YLNI photo op to say we got what it takes-but no money

The Young Leadership of Northeast Indiana has connected to the city propaganda machine. YLNI is setting up as we blog, to push the message that the Harrison Square project is about investing in their future, their children, their tomorrow.

YLNI will have little bitty survey requesting a yes or no? Do you support the mixed use presented tonight? What kind of dumb question is that from our wannabe new future leaders? But that little dumb question will serve the purpose of putting a spin on folk are really for the Harrison Project.

YLNI and city planners are still pushing the propaganda that the gathering at the Church was more pro than con about the Harrison project. The rest of the story was that the folks who were in the room were supposed to be for the project. It was the ones who showed up to speak against it was the surprise.

The doors of the church are open

Pilgrim Baptist church will host Fort Wayne Community Schools Title 1 conference. According to Frost Illustrated:

Fort Wayne Community Schools is scheduled to hold its annual Title I "Parents as Partners" spring conference from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., March 27 at Pilgrim Baptist Church, 1331 Gay St. More than 150 parents from the district's 11 Title I schools are expected to attend the event

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Hopefully parents will receive information on the No Child Left Behind program.

Mayor Richard you are not aligned..

Former NAACP president Bruce Gordon sent a memo to the NAACP National Board of Directors concerning its organization.

Gordon was obvious trying to get some communication going about the direction of the organization. Unfortunately, Gordon resigned from the organization.

Here in Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard will gather together some in the African-American Community to give directions to its members. The African-American community should give a thumbs down on the soundbites.

The community should take over the Democratic party and go in another direction. Barack Obama did it and he is one man! As former NAACP president Bruce Gordon told the NAACP:

I am willing to accept that our points of view regarding governance and strategic direction are in conflict. This is not about right or wrong…this is about difference. We can agree to disagree. We also could have found a way to blend the best of our respective points of view but in 19 months that did not happen

.

The African-American community should tell Mayor Richard, dang you had a much longer time to improve the African-American community. Moreover, Mayor Dick you can't stay in the room long enough with African-Americans to hear their respective points of view...you're definitely not aligned. Somebody needs to take him and Democratic party to task!

Hat tip to BlackProf and Afro-Netizen.

Do I have really have a right to know?

The public has the right to certain documents. But getting to the information can be tricky. And for those who learn how to plow through, can find it costly. Indiana Law blog comments on this public access cost imposed in Fort Wayne.

But these local election officials are attempting to run government like a business. You know like when they get kicked out of office they can something to fall back on. That's the hidden meaning about running government like a business, cutting deals with your friends.

5 1/2 year old child reads Fort Wayne Newspaper

No surprise there. We are considered the dumbest city. But to read that the millionaire, Wizard Baseball co-owner's daughter points out baseball and orangutan, is funny.

Yep, all the fun things in Atlanta and she connect Fort Wayne to seeing minor league baseball and orangutan. If she is lucky she might be able to get to talk to students here. Because, they will probably ask her in reference to the baseballandorgangutan, what's that? Our students are too busy having sex in school, dealing drugs and trying to survive. Read more about downtown development of baseball being the catalyst to growth.

Fort Wayne downtown is suffering raced white flight. Their children need jobs, but can't compete when they go out into the big world. Indiana is ranked 48 in the 50th state in education. Their children are not getting into Harvard, Mr. Freier, they are going to IPFW. Diversity is not a part of IPFW. Harvard at least has some diversity. Heck some of these students confuse an orangutan with African-Americans. So Mr. Freier do you really want to bring your daughter from the diverse Atlanta to white knuckle Fort Wayne? Just thinking outloud.

Censorship gone Wild

Hey girl students it is okay to participate in having sex in the school. Sex only beocmes a problem when you talk about it or discuss sexuality within the school setting. For example, two students in Indiana were not hiding out in an empty classroom having sex. No, the two students engaged in a sexual act while the teacher and other students were present in the classroom. Yes. And when the school learned about the sixth graders inappropriate behavior, the school wanted the matter to be the school's little secret. Sounds similiar to a don't ask, don't tell policy, I heard about coming from the military. Almost.

But when it came to talking about same sex issue, a student newspaper in Indiana found itself under scrutiny. Megan Chase wrote the article and it provoked the principal of the school into taking over the student ran newspaper. New rule for the school's student newspaper, from now on, articles will have to get the thumbs up from the publisher, the principal. This way, the student's newspaper will become the Principal's exercise in limited free speech.

And for those young women out there who believed they've come a long way,baby. New York got some news for you. Three young women were suspended for saying the V word during a reading in their school. No the students did not use the F word, it was the V word that got these sassy maturing teens booted from the school. No girl power is to be expressed in that school.


And girls after you learn that you are to shut up and it okay to have sex. Wait until you get to college in DePauw University in Indians for another defining moment. There a soriority booted girls for not having the right looks, ugly Betty no need of applying. **Messages being sent to you sistas, listen up** Girls you need to learn how to follow the rules. You know the rules that you are to be seen not heard. Where are the Dixie Chicks when you need them?

Geez-My Man Mitch-the pusher man?

I am not in the same camp of folks screaming illegal immigrants are taking Americans jobs or running America into Hell. Nope sirree. It's the money people who are running thangs. A single Latino can not place millions of dollars in a United States bank unless somebody is giving the approval. And the bank would be in violation of the law. But we never call these folks out. We say stuff like (rR---whatever Latino sounding name place here) was caught with millions of dollars of drugs. Same drug dealer purchased home. Same drug dealer does not have a job. Get the picture

Back to Indiana Republican Governor Mitch Daniels aka My Man Mitch. Maybe you should read about the connection of Indiana to Mexico. Reality Check reports on NAFTA and the potential for some serious drug dealing. NAFTA was passed in 1994.

NAFTA, which was implemented in 1994, required that the U.S. open U.S.-Mexico border states to Mexican trucking in 1995. Further, it required that Mexican trucks and drivers be allowed access to all states in the U.S. by Jan. 1, 2000. In the interim, it allowed Mexican trucks to travel in a commercial zone ranging from 3 to 20 miles into U.S. soil to deliver cargoes bound for interior states.

Do you think that is why we recently saw in the paper, a one man drug bust by Muncie Indiana worth millions of dollars. And do you think it was a coincidence that the man was living in Fort Wayne Indiana? And you do know that Fort Wayne is called the dumbest city in the United State? But you also should know that Fort Wayne was once known as the crack cocaine city. So follow the money or should I say drug money.

Hat tip to African American Political Pundit

Something to fight for

Ben Lanka has an interesting story on the forums held to market the city's downtown development. The city's neighborhood partnerships members meeting, fed information from the neighborhood specialist who is paid by the city, was the largest forum held so far. But, this is a captive audience, memberships. Many taxpayers are not active in their neighborhood association. So the meetings are not a true representation of the city's population. Therefore many of the opponents would not have attended or given voice to their opposition to the project.

Two more orchestrated forums are being held. One is the young republicans club whichis one of several clubs held on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University. This is a small group of young folks who targeted audiences are other young republicans and networking with republican leaders in the community. This looks like the college are up in arms, but many of the students are in classes or having their lunch during the 12:00-1:00 P.M time slot.

The second group of Northeast Young Leadership. This group is attempting to inform young folks who are professionals who are isolated. This group provide opportunities for get together. I would prefer to seek the hip generation from the D.C. area or California who are more informed about trends of today instead of copycat trendsetters.

But these are the groups that city leaders need to attract to a dying downtown. When in fact those who are the actual homeowners, the elderly, business owners, retirees, or the majority of African-Americans are not attending these events. These young folks have no history of the political manipulation. For instance from the city failure to update their technology, old school was very dependent on young folks upgrading their technology.

