Why can’t he just admit that he lost, admit that his political career is over (much like his financial management career, I hear) and go away?

What is it with NC-03 candidates? Between McLaughlin and Weber, we must be the laughing stock of all the nation!

Incumbents:

• Reva Sullivan (Onslow) (Ward 2)
• Randy Thomas (Onslow) (At Large)
• Alva M. Williams (Onslow) (At Large)
• Jerome Willingham (Onslow) (Ward 1)

Challengers:

• Jerry A. Bittner (Onslow) (Ward 2)
• James Bryan (Onslow) (At Large)
• Hunter B. Hadley, Jr. (Onslow) (At Large)
• Kevin O’Connor (Onslow) (At Large)
• Lori B. Ready (Onslow) (At Large)
• Robert ‘Bob’ Warden (Onslow) (At Large)

This post is a mixed-bag of stuff that’s been floating around my head these few weeks.

The race for Jacksonville’s City Council

There hasn’t been much public campaigning. Mr. Hunter Hadley, Jr (At-Large) has yard signs posted. Councilwoman Reva Sullivan (Ward 2) is hosting a campaign kick-off event tonight (September 3rd) from 6pm to 9pm at Tony’s Seafood and Oyster Bar. Mr. James Bryan (At-Large) has a blog, but it’s fizzled (almost as badly as Bloviations!).

I was quite disappointed at the lack of campaigning at the National Night Out. Not one candidate for Jacksonville’s City Council visited the Recreation and Parks/Trails and Greenways commissions tents…Well, that’s not necessarily true…Council-members Alva Williams (At-Large) and Reva Sullivan walked by, but didn’t say anything to the Commission volunteers manning the tables. Ms. Sullivan even refused to accept information regarding Trails and Greenways and an upcoming Downeast Cyclists’ ride in October.

Freedom Communications, Inc Files for Bankruptcy

The company which owns the Jacksonville Daily News, and other eastern NC newspapers, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. JDNews publisher Elliott Potter says it’s “business as usual” at Jacksonville’s only newspaper.

Speaking of the Jacksonville Daily News…

The paper’s opinion page reads more like a Republican-funded political rag than a libertarian-based newspaper. It’s no wonder that younger folks aren’t interested in paper news when all you see are screeds that accuse President Obama of being a “socialist” at best and the anti-christ at worst.

Some Cool Bicycle Poetry

Thoughts on My Bike and There’s a Flower in My Pedal by Andrya Dorfman. Tip o’ the bicycle helmet to Cycleicio.us

While We’re on Bicycles…

Did you know that less than 10% of accidents that include a bicycle are the bicyclists’ fault?

Blowing my Own Horn or Ringing my Own Bell

As of August 15th, it’s been 12 full months of bicycle-commuting. As of earlier this week, I’ve bicycled over 4,000 miles. Whoever says you can’t live in Jacksonville without a car is wrong.

If you thought recent dramas in Jacksonville were over, you were wrong. The folks at Americans for Prosperity have attacked Mr. Phillip Cherry (Director of the Onslow County Library System) for sending out an email requesting citizens speak at a recent Onslow County Commission meeting to advocate for library programs. Members of the Onslow County faction of AFP claim that Cherry has undertaken “political and partisan” action while using government systems and information. I find it odd that the chief advocate for the library would be attacked for advocating against serious cuts, but I think it’s more likely that the local group hasn’t gotten much play in the media. The AFP has been taking a more active and public role in attempting to force local governments into cutting budgets, laying off or furloughing employees and trimming services since their organized “TEA parties” (which they tried to pass off as “grassroots”). AFP is a group of right-wing zealots that believe in reducing anything that doesn’t directly benefit themselves (usually Social Security, MediCare and MedicAid, etc). It’s quite pathetic, actually.

There’s a new blog covering local politics. Onslow County Politics is written by a former-Onslow County employee and he’s got some good insight on stuff. Check him…Erm, his blog, rather…out on a regular basis.

