Great Show. I chat with Glenn Greenwald about FISA and the Democrats inability to stand up and say no more. I then switch gears and talk with local author Cecil Bothwell who has been covering the Pak Square “illegal” sale of land and the indictment and conviction of Sheriff Bobby Medford. I give away another $75!! Just listen and you can win.
Hiya Doctor.
Just a heads up that we’ve got two big local issues happening.
For all the bloggy good information on the trial and conviction of former Sheriff Bobby Medford, check out Cecil Bothwell’s Blog:
http://bothwellsblog.wordpress.com/
For the skinny on the suspicious land deal resulting in selling part of our marquis public commons to a legacy developer for condos, you can read Scrutiny Hooligans:
http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us
Or just check out my Letter to the editor in today’s Citizen-Times:
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880522078
I know that this story is already a week old, but I have been focused on national stuff.
From Cecil Bothwell (local free-lance writer):
Lest we forget, the just completed federal trial of former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford is only one part of the corruption evident in his administration. In fact, the trial opened new questions about Buncombe County government. Here are the questions I will continue to ask.
1. Payroll fraud
I told county commissioners about verifiable allegations of payroll fraud in Medford’s department in late 2004. I have sources on and off the record who say they were ordered by Medford to falsify records. Now, evidence introduced in the trial has documented outright fraud by Medford concerning his own work hours. After spending 162 work days at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino during his last year in office he claimed and received $20,000 in back pay for vacation time he “never used.” Uh huh. He took fellow employees, notably his secretary Sharon Stewart, with him on many occasions. How much vacation time did she claim?
2. Guns and drugs and money
We still have no accounting for the stuff missing from the department evidence locker in the interim between Medford’s exit and Sheriff Van Duncan’s entry to the building. Over 300 guns missing, with my sources indicating that Medford sold at least some of those guns to Jackie Shepherd and gave away others. Drugs from over 1,000 evidence bags vanished. About $200,000 in cash, nowhere to be found. Most grievous of all were the unlabeled rape kits. Have any prosecutions been diverted due to that missing evidence?
And why didn’t the District Attorney’s office know that the evidence from so many cases was missing? [Read more →]
Our guests will be Congressman David Price (Research Triangle), who has just endorsed Presidential Candidate Barack Obama, and Jim Neal, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate. This will be a great show. You don’t want to miss it.
Streaming live at 9 am on Saturday morning.
Podcast should be posted by Saturday night or early Sunday morning.
N. C. House of Representatives
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
(919) 715-2013
From the Office of Representative Susan C. Fisher
April 17, 2008
The Raleigh Report
There are several study committees meeting during the interim that deal with the way our state and local governments operate. Legislators serve on these committees to ensure that government serves you in best way possible and meets your needs.
Thank you for your support. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of assistance.
Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight Committee
The Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight Committee considers rules to determine if the law should be changed to fulfill the intent of the General Assembly. The committee receives reports from the Rules Review Commission and prepares a notebook of these administrative rules for members of the General Assembly.
The committee also evaluates the rule-making process and procedures for giving the public notice of and information about proposed rules. Members of the committee study state regulatory programs to determine if rules should be streamlined or changed.
At their first meeting, the committee looked at the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The APA was passed in the mid-80s to create a fair, uniform method for reviewing and adopting agency rules. The committee also reviewed status reports from occupational licensing boards.
Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Capital Improvements
The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Capital Improvements examines capital improvements of state buildings and proposed projects. During the interim, the committee has been updated on projects for the University of North Carolina system and state ports. Members of the committee have also looked at the prison population and prison facilities, capacity concerns at psychiatric facilities, and the Central Regional Psychiatric Hospital project.
Recently, members of the committee reviewed the State Facility Master Plan. The plan focuses on minimizing lease space by purchasing property to save taxpayer dollars in the long run. Members of the committee asked about building in areas outside of the capitol that may have lower building costs.
A state construction working group will compare the costs of state and private company construction. The committee will receive a monthly report on all projects over $2 million and track whether the projects are on time and on budget. [Read more →]
NC House of Representatives - Susan Fisher Update
N. C. House of Representatives
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
(919) 715-2013
From the Office of Representative Susan C. Fisher
April 8, 2008
Education has long been the focus of the state’s efforts and last year the state budgeted more than $11 billion for our public schools, community colleges and universities. As legislators, we value our youth. Several committees meet during the interim to consider issues that affect our children and school systems.