If businesses are folding in Fort Wayne, it makes sense for Councilman Sam Talarico to fight for downtown development. Council Talarico is also fighting for consolidation. Talarico is an attorney who works downtown. And with the shaky business deals see the downtown turning into a ghost town. Desperate measures during desperate times call for orchestrated forums.

Do you think the Mayor has contacted any opposing group to have forums? The anwser No.

It ain't your money

Geez, I just went over to Downtown Fort Wayne Baseball website. Why do they have an Ape at the end of the video? Is it because they have for the first time an African-American on their site. And that African-American is not in agreement with the propaganda about the taxing or funding of downtown development?


Reminds me of another blogger, who was unable to contain his racial hatred when his propaganda wouldn't fly with me. Here's a sample..AWB site was taken down.hint hint.

And even more surprising is that AWB of all people is supporting Matt Kelty for Mayor? What a turn around! Or... Now really what's up with that?????


AWB went through the trouble of redirecting me from his site..too keep me from going over there. Funny, huh, but it was expected. That's what happens with hatred you do things you should not do, but you better make sure it's legal. Because nothing is done in the dark that won't come to the light. I ain't Skeert.

Veterans and Active Duty Member in harms way

It is no secret that veterans of the military are not truly recognized for their contribution in keeping this country safe. So, the spotlight on the medical condition, is more than likely because of the injuries suffered by Bod Woodruff. Woodruff share a bond with those who suffer an injury while battling in combat zones.

Woodruff could afford the best care, including having a friend that is a doctor. But many injured soldiers and their families with the same type of injury can not afford the same type of treatment. Woodard in his recovery has committed his life to raising funds to help these soldiers receive funding and better care.


Now turning to President George W. Bush. The headline reads,Army surgeon general forced to retire .

The Army forced its surgeon general, Lt. Gen. Kevin C. Kiley, to retire, officials said Monday, the third high-level official to lose his job over poor outpatient treatment of wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

begins the story.

If the United States citizens are outraged by the treatment of wounded soldiers, when are the United States citizens will demand for the President to bring our soldiers out of harms way in fighting this war?

Open Access-Education

Some students feels claustrophobic about attending school in an unwelcoming environment and refuse to attend. And the Microsoft Billionaire Bill
Gates believe that education needs to be more open. And Judge Clarence Thomas suggest universities should throw wide their doors to attract more students. So guess what?

Materials will now be available for many students who otherwise would not be able to afford to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). MIT will be offering its courses free. FREE on the Internet. No degrees, but knowledge does not require a degree, only certain people. The program had some course offering for the last four years.

Hat tip to Indiana Law Blog.

How to appeal the reassessment is missing from the media discussion

Interesting to read the local news' coverage about the reassessment. The failure to follow the law in the mailing of the reassessment form 11 to all homeowners. The denying homeowners who did not get an reassessment form 11 from appealing their reassessment because the assessor's office refused to mail them the form in order to prevent them from appealing the first year.

But, some home owners are not aware that this reassessment is all made up and if they do not appeal this reassessment, they are stuck with all the made up stuff! From the Journal Gazette, Frank Gray's article:

Homeowners aren’t stuck. If they believe their homes have been overvalued for tax purposes, they can appeal.

In fact, county officials are urging people who believe their assessments are out of line to come forward and seek to have it corrected

.

But if they don't that means they are STUCK!“

In theory, it’s right on,” O’Day said.

, from Gray's article.



The fact that some trending values were determined by sheriff sales, did not stop the assessors officials. This is not a long arm deal in determining the value of a home, but that did not stop the assessors.

The process, which O’Day said is still evolving, has run into unexpected problems. There are neighborhoods with lots of abandoned, boarded-up homes. No house had changed hands in years. The only way of determining home values was through sheriff’s sales. In other areas, because of a lack of sales, assessors had to look at houses from other, perhaps not equivalent areas to come up with values.

, continues the article.

Auctions, are not a market of free actors wrangling over a deal. But all that is just noise to confuse the public. The media has yet to get to the meat of the problem. How does the citizen appeal the corrupt practices that are going on in the assessor, auditor and treasures.

How do we know its corrupt?

And some were even undervalued. O’Day has gotten calls from people protesting that their homes are worth far more than the county says. Assessors will likely be happy to hear appeals from them, too.

These folks did not know they were given favor to quiet them and reduce their tax liability. It's lower in value only to reduce their tax payment not the true value of the home.

By these folks coming forward it proves that the assessor offices are still corrupt. This was the goal of the court to point out that it's not the STATE of Indiana but local corruption within each of their city.

Hopefully the media can begin to answers the relevant questions for homeowners, soon.

What are the type of evidences that is needed for an effective appeal?

What is the deadline for filing an appeal?


How many copies are need of the form when filing an appeal?

Who gets copies of these forms?

How some can the taxpayer expect a response on their appeal?


What is the next step if the assessor does not act on the appeal in a timely fashion?


Where are the answer to the property owners relevant question in order to prevent them from being duped of their money?


Or do they have to go to the people who are duping them out of their money for these important answers to their question?

Harrison Square Voices of Authority

Who is Jack Swarbrick? Swarbrick wrote an opinion piece for the Journal Gazette about the marketing tools used to sell downtown development, the group of blue prints. But I wanted to know more about Swarbrick interest in Fort Wayne.

Jack Swarbrick is a partner in Baker & Daniels LLP in Indianapolis and former chairman of the Indiana Sports Corp. He wrote this for The Journal Gazette.

stated the article. So what is Indiana Sports Corporation.

Indiana Sports Corporation (ISC) is a private, not-for-profit organization that represents Indianapolis in the national and international sports marketplace. Created in 1979 to attract national and international sporting organizations and events to central Indiana, ISC coordinates and markets major amateur sporting events. Indiana Sports Corporation was instrumental in the process which resulted in the NCAA's decision to relocate its national headquarters and Hall of Champions to Indianapolis, and ISC supports and assists more than a dozen sport-related organizations in our city.

By targeting sports as a growth industry for Indianapolis, Indiana Sports Corporation's goals are to stimulate the economy, improve Indianapolis' image nationally and internationally, enhance the city's quality of life and provide opportunities for youth.

Since 1979, Indianapolis has hosted more than 400 national and international sporting events.

The Indianapolis sports community looks forward to welcoming the world as Crooked Stick Golf Club hosts the 2005 Solheim Cup.

Funding: Indiana Sports Corporation relies on corporate and individual memberships, private contributions, event revenue and charitable grants as chief funding sources. Call 317.237.5000 to learn more about sponsorship and/or membership opportunities.

Structure: Indiana Sports Corporation has a full-time staff and a volunteer Board of Directors and relies heavily on part-time volunteers to carry out its mission. Earl Goode serves as chairman of the board, and Susan Williams is president of ISC.

So is Swarbrick really interested in Fort Wayne becoming a great American city or furthering the business interest of the private not for profit company investors in which he served as former chairperson?

Go back and reread: Created in 1979 to attract national and international sporting organizations and events to central Indiana, ISC coordinates and markets major amateur sporting events.

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Swarbrick writes that you have to swallow the whole pill of redevelopment dollars. That Hardball is dropping $20 millions for downtown. That folks need to stop breaking pill of the redevelopment into just the $5 million piece representing the stadium. Because it's not being honest. And how does the taxpayer pay to match that $20 millions is yet to be revealed in this grandiose scheme? And this is the reason for calling Fort Wayne disingenuous?