The Onslow County Board of Education has approved a budget nearly $3 million smaller than they wanted. Among the results are deferments for non-essential building renovations and repairs and a hiring freeze (leaving nearly 200 vacant positions) are the results.

Freedom Communications, Inc has instituted a 5% pay cut across the board for employees. Freedom Communications has a firm grip on Eastern NC’s news sources as it owns the Jacksonville Daily News, New Bern Sun Journal, The Havelock News, The Kinston Free Press and other newspapers in the area. 

There’s a few other things rolling around, but none are currently…Ready for release. So. Keep an eye open.

What’s happening in your world?

Bauer wrote a letter to the editor of the Jacksonville Daily News declaring his intent to waive any right to privacy regarding the issue. Council-member Willingham also wrote a letter to the editor.

While dealing with this stress, the Council has become unable to make good decisions. During a workshop today, the Council voted 4-2 in favor of delaying a contract for the development of a Parks and Recreations Level of Service/Master Plan. The four voting for delay (Willingham, Sullivan, Williams and Thomas) are the same four which voted for Bauer’s ouster. The contract would cost $112,000, which is quite a bit of money. The City had already budgeted this money and allocated it to the Parks and Recreation division. There would be no new monies required to support the contract. No funds would be shuffled from one project to another or from one division to Parks and Recreation. The lack of a valid Parks and Recreation Master Plan has already cost the city money in the forms of denied grants. Without this plan, the City will not be eligible for grants in FY 2010, either. This decision has cost the City and it’s residents tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars while not saving tax-payers any money.

The City of Jacksonville and its residents are suffering because of 4 members of the City Council holding the community hostage. Unfortunately, there appears to be no provision for recall elections. However, there is relief in sight: Election day is less than 5 months away and the seats held by Willingham, Sullivan, Williams and Thomas will be up for election. All the City needs are candidates to run.

After the firing, there was quite the bit of backlash from city employees and residents.

City Employees were stunned that such an excellent manager (Bauer was known for pushing his employees to excel as well as supporting better benefits and pay) would be so easily dismissed with no explanation.

Alva Williams suggested that Bauer had been informed of deficiencies and failed to correct them (or, rather, that’s what I think she meant by this):

"We had given him chance, after chance, after chance for the last year and it was time, it was just time."

Residents aren’t sure what to make of the firing, as Bauer had moved the City forward in the short years he’s been manager. And since details of the closed meeting in which he was fired can only be released by Bauer, residents are taking the only view available: Ego was at stake. Particularly the egos of Willingham, Sullivan, Williams and Thomas.

Peggy Voyles used the Council’s public comment time to voice her opinion:

"From my perspective as a citizen, Mr. Bauer was doing a fine job of managing the city…The citizens deserve an explanation … If you have problems dealing with him on a personal level, how is that the problem of the entire city? Can you not work it out? Why pay him nine months salary for doing nothing when he could be doing his job."

It’s an interesting turn of events in what would be an otherwise unusual municipal election year. Willingham (Ward 1), Sullivan (Ward 2), Williams (At-Large) and Thomas (At-Large) will be facing re-election in November (though you wouldn’t know that by reading the Jacksonville Daily News articles). Filing begins July 6th and this election will place council-members for the next 4 years.

There’s one Jacksonville resident (and former council-member) that I’m willing to bet a quarter on to try to win a seat.

Mr. Horace Mann, a ten-year council-member who lost his At-Large seat in 2007, wrote a letter printed in the Jacksonville Daily News, sent an email asking for participation at the last Council meeting and made a statement to the council there. Mann could run against Willingham in Ward 1 or seek a return to an At-Large seat. He hasn’t publicly committed to running, but I would guess he’ll file for an At-Large post.

I don’t know all the details of Bauer’s removal and no one outside the room probably ever will. I do know that Jacksonville has lost its most forward-thinking and progressive manager in many years. His absence, if not replaced by someone just as educated, just as smart and just as experienced, will be painfully felt for years.

