Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "SALISBURY CITY PARK NOT TO BE SKATEPARK SITE":
Joe, I don't pick up the Daily Times that often, but after seeing this on your blog, I had to when I saw it had a skatepark article.
The article was really nasty. Just one attack after another on the council, including from Rick Pollitt! I was shocked. He didn't just comment on what Cohen said (which wasn't bad), but he pretty much damned the council overall!
How do people really feel about Pollitt? I confess, I voted for him, but I'm pretty disappointed. Now he's blowing off the Salisbury city council. Is there some political game going on we don't know about? I live outside the city limits, but I still think those gals do a good job and don't deserve the beatings they get. Thanks for enlightening us, Joe.
Publishers Notes: While I too rarely go to the Daily Times, you prompted me to do so just to see how it was handled. That being said, allow me to respond.
Let me start by saying, (or should I say, repeating) what I've been saying for years. The Daily Times uses QUOTES from others to bash the City Council. Their agenda is to bring any one and every one down if they disagree, yet they CLAIM they are fair and balanced, which is a complete lie.
County Executive Rick Pollitt, (while a very likable man) has deep roots with Barrie Tilghman and Jim Ireton. Their liberal agenda is what is and has been destroying Wicomico County and Salisbury for years. You can believe one thing here, IF the County Council had chosen to get rid of the residency language where the County Executive documents demand you must be a 5 year resident to qualify to run, I would have run for County Executive instead of Mayor of Salisbury. The Council had the chance recently to rid of that language but instead voted to keep it.
The mere fact that the County purchased that land WAY above what the manufacturing company had paid for it 2 years earlier and now reading that Rick Pollitt is holding onto that land in case that manufacturing company decides to expand, THAT'S A CROCK! Who the County Executive thinks he is USING taxpayers money to retain land for a business, AFTER paying all that money for it is scandalous.
The old Tilghman Administration wants to gain back the control they had 4 years ago. Pollitt would enjoy nothing better than a partner in the City to complete their special interests and runaway rubber stamping on spending.
A VOTE for Joe Albero and Debbie Campbell in April will put an end to their former control once and for all. As for the Daily Times, unless they buy out Salisbury News, they're done. There is absolutely no way they can continue to operate. Advertisers have dropped like there's no tomorrow. The paper is so thin these days with very late news, all they have left is personal attacks like this particular article that might help keep them afloat for a little while longer.
Argue with me all you want, the Daily Times has been failing for years. Their cost has gone up 300% with 90% less content. The younger and upcoming generations have clearly chosen they'll come to Salisbury News instead and no matter what the Daily Times does, their journalistic style even across America is failing.
I strongly recommend all of you go to yesterdays Post and read the comments HERE. Then remember, Pollitt wants NOTHING to do with the City partnership wise because he's SMART, he doesn't want to maintain the Park and would rather get a FREE ride from the City. The County participates next to nothing for the Salisbury Zoo as well, outside the few Hotel/Motel taxes they collect. So of course there's more to it.
Did the Daily Times or the rest of the local MSM tell you any of this, hell no. They just want to be buddies with whomever is in charge. The Daily Times learned a lesson long ago with the Town of Princess Anne. They got so sick of their games, the Town chose to move their advertising to another local newspaper and reduced their advertising overhead by some 90%.
As for Mayor Jim Ireton, the man actually is so delusional, he actually believes his main audience is only the local media. He believes whatever is stated in the Daily Times is gospel to our communities, he's very mistaken. For Ireton to come back calling the Council majority the Council of No's AGAIN in today's Daily Times article is just childish. Jim Ireton flat out KNEW the Skate Park wasn't going to fly. He pushed it with support because he knew he could use yet another failed idea with very minimal research onto the Council just as he did with the Downtown Revitalization Plan, wanting to put 500 Section 8 Housing units in ALL of the Parking Lots in Downtown Salisbury.
This Council, (or at least the majority of them) have been protecting the taxpayers for years. The Daily Times and others only tell half the story and bash the Council majority over and over again. Go read the comments in yesterday's article so I don't have to make this Post a mile long.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
You are so right. It really is time for some major changes.
ReplyDeleteSo true Joe.
ReplyDeleteIf they dig down a few feet at the Civic Center (By the handicap spaces near the wooded area) there is an old scateboard ramp from 35 yrars ago.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised by Rick Pollitt's comment today, too (I pick up a paper on Weds and Suns to get ads). All Cohen said was she was disappointed they weren't given a chance to talk about it. Unless Pollitt has a contract or blueprints carved in stone, what would have hurt to sit down and talk?
ReplyDeleteIf you stop to think about, what local government leader tells the leader of another local government they won't even meet with them, then lectures them in the paper about their "tone"?
You ask me, Pollitt owes Cohen an apology. My mother would have sent me to the corner if I acted like that.