Thank you for allowing me to share this information with you. Please let me know if I can assist you in any way.
Joint Select Committee on Arts Education
Last week the Joint Select Committee on Arts Education, which I am a member, met for the first time. We heard presentations from Helga Fasciano and Christie Lynch of the state Department of Public Instruction on arts education in North Carolina. Mary Fulton, a policy analyst from the Education Commission of the States also gave a presentation on arts education. The committee will prepare a report in December.
Joint Legislative Commission on Dropout Prevention and High School Graduation
I serve on the Joint Legislative Commission on Dropout Prevention and High School Graduation which met for the first time last November. We asked several questions about how North Carolina calculates its dropout rate before learning about several successful local programs. The commission has also conducted a series of dropout hearings throughout the state to get constituent input on ways we can solve the decrease the dropout rate. At the last meeting, We focused on the New Schools Project, barriers that prevent girls from graduating, and Communities in Schools initiatives.
The commission awarded grants to 60 groups out of 307 applicants. Grants ranging from $25,000 to $150,000 were awarded to school systems, schools, agencies and nonprofits. The commission will also review research on student success, study major middle and high school reform efforts and how they may influence the dropout rate, review the courses required for graduation, and determine whether changes should be made and determine which strategies best help students remain in school when they are at risk of being retained. [Read more →]
Holly Jones, city councilwoman, would like to be our representative to the Buncombe County Commission. So, I sit down and ask her a few questions.
And they said I don’t do local stuff. Ha! Holly Jones - Asheville City Councilwoman is in the House. She tells us about her desire to move to the Buncombe Country Commission. Great interview. Great Show.
Pat Smathers is the mayor of Canton, North Carolina who is running for Lt. Governor. This is a great interview and I think Pat will be exactly what we need here. Listen to the interview then go to his web site and donate $10, $25, $50 or more. We need progressive candidates who understand the needs of everyday people.
Great Show. Of course, we talk about Barack Obama’s speech on race. Then, has John McCain lost it? Also, we interview Mayor Pat Smathers, from Canton, NC, who is running for Lt. Governor of North Carolina. This is an informative and interesting interview.
My good friend at Scrutiny Hooligans has asked me to pass on this note. Of course, I have been in computer limbo. No that’s not right. How about Dante’s 7th circle of computer hell?!?!? So getting e-mail has been a problem. Posting has been hit and miss. But, now, after 48 hours of wiping hard drives, figuring out which drive was the Master and which was the Slave, opening and closing my computer so often, I think that I left my PB&J sandwich in there, I’m now up and running.
Back to my original point, SH has taken the time to figure out who spend what on the recent Asheville city council race. He has the scoop here.
I have only been in Asheville 2 years. I really don’t “know” many of the power people but I had heard there was something rotten in the cotton (Sherriff’s office). So, if I, a newcomer, had heard it, tons of other folks had to know. They simply couldn’t do anything about it. There must have been someone who tried to speak out but got smacked down. Who was that person because that is someone who deserves a key to the city/county?
Here’s the indictment - Medford and 3 co-defenders.
————
From ACT:
A former Buncombe County sheriff’s deputy labeled as a “lead player” in an illegal video gambling operation must wait in jail for trial, a federal judge decided Tuesday.
Former reserve Capt. Guy Penland during his arraignment and detention hearing in U.S. District Court said he was not guilty of taking protection money and bribes from video poker operators. (more…)
When a public officer uses his office to further his/her political career, that is sad. When you use the office to gamble and cover personal expenditures that’s sick and twisted. Yesterday, former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford was arrested.
——–
From ACT:
Former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford commanded an illegal gambling operation that moved as much as $5,000 at a time through his sheriff’s department office, federal authorities said Thursday.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office unsealed an indictment that made sweeping charges against Medford, including that he funneled money from illegal video gambling to cover campaign expenses and $54,000 lost at Cherokee Harrah’s casino.
