Awarding an outstanding city prize to Salisbury this year would be as absurd as giving the Nobel peace prize to Obama last year, if not even more so. It should not be allowed to happen.
Let me say in advance to anyone who may criticize the effort to sabotage the City’s attempt to portray itself as something that it isn’t: Enough Is Enough! We thought that this nonsense would end when Barrie Tilghman was out-of-office, and we criticized her attempt to dupe the public by the award of that prize. Jim Ireton should have avoided any further expenditure of City resources to seek this mostly meaningless award, and I never imagined that he would continue to do as she did.
Many of us grossly misjudged Mr. Ireton, who has become an increasing disappointment during the year that he has been the mayor of Salisbury. Just as Obama has emulated his successor after trashing President Bush during the 2008 election, Ireton seems to have followed in Barrie’s footsteps in too many respects to attribute to coincidence. His mantra of last year’s election campaign – that “help is on the way” – has become a laughingstock.
Although we cannot do much to make Ireton do as he promised in order to get votes, we can derail the City’s effort to deceive the public by means of the “All America City” award. The spokesperson for the organization that conducts the contest (National Civic League) is named Mike McGrath – his e-mail address is HYPERLINK "mailto:mikem@ncl.org" mikem@ncl.org . The contest coordinator is Kristin Seavey ( HYPERLINK "mailto:kristins@ncl.org" kristins@ncl.org ).
You can do your civic duty by e-mailing Mr. McGrath and Ms. Seavey (or calling them at 303-571-4343) to say that Salisbury has no business being in the “All America City” contest, much less a finalist for the grand prize. And don’t forget to urge them to read and explore SBYnews to get real news about Salisbury.
Do it now!
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
30 comments:
gonna cost each person 1500$ to attend.How many is going? Are you gonna lay off Lorie Chambers,Paul Wilbur, Finance Dept. people? What a scam.
The Daily Times reports that it will cost $1200 per person to attend this farce in Kansas City. They city is planning on sending 12people. That's $14,400 bucks!!!! WTF people??? How many potholes will that money fill? They say they are going to do fundraisers to raise some of the money. BULL CRAP! I wouldn't support that fundraiser nor would anyone I know support it. If these people want to take a trip to Kansas City let them pay their own way. Guarantee you Pick and Chambers won't spend their own money nor will the other 10. $14,400 could go towards many of the needs in the city but these spendocrats would rather piss it in the wind for a designation that means absolutely nothing.
What happens if they win? What does the city of Salisbury have to offer tourists visiting an All American City? Is Salisbury what an all cities across America are like?
The downtown is dead. Crime rate is astronomical. Shopping is out in the county. Lodging is out in the county. Events are out in the county with the exception of the drug and thug Salisbury Festival. So what does Salisbury have to offer visitors? Prostitution, drugs and a very high possibility of being robbed. Makes me want to travel, spend money in Salisbury. Of course the people handing out these ridiculous awards have no way of knowing that. I'm sure they've been fed more bull than is barbecued out in Kansas City, Kansas and Missouri combined.
Ireton, you and Tilghmans lackeys are so full of sh!t you stink.
Regardless of your feelings for Salisbury this "Good" publicity would be great for Salisbury's economic growth. Salisbury has issues but the only way we can improve is to have better people, companies and jobs come to the shore.
10:29..
Yeah - so people feel duped when they find out the truth? That's really good strategy!!!
We need to spend funds cleaning house not pulling the wool over the public's eyes.
$14,400 is not enough money to cause someone to be laid off for or to really do much to stop crime or fix even one block of street. I agree with Annoymous 10:29--this is good publicity for the money. If it helps just one company decide to start a new business in Salisbury it will pay for itself many times over in jobs and property taxes.
Stand up and be a man Jim, if you can.
Solid futures are not based on Bullsh!t, its a dog & pony show at tax payer expense. Name the things that are so great about Salisbury.
This is a direct quote from the application for nomination of ALl American City:
"ALL-AMERICA CITY AWARDS CRITERIA
•Civic Engagement and Collaboration: participation of the public, private and nonprofit sectors and key constituencies to the maximum extent possible and cooperation across jurisdictional boundaries
•Inclusiveness: recognition and involvement of diverse segments and perspectives (ethnic, racial, socio-economic, age, etc.) in community decision-making
•Innovation: creative use and leveraging of community resources
•Impact: significant and specific community achievements, projects that address the community’s most important needs, and clear demonstration of project results and impacts (dollars raised or lives impacted)"
Since when has Salisbury done ANY of those things? You mean to tell me someone paid $100 to submit an application nominating Salisbury and they accepted it without investigating to see Salisbury couldn't agree on what kind of coffee to brew much less about important matters impacting the citizens. The council is divided, the police department has been under fire for not performing up until recently.
Let's just say Ireton does spend the dough for this, Salisbury would never become the winner. If you look at the statistics relating to the National Civic league, it doesn't even add up. Actually here is the link to company (I refuse to call this a non profit..everything about it is for a cost!) http://ncl.org look for yourselves. This is just what I said from the get go... a scam. It is supposed to be about the citizens not about some bickering blubbering dippie do da days in office any how. Whens the last time the citizens were heard without bias in Salisbury???? I know lois is quick to shut anyone up that doesnt see things her way!
