DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thursday, July 19, 2012
In Wake Of LIBOR Scandal, Department of Justice Is Preparing Criminal Cases Against Several Wall Street Banks
First Finding Of West Nile Virus In Wild Birds Reported For 2012
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Governor Signs “Employment First” Bill Into Law
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Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts: Maryland Can Resume DNA Collection
Internet Privacy Is Focus Of Gansler As Head Of U.S. Attorneys General
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Passengers Discover Sewing Needles In Turkey Sandwiches On Four Delta Flights
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New Welfare Restrictions Target Booze, Tattoos
Redistricting
After months of work the Wicomico County Redistricting Committee presented its proposal for new councilmanic districts to the County Council on Tuesday. Chairman Joe Collins made the presentation to council. The bi-partisan plan, approved with no dissenting votes from the four Republicans and three Democrats on the committee, provided for a minority district that is 59.03% African-American and a population in each district which is almost equal.
Under the committee’s proposal, the districts would have populations ranging from 19,783 in District 1 to 19,907 in District 5. The ideal population for each district is 19,837.
During the council’s discussion of the proposal during a work session Tuesday, one problem was noted: the proposed map would result in an increase of precincts from the current 38 to approximately 50. When asked about this, Redistricting Committee vice chairman G. A. Harrison said that this was outside of the committee’s charge:
We were bound by applicable state and federal law and given a specific charge from the county council. Because of the newly drawn legislative districts, the number of precincts were going to change regardless of what we did. It needs to be noted that the number and location of polling places should not change. This is what matters most to voters anyway. We should also note that some of these new precincts are “paper” or “ghost” precincts which don’t have people living in them. It is true that the cost of the elections could rise slightly because of the increase in “ballot styles” (each precinct requires its own ballot style). If I have any regrets on this matter it’s that increasing the number of precincts does increase the work load for the good folks at the Board of Elections.
When the Daily Times reported on the presentation on Wednesday they made a huge mistake in reporting the African-American population percentage in the proposed District 1 – reporting it as 53.09% instead of the actual 59.03%. Committee chairman Joe Collins believes this is a grave error:
On the surface, people may think that it’s no big deal. 53%. 59%. They’re both a majority, right? Unfortunately, there is a huge difference. African-American voter turnout drops greatly between the Presidential and Gubernatorial elections. Part of our charge, as interpreted by the County Attorney, was to draw a minority district that which provides for a high probability of electing an African-American candidate. When you have a district that is under 55 or 56 percent African-American you then are faced with a district where the majority of voters are no longer African-American. I’m hoping that the Daily Times’ error was just that, a mistake, and they will print a correction. Unfortunately, the damage is done.
As Collins pointed out on Tuesday, the committee’s work was strictly advisory and that the final decision will be made by the county council. If the council does not act within 70 days, the committee’s map becomes law.
View the committee’s presentation here:
TSA Let 25 Illegal Aliens Attend Flight School Owned By Illegal Alien
The illegal-alien flight-school attendees included eight who had entered the country illegally and 17 who had overstayed their allowed period of admission into the United States, according to an audit by the GAO.
Six of the illegal aliens were actually able to get pilot’s licenses.
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TSA Flags Man With World’s Largest Penis For Additional Crotch Screening
Jonah Falcon of New York City is an actor and hosts a public-access show about the Yankees, but he isn't famous for that. He's famous for a quirk of nature: he has the largest recorded penis in the world. He's appeared on lots of talk shows and even in a documentary, but evidently his fame hasn't reached the TSA workers at San Francisco International Airport. There, the large bulge in his pants caught the notice of a guard, who presumed it was some kind of weapon. He was subjected to a (brisk and professional) extra patdown and tested for explosive residue.
Attack on Israeli Tourist Bus in Bulgaria Kills 7
Don't Forget To Send In Your Yard Sale Information Today
If you'd like to advertise your Yard Sale this weekend, (FREE) don't forget to get me your information by tonight. Send your information to alberobutzo@wmconnect.com.Zimmerman Says He Was Not Pursuing Trayvon Martin
Troopers Investigate Single Vehicle Fatality, Frankford
Date of Occurrence: Wednesday July 18, 2012 at approximately 9:28 p.m.
Operator and Vehicle Information:
Operator: Jose M. Escarola-Barragan, 24, Frankford, DE
Vehicle: 1997 Ford F150 pickup
Resume:
Frankford, DE- The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is currently investigating a single vehicle fatal crash that occurred east of Frankford.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:28 p.m. last evening as Jose M. Escarola-Barragan, 24, of Frankford, was operating a 1997 Ford, F150 Pickup eastbound on Gum Road west of Shockley Town Road. For an unknown reason, the Escarola-Barragan failed to negotiate a moderate right curve causing the left side tires to exit the north edge of the roadway. The pickup truck began rotating in a clockwise direction and continued sliding eastbound until the left side of the truck struck a Delaware Electric Coop Utility Pole. After the impact, the truck then rotated in a counter clockwise direction, ultimately coming to a stop in a northerly direction on the north edge of Gum Rd.