But wait a minute, Swarbrick suggest taxpayers fund the private investors, and then the private dollars will follow:

When the success of this project spurs, as it almost certainly will, other development, the amount of private money being invested in downtown Fort Wayne (money that would never have otherwise been invested) will continue to climb.

But in the meantime, taxpayers are not to ask the hard questions concerning the spending of their money. Sounds like a good theme for a movie, Field of Dreams, but not at the expense of the hometown fans who are rooting for economic security for their families.

Racism is not about looks-its about discrimination

The journal-gazette runs an article about the incident at DePauw from the Associated Press. The article, Image discrimination: ‘The new racism’ discusses DePauw sorority evicting certain women from their sorority was simply about looks and had nothing to do with race. Even with the fact that one of the women was an African-American. This is a subtle way of making race irrelevant. The article suggest that folks are discriminated against based on their appearance and racial discrimination has ended!

But Rachel Pappas, a DePauw junior who was among several other members who left in protest, finds that hard to believe – and calls discrimination based on image “the new racism.”

“When you look at all these things and see that all of them have been eliminated, you wonder what it could be other than the image issue,” Pappas says.

.

Racial discrimination is placed in the background by society. Issues of racial discrimination are not discussed because it culturally acceptable in different circle. So silence protects the outing of these traditional practices that still exist today.

Indiana Law Blog posted about the law of Interracial dating. Interracial dating was forbidden in certain states including Indiana during the late 1960's. Now what does that mean? That means an African-American and a raced white were not permitted to date each other. This was the law. This law was enforced at home and in the social setting for young folks, school, churches. That means children were taught you can not date. I did not say anything about marriage. You could not like each other based on your race. This was the law of the land until 1965. This law was to maintain the southern way of life, Abraham lincoln's free, separate but not equal.

Loving

highlight the fact that laws were used to control how raced whites and African-Americans were limited in how they interacted with one another. Those who did decide to break the law would go to jail or have to flee those states that forbid miscegenation to prevent going to jail. To love and marriage in such union was criminal. Indiana Law blog used the article to highlight what is going on in the gay community. Not the same, same sex unions discrimination include African-Americans. The same sex battle is based on redefining who can marriage. That marriage is defined as a union between a man and woman.

In the court case Loving was between a man and woman. If man and woman could marriage, how could the law denied these two from marrying? It was race. From Loving,

There is patently no legitimate overriding purpose independent of invidious racial discrimination which justifies this classification. The fact that Virginia prohibits only interracial marriages involving white persons demonstrates that the racial classifications must stand on their own justification, as measures designed to maintain White Supremacy.

But African-Americans are to be stupid enough to go to the back of the line and fight for same sex marriage, while so many are telling them, shut up about racial discrimination.

Now we know all about Lincoln freeing the slaves. We know all about blacks getting the right to sit at counters. But families a little over 40 years ago was telling their children they could not date outside their race. Yes African Americans could go to school with raced whites, but you better not think about liking one another. From Loving,

Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix."

The subtleties of racial discrimination. On the blog, one blogger explained that the children from marrying outside of the race would be problematic. No, it is continuation of the old law that is held in the hearts of many raced whites when it comes to African-Americans.

This one of the reason why many raced whites chose not to live among African-Americans. Many raced whites tolerate African-Americans but they do not wish to integrate totally with African-Americans. Many races whites can go to lunch with African-Americans but they will not cross into the homes of each other. Many raced white has friends who are African-Americans who serve as window dressing friends. Someone who they can take to event requiring a diversity discourse.


It is truly acceptable to discriminate against African-American. Yes, it is against the law. But look at the majority of those who are enforcing the laws.

Racial animosity is notable, as on Where the hell am I post, for those who are not trying to tell African-Americans they need to go to the back of the line. This post weighs in on a writer who feels free to express in a magazine why he hates blacks. Disagree is one thing, hate. Who hates? You probably won't be able to find the actual article on AsianWeek, but it's posted out there. Because you can easily find hate for African-Americans throughout the blogosphere.

Racial discriminate is so indoctrinated in the America culture that is has a special protection. that special protection seal has been penetrated by gender bias and is not is trying to be penetrated by same sex advocate. But nothing is like racial discrimination.

The reassessment has harmed some small business men or women. The reassessment has enriched other business men or business women. The taxpayers will pay the taxes no matter which category they fall in.

Repbublican Commissioners Denied Funds for the Poor

First Wayne Township Trustee Rick Stevenson save families from living in squalor and gets kicked in the teeth. Next Wayne Township Stevenson goes before the Allen County Commissioners to request funds for the needy and is denied.

According to an Indiana's News Center website:

Mar 09, 2007 - (Fort Wayne, IN)--The Wayne Township Trustee went before the Allen County Commissioners this morning requesting more than one million dollars in poor relief.

But the Commissioners denied the request. Now Township Trustee Rick Stevenson must go before the Allen County Council for the cash. Stevenson says at the rate he's doling out poor relief; the fund will be empty by the end of the month. If the County Council turns him down, he will have to go to the bank for a loan.

The fund is expected to be replenished in June when property taxes are distributed. (Edited by Paula Hinton)

Trustee Stevenson was somewhat vindicated when other residents were moved after a fire. Let's hope that the Allen Council vindicates Stevenson in understanding the needs to support it community and voters by giving him the money to do his job.

More on the Harrison Square Park and Downtown Stadium

After reading about the Downtown Stadium, something did not quite square with me. Jason Freier's, one of HardCapital owners fought to protect residents from eminent domain. Matter of fact, Freier was involved with the NAACP filing of an amicus Brief on the Kelo v. London decision. Yet here in Fort Wayne, a baseball stadium was going to displace some family with the taking of property to give to a private developer. But if it is not called eminent domain perhaps that justifies the deal. It now made sense why Greg Leatherman was going to door to door, cutting let's make a deal with homeowners. Leatherman, Redevelopment Director, was trying to prevent an eminent domain takeover to avoid perhaps offending one of the owner's of the Wizard, Mr. Jason Freier, himself.

Unlike the legal stealing of property that occurred under the Southtown Mall, (currenlty called SouthCentre) deal that used eminent domain. Leatherman posed as an undercover real estate agent by purchasing property in an underhanded business deal, to advoid the ugliness of eminent domain. The act could be viewed as a constructive condemnation of the area land that was marked for acquiescence by the city for the private developers. This would save money for the developers and the city.

The reasoning given behind the sneaky deals was to save the taxpayers money. Or was it? However, the sneak attack could be perceived as a way of circumventing Engrossed House Bill 1010 which required that property taken from such property owners should be paid 150% of its value.

This information was to be disclosed to those owners whom property would be taken and given to another private owners. Indiana Legislators create legislation as protection for homeowners from corrupt elected officials. Read the synopsis below, I really like the part about the attorneys involved in such deals receiving a flat fee up to $25,000. Who are some of the attorneys who were involved in this deal!?

Synopsis: Eminent domain. Requires a condemnor, before proceeding to acquire property by use of eminent domain, to: (1) establish a proposed purchase price; (2) provide the owner with an appraisal or other evidence used to establish the proposed purchase price; and (3) conduct a good faith negotiation with the owner of the property.

Requires a condemnor, except the department of transportation (department), certain utilities, and certain other persons, to proceed to acquire the property by use of eminent domain not more than two years after the condemnor submits a written acquisition offer to the owner of the property.

Requires the department, certain utilities, and certain other persons to initiate eminent domain proceedings not more than six years after the department, utility, or other person submits a written acquisition offer to the property owner.

Requires two of the three appraisers appointed under the eminent domain law to be: (1) licensed under the law concerning real estate brokers and salespersons; and (2) residents of Indiana. Extends certain deadlines under the eminent domain law.

