Gary Comegys Calls It Quits

Gary Comegys, (known by many as Bubba) announced in today's Daily Times he will not seek re-election. Comical as it may seem, Comegys, (who once stood proud of the WWTP) said they are just citizen legislators who trusted engineers. No Gary, the fools on the City Council who claim they spend so much time and energy being Council Members didn't read or study or heck, for that matter didn't even use common sense when it came to the Waste Water Treatment Plant, (WWTP).

Signing an agreement valued AT THE TIME of $84,000,000.00 you'd think ANY Joe Citizen would see the red flag where the lawyers put in the $1,000,000.00 liability clause in the contract. Secondly, when questioning the system from the beginning, REALIZING we do NOT live in Florida, the system just wasn't going to work here on the Eastern Shore, you can't pass YOUR decision off as your just being citizen legislators. You screwed up by the tune of $160,000,000.00 and that ain't no chump change. A $14,000,000.00 Fire Station and a $900,000.00 Fire Boat, plus the sale of an old Fire Station including two waterfront lots for $100,000.00, no Gary, no matter how much sympathy you think you might have gotten in votes, there's no way the citizens would be stupid enough to re-elect you and you knew it.

Far too many people were challenging pretty much every one of your decisions and you made quite a few bad ones at taxpayers expense. I'll not get into the laundry list of such. Instead I'll simply sit back with a ton of relief knowing you and your friends are now gone. Perhaps the City of Salisbury does in fact have a chance. Perhaps the old Tilghman Administration is realizing in this economy that now is not the time to continue trying to control the City from the outside and a new level headed Council can step in and start the massive recovery.

Now Folks, don't stop looking over your shoulders because they will be back. When the economy rebounds they'll be after every special interest deal there is to be had. For now, someone is puling in the reigns.
Gary will not get any praises on this Blog as he has used and abused the taxpayers and in my own personal opinion I'm glad to see the guy finally drop out and get the hell out of the way. It's now up to the taxpayers to make the proper decision as to who to elect. Keep a keen eye on who we endorse because it's going to be that important for Salisbury's future.

Spend some time with your Family Gary. Salisbury doesn't need you and will do far better without you. Folks, I do believe that ends my circle of people I've been interested in getting rid of in the City of Salisbury, (unless I missed someone). Tilghman, Webster, Jacobs, See, Rapp, Samis, Dunn, Cathcart and Comegys. Who says you can't fight City Hall!

Psychologist Lawmaker: Congress Should Study Shooting, Then Act

Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) is calling on Congress to throughly review the circumstances behind last weekend's shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and 18 others before taking any legislative action.

Murphy, a psychologist and co-chairman of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, said the tragedy hit close to home for lawmakers but that it's important for them to have all the answers before taking action.

"Right now you have a number of members of Congress who really want to do something, and they don't know what they're going to do so they are reaching out in the areas that they know something about -- gun control, security systems, Internet control," Murphy told The Hill.

"What I want to do is use the resources and talent of the Mental Health Caucus and sit down and review this with professionals once we have more data and then ask the questions: Were there gaps in care or in the process here that can be remedied by congressional action?" he said.

The debate over mental healthcare in the U.S. has resurfaced in the wake of last weekend's shooting because the suspect, Jared Lee Loughner, is widely believed to have been mentally ill. He was removed from Pima Community College and his parents were told he wouldn't be allowed back until a mental health expert had assessed him, but it appears he was never evaluated or treated.

Murphy said a congressional review could uncover multiple possible breakdowns that could then be effectively addressed: "What was the school aware of? Did they make referrals for counseling, for therapy? Did someone follow through? What were the parents aware of? What were the law enforcement agencies aware of? Was there any involuntary commitment for psychiatric care? Was there any drug and alcohol treatment?"

"We haven't even taken the history on a patient that people are trying to diagnose," Murphy told The Hill.

More here

Homeland Security Chairman Wants Plan After White House Scraps Border Fence

The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee is calling on the White House to present Congress with a detailed timeline for its plan to secure the U.S.-Mexico border following its move to scrap a flawed $1 billion border fence initiative.