Jose M. Escarola-Barragan, who was properly restrained, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gum Road, in the area of Shockley Town Road, was closed for approximately two and a half hours as the collision was investigated and cleared. The crash remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit.
Salisbury News Exceeds 10,000,000 Hits In 2012
While I never expected it to come this early, yesterday proved to be a monstrous day for SBYNews and we have now exceeded the 10,000,000 hit mark.There's no denying it, Salisbury News is by far the most reliable Site for your news and information.
Don't fall asleep at the wheel. If you really want to expose your business and get it to grow, consider an ad on Salisbury News.
Contact me at alberobutzo@wmconnect or call me at 410-430-5349.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
How Can We Help Relieve Some Tax Burdens On Salisbury Taxpayers
In a recent radio interview Don Rush asked me this question. While I knew ANY answer wouldn't be popular, I openly exposed one of the areas in which I'll campaign on. Considering this interview will air tomorrow morning and knowing he can't allot enough time to explain it in full I thought I'd take this opportunity to share what I expressed.
Ladies & Gentlemen, 7 years ago the entire budget for the Salisbury Zoo was $350,000.00. They could feed the animals, pay the entire staff and get what was needed off that $350,000.00.
TODAY, the salaries alone are $773,000.00 per year! Their operating expense, (to the taxpayers) is an additional $239,000.00. The overhead is now in excess of $1,000,000.00 per year and that does NOT include local, state and federal grant money! Some say the total expense average per year for the Zoo is nearly $3,000,000.00 a year.
If you're wondering why the Salisbury Police haven't seen raises, well, now you know. If you're wondering why City employees aren't getting raises, now you know.
The Salisbury Zoo has become a major liability, yet you never hear any of this information in the Press. So how can we fix it? Well, that's where things get difficult in the sense that there needs to be some give and take. A gumball used to cost a penny, now it's a quarter. The Zoo just can't be free any more but allow me to explain how my plan can and will work.
I'd like to propose we charge a $1.00 fee to get into the Zoo. Now before you get your panties all twisted, listen to how we can make this work.
The Salisbury Zoo is YOUR ZOO. It should remain FREE to ALL City Residents. However, if you live in Laurel, Seaford, Cambridge, Ocean City, etc., you'll pay $1.00 to get in. I'd propose that the Zoo be open one day a month FREE to ALL visitors. This will resolve any issue with those who cannot afford to get in.
Now follow these numbers. The Zoo claims they get 350,000 visitors per year. While I do not believe these numbers to be accurate, let's just go with what they provide. If we were to get 350,000 paying visitors into the Zoo, we'd only have $350,000.00 towards the relief of Salisbury taxpayers. IF we were to be far more realistic, I'd say, (giving them credit) 100,000 paying people per year we'd only relieve the taxpayers by $100,000.00.
Considering the Zoo staff payroll has increased almost 3 fold in the past 7 years, $100,000.00 isn't much, but it's something. You have to admit, the Zoo doesn't look $400,000.00 a year nicer than it did 7 years ago. However, every time someone upgrades the Zoo, (look at the numbers) the expenses go way UP. Similar to the new Fire Boat. It may be all nice and shiny but give it a few years and wait until you see what it costs to keep it up.
The Salisbury Zoo is an incredible asset to our City. You should know that 99% of ALL the Zoo Directors across the United States are responsible for 100% of the overhead to run their Zoo's. IF the Director cannot fund raise to cover ALL of their overhead, they're fired. The days of the Salisbury's Zoo Director getting a free ride off the taxpayers is over. We no longer live in an economy where the Zoo can remain free. That is, unless your a local citizen living in the City.
I cannot imagine ANYONE who would say no to this proposal. It is fiscally responsible and the very people who live in the City would continue to have free access to their Zoo. It's a win/win for all.
I didn't want people hearing bits and pieces of this radio interview without having the full knowledge of my proposal. Again, I will not run and hide behind my intent should I get elected. I will always be up front expressing my ideas as I have nothing to hide. We cannot continue to give things away, especially when the overhead rises 200 and 300%. We have mouths to feed. We have employees who have not seen COLA increases, let alone pay raises in several years. We continue to hit employees up with health insurance increases every year. We must do something to offer some relief and I really do not believe a $1.00 charge is going to break anyone.
So there it is Ladies & Gentlemen. It may not be popular but it IS fiscally responsible.
I'd Like To Add: I'd also like to see ONE entrance to the Zoo instead of two. This would get rid of flashers, skateboarders, bicyclists, people trying to drive cars into the Zoo, joggers, pets, people sneaking food in and pedophiles. It's almost impossible to police the Zoo in any way when people can run the opposite way and get out. This is a ZOO, not a park.
You have NO idea how big a problem the above has been over the years. Where do pedophiles hang out? THINK about it Folks. I know for a fact this is a problem at the Salisbury Zoo but has been kept quiet for all too many years. Charge a buck and they won't pay to get in. Close the east gate and have everyone enter from the west gate where it's much safer for children.