It looks like our fair City may be heading back to the bad old days…

During last week’s DownEast Cyclist Club meeting, I heard that one of the bicyclists that routinely ride the Jacksonville Rails-to-Trails multi-use path had been involved in a nasty crash along the fenced area of Highway 24/Lejeune Blvd near the Camp Lejeune Main Gate. The culprit in the bicyclist’s fall? A tattered “welcome” sign fashioned from a bed-sheet. The sheet had been ripped free of three corners and was flapping into the path. It snagged the cyclist’s bicycle and pulled her to the ground. The group was nearly certain she’d broken a collar bone, but apparently it was just a bad bruise. If only Camp Lejeune had been warned about the dangers of these sheets and signs to bicyclists and pedestrians. Oh, that’s RIGHT! They were. And Camp Lejeune’s Deputy Safety Manager for Marine Corps Base dismissed the concern as “not their responsibility.”

Late last week, Mr. Richard Sparks was killed when he was hit by a car while attempting to cross Highway 17/Marine Blvd near the intersection with Western Blvd. Mr. Sparks was visiting Jacksonville to watch his son graduate from a Marine Corps training. It was late (about 10 o’clock P.M.) and there is no marked crosswalk at the intersection. The Jacksonville Police Department and Onslow County’s District Attorney Dewey Hudson will not press charges against the driver, Mr. Charles Adams. This is the second pedestrian death in 2009 in Jacksonville (Ms. Talissa Hatchell was killed in February) and Mr. Hudson had some pretty tough words for the City of Jacksonville.

How many people have to die before the city protects pedestrians?

Jacksonville Daily News writer Lindell Kay blogged about the accident. He noted that Mr. Sparks had previously spoke to family about being concerned about the safety of crossing Highway 17/Marine Blvd, but attempted to do so, anyway. Mr. Mike McHugh, an employee of the Jacksonville Daily News, made an interesting recommendation to the City in a comment:

The city should consider constructing pedestrian “bridges” enclosed with chain linked fencing above the roadway, high enough to allow trucks and other tall vehicles to pass below.

These walk ways are common in larger cities such as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York.

The reason this recommendation is interesting is that a project of such magnitude would be pretty darned expensive, especially considering that sidewalks would have to be constructed leading to these pedestrian overpasses. Mr. McHugh is known for his “fiscal conservatism”, is even a member of the Daily News’ editorial staff and has spoken out against the Rails-to-Trails and the pedestrian bridge which crosses Highway 24/Lejeune Blvd.

The City of Jacksonville and the State of North Carolina are stuck in a fight over who has jurisdiction over the streets in this City. Unfortunately for pedestrians, this fight is prohibiting anyone from doing anything. So, like Mr. Hudson, I have to ask, how many people have to die before someone (anyone!) does something? 

It was 2,100 miles and 8 months in the making, but I had my first bicycle crash this week.

It was raining pretty hard and had been for a while. The roads were wet and puddles lined the edges of Stone Street aboard Camp Lejeune. Camp Lejeune isn’t known for its road maintenance (Really, where in NC is?) and the edges of most roads are crumbling and have large cracks. I must have been paying too much attention to traffic and not enough to the road’s edge and caught a crack in the pavement. I was brought down, pretty hard, but didn’t have any real damage. A scraped up left knee and some bruises.  Fortunately, I was on my way home and didn’t have to work a whole day feeling beaten up. The bicycle is fine, too, just some scratched paint and I had to realign the chain.

I guess the point to all this is: I’m glad the week is over.

Notes and results follow:

The Commission unanimously approved the minutes for the December 08 meeting.

Mr. Chris Lukasina (administrator for the Jacksonville Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization) provided a presentation on JUMPO’s efforts in transportation planning. He touched on the status of the Comprehensive Bicyclist and Pedestrian Transportation Plan, which is awaiting approval of the Onslow County Board of Commissioners and will then be reviewed by the regional and then state transportation planning officials. He detailed efforts in expanding public transportation by combining the efforts of Jacksonville Transit and Onslow United Transportation System. He also explained that the major thoroughfares in Jacksonville (Hwy 24/Lejeune Blvd, Hwy 17/Marine Blvd and Western Blvd) are state-maintained, which limits the ability of the City in planning and executing transportation plans (like building crosswalks, sidewalks and bicycle lanes).

