). It is evidenced by an eminent domain or agreed buy-out need, for the retail business Wise owns [e.g., below images from pp 277-278, of this link]:
Again, that conflict of interest caused by roadway planning in the City is unavoidable.
The only aspect of things that might matter to voters is whether the City and Wise contemplate his getting a highly preferable "sweetheart" relocation site, at Town Center or elsewhere, granted from the city, as part of any non-cash buyout arrangements. It appears to me that Wise has properly disclosed an intent to consider relocating in Town Center, where circumstances beyond his control demand he relocate somewhere; i.e., with Wise not being at fault at all for how he so far has handled disclosure.
An example of what Ramsey voters should or might ask council candidates about possible future conflicts of interest, consider Ward 2 where two of the candidates are business owners; incumbent Colin McGlone owning a contracting business, and challenger Mark Kuzma owning a printing business.
It is wholly valid, indeed arguably desirable for citizen-voters to ask McGlone whether if re-elected he would ever again bid upon and do contract business with the City; and to ask Kuzma if elected whether he would decline to bid on any commercial printing services the City might need while he is in office. (McGlone has done nuisance abatement business 2009-2010 for the Ramsey Police Department, yet the question is one of future intent more than past practices.)
While some may argue that such a consideration is largely irrelevant to a voting choice, each voter has his/her own criteria, which are protected by secret ballot so that a voter can use any criteria that voter, personally, deems relevant.
___________UPDATE___________
As best as I could determine, Colin McGlone owns an auction business, but has not done any business with the city through that firm. Hence, so far he is free of any conflict of interest worry that way.
_________FURTHER UPDATE_________
Palo Alto is reported to be abandoning a fiber-to-the-home initiative; this link. However, note this comment:
ZacharyGuidry | Smack-Fu Master, in training
Tue Jun 12, 2012 3:36 pm New Poster
I have FTTH in my town - Lafayette, LA. It is a great service and costs me about $50 / month for basic cable and 10Mbit internet. Sure, they got sued by every cable provider and phone provider in the area. In the end the system was built and is expected to be profitable either this year or next.
1 post | registered Jun 12, 2012
Municipal fiber seems the way to go, but the litigiousness of those providing for profit communication in the private sector is a nuisance, ya sure, ya betcha. Mean vested interests, with the filing fee and a lawyer willing, is all it takes to scuttle progress ...
Norm Coleman and his slush fund habits.
This City Pages report. You can do your own web search, based on key words from the City Pages report.
_____________UPDATE____________
Is Norm Coleman corrupt? His surrogate, Cullen Sheehan [of Koch-Brodkorb-Michel fame] asserted a complaint that Al Franken wrongly advertised so. The Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings, online here, concluded:
Read the whole thing, for a complete understanding.
_____________UPDATE____________
Is Norm Coleman corrupt? His surrogate, Cullen Sheehan [of Koch-Brodkorb-Michel fame] asserted a complaint that Al Franken wrongly advertised so. The Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings, online here, concluded:
Because the Complainant has not demonstrated probable cause to believe that the statement made in the advertisements at issue is false, it is unnecessary to address Respondent’s further argument that dismissal is appropriate because there has not been an adequate showing that Al Franken either knew the statement was false or communicated it “with a high degree of awareness” of its probable falsity.
Read the whole thing, for a complete understanding.
Mary Franson, a soap opera of a legislator - at least she was not stalked by Rep. Tom Hackbarth.
Do your own web search. Perhaps this extended word combo:
An example, this search return via the DuckDuckGo search engine.
For about as objective a press report as one can write, the Hutchinson Leader, showing yeoman restraint given the situation and how it invites expansive commentary.
City Pages has published the restraining order paperwork, including the Franson affidavit reciting cause for issuance of a restraining order, here.
It looks to be day-time soap opera stuff, not ready for prime time. My favorite, from Minnesota House Representative Mary Franson (R), explaining herself and her situation to the court:
Pretend for a moment you are a seventh grade English teacher. What grade other than "F" could you give that?