Provides that if a condemnor fails to: (1) take possession of property the condemnor acquired though the use of eminent domain; and (2) adapt the property for the purpose for which it was acquired; not later than six years after the payment of the award or judgment for damages occurs, the condemnor forfeits all rights in the property as if the procedure to take the property had not begun.

Establishes procedures for using eminent domain to transfer ownership or control of real property between private persons for uses that are not public uses, including: (1) limiting the use of eminent domain only to certain types of property; (2) requiring mediation; (3) requiring that the acquisition of the property will accomplish more than only increasing the property tax base of a government entity; (4) requiring the payment of a premium to acquire certain types of property; (5) requiring the condemnor to pay the attorney's fees of certain owners; and (6) requiring the payment of certain other damages, if applicable, including business losses.

Prohibits a state agency or political subdivision from requiring that a lawfully erected sign be removed or altered as a condition of issuing a permit, license, variance, or other order concerning land use development unless the sign owner is compensated or has waived compensation in writing.

Provides that the land owner may receive litigation expenses and reasonable attorney's fees not to exceed: (1) $25,000 in a public eminent domain proceeding; or (2) 25% of the cost of the acquisition in a private to private eminent domain proceeding; if the land owner receives greater compensation at trial than was offered in the most recent settlement offer.

Provides that the landowner is entitled to reasonable attorney's fees if a proposed private to private eminent domain proceeding does not meet certain eligibility requirements. Specifies that certain persons authorized to exercise eminent domain may only do so to accomplish the essential delivery of services. Prohibits libraries from exercising eminent domain unless a specified legislative body in the library district adopts a resolution specifically approving the use of eminent domain for a particular purpose. Prohibits a privately owned cemetery from exercising eminent domain. Establishes a study committee to study eminent domain issues. Makes other changes and conforming amendments.

Consolidation--Is almost a done deal

First the big boys were not going to be upstaged by the small fries. With surrounding areas gaining more knowledge of the underlying reasons for City County push to consolidate, East Allen County are banning together. So Allen County Commissions are giving in to some type of consolidation for merging departments, only. The City will have to swallow the amendment consolidation agreement or the agreement fails. Or City Council can choose to make other amendments sending the consolidation agreement back to the Allen County Commissioners. With this back and forth amendment nowhere is the public involved.

The amended consolidation agreement does not follow the law under Indiana Code 36.1.5.2, formerly referred to as House Bill 1362. The reason because it would require community input before any type of consolidation. City Council consolidation agreement has thumbed its nose at the voters.

Council Person Sam Talarico is not running for his seat and is one of the co author of the push consolidation down the throats of the voters. The public was not supporting of City-County changing government, and the second co-author, Dr. John Crawford was not impressed with the unyielding Allen County Commissioners non cooperative. So the two new founding fathers, Dr. Crawford and Talarico flipped the steps, merge departments and study and then go to the people.


The joint parties will commission a study on how to consolidation city and county government. This circumvents of IC 36.1.5 requirement of public hearings on consolidation of city and county government. The local Republican leadership, believe like their fear leader, President George W. Bush, they know what's best for the people. It is not a government for the people, by the people, it is by elite businessmen seeking their own best interest.

According to Amanda Icone in the Journal Gazette

The commissioners will send a cover letter with the amended resolution to the City Council asking for the facilitator and the committee to review each city and county department for ways to make them more efficient, including possible mergers. The letter would also ask that a committee of council members and commissioners meet before the proposed study committee begins to ensure the elected officials work together.

East Allen County were quite aware of behind closed door dealing instead of open government for local citizen. East Allen County formed their proposal. And East Allen County will place it on a referendum for the voters to vote on it.

Communities in east Allen County are considering creating an umbrella government that could provide some services to 19 towns, townships and cities but maintain the independence of existing municipalities. The proposed hybrid government is expected to be on the November 2008 ballot for a referendum.

No surprise here. In the Harrison Square Study, consolidation will bring more people to work for city-county government. The Study suggest that having a jobs in the area (downtown) will encourage these folks to live downtown. Fort Wayne's new tool for growing its population seems to have failed. Fort Wayne has tried annexation to stem the tide of raced white flight from the core of the city. But elected official call it a more efficient and efficiency government.

Indiana-Foreclosure King

Indiana Representative Win Moses discussed House Bill 1525 with WOWO's Charley Butcher. House Bill 1525 is to address the number of foreclosures happening throughout Indiana with education. This a solution bill that tells how homeowners should be informed about all the hidden cost in purchasing a home. The truth in lending required openness in lending, but the failure to disclose robbed many new homeowners during the reassessment. The money has been made and now the lenders are suffering. Local taxing units are suffering, because homeowners are losing their homes and are filing bankruptcies. Folks should be under the prisons!

Indiana has the highest foreclosures in the United States. You think this problem popped up over night? Indianapolis has the highest foreclosure rank in the State and no surprise Fort Wayne, the second highest.

Not only is Rep. Moses a johnny come lately. But Attorney General Steve Carter, busy with the no call list, failed to respond to the citizens of Indiana on the housing schemes. Many families lost what many see as one symbol of the American dream, a place to call their own. Home ownership.

Indystar reports in the Indystar:

The state attorney general is looking into a failed real estate deal that could involve nearly 500 Indianapolis houses and lead to a string of bankruptcy filings and foreclosures.

Why are Rep. Moses and A.G. Carter acting now on foreclosures? One was to educate the buyer and to explain why lenders are folding, Many of these schemes were concocted by less than stellar real estate agencies and lenders.

LRTB would arrange the purchases of houses by investors. The houses would be repaired by another company tied to LRTB. Later, LRTB would find buyers for the homes and split the profits with investors. But the project fell apart. Many houses were not fixed, and investors are now saddled with mortgage payments on multiple properties. Some may declare bankruptcy.

More

The houses are in neighborhoods within three miles of Downtown

.


Sounds familiar? Do you remember the city lauding a program called Fort Wayne Neighborhood Housing Partnership? Do you remember the story which told how homes were supposedly fixed up? (no pun intended) Do you remember how these homes were over appraised and sold to uninformed home buyers? And the city leaders had the folks come down and failed to act. Criminal action I would think on the part of the city in failing to act when they had evidence of wrongdoing.

Why you say because the same crook that cooked up the scheme are the very same one that told you there was no wrong doing found. And you believed them. But why would folks cook up such schemes, you say?

In the good old days, getting a mortgage was something to be proud of," Zuckerberg said. "Now you just walk in, and they hardly check any records. The mortgage lender makes a commission when they sell the mortgage. They don't care who the borrower is because they are going to sell the mortgage to a securitized trust.''

, from the Indystar article. The lender makes a commission!

I did not say anything about these folks being honest. But,you so want to believe in the integrity of these crooks. So much so that when you receive your property tax reassessment, question these crooks about the increase in the value of your home was out of the question. Even knowing that you did not spend one dime as Jake Parker would say, making improvement in your home. Besides, the increase in your home values moved you up along side your neighbor in bragging right. Even if you're not in a position to sell your home right now, you are willing to pay the taxes on the new value, just for the bragging rights. It's sorta like who can pee the farthest, or who's pecker is the...you get the long and short of it.



Read a synopsis of House bill 1525, and watch for the words property taxes.

New home construction and homeowner education. Provides that after June 30, 2007, a builder may not enter into a home construction contract with a prospective home buyer unless the builder first gives the prospective home buyer a written estimate of the property taxes that:
(1) will be owed by the prospective home buyer on the new home; and (2) are based on an assessment made on the first assessment date after the construction of the new home is complete. Specifies that the required estimate may not be based on an assessment of unimproved real estate.