In the wake of the administration's announcement to discontinue the SBInet program, Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.) said the Department of Homeland Security should speed up its plan to establish a protected border.

The 4-year old program, started under President George W. Bush, has only established 53 miles worth of fencing along the border, and has been plagued by delays. Last year, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano ordered a complete assessment of the SBInet program.

“The Obama Administration must promptly present the people of this country with a comprehensive plan to secure our borders, incorporating the necessary staffing, fencing, and technology,” said King in a statement. “I expect the Administration, in its upcoming 2012 budget proposal, to put forward such a plan, including timelines and metrics.”

The ranking Democrat on the committee, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), also heralded the program’s ending, saying that it has been “a grave and expensive disappointment since its inception.”

“Our Committee has held 11 hearings on the project, commissioned 5 critical GAO reports, all while the program cost taxpayers nearly $1 billion for only 53 miles of coverage,” said Thompson.

Read more here

Poll: Americans Split On What To Cut From Government

A new CBS News poll finds that Americans strongly prefer cutting spending to raising taxes to reduce the federal deficit.

While 77 percent prefer to cut spending, just nine percent call for raising taxes. Another nine percent want to do both.

Yet most Americans could not volunteer a program they'd be willing to see cut in order to reduce the deficit - only 38 percent could name a program they would support cutting. The top responses were military/defense (six percent), Social Security/Medicare (four percent) and welfare/food stamps (four percent).

However, Americans are more willing to consider cuts when presented with specific ideas, as the chart above illustrates. The most popular ideas for reducing the deficit are to reduce Social Security benefits for the wealthy, reduce the money allocated to projects in their own community, reduce farm subsidies and reduce defense spending. More than 50 percent supported reductions in each of those programs.

More details

A Letter To The Editor

COMEGYS BOWS OUT THE RIGHT WAY!

Yes, I’m biased. My "Best of Bubba" highlight CD could be put on a pinhead with lots of room to spare.

But his telling us that he’s decided not to seek reelection to the Salisbury City Council was done with dignity and not by trying to hold a media event like Louise Smith did on Friday – in which she managed to come off like a jilted prom queen in the "Miss Congeniality" contest.

He has our prayers for his health and our best wishes.

Salisbury House Fire

Joe,

There is a house fire on Emerson Ave. Not sure of exact location but so far 2 trucks and ladder 16 has been dispatched.

Pocomoke City House Fire

The American Red Cross Lower Shore Chapter Disaster Action Team#5 responded to a house fire in Pocomoke City, MD. A family of 3 were assisted who were displaced due to the fire.

Paradoxical Thought For The Day

"Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government

wants every citizen to prove they are insured,

but people don't have to prove they are citizens.

A Boy And His Dog

Arizona Victim Accused Of Making Threat

In an unexpected twist to the Arizona shootings, a man wounded in the attack was arrested and taken for a psychiatric exam after an outburst at a town hall meeting, during which he took a picture of a tea party leader and yelled "you're dead," authorities say.
GO HERE to read more.

Complete List Of School Administration Changes

Several administrative changes for Wicomico County Public Schools took effect on Jan. 3, and a final change was announced on Jan. 13. The adjustments in school administrative leadership teams are related to filling an administrative vacancy and ensuring that school leadership staff are in place in all schools to best meet the needs of students, said Dr. Margo Handy, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Student Services. The mid-year adjustments will ensure stability and consistency in the affected schools.

Leadership teams in the affected schools are:

Beaver Run Elementary:
Principal - William Curtis (no change)
Acting Assistant Principal – Alexan Dargan (announced on Jan. 13)

Delmar Elementary:
Acting Principal - Judy Nicholson
Assistant Principal - Karen Parsons
Assistant Principal – Dr. Kathy Vail

Glen Avenue Elementary:
Principal - Michael Collins (no change)
Assistant Principal - Larry Collins

Prince Street Elementary:
Principal - Chris Nunzio
Assistant Principal - Maria Marshall (no change)