I'd like to see Bob Culver run for county executive, Pollitt has worn out his chair already.
ReplyDeleteHis comment in today's paper has sealed his fate with ever getting my vote again.
What surprised me was how the paper somehow made this about the poor people who live across from the park. Makes me want to stick a motorbike park in the editor's front yard and see how he likes it.
ReplyDeleteI called and dropped my subscription to the paper today. I may be slow and old but I'm not stupid.
ReplyDeleteThe Daily Rag
ReplyDeleteI think this issue in particular was that the Daily Times is reporting from the side of the Salisbury skatepark supporters. Those who sit on the Salisbury Skatepark Commitee are upset, and rightly so. They received direction from whoever that this _____ was the way to progress towards building a community skatepark. They did everything they were told to do. Apply for grants, secure land, and then attempt to raise fund personally. I keep on seeing comments on here saying that why haven't they tried to raise funds?! They have! Raised over $8000 to date. They have not been able to entice larger donations because the donations were not tax writeoffs. Applying for non profit status takes time and patience... several years, lots of paperwork, and professional help. It wasn't until recently that they were finally able to submit that form. Now they are waiting for the decision (which should be yes).
ReplyDeleteThose on the committee have dedicated so much time (3 years+) into this project and now they are being told that they should have done it all differently. Would you not have been upset as well?!?
There is no possible way that the council did not know anything about this whole process. Is it not their job to ASK questions and come to a conclusion together? Those who sit on the Skatepark Committee are not politicians, just humble people trying to do something for the community that they live in.
Maybe it wasn't the best spot. So where is it? Council? Input? What is your process when it comes to working mutually with the county? Why wasn't this suggested in the beginning?
I respect those who sit on the Council but saying they weren't presented with every step and decision is a lie. They simply didn't care and left it up to the Skate park Council and a few others to figure out on their own. .
2:24, I'm with you!
ReplyDeleteBut speaking of who might run, I wasn't sure if I should say anything, but here goes.
Someone is running a rumor around that Cohen is going to run for mayor in 2015 (not true as far as I know). That's what has Ireton and his cronies at the Times and other places assassinating the crap out of her. Ireton thought she was going after him in 2013 and when Joe jumped in, Ireton claimed Cohen and Campbell put Joe up to it (again, not true as far as I know).
Conclusion: anything you read in the Times is biased and based on who they think is running for what. It's all part of the same old crap you saw before.
Be careful praising Bob Culver or you can bet the Pollitt machine will smear him with everything's it got, too. Even if he has no designs on the job.
OK Mike, now you are out of line.
ReplyDeleteThe Council was NOT made aware of it from the beginning.
The Mayor is the one to blame for this entire mess. He PURPOSELY excluded the Council. The Mayor held a meeting that was NOT published, (illegal) in which the property owners across the street were NOT invited to.
Just because the Daily Times points fingers at the Council does NOT mean they are right and have been caught in many lies in the past. They are in most cases very young and inexperienced reporters that do not know the history behind Salisbury and the Politicians that have been in charge in the past.
I have personally been to almost every single meeting for the Skate Park, so your calling the Council liars is completely out of line.
The article in tself is a lie as well. Those people claiming they were blindsided are full of crap as well. Go listen to the audio of each work session meeting, (especially the last one) on the skate park and you'll clearly hear Campbell, Cohen and Spies telling them while they might not support it this go around they by no means believe it's over with. They encouraged the park and some have even made personal donations to the park. DIDN'T read THAT in the Daily Times, did you?????
Now, as far as the Council goes, they have plenty on their plate. They work 60 hours a week just trying to keep up with the BS Ireton throws in front of them and they only get $10,000.00 a year to do this work. They also have regular jobs and children to raise, homes to keep up and families to feed. They cannot have items like this thrown in their face at the last minute like Mayor Ireton did to them.
It's easy to sit on the outside and critisize but like I said, YOU are out of line and are becoming very disrespectful.
You asked where the "best spot" is and you direct that question to the Council. Well let me tell you something right here and now. It was Councilman Tim Spies who tried to get space from the Old Mall Owners. It was Debbie Campbell who came up with the space behind the Civic Center and it was terry Cohen who inquired about Winter Place Park. In the very little time they had to do something, they did so. So don't go pointing fingers at the Council because they went way above and beyond doing all the research they could in a very short period of time. Mrs. Cohen went on line and called communities all around the Country to research the best way to handle such a community park.
You Sir are simply out of line. The Mayor went and got a grant WITHOUT any discussion with the Council. He is the administrative body and the Council is the legislative body. This means it was NONE of the Mayors business to do so WITHOUT the consent of the Council FIRST.
This has been Going on for 5 years there are only 2 members who have not been not been on council from the beginning, 1 stated that it was public record, the other has no clue
DeletePollitt does not respect municipalities or the residents of them. See: tax differential.