Requires the Indiana housing and community development authority (authority) to prescribe a form to be used by builders in making the required disclosure. Defines an "at risk home buyer" as a person who: (1) has a credit score that is less than 620; and (2) seeks to obtain a home loan from a creditor.

Requires the authority prepare and make available to creditors home ownership educational materials for use by at risk home buyers. Provides that after June 30, 2007, a creditor may not enter into a home loan with an at risk home buyer unless the creditor first gives the at risk home buyer the educational materials prepared by the authority.

And you thought it was the poor, uneducated ones who are the most gullible you say. It's those folks that the local officials can easily bamboozle. No it can't happen to you, because you're middle class. These are your friends, you say. Take another look at that Reassessment form 11 again? Friends, nope, just politicians making money off of your inability to challenge your friends and their policies. Remember it's your money that local politicians are spending.

I would think you would have a say on where your money is spent. Nope, earmarked When you earn your money, local government has earmarked a certain portion to invest and spend anywhere they want. Because they know you have not figured it out and you will not challenge them

Note: Hat tip to one of the local readers of the blogosphere on explaining the term earmarked. In closing the bible does not say money is evil, it's says the love of money. And these local folks not only love your money but they love spending your money. Earmarked.

The city with Two Mayors-Elected and Unelected

is Kevin Knuth the unofficial Mayor of Fort Wayne Democrats clique ? How strange that a voter who steps up to run for Mayor is turned away! Sean Collentine is no stranger to the Democratic party. The Democrats need all the members they can get, but Kevin was not having it.

These folks won't be able to run for any political office, either.

The 4,300 residents in Fort Wayne’s Carroll Road annexation won’t become part of the city until Sept. 30, but that likely won’t keep them from voting in this May’s primary election.

, wrote Ben Lanka of the Fort Wayne.com. But the unofficial sidekick, and unofficial Democratic Deputy Mayor Andy Downs drops the bomb after the time for filing for candidacy has expired that yes these folks can vote. Yes they can vote.

And once again we understand why Fort Wayne is ranked the dumbest city in the United States

Smart Cards-Online Training

Smart Card Alliance

Smart cards are now being used globally in financial, healthcare, identity, security, transportation and telecommunications applications. It’s important to be grounded in the basic fundamentals of this emerging and evolving technology.

Bill Gates on Smart Cards.

The 6th Annual Smart Cards in Government Conference 2007 is to be held in Washington, D.C.

April 10-13 • Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center • Washington, D.C.

Register early. Discounts expire March 2. Click here for complete information.

Smart Cards in Government has experienced double-digit growth, driven by the accelerating interest in strategies and technologies that help speed the adoption of HSPD 12 and other key government initiatives. The 2007 conference will accommodate that growth while maintaining the personal interaction and quality of focus that has been a hallmark the event.

TrustBearer-CEO-David Corcoran-

The partnership neighborhood association representatives invited and played host to several council members and other elected officials. The meeting was an opportunity to hear more about the Harrison Square Project. The audience was allowed to ask questions or comment on the project after the presentation.

Ben Lanka reports on the Fort Wayne.com:

David Corcoran, partner and founder of a local business, passionately called to the crowd to support the project. He said his company needs to attract young talent to succeed, and that is difficult because of the lack of an urban life in Fort Wayne. He said the Harrison Square project could be the start of something to create the lifestyle sought after by young professionals.

The local business was identified as TrustBearer Lab, LLC an affiliate of Identity Alliance. According to the Identity Alliance website:
David Corcoran, CEO, TrustBearer Lab: Identity Alliance, a Fort Wayne, Ind., security firm, will receive a special award to further develop its enterprise after winning the third annual Opportunity for Indiana $50,000 Award for Entrepreneurs sponsored by Purdue University and Lilly Endowment.

And Greater Fort Wayne Business writes in its February 16, 2007:

TrustBearer Labs is located in the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center. The company has experience in “smart” cards and other security devices and has worked with well-known companies like Apple Inc., Sun Microsystems Inc. and Xerox Identity Alliance, a Fort Wayne, Ind., security firm, will receive a special award to further develop its enterprise after winning the third annual Opportunity for Indiana $50,000 Award for Entrepreneurs sponsored by Purdue University and Lilly EndowmentCorp.

TrustBearer Labs plans to remain in Fort Wayne as it continues to grow, Corcoran said. The company is an affiliate of Identity Alliance, which was founded in 2003.

The $500,000 was essentially what was needed to begin marketing the software, Corcoran said. He could not talk about who was investing in the company, but he said all of the funding came from the Fort Wayne region. A grant from outside the area also was received as part of the fundraising effort.

An angel network to help startups get off the ground was created in Fort Wayne early last year. Last fall, Ruffolo Benson LLC created the Main Street Venture Fund, which will provide mezzanine and equity capital for investments in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio. It is looking for more-established companies that need additional investment to continue growing.

And a press release from AdVenture:

(Fort Wayne, IN) Imagineer Fund, LLC, a Northeast Indiana equity fund that invests in technology development, announced today that it was placing an investment in Identity Alliance, LLC to develop and market TrustBearer, a software security product.

TrustBearer provides a simple interface for Internet users to protect their personal information such as credit card numbers and passwords. Using TrustBearer, consumers and businesses can conveniently and cost-effectively protect their information with “multi-factor authentication” which is the new standard in information security. Applications range from homeland security to on-line retail.
“We believe that TrustBearer has great potential,” said Donald R. Willis of the Imagineer Fund. “Identity Alliance brings some very talented people to a growing industry.”

“We are excited to work with the Imagineer Fund and its members” said David Corcoran. “It is partnerships like these that will restore Fort Wayne as a technology leader. We have and will continue to hire some of the best talent from across the nation and provide our software and services to some of the most reputable companies in the world. It can be done - and it can be done here.”

Imagineer Fund, LLC, was formed in 2004 with the goal of supporting entrepreneurs in Northeast Indiana who are developing new technology. The fund is comprised of 28 private investors. It is managed by adVenture Management, LLC, a subsidiary of FourthWave, LLC.
For additional information, please contact Karen Goldner, FourthWave, LLC, at (260) 469-4411 or refer to the company’s website at www.adventurefund.net.

The City of Strip Joints-Fort Wayne

This is a new spin on Fort Wayne. The harm to downtown economical development is the number of strip joints in the city. The voices from the radio called them SOB, sex oriented businesses. The lack of criminal enforcement to protect the city from permissive criminal activity cultivate an environment for such activity. Families will protest these areas by avoiding such areas, that build bars for more drinking and irresponsible behavior. Building a baseball stadium downtown will encourage such businesses and not shopping. The more family friendly shopping activity is located in Jefferson Pointe.

The voices on the radio station were Matt Kelty who is running for Mayor and Charley Butcher. It's amazing how fast this story is flying on the blog. After I posted this story FWOB placed the press release on his site. ADvance Indiana gave a hat tip to Fort Wayne Observed. I would think, Christopher Mann, campaign worker of the Kelty for Mayor campaign, would be the one who is driving this story you think?

International Women's Day

Read about Global Women Strike Day here.

Women & girls do 2/3 of the world's work, most of it unwaged. $1 trillion/year is spent on the military worldwide, more than half by the US. 10% of this would provide the essentials of life for all: water, sanitation, basic health, nutrition, literacy, and a minimum income.

Read more about International Women's Day here.

Imagining ourselves a global work

Hat tips to Taking Place and abyss2hope

Fort Wayne City Police Department Leased Building

Hey here's a picture of Fort Wayne City Police Department. It's in a leased building that our tax dollars rent. And has been renting for over 10 years. Are you thinking like I'm thinking? Yep, we could have purchased a building for all the rent that was paid over 10 years, huh !

