Josh Lederman:
"There are few better examples than Ohio of how national economic trends have had a tangible effect on everyday Americans — and of the contrast between the two parties on how to move forward.
Heavily dependent on manufacturing and automobiles — Democrats claim that one in eight jobs in Ohio depend on the auto industry — Ohio suffered some of the worst effects of the economic recession. Now that things are starting to pick up, both parties are eager to claim credit.
“We don’t have to criticize Mitt Romney. I just hand out copies of the Detroit Free Press editorial he wrote where he suggested Detroit go bankrupt,” Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern told The Hill. “That is not a talking point that will resonate in places like Toledo and Columbus.”
Unemployment in Ohio hit 10.6 percent in August 2009 and stayed there for the rest of the year. Since the start of 2010, the rate has been slowly declining, and has fallen to 7.5 percent — almost a full percentage point lower than the national average.
But Republicans claim Obama carried Ohio in 2008 thanks to the immensity of what he promised the state, and argue that Ohio voters won’t be fooled twice. They point to the defeat of former Gov. Ted Strickland (D) in 2010 by Gov. John Kasich (R), and the five House Democrats they tossed out of office the same year.
“The president is going to discover he really has a nightmare opponent in Ohio: himself in 2008,” said Bob Bennett, who took over the Ohio Republican Party in April. “Everything Obama promised to do and be for in Ohio, he’s really discarded....” (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
May 4, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Red State "Jill Biden: Government Oversight for Thee, Free Markets for Me "
Ben Howe Diary:
"Barack Obama didn’t believe in government healthcare mandates…until he did. He didn’t think we should spike the football on Bin Laden…until it was time for reelection. Joe Biden thought Obama was ill-equipped for the job of President…until he took the job as his right hand man.
Yes, the ability for this administration to say one thing and do another is nothing short of astounding. Apparently this sphere protecting the executive branch from any lasting accusation of hypocrisy also extends to the executive spouses.
Take for example President Obama’s recent targeting of colleges that prey on veterans.
To be clear, I know nothing about these institutions. They could be great, they could be awful. But I do know why Obama doesn’t like them and that is quite simply because they are “for profit” which really gets in the way when you are trying to nationalize student loans and higher education.
Luckily for Jill Biden, the rules governing the awfulness of these institutions are kept out of the administration’s hypocrisy protection sphere.
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Barack Obama didn’t believe in government healthcare mandates…until he did. He didn’t think we should spike the football on Bin Laden…until it was time for reelection. Joe Biden thought Obama was ill-equipped for the job of President…until he took the job as his right hand man.
Yes, the ability for this administration to say one thing and do another is nothing short of astounding. Apparently this sphere protecting the executive branch from any lasting accusation of hypocrisy also extends to the executive spouses.
Take for example President Obama’s recent targeting of colleges that prey on veterans.
They survived insurgents, terrorists and roadside bombs. But President Obama is worried that many military veterans who made it home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now being targeted by unscrupulous for-profit career colleges. Mr. Obama plans to fly to Fort Stewart in Georgia on Friday to sign an executive order intended to help protect active-duty troops and veterans from deceptive and misleading practices..(emphasis mine)
To be clear, I know nothing about these institutions. They could be great, they could be awful. But I do know why Obama doesn’t like them and that is quite simply because they are “for profit” which really gets in the way when you are trying to nationalize student loans and higher education.
Luckily for Jill Biden, the rules governing the awfulness of these institutions are kept out of the administration’s hypocrisy protection sphere.
Northern Virginia Community College is the latest two-year institution to announce a partnership with the University of Phoenix, with the announcement yesterday of a transfer agreement. Students from the community college will get a tuition discount when they transfer to Phoenix, according to a news release. They will also be able to tap the for-profit provider’s prior learning assessment offerings, which can grant college credit for prior training and work experience. President Obama, who has often been critical of for-profits, has visited Northern Virginia five times for photo ops and to give speeches. Jill Biden, the vice president’s wife, is a professor at the college.(emphasis mine)...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Colorado: Civil unions bill wins key committee vote"
Unfortunately, it looks like this may have stalled in the Senate and won't make it out before closing session.
Summit Voice:
"SUMMIT COUNTY — Colorado’s proposed civil unions bill this week cleared a significant hurdle, winning approval in the House Judiciary Committee where a similar measure faltered last year.
