THE PERKINS RECORD…NUMBER 2
5-29-12
We are using this space for the next three months to remind Selma of the division and misery which existed during the time defeated mayor James Perkins, Jr. was in office from 2000-2008. In this column, we remind you of the conditions of the water and garbage services during the Perkins administrations.
WATER BOARD: Thanks to James Perkins, Jr., Bennie Ruthless Crenshaw, Johnny Leashore and Sam Randolph OUR WATER RATES WILL INCREASE 5% ON JUNE 1 as they have for the past 4 years and as they will every June 1 through 2014. WHY? To repay a Bond Issue Perkins and his cronies floated at the Selma Water Works and Sewer Board! When Perkins took office, Selma had the LOWEST WATER RATES IN ALABAMA, but because Perkins and his cronies, especially Leashore and Crenshaw, used the Water Board funds as their personal ATM by (1) traveling all over the country at taxpayers expense and (2) stealing money by taking salaries which were illegal, our water rates rose and are continuing to rise to pay for the misdeeds of Perkins.
Please remember what THE STATE EXAMINERS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS said about Perkins and his water board members:
“From the period beginning October 1, 2004, through May 31, 2008, the Chairman Johnnie Leashore has received a total of $59,609.17. Of that amount, only $15,400 was allowable, resulting in a total overpayment of $44,209.17”
“From the period beginning October 1, 2004, through May 31, 2008, the Secretary-Treasurer Bennie R. Crenshaw has received a total of $70,653.12. Of that amount, only $15,400 was allowable, resulting in a total over payment of $55,253.12”.
The State Examiners also reported that there was NO RECORD of the Water Board approving the $100,000.00 which Perkins was paid as Water Board Superintendent.
While Perkins and his cronies were using water board funds like they were their personal funds, OUR WATER RATES KEPT GOING UP. One of the worst things Perkins did was to increase the SEWER rate charge from 50% to 75% of one’s water bill. Thus, the 2.5% increase on June 1 is much more than a 2.5% rate increase. PERKINS, CRENSHAW AND LEASHORE SHOULD PAY BACK THE MONEY THEY STOLE FROM THE CITIZENS OF SELMA AND THE CITIZENS OF SELMA MUST NEVER LET THEM GET IN A POSITION TO DO THIS AGAIN.
GARBAGE SERVICES: When James Perkins took office in 2000, there was TWICE A WEEK GARBAGE SERVICE WITH BACK YARD PICK-UP costing $8 a month. When James Perkins left office in 2008, there was ONE TIME A WEEK PICK UP AT CRUBSIDE COSTING $12 A MONTH. What Perkins did was CUT SERVICES BY 50% and INCREASE COSTS BY 50%! This was typical of the entire Perkins administration when compared to the way things were when he took office: EVERYTHING COST MORE AND SERVICES DECREASED.
However, the worst thing Perkins did in relation to the garbage service was move the system from the Water Works to City Hall. When the garbage bills were mailed out and collected by the Water Works there was always the threat of cutting off water for the non-payment of garbage bills, but Perkins moved this system to City government. When Perkins took office in 2000, THERE WERE FEW DOLLARS OWED FOR UNPAID GARBAGE BILLS. When Perkins left office in 2008, THERE WAS $1.1 MILLION OWED TO THE CITY IN UNPAID GARBAGE BILLS. Of the more than 6000 customers having garbage picked up, less than 4200 were actually paying their garbage bill AND PERKINS DID NOTHING ABOUT IT!!
Thanks to Perkins, the city Garbage Service is a costly burden on the City and deadbeats are permitted to have their garbage picked up without having to pay for the service. It is no wonder our GRABAGE RATES INCREASED 50% UNDER PERKINS AND SERVICE DECREASED 50%. We must not let this man return to office who brought so much MISERY AND DIVISION on this city.
NEXT WEEK: The deplorable and miserable condition of the Selma Police Department under Perkins.