ReplyDeleteNow, as far as the Council goes, they have plenty on their plate. They work 60 hours a week just trying to keep up with the BS Ireton throws in front of them and they only get $10,000.00 a year to do this work. They also have regular jobs and children to raise, homes to keep up and families to feed. They cannot have items like this thrown in their face at the last minute like Mayor Ireton did to them. 4:36 PM
ReplyDeleteNot to nitpick Joe but, you are trying to say council members work 100 hours a week?
60 hours for council business and 40 hours for their regular job.
I am of course ASSUMING they work 40 hours at their regular job. (which I have no idea)
Do you think Mr Robinson will build a Skatepark now?
ReplyDeleteanonymous 6:34, I'll tell you what. Why don't YOU call Debbie Campbell or Terry Cohen and ask them yourself.
ReplyDelete2:24pm Bob Culver, you must be kidding. We need to encourage someone with values who can be elected. I remember Culver has a peace order put on him from his Mother. What the heck are you thinking? In my opinion, he shouldn't even be sitting as a council member representing the county citizens.
ReplyDeleteWe must find someone who is electable to run in the next election. Pollitt is looking for a job in Annapolis and he probably won't run again. Let's get thinking.
Getting back to The Daily Times. As far as I am concerned - they are toast. Their days of a reigning media are now gone. Look - you'll never get any unbiased objectivity with The Daily Times. They never have given credence to local statistics. They try to make the news as opposed to simply reporting it. They have a liberal agenda - laced with reporters and staff who support the 'liberal drumbeat'.
ReplyDeleteIf you oppose their views - then look what they will try to do to you. Case-in-point - they tried to ridicule Joe Albero, Andy Harris, Mitt Romney, VOICE leaders, among many others.
I hope they do drop off the radar - it has been a long time coming. And just like Air America - their fate was self induced.
ReplyDeleteHey! Bob Culver is an honorable man.
Things happen in families and you need to know the facts BEFORE you go running this person down. Mr Culver would make a great person to take Pollitt's place..sooner the better. We need Mr Culver. He cares about this county and the people.
Maybe it's time for "Mike D" to give his real name.
ReplyDeleteI was not trying to come off disrespectful by any means nor was I was calling the members of the council liars and I apologize if it came off that way. But do to the fact that this was an ongoing process of three years its hard to believe that this was all "behind closed doors" and in a "secret meeting". Perhaps the only people who were willing to help were the ones were were in this "secret group" who actually stepped up and said "I think this is a good idea for the community, and I think this is how it should be done".
ReplyDeletePerhaps is was all the mayors fault. I do not know. But I do hope situations like this will not happen again and the council will contribute with a more unified focus. This situation involved innocent people who dedicated a great deal of their time (years) to change something they are passionate about, and then being led into a rabbit hole with a bottomless pit and told, "well you should have dug somewhere else." That is unfair.
Again, I'm sorry for coming off naive, but that is because I am. My apologies. I'm just an average Joe trying to understand the view point from both sides.
Joe you should of ran for Rick's job. You would be perfect for it.
ReplyDeleteMike D, you said, "There is no possible way that the council did not know anything about this whole process." Please, are you not calling the Council liars?
ReplyDeleteSecondly, do you really want people to believe you're just an average Joe with no real inside knowledge to this entire situation?
Each one of your comments tells me you are nowhere near as innocent and you try to imply. Oh well, that's just something you'll have to deal with. You even go on to say it's hard to believe all of this went on behind closed doors, are you serious? Or should I say, are you that clueless? Ireton does EVERYTHING behind closed doors and tries to blindside the Council as often as humanly possible.
Look, it's a skate park for crying out loud. The MAJORITY of citizens in Salisbury couldn't care less about a skate park, yet a select few are making it out like you were just left at the alter on your wedding day.
I'll repeat for the last time. The Council is willing to compromise once a better location is found and perhaps better arrangements to assure this skate park won't fold like the last one did.
For those of you trying to compare Delmar to Salisbury, I've been to Delmar and believe me, that's no $300,000.00 skate park!
John Robinson has made some incredible INDOOR proposals for a skate park. WHY are his proposals so off the table when the man supported each and every fundraiser and event you guys ever did.
Also, there was mention of $8,000.00 being raised in FIVE YEARS. Are you kidding me? FIVE YEARS! That tells me very few people actually care about the park. Put on your big boy pants and go out and earn the $300,000.00 it will take to build what you want. Then the City can arrange a location. In the mean time, open up your own skate park business if there are so many people interested in it and make yourself a lot of money.
One thing I can guarantee you is, you'll be broke in less than a year. But that's OK to the younger entitlement generation as long as the money is coming out of every one else's pockets, right Jim Ireton?