The Committee passed SB-2 with the support of Republican Representative B.J. Nikkel, of Loveland, who joined all of the Committee’s Democrats in voting in favor of the bill.
“Today’s bipartisan vote is a tremendous victory for gay and lesbian couples across the state,” said Brad Clark, Executive Director of One Colorado, a statewide organization advocating for gay and transgender people. “We applaud Representative Nikkel’s courageous vote for all families. She is the new face of the Republican Party — a party that’s quickly recognizing that civil unions adhere to a core conservative principle: The less intrusion into personal liberty the better.”
“We look forward to a robust floor debate by all of our Representatives in the coming days. Issues with overwhelming public support like civil unions deserve a full up-or-down vote,” said Clark...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Summit Voice:
"SUMMIT COUNTY — Colorado’s proposed civil unions bill this week cleared a significant hurdle, winning approval in the House Judiciary Committee where a similar measure faltered last year.
The Committee passed SB-2 with the support of Republican Representative B.J. Nikkel, of Loveland, who joined all of the Committee’s Democrats in voting in favor of the bill.
“Today’s bipartisan vote is a tremendous victory for gay and lesbian couples across the state,” said Brad Clark, Executive Director of One Colorado, a statewide organization advocating for gay and transgender people. “We applaud Representative Nikkel’s courageous vote for all families. She is the new face of the Republican Party — a party that’s quickly recognizing that civil unions adhere to a core conservative principle: The less intrusion into personal liberty the better.”
“We look forward to a robust floor debate by all of our Representatives in the coming days. Issues with overwhelming public support like civil unions deserve a full up-or-down vote,” said Clark...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Colorado Statesman "Campus conservatives take on Obama youth message"
Ben Conarck:
"In the 2008 election, young voters turned out in record numbers and largely carried President Obama to victory — but this year, college conservatives in Colorado are doing everything in their power to ensure the youth vote swings to the right. They say they are seeing disenfranchised students of all political stripes uniting under the Republican Party banner against the rising national deficit and Obama’s economic record, although the latest polling data suggests otherwise.
A Public Policy Polling survey from April 10 has Obama leading the presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney 72 percent to 17 percent in Colorado’s 18-29 age group, with 11 percent undecided. Public Policy Polling is a left-leaning outfit, but has been accurate throughout the 2012 primary so far..."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"In the 2008 election, young voters turned out in record numbers and largely carried President Obama to victory — but this year, college conservatives in Colorado are doing everything in their power to ensure the youth vote swings to the right. They say they are seeing disenfranchised students of all political stripes uniting under the Republican Party banner against the rising national deficit and Obama’s economic record, although the latest polling data suggests otherwise.
A Public Policy Polling survey from April 10 has Obama leading the presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney 72 percent to 17 percent in Colorado’s 18-29 age group, with 11 percent undecided. Public Policy Polling is a left-leaning outfit, but has been accurate throughout the 2012 primary so far..."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Customs and Border Patrol "CBP, EU Sign C-TPAT Mutual Recognition Decision"
"Washington — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the European Union (EU) signed today a Mutual Recognition Decision between CBP’s Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program and the EU’s Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program.
CBP Acting Commissioner David V. Aguilar and Director-General Heinz Zourek, European Union Taxation and Customs Union Directorate (TAXUD) signed the decision, which recognizes compatibility between the EU and the U.S. cargo security programs. The signing marks a milestone in the CBP-EU relationship, completing the original U.S.-EU work program. In the future, both customs authorities will treat members of the other customs authority the same way it treats its own program members.
“I can look back with pride on the considerable work that was completed by CBP and TAXUD to make this effort come to fruition and that we always maintained the necessary focus on security throughout the process,” said Acting Commissioner Aguilar.
“Today's decision on the mutual recognition of the EU and U.S. trade partnership programmes is a win-win achievement: It will save time and money for trusted operators on both sides of the Atlantic while it will allow customs authorities to concentrate their resources on risky consignments and better facilitate legitimate trade,” said Director-General Zourek.
C-TPAT is a voluntary government-business initiative to build cooperative relationships that strengthen and improve overall international supply chain and U.S. border security. C-TPAT recognized that U.S. Customs and Border Protection can provide the highest level of cargo security only through close cooperation with the ultimate owners of the international supply chain such as importers, carriers, consolidators, licensed customs brokers, and manufacturers.
