STILL WE RISE (WATER RATES)
7-19-08
We wonder why Mayor Perkins has chosen the title of a poem from the New Age poet Maya Angelou that was read at the Million Man March, "And Still We Rise", as his campaign slogan.
What we are interested in is the Mayor and his cronies, Johnnie Leashore and Bennie Ruth Crenshaw, making our WATER RATES RISE. Look carefully at your June and July water bills for this note: WATER AND SEWER RATES HAVE INCREASED 2.5% EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2008. We suppose they make water rates rise to cover the nearly $250,000.00 the Examiners of Public Accounts say THEY ARE NOT ENTITLED TO OR WERE NOT AUTHORIZED TO RECEIVE.
Maya Angelou's poem concludes, "The ancestors remind us, despite the history of pain, we are a going on people who will rise again. And still we rise". We would like to paraphrase her and say:
Former residents remind us, despite the present pain
Selmians are a moving out people, if Perkins wins again
And still water rates will rise.
We urge everyone to download the report of the State Examiners and see how much money Leashore, Crenshaw, Randolph, and Perkins have taken from the people of Selma through their use of the Water Works and Sewer Board as their personal ATM. WE URGE EVERYONE TO WRITE THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL IN MONTGOMERY AND TELL HIM TO GET THIS MONEY BACK OR PROSECUTE THESE 4.
THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT CRENSHAW AND LEASHORE WILL DO. For example, the City Council approved $7,000 for the Selma Youth Ambassadors to take a trip to Savannah. Without permission of the City Council, Mrs. Crenshaw and Mrs. Venter decided the group would go to Washington instead. Although we don't have a problem with the young people going to Washington or even taking the approved $7,000 to go, the point is, that Crenshaw and Venter took the $7,000 of the taxpayers money for an unauthorized trip. Who took the junket to Washington? Crenshaw and Venter, who have never met a trip they didn't like or wouldn't take, Meshawn Hunter of TrustBuild and Terry Davis of the Performing Arts Center, as well as the Mayor's nephew, who was not a part of the Youth Ambassadors this year. Thanks, taxpayers of Selma!
Leashore appears to be in even more trouble than the Water Board. His own brother has him in court over alleged forged signatures on their brother's Will. We know and like Calvin Leashore and we believe Johnnie is making a big mistake in messing around with Calvin. When their brother Bogart died, Johnnie produced a Will which ultimately left everything to Johnnie and which, those who have seen it say, appears to have two forged signatures from people in New York as witnesses. This is an ongoing drama, and as hateful as Johnnie is, he should be careful when taking advantage of his own brother. Stay tuned as this unfolds.
WE LEARNED FROM VIEWPOINT THURSDAY that City Clerk Lois Williams is NOT appointed by the Mayor, but is appointed by the City Council. This makes her conduct and belligerence toward certain council members even less understandable. Evidence points to to an effort by a party or parties to steal the city election. (1) To leave the voting machines in the basement of City Hall for 6 days before the election is obviously an attempt by someone to fix the machines before the election. It becomes easier when you remember the City's IT Department is just 2 floors above the basement with all the computer equipment you would ever use. THESE VOTING MACHINES MUST BE STORED SOMEWHERE ELSE AND MUST BE UNDER ARMED GUARD until they are delivered to the polling places. (2) City Clerk Williams has just "reorganized" her office staff in time to handle the election and the absentee box. Out of the blue, Jimmy Nunn's former secretary, Monica, has suddenly been re-employed by the City and put in charge of the absentee box. Assistant City Clerk Ivy Harrison has been totally removed from any contact with the election by being put behind a wall in the Clerk's office. Additionally, a second new person, Angela, has just begun to work in the Clerk's Office and longtime employee Lynecia has taken another position out of the Clerk's office...IS ALL OF THIS COINCIDENCE? We don't think so! If President Evans and members of the City Council don't do something about this and the election is stolen even before the election day, it will be a sad, sad day and the end of Selma.