Rumors has it that some people got sick, caught cancer after the tire-burning. I don't know how much of the rumors are true. But to have gone to work after all that poison was released in the air makes you wonder?

And take a look at the land where the tires actually burned. Guess what? This land sits right behind the Fort Wayne City Police Department Leased Building. Right behind the police station!


Does it not look dangerous? Well, sometimes, you can't see danger, that's why I'm reminding you. Seeing that water sitting there reminds me that tires burned on this sites for days. Water could not put the fire out. Think polluted, Think Love Canal. Bring your children over and let them roll round around on the grass in the greenspace called Renaissance Pointe.

Cybercriminals

When I first started blogging, I wondered why folks were so interested in the real identity behind the blogger. And that red flag, made it even more important for me not to give certain personal details. Just giving your name gives an unsavory character too much information. And your name allow him or her to tunnel in your identity from all the hits visiting his or her site.

This is no different from the Internet sexual predator, from a name, a house number they can stalk the person until they get what they want.

OU hires new tech chief after data thefts

ATHENS (AP) — Ohio University hired a new technology chief who will be in charge of computer systems that hackers once breached, compromising personal information of alumni, students and staff.

The university announced Wednesday that Brice Bible, 45, will become chief information officer April 16. He currently is interim chief information officer and assistant vice president for information technology at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.


Bible will take over for OU’s interim technology chief, Shawn Ostermann. He held the job while the university searched for a permanent replacement for Bill Sams, who stepped down last year.

The university last April discovered breaches in four computer systems, exposing about 367,000 files containing Social Security numbers, names, medical records and home addresses. The university later revised those numbers, stating that about 173,000 people’s files were affected.

The school fired two administrators over the electronic break-ins and spent millions to upgrade computer security. There have been no proven cases of identity theft or fraud linked to the data thefts, university officials have said.

“The university made a lot of head way and is moving in the right direction,” said Bible, who will supervise an $18 million annual budget and 150 employees. He will report to university President Roderick McDavis.

“Every person I have talked to here, from the president down, is committed to doing the right things to put the right information-technology services in place,” Bible said.

But you think they are your friends,when they call you by your first name. When they just may have access to a whole lot of your personal information. Cybercriminals

Greenspace-Phoenix Place

It's a bird no it's a plane no it's Phoenix Place, no it's green space. I know rumor had it that the space behind the police station would become a new YMCA. But the abandoned field, 6-7 acres was to hold lots of houses. But, rumor has it will become a green space for Renaissance Pointe.

I know Renaissance Pointe is the surrounding the Hanna-Creighton area, but who can tell in a photo op? So you didn't hear it from me....I'm still looking for all the houses were to be built for the Phoenix place project and the new Renaissance Pointe. Let me know when the first Renaissance Pointe home goes up, will ya? In the meantime, here's a picture of the field of dreams beyond the police station.






Now rumors of a millions of tax dollars..and one single model home will be built representing the future of Renaissance Pointe.

What's going on with you?

Sometimes you just got to know what you got to do. But, I am back. Yessirree.

Generating Income Working from Home

Welcome to my first carnival of bloggers March 7, 2007 edition on generating income working from home. I decided to play host because I wanted to hear from other folks and what they are writing about in the blogosphere. So welcome fellow bloggers and readers to this space.

L. Mills presents Online Tutoring...Is it the Job for You? posted at Work at Home Mom Revolution. Love this site for helping students online with their schoolwork.

Rebecca Newburn presents How-To Squidoo and Educational�Lenses posted at Information Age Education. I found this a fun and interactive resource for students and teachers.

Sunflower presents Sunflower: Make Money while Blogging! posted at Sunflower. Find this site interesting an online billboard.

supermom_in_ny presents Why I'm Happy Squidoo Started Accepting Advertisements posted at Getting Out of Debt. This is a busy mom site," My son's autism was the reason why I started blogging in the first place. Now I earn a living from it."


Nenad Ristic presents Money Consciousness » What is Money? posted at Money Conscious.

John1212 presents How to Develop Your Own $2,000 a Week Internet Strategy posted at OhCash.com. It's not location, location, location! It's strategy, strategy, strategy!

This one was past my deadline, but I'm posting it anyways.

Matt OConnor presents Why Keywords Are Your Friend posted at Adventures In Internet Marketing.

Posted at >> Work at Home Mom Revolution, Information-Age-Education, Sunflower, Getting Out of Debts, Money Conscious, OhCash.com

That concludes this edition of generating income working from home. Mark your calendar for my second carnival of bloggers on self esteem issues for women on March 15, 2007.

Up from Ashes-Phoenix Place or Renaissance Pointe

On Labor Day weekend, 1997, folks in the Bowser-Creighton spend the morning watching or escaping a burning inferno. Behind the police station thousands of tires burned in their neighborhood. Later city officials began purchasing land in the area with funding from the brownfield program. Several pastors, preachers, reverends, fathers got into the pictures and began buy up land, with Greg Leatherman was in charge of overseeing the operation. African-American men in Action, you see doing something to save the African-American community. The people who stayed behind were told, their neighborhood would be renewed as a sort of biblical phoenix rising from ashes.

This was a branding or marketing hook for those church folks to buy into the promise being peddaled by the men of actions, preacher, minister, city leaders..men. This is needed because this was the same area in the 1960 that African-Americans were resettled into under a negro removal program called urban renewal..Business men got paid and families got shafted. Urban renewal funding was to pay for the tearing down of housing and relocation of African-American families. But city officials redirected the funds to their businesses, friends and families, not to the African-Americans families who qualified for the funding. The excuse African-Americans did not deserve to live among raced whites.


Some houses were built, but here lies unfinished business..



Phoenix Place is unfinished business. But a new negro removal is in the air, first as synergy and now has morphed forward into the Hanna-Creighton Neighborhood as Renaissance Pointe.

If city officials lied about Phoenix Place..where is the proofs they are not lying now about Renaissance Pointe? And where did the money go for the Phoenix Place?

Millions and millions of dollars were to be spent in the Hanna-Creighton neighborhood. Yet the areas has the look of an abandoned field.





Now rumors of a millions of tax dollars..and one single model home will be built representing the future of Renaissance Pointe. One single home is not going to transform the Hanna-Creighton neighborhood! But the background will serve as a photo op for politicians trying to get votes for those who has the audacity to hope

So Long..Goodbye

Hello, we are going to do away with the old and build a new city? Where shall we built it? In the Dumbest City in the United States. Where? Fort Wayne. Can you see it? Oh yeah, it has a baseball stadium, but no people! What do you think happen to them?

Internet Identity Thieves

Identity thief is an easy crime. And it much easier when you are not careful of the company you keep. And it is even more dangerous when that company has access to your computer. And if that is not bad enough, if by chance the company you keep should happen to be an evil techie, you just might have a much bigger problem on your hand. Webroot tell us about these evil demons' ability to capture your personal information. This is especially true for those folk who prepare their income taxes online. Local bloggers are aware that we have a hacker or two among us. So, be careful and take notes from the article below.

BOULDER, Colo. (BusinessWire EON) March 5, 2007 -- Webroot specifically cautioned users about a potential spike in the instances of system monitors and keyloggers during tax season. Last year Webroot's Threat Research Team recorded a 265 percent increase in the instances of system monitors from February to March, when the majority of users use the Internet to prepare and file their taxes.

Classified as some of the most dangerous computer security threats, system monitors and keyloggers can track and record a user's individual keystrokes, making it easy for spyware criminals to steal any personal information that might be entered into an
online tax program or form.