AEO is a foreign partnership program that is used as a risk-assessment tool, provides less redundancy and duplication efforts, helps provide a common standard for trade facilitation, and allows for better transparency by providing closer collaboration among Customs Administrations and between Customs administrations and their partnership program companies.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
SandBoxBlogs: Newsmax "House Drafts Contempt Citation Against Holder Over Fast and Furious"
Martin Gould:
"....The 44-page complaint, issued by House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., asks the full House to hold Holder in contempt for “failure to comply with a congressional subpoena.”
Issa uses damning language to make the case against Holder, saying that his Department of Justice holds “contempt against the American people,” and claiming that whistleblower agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were “left to twist in the wind” by Holder and Justice....." (Read more? Click title)
"....The 44-page complaint, issued by House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., asks the full House to hold Holder in contempt for “failure to comply with a congressional subpoena.”
Issa uses damning language to make the case against Holder, saying that his Department of Justice holds “contempt against the American people,” and claiming that whistleblower agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were “left to twist in the wind” by Holder and Justice....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Denver Post "Denver woman's legal path to U.S. includes eight months in Mexico"
Nancy Lofholm:
"Julieta Quiñonez no longer has to be afraid she might be stopped and detained while driving to the grocery store. She can work a job that makes use of her college degree. She can do more than dream about becoming a lawyer.
Quiñonez, 25, gambled with her life eight months ago by returning to her native Mexico. It was a frightening step she had to take so she eventually could live legally in the United States with her citizen husband, Juan Evangelista, and 2½-year-old son, Aidan. She went through nearly half a year of anguished waiting in Mexico. But she is now a green-card-carrying legal resident of the United States....."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Julieta Quiñonez no longer has to be afraid she might be stopped and detained while driving to the grocery store. She can work a job that makes use of her college degree. She can do more than dream about becoming a lawyer.
Quiñonez, 25, gambled with her life eight months ago by returning to her native Mexico. It was a frightening step she had to take so she eventually could live legally in the United States with her citizen husband, Juan Evangelista, and 2½-year-old son, Aidan. She went through nearly half a year of anguished waiting in Mexico. But she is now a green-card-carrying legal resident of the United States....."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Colorado House GOP "Measure to create penalties for “bath salts” passes committee"
(Find more information and see related story here)
"DENVER—A measure sponsored by state Rep. J. Paul Brown that redefines cathinones—or “bath salts”—as a controlled substance unanimously passed the House Judiciary Committee today.
Senate Bill 116 creates a new class three felony for a person who distributes, manufactures, dispenses or sells the substance.
“Bath salts are under the radar,” Brown, R-Durango, expressed. “We need to shine a spotlight on these dangerous substances.”
Bath salts can produce a stimulant like effect and leave abusers with symptoms similar to cocaine, amphetamines and methamphetamines. Most routine drug screens do not detect the use of synthetic cathinones, appealing to those who must undergo mandatory drug screening. Bath salts are currently legal under Colorado law.
“These drugs are not independent, lone drugs. They are often sold or used with other drugs as well,” explained Brown. “They are inexpensive, accessible, hard to detect and devastate lives.”
The measure creates a new penalty for deceptive trade practices by anyone who distributes, manufactures, sells or purchases products containing a cathinone. Global shipping and internet networks facilitate distribution and sustain the sales of synthetic cathinones.
“Bath salts are marketed and labeled to circumvent current laws,” said Brown, R-Durango. “This law will help to combat new problems and protect people.”
Senate Bill 116 now moves to the full House for further consideration....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"DENVER—A measure sponsored by state Rep. J. Paul Brown that redefines cathinones—or “bath salts”—as a controlled substance unanimously passed the House Judiciary Committee today.
Senate Bill 116 creates a new class three felony for a person who distributes, manufactures, dispenses or sells the substance.
“Bath salts are under the radar,” Brown, R-Durango, expressed. “We need to shine a spotlight on these dangerous substances.”
Bath salts can produce a stimulant like effect and leave abusers with symptoms similar to cocaine, amphetamines and methamphetamines. Most routine drug screens do not detect the use of synthetic cathinones, appealing to those who must undergo mandatory drug screening. Bath salts are currently legal under Colorado law.