Deformation? "I can bring charges for deformation against you but remember you can't against me." I might guess the intended word, but she [and the lawyer?] wrote it as "deformation." Here, for how "deformation" might fit possible conduct between these two (age-wise) adults.
To use a phrase I have seen used recently on the Republican blog, Residual Forces, Mary Franson truly IS "the gift that keeps on giving." A good turn of words, courtesy of Andy A.
______________UPDATE_______________
MPP quoting a Hutchinson Leader report of Franson-Harpel blowback on the McLeod County GOP leadership board.
Mary Franson Eric Harpel Restraining Order City Pages Minnesota
An example, this search return via the DuckDuckGo search engine.
For about as objective a press report as one can write, the Hutchinson Leader, showing yeoman restraint given the situation and how it invites expansive commentary.
City Pages has published the restraining order paperwork, including the Franson affidavit reciting cause for issuance of a restraining order, here.
It looks to be day-time soap opera stuff, not ready for prime time. My favorite, from Minnesota House Representative Mary Franson (R), explaining herself and her situation to the court:
 |
| click image to enlarge and read |
Pretend for a moment you are a seventh grade English teacher. What grade other than "F" could you give that?
Deformation? "I can bring charges for deformation against you but remember you can't against me." I might guess the intended word, but she [and the lawyer?] wrote it as "deformation." Here, for how "deformation" might fit possible conduct between these two (age-wise) adults.
To use a phrase I have seen used recently on the Republican blog, Residual Forces, Mary Franson truly IS "the gift that keeps on giving." A good turn of words, courtesy of Andy A.
______________UPDATE_______________
MPP quoting a Hutchinson Leader report of Franson-Harpel blowback on the McLeod County GOP leadership board.
Saturday, June 09, 2012
Northstar commuter rail boosters ask Met Council to institute a fare reduction, in hope of greater ridership, where enough of a ridership boost might yield more total revenue, even with each stop dropping its one-way fare by a buck. Perhaps it works. Perhaps not. Perhaps the sole result will be a bigger "in the red" bottom line for the troubled north metro rail experiment.
Strib reports. You figure out, would a buck each way make any difference to you? Would you commute Northstar, if not doing so now, if the fare were dropped to a dollar each way? What's the optimum?
At fifty bucks, one way, very, vey few would ride, but each hit would be as good as fifty riders at a buck each.
Not that it's any great insight to figure that last one out.
At fifty bucks, one way, very, vey few would ride, but each hit would be as good as fifty riders at a buck each.
Not that it's any great insight to figure that last one out.
Friday, June 08, 2012
RAMSEY - Our city council by a narrow 4-3 margin voted to spend millions in extending credit to Flaherty and Collins, and to issue millions of dollars in city bonds so that Flaherty's firm could build this, for the enjoyment of others besides current taxpayers on the hook for those bonds.
Perhaps we others, the current residents in Ramsey, should establish an "I Wanna Cabana" club. If we re-elect them, (those on council who voted for this extravagant luxury), do you suppose all the rest of us would get what Flaherty got, with a role reversal; Flaherty extending the credit and us as beneficiaries? Do pigs fly?
_____________UPDATE______________
I am uncertain why the artist for Flaherty did not do a mid-January pool rendering. Perhaps then potential renters might ask about what they are being asked to pay, per square foot of apartment space, which seems to be the best way to judge a deal, as long as you compare two places with community activity amenities that are equivalent, and each lodging is rat-free. Some say no rental can be rat free, as that would imply absence of a landlord.
 |
| Image source: Strib online, this link. |
_____________UPDATE______________
I am uncertain why the artist for Flaherty did not do a mid-January pool rendering. Perhaps then potential renters might ask about what they are being asked to pay, per square foot of apartment space, which seems to be the best way to judge a deal, as long as you compare two places with community activity amenities that are equivalent, and each lodging is rat-free. Some say no rental can be rat free, as that would imply absence of a landlord.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)