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ALL LIES (masquerading as True Selma) on HATE RADIO 105.3 continues it despicable campaign of lies, hate, division, and strife in an effort to re-elect James Perkins, Jr. as Mayor. We know what Lydia Chatmon is and what her angle is on ALL LIES. Her side kick, Ezekiel Pettway, also the side kick of Real Talk and Freedom Founder leader Gwen Brown, had a lucrative contract to clean the Water Works Building when Perkins, Crenshaw and Leashore were stealing money from the people. We are sure that Pettway is looking to get back on the public dole if Perkins is re-elected. What a guy!
IT IS NOT TOO LATE to file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission in Washington about the license application for HATE RADIO 105.3. Please go to the FCC web site and file an objection stating that HATE RADIO does not operate in the best interests of the community and that it continually is promoting hate, disunity, and strife in this community. Be sure and mention the ALL LIES program as one of the main purveyors of hate and division on 105.3.
We wonder how surprised the Perkinites were when the Bishop of Funk, Franklin Fortier, announced that he was running for the President of the Selma City Council. It has been apparent for sometime that the Perkins people were pushing for Lebron Mack, the local AEA rep, to run, or if not, to support Tremaine Gordon. We believe The Funk threw them a curve with his announcement. We are pleased that City Councilman Corey Bowie has announced his intentions to run for City Council President. DON’T YOU THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA FOR THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT TO HAVE SERVED ON THE CITY COUNCIL BEFORE BECOMING COUNCIL PRESIDENT? We do! During the times Dr. Williamson has been absent from City Council meetings because of his serious illnesses, Councilman Bowie has presided over the Council meetings and has done an excellent job when presiding. We believe that this experience makes him the most qualified person to be Council President and hope the good people of Selma, black and white, will support him on August 28.
And speaking of the Selma City Council, we commend Dr. Williamson for his leadership of the Council. Have you noticed how calm, peaceful and quiet Council meetings have become? That is the way it should be AND THAT SPIRIT IS GOOD FOR THE GROWTH AND IMAGE OF OUR CITY. We believe that the manner in which Dr. Williamson has guided the Council has been a surprise to the HATERS AND DIVIDERS in the city who wanted him or expected him to be some despot like leader. We are sorry that Ward 1 Councilman Tommy Atchison will not seek re-election and hope that he will run again the future. His decision to not run has opened the way for Dr. Williamson to seek re-election in August as the Councilman for Ward 1. Our opinion is that if Mayor Evans is re-elected, he will need Williamson’s support and if Perkins is elected, the City will need Williamson on the Council more than ever!
And while we are on this subject, we will take the time to correct another ALL LIES big lie. ALL LIES recently distributed a card which they signed with a picture of Dr. Williamson on it and the caption that EVANS, BOWIE, BENJAMIN AND TUCKER ELECTED THIS MAN PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL. For the record, THAT STATEMENT FROM ALL LIES IS A LIE!
First, Dr. Williamson was not elected and did not run for the office of City Council President. At the organizational meeting of the Selma City Council in November, 2008, which Crenshaw and Randolph did not attend, Ward 1 Councilman Williamson was elected President Pro-tem of the Council by the votes of Dr. Newton, Mrs. Keith, Benjamin, Bowie and Tucker. MAYOR EVANS DID NOT VOTE AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH WILLIAMSON BEING ELECTED PRO-TEM.
Dr. Geraldine Allen had been elected City Council President in the August, 2008, election. In God’s providence, she was called to her heavenly home in April, 2010. As provided by the law of the State of Alabama, the President Pro-Tem, Williamson, became President of the Selma City Council. IF ALL LIES WANTS TO BLAME SOMEONE FOR CECIL WILLIAMSON BEING PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL, WE SUPPOSE THEY COULD BLAME GOD!!!! It surely was not Evans, Bowie, Tucker, and Benjamin who elected him Council President as ALL LIES lyingly stated…but then it is the political season and ALL LIES will tell any lie, distribute any false information and go to any lengths to try to discredit the current administration and reelect James Perkins, Jr.
We urge the good people of Selma not to turn this city back over to the haters and dividers on August 28. There are numerous reasons not to put them back in office, but what Perkins did to the water rates and board and the garbage service are enough to keep us from voting for him!