“These drugs are not independent, lone drugs. They are often sold or used with other drugs as well,” explained Brown. “They are inexpensive, accessible, hard to detect and devastate lives.”
The measure creates a new penalty for deceptive trade practices by anyone who distributes, manufactures, sells or purchases products containing a cathinone. Global shipping and internet networks facilitate distribution and sustain the sales of synthetic cathinones.
“Bath salts are marketed and labeled to circumvent current laws,” said Brown, R-Durango. “This law will help to combat new problems and protect people.”
Senate Bill 116 now moves to the full House for further consideration....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Daily Times "Feds nab 28 New Mexico gang members"
(See related story here)
Russell Contreras:
""Not only do we welcome (the federal presence), we're asking for it," said San Juan County Sheriff Ken Christesen, whose territory includes the areas in the Four Corners bordering the large Navajo Nation.
Because the Navajo Nation is so isolated and large, Christesen said the area is a popular route from Phoenix for drug traffickers and human smugglers who use the reservation's many remote roads to distribute throughout the region. "It shouldn't be left to the local law enforcement agencies to fight a national problem," Christesen said.
According to Ulrich, most of those arrested in New Mexico were living near Farmington. Five of the 28 arrested were women linked to the gangs, Ulrich said.
Federal authorities said that by getting involved and charging criminals in federal court, they can increase the amount of prison time.
In recent months, Homeland Security agents assisted local law enforcement agencies in more than 20 criminal investigations that will be prosecuted by U.S. attorneys, said Ulrich.
The federal government can seize criminals' money and possessions when they are convicted.
Since 2009, Homeland Security Investigations has added around 60 new agents to New Mexico and helped formed a number of joint task forces and multiagency groups aimed at tackling rural gangs, political corruption, drug and gun trafficking, child pornography, and human smuggling.
The beefed-up presence has resulted in a string of recent high-profile arrests, federal officials said. In March, for example, the mayor of the border town of Columbus and its police chief were among those arrested in a drug and weapons raid following a federal investigation into firearms smuggling from the U.S. to Mexico.
The mayor and police chief later pleaded guilty to federal charges..." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Russell Contreras:
""Not only do we welcome (the federal presence), we're asking for it," said San Juan County Sheriff Ken Christesen, whose territory includes the areas in the Four Corners bordering the large Navajo Nation.
Because the Navajo Nation is so isolated and large, Christesen said the area is a popular route from Phoenix for drug traffickers and human smugglers who use the reservation's many remote roads to distribute throughout the region. "It shouldn't be left to the local law enforcement agencies to fight a national problem," Christesen said.
According to Ulrich, most of those arrested in New Mexico were living near Farmington. Five of the 28 arrested were women linked to the gangs, Ulrich said.
Federal authorities said that by getting involved and charging criminals in federal court, they can increase the amount of prison time.
In recent months, Homeland Security agents assisted local law enforcement agencies in more than 20 criminal investigations that will be prosecuted by U.S. attorneys, said Ulrich.
The federal government can seize criminals' money and possessions when they are convicted.
Since 2009, Homeland Security Investigations has added around 60 new agents to New Mexico and helped formed a number of joint task forces and multiagency groups aimed at tackling rural gangs, political corruption, drug and gun trafficking, child pornography, and human smuggling.
The beefed-up presence has resulted in a string of recent high-profile arrests, federal officials said. In March, for example, the mayor of the border town of Columbus and its police chief were among those arrested in a drug and weapons raid following a federal investigation into firearms smuggling from the U.S. to Mexico.
The mayor and police chief later pleaded guilty to federal charges..." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Summit Daily News "Lower Blue landowners wary of pot cultivation proposal"
It is just so hard to grasp why any municipal or county government would allow anything to do with marijuana until federal law and state law is in sync.
It's almost as though our elected officials just simply do not care what the potential ramifications to their citizens are.
Of course the area homeowners do not want to be on record with reporters. Not when whatever they say is going to be blasted around on every pro-pot forum as either near-hate content or painting them to be active supporters.
Caddie Nath:
"New county regulations currently on the table could allow medical marijuana businesses to establish large grow operations in the traditionally agricultural northern parts of the county.