Here's a site by Arizona State University for testing your knowledge on internet security. ASU will be hosting an event to teach computer awareness and risks when using a computer during March 27th-30th. This week is entitled Security Awareness Week.

ASU's University Technology Office (UTO) will host the third annual Security Awareness Week beginning March 27th – 30th. The event is open to the public and is designed to enhance students' awareness about the potential risks associated with computer and internet use.

Is this blight or are the children just in the way?

Martin Luther King Montessori School received a beautiful building from Lincoln Life Corporation as a day care. But the building is in the way of parking space. That's right, parking space. And you thought our local folks were interested in Brain Drain.

There is a reason why Fort Wayne is called the Dumbest City in the United State. Take a good look at the building. So, tell me again why the administration is looking for a building when they sold this one for $1.4 million dollars. With $1.4 Million you can build your own building.

Local Reassessment

Reading the local bloggers it does not surprise me more of the bloggers are not outraged by the latest reassessment conducted by their local assessor office. No one wants to be seen as the trouble maker or the whistle blower. It is not a beauty picture. Ask Valerie Plame whom identity was revealed by an aide to Richard B. Cheney to reporters. Of course Plame has finally been validated with Libby being found guilty. But Plame's face is known to the world, now.

And look at the War in Iraq. Voters are now aware that the President lied. But the troopers are still fighting the war, and the Democrats and the Republicans are still bickering about whose fault it is. It's both parties fault.

Now back to the local reassessment. True these local government folks are not appraisers. But that's what they did. Who said that local officials were qualified for their position? Who? These folks took a look at market values in your area, not necessarily in your neighborhood and smashed a price on it. Trending value is what they called it, to up the ante on collecting more money from the value of your home. Is your home that value? No! Is that lying? Yep! So what are you going to do about it?

First you will compare with your neighbors and see if they got screwed more than you in the reassessment. Next you will rationalize in you mind for justifying why you would allow incompetent people to lie to you about the worth of your property without taking any actions.

You'll say things, like well I was able to get exemptions to reduce my liabilities. Whereas the other suckers not qualifying for such exemptions are gonna pay more. Not.

You'll see things like, well my taxes stayed the same, so I don't care. Wrong.

I know folks in the blogosphere took simply math, I just know they did. So please example to me, why they are not raising cane about the reassessment in the blogosphere. But they can yell all day about that dang gone George Bush, Jr. Bush, Jr. ain't the only one stealing your money out of your family pockets.

What you are screaming about Bush doing is the exact same thing local folks, politics is doing. It's local folks.

Cell Phones Parked here

To be summoned to court is not a happy event for most folks. And to get to court and find that your cell phone is not allowed can be a real bummer. If you have time you can take it back to your car. But if you are running late, you are going to have to pitch the cellphone or find a unsecured hiding place for the cellphone. It does not take long for folks to learn that court house folks are not your most user friendly kind of people.


But Attorney Sam Bolinger has stepped into help the court goers. He has created a new business for the City of Fort Wayne, according to Dionne Waugh of the Journal Gazette.

Local attorney Sam Bolinger, 48, applied for and received a transient merchant’s permit about two weeks ago from the city. This will allow him to set up a storage cart and charge money for holding cell phones and electronic storage devices outside the Allen County Courthouse

.

This is the entrepreneurial spirit that exist in our town. Bolinger could have taken the concept from a young woman whose earlier attempt at providing such a service for the court goers. when the banning of cell phone was implemented on a cold January day. The woman, Jacqui Dowdell upon learning about the cellphone ban decided to stand outside the court house and offer to hold the cellphones.

I think it's totally outrageous. I think there are other alternatives than a complete ban on cell phones," she said as she watched many people walk into the building only to step out moments later, look around grimacing and wonder what to do with their phones

in an earlier article written by Dionne Waugh.
Two months later, Bolinger went one step further and applied for a license and has a secure holding place for cell phones. Court house official scoff at the service because their perceptive is that only bus riders go to criminal court.

They question whether someone who rides the bus or gets dropped off for court will have the money to pay to store a phone and whether people will walk to Bolinger’s stand rather than just going back to their car.

“It’s not well thought out,” Ulrich said.

. But if Bolinger is successful, (even getting cell phone endorsements, maybe) in the new venture that will prove the not to user friendly people wrong. If not, the venture was good marketing of his other business, as an attorney.

Bruce Gordon Don't Leave Us

With the talented Bruce Gordon leaving the National Advancement of Color People civil right ogranization mean the legendary NAACP is no longer needed? No, it means just what Gordon stated, the two were not on the same page.

Gordon said that while the NAACP is an advocacy organization, it needs to be more focused on service and finding solutions

from

CNN.com

.


It that statement, Gordon wanted a more hands on working with the people. Gordon was seeking ways to meet the needs of the people, by including these folks. By meeting the demands of the people in which the NAACP is representing creates a synergy. The synergy is the services that addresses the inequalities experienced within the communities. This connects the communities to the meaning of the organization, while at the same time grows the membership.

The NAACP has two fabulous assets: a well recognized brand and 2000 operating units across the country. These are assets that can be very powerful, but they are underperforming. There has to be an acceptance, a willingness to change. You can't do the same thing for 98 years and expect that you will succeed…. In business terminology we would argue that organizations that are no longer customer focused, who lose the heart of the customer, who lose the choice of the customer, will ultimately fail. I'm afraid that at this very point that our organization is more internally focused than externally focused,. That keeps us from being great and allows us to only be good. I think that the NAACP has powerful potential, but that potential will never be realized if we go about our work using 20th century approaches,

from the EURweb

Another way to view Gordon departure, is Gordon did not want to simply connect the internal members with hnd handshakes and special perks from movers and the shakers. Gordon wanted the grass root members to be included in the prosperity with business opportunities with the corporation sponsors. The gives more value to the organization rather than being an organization showing up as a savior during a period of crisis in the community.

The NAACP legacy is one of legal justice. A better fit for Gordon would be the Urban League which is about social service to the membership. The Urban League is a self-help organization. Gordon wants the civil organization to motivate the people to find the solution to their problems instead of waiting for the Bush Administration and local government to provide the resources. This would involve the two organizations entering the businesses of real estate, education, and housing. This would involve physical work and dollar investment. Hopefully, Gordon departure has freed him up to find another fit.

St. Louis Neighborhood witness gun violence

A Spanish Lake neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri erupts in gun violence when family home was stormed by a crowd of teenagers. Allegedly mother and son were defending home when shots were allegedly fired on February 26, 2007. The incident happened in the 1100 block Prigge Ave. and Bowers in Spanish Lake. Mother is in custody under a $1 million dollar bail.

Bail was set at $1 million for Alma King, 51, who was charged with second-degree murder, assault and two counts of armed criminal action, said St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch

, according to Betsy Taylor of Associated Press

Centlivre feels the heat- again

More woes for Centlivre apartment dwellers. Kathleen Quilliganof the New-Sentinel reports a fire broke out on the third floor. Centlivre was in the news after Wayne Township Trustee found some apartments unfit for certain residents.

Guess who was sleeping with whom?

Jennifer Hudson after receiving her Oscar for supporting actress in the movie, Dreamgirl said, "Look what God can do." Not quite in the same league, but with bible in his hand, Look what Rev. Al Sharpton can do. Sharpton is reported to have gone to the grave site of segregationist Senator Strom Thurmond, South Carolina ancestors. These ancestors held some of Sharpton's kin in bondage Coleman Sharpton was owned by Julia Coleman. Now we understand Rev. Sharpton love of the long flowing hair!