Mike, the first FIVE YEARS was supposed to be, (I was there and they quoted) NO MONEY WOULD COME FROM TAXPAYERS. They claimed it would ALL come from money raised on their own to build the park, they just needed the land.
So don't make it sound as if they have been working the Mayor and Council for FIVE YEARS to get this project done. THAT would be a scam. One in which Jim Ireton jumped right on board with.
I don't understand why the County and City can't get along. It would be better for everyone if they did.
ReplyDeleteI thought John Robinson was doing the skate park?
ReplyDeleteJim has got to GO! And so does Rick!
ReplyDeleteThis damn County is stuck in the stone age. Don't they know the children are our future. Foster their freedom and will grow.
ReplyDeleteanonymous 9:34, how childish and delusional.
ReplyDeleteEach Council Member has children. Each Council Member would love to see a skate park as well.
The site location was crap and unfair to those residents who invested hundreds of thousands of dollars on a peaceful road and community.
Ireton, (on the other hand) has NO CHILDREN and couldn't care less about those Families living across the street from the proposed location.
Open your eyes people. You elected a single man with absolutely NO business experience to run your City. The man just wants to be liked and popular.
it's simply amazing that with all the real issues facing the city and the county that everyone is so worked up about a skate park
ReplyDeletewhat will it do for us in terms of economic development and jobs ?
what will us do to deter crime in the city ?
get a grip people. we have REAL problems that aren't being addressed
DAMN, JOE! You are on a roll tonight and absolutely correct. You have opened my eyes!
ReplyDeleteThese people think the world revolves around them and they are attacking the very people they need on their side who are obviously trying to help them! Must have hit their heads one too many times falling off their skateboards.
You helped "Mike D" expose as the phony he is tonight. How about "Mike D" buy some land and donate it for the park? How about building it across from his own house?
Here's a real question for Mike D. - if everyone knew what was going on, Mike D., how come Ireton switched locations at the last minute and how come he held his public hearing after -- AFTER -- the grant was already a "Dunn deal"? C'mon, "Mike D," we're waiting to know the answer since you are so all-knowing about what went on with this committee and what the council people knew.
The balls on that skatepark committee guy to call the council sneaky in the paper today. I bet the people on South Park Drive know who the sneaky ones are and that could have happened to any of us!
Boscov's is changing advertising plans after first of year. Look for the DT to get thinner.
ReplyDelete"Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteThis damn County is stuck in the stone age. Don't they know the children are our future. Foster their freedom and will grow.
November 21, 2012 9:34 PM"
What ever happened to parent's providing for their own children? Why should the government provide entertainment that a very few percentage of the children will use? I do not and will not ever understand the handout mentality.
Isn't it enough that the govenment provides free schooling? Plenty of parks for recreation? Where does it end with these people?
8:05pm What a joke! The "FACTS" are known and they are not pretty. Enough said.
ReplyDeletePollitt won't even give elected officials of the largest municipality in the county a meeting? How arrogant!
ReplyDeleteThe mere fact that Pollitt purchased the property behind the civic center in case a local manufacturer needs it in the future raises it own set of questions.
ReplyDeleteWhy would the county use taxpayer money to look out for the future of one business over the many businesses in the county?
No wonder the unemployment rate in this county is so high, no wonder businesses are folding and moving elsewhere.
Look at that land deal. Here's the SDAT link http://sdatcert3.resiusa.org/rp_rewrite/details.aspx?AccountNumber=05%20029678%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&County=23&SearchType=STREET
ReplyDeleteWhat you will see is that Wicomico County sold the property to Grumman for $255,300 in 1990 and then the County bought it again from Grumman for $2,000,000...yes, $2 million in 1994. What the heck? Sounds like the fire palace land deal and the Old Mall to me. The math doesn't make sense to us taxpayers.
8:59. Pollitt didn't buy that land. the county had owned it for years.
ReplyDeleteMike D,
ReplyDeleteThe Mayor hides behind executive priviledge and keeps everything that he can from teh council. Look at a recent example (besides the skate park) of the grant for additional firefighters. He had the budget information, but refused to let the council see it. Read the Charter. He was way out of lines, but there are no consequences. The public needs to demand better of the mayor and until it does (or replaces him with someone who understands real public service) you will not see the problem resolved. It is not the council that is broken, it is the office of the Mayor.
Mr anonymous has a very familiar style of writing.Hmmm,I wonder if,no that can't be,but on the other hand who else is this informed?
ReplyDeleteIt is what it is cause' that's how the good ole boyz roll
ReplyDeleteHow can we afford a skate park when we can't afford new police cars. One was driving by my house last night when something under his car broke and the tire just about fell right off. Good thing for him he was going slow. Some body could have got hurt. We need other things more than a skate park. How about some good cars for our policemen.
ReplyDelete