But some landowners in the Lower Blue River Valley aren't thrilled with the idea of having the medical marijuana industry as a new neighbor.
“One of the huge concerns is security,” said Lower Blue resident Kevin Mastin, who is challenging Karn Stiegelmeier for county commissioner in the November elections “What seems to have initiated this is they felt that Breckenridge and Frisco, where the shops are located, it was too expensive for them to grow. It's kind of like putting a Breckenridge and Frisco problem onto the other side of the county.”
Mastin called commercial grow operations “incompatible” with the type of agriculture that exists in that part of the county and said he's frustrated with the county government's failure to provide information on the proposal to residents in the area.
Mastin said he's not the only one with apprehensions about the proposed policy, though his neighbors declined to speak with the Summit Daily on the record....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
It's almost as though our elected officials just simply do not care what the potential ramifications to their citizens are.
Of course the area homeowners do not want to be on record with reporters. Not when whatever they say is going to be blasted around on every pro-pot forum as either near-hate content or painting them to be active supporters.
Caddie Nath:
"New county regulations currently on the table could allow medical marijuana businesses to establish large grow operations in the traditionally agricultural northern parts of the county.
But some landowners in the Lower Blue River Valley aren't thrilled with the idea of having the medical marijuana industry as a new neighbor.
“One of the huge concerns is security,” said Lower Blue resident Kevin Mastin, who is challenging Karn Stiegelmeier for county commissioner in the November elections “What seems to have initiated this is they felt that Breckenridge and Frisco, where the shops are located, it was too expensive for them to grow. It's kind of like putting a Breckenridge and Frisco problem onto the other side of the county.”
Mastin called commercial grow operations “incompatible” with the type of agriculture that exists in that part of the county and said he's frustrated with the county government's failure to provide information on the proposal to residents in the area.
Mastin said he's not the only one with apprehensions about the proposed policy, though his neighbors declined to speak with the Summit Daily on the record....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "DA drops case against CSP Trooper in Kemp death"
(See related stories here and here)
Paul Shockley:
"Eric Fenster, Lawyer’s attorney, said he expects his client will be called to testify against Firko. Lawyer would take the stand, although reluctantly, Fenster said.
“(Lawyer) wants this whole case to go away and has no desire to see Firko go to prison,” he said...."
(Read more? Click title. Comment ability out of consideration for Trooper Lawyer's family, is blocked.)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."
Paul Shockley:
"Eric Fenster, Lawyer’s attorney, said he expects his client will be called to testify against Firko. Lawyer would take the stand, although reluctantly, Fenster said.
“(Lawyer) wants this whole case to go away and has no desire to see Firko go to prison,” he said...."
(Read more? Click title. Comment ability out of consideration for Trooper Lawyer's family, is blocked.)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."
SandBoxBlogs: Denver Post/Breaking News "A modest economy seems to be keeping lid on hiring"
" Over time, strong economic growth is vital for strong job growth.
But early this year, hiring accelerated much faster than economic growth did. Job gains averaged a strong 229,000 in the first three months. But the economy grew at a sluggish annual rate of 2.2 percent.
Economists began to wonder: Would growth catch up with hiring? Or would hiring slow to match economic growth (as measured by gross domestic product, or GDP)?
Some economists say April's disappointing job growth suggests an answer, and it's not a cheerful one:
"It now appears that jobs have decelerated into line with GDP, rather than GDP accelerating to catch up with jobs," said Nigel Gault, an economist at IHS Global Insight...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Vail Daily "Why small business owners are hesitant to hire"
Good article.
Joyce M. Rosenberg:
"NEW YORK (AP) — Ken Levien has no plans to hire more people for his real estate project management company in New York. He says his business has only about 85 percent of the amount of work it can handle because the building industry is still hurting from the recession.
"Things are looking down in the construction business in New York City," he says.
Levien has a lot of company. Many small business owners aren't hiring or expanding because the outlook for the economy, or their own companies, is uncertain.
That raises the question of whether small businesses will give the economy the boost that it needs. Economists say that in past recoveries, small companies were the first to hire. When the economy was improving, they were more nimble than large companies because they didn't have the bureaucracy that can slow the hiring process. Their hiring helped propel the economy forward.