Some members of Medford’s command staff promised protection for betting operations and would collect money from video gambling machine owners while dressed in sheriff’s deputy uniforms, according to the indictment. (more…)
Recently, the Citizen Awareness Coalition of Asheville (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CitizenAwareness-Asheville/) held a press conference, announcing the formation of our civilian police oversight review board and our copwatch program. Of all the media was invited, only the Mountain Xpress and the Blue Banner showed up.
Although we are grateful for their coverage, we do feel distinctly snubbed by the rest of the so-called MSM.
Please note our next meeting: 6:30 PM, Nov 28th, at the Asheville Brewing Company off Patton Ave.
Tons going on? Really busy at work.
On a sad personal note, one of best friend’s father is critically ill and is not expected to make it. My prayers are with him.
A different note, the results of the Asheville city council election were very disappointing.
More later.
Scrutiny Hooligans has found a link pipeline between some candidates for city council race and the real estate industry. (I posted on this earlier but with the election only 4 days away, I thought it needed reposting.)
Progressive candidates -
Brownie Newman
Bryan Freeborn
I spent more than 10 years of my life in Louisiana. It is a place that near and dear to my heart. It is also a place that needs some help. It is a poor state with a terrible education record. Yep, there are some great people in Louisiana. they just need a little help. I have no idea if Bobby Jindal a republican from a New Orleans suburb can do the trick. I wish him well.
The Lt. Governor is a very familiar face - Mitch Landreiu. He goes from a Louisiana political family. He is a democrat with deep ties to the Louisiana political machine. Hopefully, the Governor and Lt. Governor can work together to help New Orleans and the Gulf Coast and their state.
Update: I found this post on Bobby Jindal. Looks like he isn’t that good at keeping his word. Disappointing.
————
From AP:
U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal won the Louisiana governor’s race Saturday, becoming the nation’s youngest governor and the first non-white to hold the state’s post since Reconstruction.
Jindal, the 36-year-old Republican son of Indian immigrants, carried more than half the vote against 11 opponents. With about 87 percent of the vote in, Jindal had 53 percent with 588,002 — more than enough to win outright and avoid a Nov. 17 runoff. (more…)
It appears that the real estate industry is interested in our little o’ town. It appears that big business is lining up behind the Republican candidates. Scrutiny Hooligans has the story.
I returned to Raleigh last month along with many of my colleagues for a special session to reconsider an economic incentives bill that Governor Easley vetoed in August. We reached a compromise that encourages large businesses that pay well to stay in North Carolina
The compromise bill (House Bill 4 for the extra session) requires the companies to be in one of the state’s poorest counties, to invest $200 million at the site within a six-year period, to employ at least 2,000 full-time employees, to pay for all full-time employees’ health insurance and provide wages 40 percent higher than the county average. The incentives would help us keep jobs in these regions, and develop and stimulate the economy.
In a fast growing state, we must make decisions that improve the economic security of our citizens and promote continued prosperity for our children. Since we know that increased educational attainment leads to higher salaries and a thriving economy, this session we focused on preparing our young people for the workforce. To do this, we strengthened our higher education system by including more money for scholarships, adding programs to encourage high school students to attend college and building facilities that will make sure our institutions of higher learning continue to be among the best in the world.
Financial Aid
This session my colleagues and I helped create the Education Access Rewards North Carolina, or EARN, Scholars program by setting aside $127 million for it over the next two years. This program will give more North Carolinians access to higher education by providing $4,000 grants each year to the 25,000 community college and University of North Carolina system students with the greatest financial need. All North Carolinians with family incomes of less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for the program. We are extremely proud of this program because it makes the dream of attending school, from pre-kindergarten all the way through college, a reality for all of our citizens. Students can now focus on their studies without worrying about finding money to pay for college and will be able to graduate with a bachelor’s degree without any debt.
We increased access to our world-class universities by increasing financial aid in the UNC system by nearly $28 million and setting aside another $8.6 million for state scholarships and grants. We also enhanced our “529” college savings fund by allowing more people to contribute more money each year to the tax-free accounts. [Read more →]
Errington C. Thompson, MD, is a surgeon, scholar, fulltime sports fan and part-time political activist. He is active in a number of community projects and initiatives. Through medicine, he strives to improve the physical health of all he treats...