Mr. Michael Wetzel answered some questions I emailed in January.

• Is it possible to remove the 2007 information on the Trails and
  Greenways Commission webpage and replace with something more current?
  • The City of Jacksonville is undergoing some changes to their web-presence. As part of that, Mr. Wetzel will work to establish a more user-friendly webpage for the Trails and Greenways Commission which will include a calendar, links to NCDOT documents and maps, etc)
• Is it possible to order/request copies of the NCDOT bicycling and pedestrian publications to distribute/make  available to cyclists and pedestrians?
  • Print editions are probably not available, but online versions can be linked from the new webpage.
• Is it possible to add the new Trails and Greenways map to NCDOT’s
  library? http://www.ncdot.org/it/gis/DataDistribution/BikeMaps/default.html
  • It is. Mr. Wetzel will research and coordinate.
• Has the Trails and Greenways Commission established a 2009 "agenda" or outline of goals and objectives?
  • The Trails and Greenways Commission is currently working on goals and objectives for 2009-2010.
• Is it possible/would it be beneficial to arrange a JUMPO presentation to detail transportation plans that may be of value or impact Trails and Greenways?
  • Mr. Lukasina provided a presentation during March 09’s meeting.
• What role does the Trails and Greenways Commission play in budgeting?
  • The Trails and Greenways Commission does not have a role in the City’s budgeting process. The only current action available is to express opinions on funding and requests through Councilwoman Fannie Coleman. Currently, the Recreation and Parks department receives $15,000 annually to fund Trails and Greenways projects ($10,000 for multi-use path repair and $5,000 for the annual race).

Mr. Wetzel then requested that Commission members provide a list of proposed goals and objectives for 2009-2010. My original list is available here, but below is the list I submitted:

• Provide more information on T&G webpage (links to NCDOT documents and CoJ transportation plans, events calendar and information, T&G agenda and minutes, maps, etc)
• Update the Urban Trails and Pedestrian Plan (Is there a map? Will the Comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan replace the Urban Trails and Pedestrian Plan?)
• Advertise traffic rules (for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians) (G10, JDNews, webpage)
• Urge JPD to increase enforcement of traffic rules (for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians)
• Urge JPD to increase bicycle patrols (along paths and in general)
• Urge CoJ to implement the Comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan
• Support the creation of a bicycling/pedestrian advocacy group (partner with DownEast Cyclists’ club?)
• Increase the number and variety of T&G-sponsored events (more foot/bike races, bike rodeos) (partner with local businesses/bases/advocacy groups)
• Work with CoJ and local businesses to have bicycle racks installed at major shopping areas (Target shopping center, Wal-Mart shopping centers, etc)
• Urge CoJ and Jacksonville Transit to acquire bicycle racks on all buses
• Urge OUTS to acquire bicycle racks on buses
• Sponsor bicycle safety classes (partner with local businesses/bases/advocacy groups)
• Sponsor bicycle maintenance / repair classes (partner with local businesses/bases/advocacy groups)

There was some discussion on how to better market the Trails and Greenways Commission. By far the best recommendation was to include a small card or flyer in City utility bills.

There was a positive letter to the editor of the Jacksonville Daily News regarding a weekend ride along the Rails-to-Trails path. Unfortunately the letter is not available online.

The Trails and Greenways Commission is required to report to the City Council on November 3rd, 2009. The report will contain the Commission’s goals and objectives as well as accomplishments during 2009.

It was a good meeting and was quite productive. Hopefully, this will become a trend.

I haven’t heard the names “Joe McLaughlin” or “Delma Collins” in a while. Isn’t that nice?"

And it was, it was very nice…But it wasn’t to last very long. Follow the jump for details.