The economy is growing, but that growth has slowed — and so has the pace of hiring among business with less than 500 employees. The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of just 2.2 percent from January through March, according to government figures. That's down from the moderate 3 percent growth during the last three months of 2011. Making things worse, the pace of hiring by small businesses is slowing, according to the payroll company ADP, which issues a monthly report on employment at companies in the private sector. ADP says that employment at small and medium-sized businesses rose by 181,000 in March. Employment rose by just 116,000 in April......" (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Joyce M. Rosenberg:
"NEW YORK (AP) — Ken Levien has no plans to hire more people for his real estate project management company in New York. He says his business has only about 85 percent of the amount of work it can handle because the building industry is still hurting from the recession.
"Things are looking down in the construction business in New York City," he says.
Levien has a lot of company. Many small business owners aren't hiring or expanding because the outlook for the economy, or their own companies, is uncertain.
That raises the question of whether small businesses will give the economy the boost that it needs. Economists say that in past recoveries, small companies were the first to hire. When the economy was improving, they were more nimble than large companies because they didn't have the bureaucracy that can slow the hiring process. Their hiring helped propel the economy forward.
The economy is growing, but that growth has slowed — and so has the pace of hiring among business with less than 500 employees. The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of just 2.2 percent from January through March, according to government figures. That's down from the moderate 3 percent growth during the last three months of 2011. Making things worse, the pace of hiring by small businesses is slowing, according to the payroll company ADP, which issues a monthly report on employment at companies in the private sector. ADP says that employment at small and medium-sized businesses rose by 181,000 in March. Employment rose by just 116,000 in April......" (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs; Glenwood Springs Post Independent "DDA looks to county for help on alleyway project"
There is no doubt in most folks minds that it is long overdue for the City of Glenwood Springs City Council to come down off their high dais and work nicer with Garfield County Commissioners.
There is an obvious uptick to that happening since the folks put Todd Leahy in his seat....(yes, sometimes the best strategy is to leave a race with a much needed seat as uncontested. There was at least one more besides Dirk Myers who would have run if needed)...even if Todd is on the outer fringes of becoming a good 'ol boy's club member. Leahy's doing a great job and is perfect for the seat he's in. Let's all hope he has more terms in front of him.
There has been no doubt for many years... (remember back to the inception of DDA and then Downtown Market and then Downtown Partners and who knows how many private collaborations there are to help the disenfranchised promote downtown 81601)... that downtown merchants and numerous other small businesses in Garfield County... (remember back to the inception of Randi Lowenthal's enterprise and the more recent Rifle Economic Development Corp)...need a number of capital and infrastructure improvements alongside a lot more attention paid.. (thank goodness for the entrance of Leslie Bethel!)...to tourism promotion that hits everybody and not just a select few.
But here's a point that just keeps getting missed by our esteemed leaders.
You have to listen to everybody.
If they won't come to you for whatever reason? (..from the sound of things out here they have very valid concerns..) then it is your job not theirs, to get communication flowing in to you.
John Martin will likely lose his seat this time around. Not because he hasn't done a good job, he has. He will likely lose it due to the last two years of almost unbridled chest thumping from that infamous Garfield County 'good 'ol boys club'. The folks have given (even conservative folks) BOCC a full sweep of political power for two years now. Going deaf was not part of the deal.
There is a balance of sorts on council now, if Dave Sturges keeps on showing signs of remembering who he really is rather than taking the power at face value, there might be even more balance between now and the time 2013 council races hit.
What does all this have to do with alleys in downtown?
Jankovsky would be wise to cease the chest thumping and pushing of a tourism promotion agenda and sit back and listen to his county first. The next two posts today give some insight into the real world of the folks <less> the view from the Lion's den.
John Stroud:
"Glenwood Springs City Councilman Todd Leahy said it makes sense for the city, the DDA and the county to partner on some of the downtown projects.
“One of my main goals when I decided to run for council was to work on the relationship between the city and the county,” said Leahy, who is also city council's liaison to the DDA board.
“The more we can work together to enhance that area the better,” he said.
County Commissioner Tom Jankovsky agreed.
“The face of the downtown is changing, and we have an interest in what goes on there,” Jankovsky said, noting that the county's main government campus is also a major part of downtown Glenwood Springs.