If Ireton goes through with this we can see without doubt his head is lodged far up something that prevents him from discovering the obvious. If he does fall for it I have some things I'd like to sell the city!!!
10:29 --
Can you give some cases where the AAC designation actually attracted anyone or any business to locate.
It's a typical BS thing that most folks recognize as such. That's why more and more towns and cities say "no way" when the get the application form.
I feel sorry for you Joe that you are forced to live in a community that you hate so dearly. Someone who has the capability and resources to leave such a "horrible" place should pack their bags tonight. Unfortunately, many other citizens of Wicomico County do not have this luxury.
Also,I invite you to listen to words spoken by the first speaker who addressed the public at last nights meeting. I know you were there....
Joe, if you are not going to be part of the solution, then your part of the problem. We need to be "sensible" in times like these. Your propaganda is hurtful and deceitful and does not reflect the spirit of our community.
We are a community that does serve its people. Yes, we have our problems and a fair amount of them. But competitions like the AAC are about recognizing communities who are taking a stand to address their problems, not pointing their finger at who is to blame.
So I invite you to get off the bench and join the winning team. If you have concerns with the way things are happening here, help us find solutions.
But please, don't embarass yourself or your community by posting blogs like this one.
I am a member of the "Silent Majority," but I will no longer remain quiet when there is an opposing force this LOUD in our community.
This sir, is my "civic duty."
Except for gender and life-style, Mayor Jim-beau is a lot like Barrie Tilghman -- in a word, terrible.
If they need to send 12 people, how about the "Dirty Dozen" from the days of yore in Salisbarrie.
Pocomoke City -- also a finalist last year -- had the good sense to decline to enter the beauty contest once again.
Oh, let them have their meaningless award. Besides this things was in the works long before Ireton ran for office. And the money to get ppl there won't come from the city anyhow.
Salisbury will not experience economic growth. Companies are over taxed and our local government makes it an unfriendly area for businesses.
Well now , if the crime in the other all American Cities is as bad as Salisbury , we are in trouble as a Nation. Where do these idiots get this kind of crap about all american cities? The idiots probabley have never been to Salisbury , but I guess Ms Smith has told them some stuff.
Yeah let the world come to SBYNEWS and see how really racist and bass ackwards this city is with you the Grand Dragon leading the way Joe.
10:29... by lying to them? I agrree we need to stimulate the economic growth, but lying to do it will only leave us worse off when bigger companies come in putting the small businesses out and then packing and leaving themselves when they see its a farse! How can the all american city have the highest crime rate for its size? I'm confused, how are they getting by with that?
Ann has aged well.
11;24 They are more than welcome to their meaningless award just not at the expense of the taxpayer.
I can name one good thing about Salisbury. All the lovely people, come heres, from heres and stay heres. Nothing else comes to mind.
If thats comedy, dont quit your day job. I would be interseted in knowing what people think and enjoy about Salisbury. I think there are two Salisburys, one where people care and love their town & then you got all the gen-poppers that dont give a rats butt about anything.
One by one they will all come down
And there will no longer be any downtown
It lived in the past in memories of all
Then they built that ratty old mall
It had cpr time and time again
Then the centre said now Im your new friend
The cross roads of Delmarva has run its course
You cant control the future not even with force
It fought and fought with all that it had
But it will go and yes that is sad
Salisbury has changed is that good or bad
We should all remember what we once had
Tommorow will get here in a mere blink
Sometimes I just stop and think...
Winning this award means nothing! It's like being the best looking person in a lepard colony. Or being the best oarsman on a slave galley, who cares!! Wasted money!
11:14-
WRONG - the solution to the situation in Salisbury does not involve spending time and effort on BS things like this that everyone who lives here (and anyone who comes here) knows to be a joke.
Ireton should have said thanks but no thanks, but given his hunger for publicity and grandstanding, I'm not surprised that he didn't do that.
12:20 - +1
You have to be kidding me. Salisbury is the furthest thing from All American. High crime,rental properties,few jobs and just an all around ugly city. Try selling the Brooklyn bridge. You'll have better luck.
Same ole, same ole...How much did "it" cost to enter this nonsensicle contest?
Someone is responsible for us being in it. Who might that be?
The problem is, everything around here is already a farce so its more of the same when I see Wico County or Salisbury owning up to any outstanding community awards. There are 2 types of ppl around here, those that dont care about anything and those that care even less than that. Not to mention the nonexistent integrity from nearly all the local ppl. Does anyone live up to their word around here?
The local news wont report the high crime but you can bet your a$$ that they will report this "award" regardless of whether or not we "win". Somehow we'll be a finalist and that'll be big news on WBOC. Thank God I know the truth.
The city would never send honest hard working citizens to attend this dog and pony show. The truth may come out.
Why are you so negative, fellow. Your negative attitude will bring on illness in your life.
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