On Wednesday morning, my co-worker laid a clipping from the day’s Jacksonville Daily News. It was a paid advertisement, sponsored by Joe McLaughlin, which detailed a small slice of funding from the Economic Stimulus Package recently passed by the Congress and signed into law by President Obama.

And it looked exactly like this:

It says:

Did you know?

Under the new stimulus package recently signed into law the,

NATIONAL FOUNDATION OF THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES NATIONAL ENDOUWMENT FOR THE ARTS

GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION

For an additional amount for “Grants and Administration”,

$50,000,000 OF YOUR MONEY!

to be distributed in direct grants to fund arts projects
and activities which preserve jobs in the non-profit arts sector
threatened by declines in philanthropic and other support during
the current economic downturn: Provided, That 40 percent of such
funds shall be distributed to State arts agencies and regional arts
organizations in a manner similar to the agency’s current practice
and 60 percent of such funds shall be for competitively selected
arts projects and activities according to sections 2 and 5(c) of
the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 951, 954(c)): Provided further, That matching requirements
under section 5(e) of such Act shall be waived.

"Ultimately, this is your money, and you deserve to know where it’s going and how it’s spent.” – President Barack Obama – Radio Address, Feb 14th, 2009

The advertisement takes text directly from H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and quotes President Obama.

McLaughlin placed similar advertisements in Friday and Saturday editions as well. His targets were AMTRAK and volcano monitoring funding within ARRA.

I understand McLaughlin’s choice of targets. Arts, science and AMTRAK have long been targets of the Republicans. They seem to feel that any government spending related to the three (as well as public/mass/alternative transportation, alternative energy, climate change, and more) is waste. It’s obviously a wrong-headed and misguided point of view, but it’s something I’ve accepted from right wing Republicans.

What has plagued me for the last few days is McLaughlin’s motives. Why is he paying for these advertisements? Just to educate Jacksonvillians? What’s his angle?

Could he be gearing up for a Jacksonville City Council battle this year? Onslow County Commissions (a post he held before resigned to spend his time campaigning for Congressman Walter B. Jones, Jr’s seat, a campaign at which he ultimately failed) aren’t due for a contest for four years. A run to get into the NC General Assembly? But against who? Would he challenge George Cleveland, Robert Grady or Harry Brown in primaries or Russell Tucker in a 2010 General Election? Is he ramping to challenge Mr. Jones, Jr. in 2010? Can he possibly believe he’d have a chance against Jones, Jr. after the primary? Or is he planning another primary challenge against a different opponent in 2010? Perhaps McLaughlin has senatorial aspirations.

I’m keeping my eyes and ears open. Joe McLaughlin is bad for Jacksonville, bad for Onslow County and bad for North Carolina. His  political career has ended and it needs to stay that way.

The District Attorney Dewey Hudson, in agreement with Jacksonville Police, has decided not to press charges against the driver of the car. His decision is based on the lack of crosswalks along Western Blvd.

Said Hudson:

Western Boulevard is a busy highway situated in a very commercial part of Jacksonville…

He continued:

It is very difficult for pedestrians to safely cross that highway.

That’s an understatement.

Mr. Hudson hopes that this accident will motivate the City of Jacksonville and NC Department of Transportation to installing appropriate crosswalks and pedestrian infrastructure along the road.

The City Council approved the Comprehensive Bicycling and Pedestrian Transportation Plan in August 2008. The plan calls for sidewalks and crosswalks throughout Jacksonville, to include Western Blvd. Since August, though, the City Council has done nothing to plan for implementation of the Comprehensive Plan. The City has coordinated with NCDOT to have crosswalks installed at Highway 17/Marine Blvd’s intersections at Onslow and Gum Branch during recent road repairs. These improvements were recommended in the Comprehensive Bicyclist and Pedestrian Transportation Plan.

Bicyclists and pedestrians will not be safe in Jacksonville until there are bicycle lanes, sidewalks and crosswalks. The plan exists and it needs to be implemented.

Lindell, that’s what I say.