The county is also increasing its stake in downtown. Earlier this week, it signed a $2.5 million contract to purchase a large portion of the 700 block of Colorado Avenue from local attorneys Stephen Worrell and Anthony Durrett. The deal, which is scheduled to close June 1, would include the law office building at the northeast corner of Eighth and Colorado, and a building that now houses an auto glass shop.
Though there are no immediate redevelopment plans, the county eventually may create more public parking and expand its government office facilities on the site....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
There is an obvious uptick to that happening since the folks put Todd Leahy in his seat....(yes, sometimes the best strategy is to leave a race with a much needed seat as uncontested. There was at least one more besides Dirk Myers who would have run if needed)...even if Todd is on the outer fringes of becoming a good 'ol boy's club member. Leahy's doing a great job and is perfect for the seat he's in. Let's all hope he has more terms in front of him.
There has been no doubt for many years... (remember back to the inception of DDA and then Downtown Market and then Downtown Partners and who knows how many private collaborations there are to help the disenfranchised promote downtown 81601)... that downtown merchants and numerous other small businesses in Garfield County... (remember back to the inception of Randi Lowenthal's enterprise and the more recent Rifle Economic Development Corp)...need a number of capital and infrastructure improvements alongside a lot more attention paid.. (thank goodness for the entrance of Leslie Bethel!)...to tourism promotion that hits everybody and not just a select few.
But here's a point that just keeps getting missed by our esteemed leaders.
You have to listen to everybody.
If they won't come to you for whatever reason? (..from the sound of things out here they have very valid concerns..) then it is your job not theirs, to get communication flowing in to you.
John Martin will likely lose his seat this time around. Not because he hasn't done a good job, he has. He will likely lose it due to the last two years of almost unbridled chest thumping from that infamous Garfield County 'good 'ol boys club'. The folks have given (even conservative folks) BOCC a full sweep of political power for two years now. Going deaf was not part of the deal.
There is a balance of sorts on council now, if Dave Sturges keeps on showing signs of remembering who he really is rather than taking the power at face value, there might be even more balance between now and the time 2013 council races hit.
What does all this have to do with alleys in downtown?
Jankovsky would be wise to cease the chest thumping and pushing of a tourism promotion agenda and sit back and listen to his county first. The next two posts today give some insight into the real world of the folks <less> the view from the Lion's den.
John Stroud:
"Glenwood Springs City Councilman Todd Leahy said it makes sense for the city, the DDA and the county to partner on some of the downtown projects.
“One of my main goals when I decided to run for council was to work on the relationship between the city and the county,” said Leahy, who is also city council's liaison to the DDA board.
“The more we can work together to enhance that area the better,” he said.
County Commissioner Tom Jankovsky agreed.
“The face of the downtown is changing, and we have an interest in what goes on there,” Jankovsky said, noting that the county's main government campus is also a major part of downtown Glenwood Springs.
The county is also increasing its stake in downtown. Earlier this week, it signed a $2.5 million contract to purchase a large portion of the 700 block of Colorado Avenue from local attorneys Stephen Worrell and Anthony Durrett. The deal, which is scheduled to close June 1, would include the law office building at the northeast corner of Eighth and Colorado, and a building that now houses an auto glass shop.
Though there are no immediate redevelopment plans, the county eventually may create more public parking and expand its government office facilities on the site....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: ABC News "Can Going Without Money Hurt the Economy? One Man's Quest to Be Penniless"
Abby Ellin:
"Daniel Suelo is 51 years old and broke. Happily broke. Consciously, deliberately, blessedly broke.
Not only does he not have debt, a mortgage or rent, he does not earn a salary. Nor does he buy food or clothes, or own any product with a lower case "i" before it. Home is a cave on public land outside Moab, Utah. He scavenges for food from the garbage or off the land (fried grasshoppers, anyone?). He has been known to carve up and boil fresh road kill. He bathes, without soap, in the creek.
In the fall of 2000, Suelo (who changed his name from Shellabarger), decided to stop using money altogether. That meant no "conscious barter," food stamps or other government handouts. His mission was to "use only what is freely given or discarded and what is already present and already running," he wrote on his web site, Zero Currency....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Daniel Suelo is 51 years old and broke. Happily broke. Consciously, deliberately, blessedly broke.