Sharpton appears stunned in learning that family members were enslaved. Hello this is America. Essie Washington, secret African-American daughter felt Al Sharpton was overreacting to the news that he might be kin to the late Senator Thurmond.

And if you go to Black Professor you will find the same type of awe expressed by legal scholars upon meeting the descendants of Dred Scott. It makes me wonder what do folks study about in history in school. Do they even talk to family members.

Or have they brought into the slavery happen long ago, that subject don't have anything to do with now. My daughter has a t-shirt that says I love black people. I don't know where that come from, but I saw it at an early age. Al Sharpton has made it fashionable to love black people who once were enslaved, because they just might be family.

Ron Artest-Forever labeled Outlaw

Sad. More trouble for former Indiana Pacer, Ron Artest.Artest was allegedly arrested for domestic violence. Artest joined the Sacramento Kings after a fight broke out when a fan threw a cup at Artest.

Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest was arrested Monday after a woman called 911 from his home saying she had been assaulted

. read story.

Did you hear what I heard? I didn't but did you hear what I heard?

I read both interview sets and was not impressed. First leading questions supported the blogger's position. You already know your position, built on information from the other side. I would rather ask questions explaining the project which would lead to other questions. Second, I would not take in a laundry list of questions for an hour and half interview.

I would have requested documents, documents and more documents. Documents answers some of the laundry list questions and provide a source for more relevant questions.

Next, I would structure my questions around the individual who would serve as the primary source for information.

Therefore, my questions would materialize from the folks in the room and the available material.

So, two questions, where are certain documents? And the funding sources?

This is my take on Downtown Fort Wayne Baseball interview, Starting with the first leading question,


Harrison Q is a signature project. It is a private and public dollar venture. The investment dollars willbe spent on Harrison Q in hopes of creating more foot traffic, which would in turn support the huge public investments, already in the downtown area.

The venture calls for more investment dollars from the public. What out of town investor does not what support from the locals? Nevertheless, this time public dollars will be combined with private dollars for mixed used project. Mixed use meaning not only a hotel,residential condominiums, street level retail, baseball stadium and a parking garage, but also the commingling of public and private funds.

Local officials controlled community input with planting certain types of projects that would be included in the mixed-use venture. Of course, those volunteering thought at the time of their participation some of these ideas came from their group, but city officials were planted in each group. Nevertheless, city officials and paid consultants compiled these ideas from the meetings and stored the data into three reports, Downtown BluePrint (2002), Downtown BluePrintPlus and Downtown Baseball Plus as marketing tools for private developers.

Because the public dollars are stretched in supporting the big-ticket items, the signature venture is needed to support these big-ticket items. Many of these projects are nonprofits. Moreover, to creatively support these projects they may become branded by the signature project. Branded meaning because their names will be visible. And the parking spaces of smaller nonprofit can collect revenue for charging for parking.


Because Hardball Capital is using their private dollars in this signature venture, they will be driving the development of the Harrison Q project. It makes sense that these businesspersons know more than the elected official knows or appointed officials.

Of course the Embassy, Grand Wayne Convention, Allen County Public Library are in position to take advantage of some of the decisions by Hardball Capital, but who will locally be a part of the project is in negotiation in the role Hardball Capital will play managing a public park.

The city will benefit from Hardball Capital driving this project from the shared revenue stream. This revenue stream is being hammered out as we speak in a legal document of Memorandum of Understanding in which all involved parties will have to sign.


Other public dollars will be similar to what we did in using the restaurant tax for Memorial Coliseum. Instead, this time we were able to extend the Jefferson Pointe TIF district to two streets downtown, Jefferson and Washington. We were motivated so that Jefferson Pointe Tif dollar could be used in the downtown area. The expansion allows us to use the fund from Jefferson Pointe TIF for public improvement on Harrison to the east, Ewing to the west and Baker to the south to improve traffic flow. Moreover, another use of the TIF fund would be to finance the parking garage.

This would free up income generated from the parking garage to pay for maintenance and operation of the parking garage. In addition, CEDIT dollar can now be lumped into one area instead of going into the separate councilman district and at large districts. This be an additional source of public dollars to commingle with private dollars.

Now if it is a success all the new business sales and income taxes will be limited to under a million dollar, more like $750,000.


The tiny businessperson will have an opportunity depending on Hardball Capital, on the other side of Ewing and Jefferson. However, Hardball may have a potential working partnership with the developers of Jefferson Pointe, RED, focusing on the big names and national chains. This would prevent any stores from competing with the stores or restaurants in Jefferson Pointe. In addition, if the tiny businessperson were allowed they would become renters and no longer owners.

Some local business will benefit, like architectural firm learning from a national firm and becoming part of a team in designing the baseball stadium of this signature venture. Other folks like construction companies, contractors, and homeowners in the West Central Neighborhood. Even the Holiday Hotel could benefit if it was to remodel and use the hotel for office space or apartments, which would sure help the new hotel.

Who Protects the best interest of the Child

Here's another post about children, getting shafted. Years ago, not that long ago, within my life time, a rich man visited Bunch Elementary School, which is now a pre-kindergarten Montessori school. Anyways this rich man was amazed at the intellectual achievement of these students. Students who were African-Americans no less. Guess what? The rich made a promise that he would finance these students college education. Amazing huh? Of course it was. But here's the kicker, do you think those students go the money after they fulfilled their end of the bargain?


No..so where did it go? Disappeared after the man died. But, I know for a fact some of the money went into the Fort Wayne Educational Foundation Funds. I'll repeat this one, I know for a fact that some of the millions went into the Fort Wayne Education Foundation Funds. By the way, one of my professors still owns me a steak, or a cheeseburger. Demands on who's telling the story.

The parents and the children were denied the opportunity of an education. Sounds a little like the Schwab Foundation rip off, you think?

Children Future in the way

Martin Luther King Montessori School is due to move by August, according to an article by Ese Isiorho. MLK was great for my youngest child. It appears that MLK Montessoir is having a little problem locating a new space for its students. Not to worry, Fort Wayne Community Schools have several schools where your little ones can find a new home. Sad to say, but it sounds like scattered seeds..that is the little ones will be separated and will have to move on

By Any other Name-Harrison SQuare Project

I've posted some of my thoughts about the project known at the beginning as the Downtown Stadium, Harrison Street Project. I have since settled on names like Harrison Square Park, Downtown Marriott Hotel, Condominium and National Chain Retail Stores, but will more information some of these titles are subject to change.

The revitalization of the Downtown area has stirred up some heated debate within the local blogosphere.

Councilman Samuel Talarico questioned a local blogger on his qualification in sitting down to take a look at the numbers driving this project. WoW

If Councilman Talarico questioned this budding CPA, can you imagine how he feels about folks who are not number crunchers? I've studied and drafted a state budget with projections. And I'm not even an accountant!!! I've studied the law and represented clients in courts of law and I'm not an attorney !!!


There is another blogger out conducting interviews and posting the interviews along with editorials and other stuff. I don't find the interviews to objective. The questions tend to be leading questions, too general and not getting to the meat of the subject.

I think both bloggers are finding out that answers are not readily available.

NAACP Chief Calls it Quit

Associated Press reports that NAACP President Bruce Gordon is stepping down.

NAACP President Bruce S. Gordon is quitting the civil rights organization, leaving after just 19 months at the helm, he told The Associated Press on Sunday.

Gordon cited growing strain with board members over the group's management style and future operations.

I'm used to a CEO running an organization, with the board approving strategy and policy," Gordon said. "But the NAACP board is very much involved.

Sound familiar nonprofits in Fort Wayne, Board Members need to get the h OUT OF THE WAY.

Hat tip/African American Political Pundit