Not only does he not have debt, a mortgage or rent, he does not earn a salary. Nor does he buy food or clothes, or own any product with a lower case "i" before it. Home is a cave on public land outside Moab, Utah. He scavenges for food from the garbage or off the land (fried grasshoppers, anyone?). He has been known to carve up and boil fresh road kill. He bathes, without soap, in the creek.
In the fall of 2000, Suelo (who changed his name from Shellabarger), decided to stop using money altogether. That meant no "conscious barter," food stamps or other government handouts. His mission was to "use only what is freely given or discarded and what is already present and already running," he wrote on his web site, Zero Currency....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Colorado: ‘Supermoon’ to light up the sky this weekend"
All credit, including photo of December 2011 full moon over Dillon Reservoir is Bob Berwyn's:
"SUMMIT COUNTY — About once a year, the moon, in its elliptical orbit, reaches its closest point to the Earth the same time as the full moon. This year’s so-called supermoon is this weekend, and skywatchers will be treated to a moon that appears 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than the average full moon.
This year, the timing is almost perfect, as the moon reaches perigee at 9:30 p.m. on May 5, then becomes completely full just one minute later.
"SUMMIT COUNTY — About once a year, the moon, in its elliptical orbit, reaches its closest point to the Earth the same time as the full moon. This year’s so-called supermoon is this weekend, and skywatchers will be treated to a moon that appears 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than the average full moon.
At its perigee, the moon is about 30,000 miles closer to Earth then when it’s at its apogee, which explains why the so-called supermoon looks especially bright and large, especially at moonrise, when viewed against a foreground.
This year, the timing is almost perfect, as the moon reaches perigee at 9:30 p.m. on May 5, then becomes completely full just one minute later.
According to NASA, it may be hard to tell that the moon appears bigger than normal....."
(Read more? Click title)
SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Morning photo: Flower power!"
All credt Bob Berwyn:
"SUMMIT COUNTY — I was pretty excited when #FriFotos creator @EpsteinTravels announced this week’s theme for the popular #FriFotos Twitter chat. I’m all about flowers, in the garden, in the wild, in a vase …
The biggest challenge was whittling down the selection to something manageable. In the end I went to my Flickr feed and put together a set that highlights some of Colorado’s best flora, including shots from the backyard, along chilly mountain streams, high country forests and even the fabulous Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail. I like using Flickr because it embeds nicely in a WordPress post and also on Facebook, plus, you can view these spectacular photos full screen. Enjoy … and join in the fun by uploading flower pics, tagging them with #FriFotos and feeding them to your Twitter stream....."
Want to see? Click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/summitvoice1/sets/72157629956704301/
Watch the slideshow? Go here: http://www.flickr.com//photos/summitvoice1/sets/72157629956704301/show/
"SUMMIT COUNTY — I was pretty excited when #FriFotos creator @EpsteinTravels announced this week’s theme for the popular #FriFotos Twitter chat. I’m all about flowers, in the garden, in the wild, in a vase …
The biggest challenge was whittling down the selection to something manageable. In the end I went to my Flickr feed and put together a set that highlights some of Colorado’s best flora, including shots from the backyard, along chilly mountain streams, high country forests and even the fabulous Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail. I like using Flickr because it embeds nicely in a WordPress post and also on Facebook, plus, you can view these spectacular photos full screen. Enjoy … and join in the fun by uploading flower pics, tagging them with #FriFotos and feeding them to your Twitter stream....."
Want to see? Click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/summitvoice1/sets/72157629956704301/
Watch the slideshow? Go here: http://www.flickr.com//photos/summitvoice1/sets/72157629956704301/show/
SandBoxBlogs: Note from Nanny "A one day moderation screen on all comments"
There is so much going on out there right now and I am finding that commentary from you all is intense, to put it mildly.
That's a good thing! Always good to see open and flowing communication channels.
With that said, from this end all that activity is not only time consuming, it's a little distracting given the intensity of your content and the energy you're putting into that content.
I think I'll hit the slow button and put the blog on moderation of all comments. Send them in but they will go into the holding tank for the day.
TGIF, everyone.
That's a good thing! Always good to see open and flowing communication channels.
With that said, from this end all that activity is not only time consuming, it's a little distracting given the intensity of your content and the energy you're putting into that content.
I think I'll hit the slow button and put the blog on moderation of all comments. Send them in but they will go into the holding tank for the day.
TGIF, everyone.
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