Initially I enjoyed this site as a method of discussion for local issues. My apologies for aiding in the degeneration of that discussion. So, now without regard to party affiliation, how in the world are we going to get responsible individuals to run for our mayor and city council seats in the upcoming election.
Brewer is on a roll. I was at the "event' last night and it was VERY impressive. Lots of people with money supporting this lady. Word is that they made over $100,000 on this first fund raiser. 3 things needed to win..Money, Money and Money. ..It looks Very good right now.
I second Spanky's plea. We already have Brewer and Sams for mayor, Slatkin for the at-large council seat, and Mark Lampert running for the Dist. 4 seat. We just need to make some decisions and get behind them. I see no problem with any of these candidates. We desparately need an atmosphere of change.
These folks have committed to run so we need to make them feel loved. On the mayor's seat you may have some reservations but there are probably more coming. These guys running for council are definately people we can get behind.
Very clever Aymonds, but all your useless talk about who duplicated the tapes, who was present in court, and a song and dance about this date and that date, is all usless BULLSHIT. Don't cloud the issue! Reveal the CONTENT of the tapes PUBLICLY. I'm sure you recall from your vast legal experience that someone cannot be sued for slander and defamation by telling lies PRIVATELY. Your willingness to distribure a copy to anyone who comes to your office ammounts to PRIVIATE distribution of your lies. Release the information PUBLICLY and see how quickly the injured parties respond. No excuses, no weaseling, in fact post the transcripts to your own website on Yahoo! C,mon tubby, stop hiding! As to the Hebron thing, there is no state law prohibiting the disclousure of the RESULTS of an ethics investigation! Another attempt to hide Greg. Why don't you tell everybody that Hebron was cleared by: 1) State Police Detectives 2) La. State Legislative Auditor 3) La. State Ethics Board 4) Rapides Parish D.A. Where's the complaint Greg? Face it, you don't like Hebron because he's on to your game and he sees you for what you really are, a con man who is very talented at twisting the truth. Those who scream "checkmate" and comment on how honest and sincere you are, don't have a clue as to how slimy you really are. I do.
You seem self rightous why not give us YOUR name. If what YOU say is true tell the truth yourself. Who are you ? Who do you work for? What is your relationship with Mr Dupree if not one and the same?
I agree with the above. You guys take your pissing contest behind the levee and settle it to your satisfaction. I find it difficult to imagine what is left to argue about. If you think the 3rd Circuit is wrong ask for rehearing or ask the Supremes to take a look at it. You ain't gonna settle it here. Quit this shameless public display of weinerdom.
Hobbs says Randolph should consider stepping down By Billy Gunn bgunn@thetowntalk.com (318) 487-6378
Alexandria Councilman Everett Hobbs says Mayor Ned Randolph should consider resigning the office he has held since 1986.
“If the mayor can’t perform his duties, he needs to step down,” Hobbs said, alluding to an illness he said Randolph might have that prevents him from fulfilling his mayoral duties.
Randolph, who announced earlier this month that he would not seek a sixth term, denied today that he suffers from or has been diagnosed with a debilitating illness. “No, absolutely not,” said Randolph, who will relinquish his office in December after the election this fall. He said he would not resign.
Hobbs’ comments today, made in a telephone interview with The Town Talk, followed allegations he made at the end of Tuesday’s council meeting, where he said three aides close to Randolph were making the decisions, not the mayor.
IF there was EVER a more clear reason to wipe the floor with such idiots on our City Counsel this is an example. Hobbs is an intellectual midget. If you watched the City counsil meeting on Tues you saw that it was clear that Charles Frederick Smith was orchestrating this whole thing. Cuz guess what Kingfish, if Randolph steps down guess who gets to sit in the big chair??...ITs time...ITS TIME....ITS TIME. For every person who reads this blog and knows anything about the crooked dealings of mr Hobbs and his associates ..Its time to blow the whistle...Its also time to use the democratic process to rid ourselves of ignorance ...Elect Delores Brewer, Elect people to replace people like Lawson and Hobbs and Johnson. Its Time. If you have never been angry before its time. If you have never felt like your city was being taken from you ..its time. ITs time for those of us who work hard all day and come home at night to see the MONKEY business that is going on down town to stand up...its time for those of us who have before now been too busy to stand up..its time. Mr Hobbs you made mistake. let this date...April 20 , 2006 be remembered by you and those who put you up to it...Its the day things began to change and your stupidity back fired. ....Its time.
Unfortunately, no one has surfaced to oppose Hobbs in the election. He will probably be re-elected unopposed AGAIN. Surely, there is someone in Hobbs district who would consider running against him? Any ideas??
Hobbs is not smart and Hobbs is not in control but Hobbs is not harmless and as president of the council (which would happen if Randolph resigned and President Smith became acting mayor) he would be genuinely dangerous. I agree that Smith is engineering this and Myron welcomes the distraction.
Ok now you people are starting to get it. I have a copy of Master Plan 2010 - the first city study, and my thought after reading it was " is that what we get for our money?". I intend to read this next one to see if what I was told is true that it is Master Plan 2010 copied and re-arranged with some update. From the sounds of GAEDA's decision to pay for their half even though incomplete, it may be a possibility that once again this is a vehicle to funnel public money for distribution to private pockets. I am analyzing the districts to see who may be a good person to draft for Hobbs' seat. I will post results with my thoughts. I agree wholeheartedly that "It's Time" Spanky the Humbled
This is for all you idiot pinheads here who demand the truth, but refuse to see it when it's laid out before you. Here's the bottom line on the Aymonds debate. The truth can be found in the sworn statements made by those who were questioned by the authorities investigating the related cases. In case you're too stupid to understand that, I'll boil it down for you. Aymonds is a half-ass attorney who tried to use the courts to take down his political enemies. He failed because he's a liar and could not prove his case in court. Period! To those of you on this blog who see black helicopters everywhere and believe that there is some sort of illegal crap going on in Ball, Pineville, and WW#3, you are just as nutty as that tub of bullshit Aymonds. Go get a life.... Oh, and one more thing, no body really cares what you pinheads think about the cesspool at Alexandria City Hall. You all are guilty of causing the shitstorm over there. If you had paid attention to your own city government, demanded honesty, and voted smart, you would not be up to your ass in alligators now! You created your own mess, now you have to sleep in it...sweet dreams assholes.
According to Roy Martin III of the Gaeda Board, this McElroy submission does little more than the preliminary submission that everybody described as unsatisfactory and a feeble attempt to respond to their contract obligation. Watch the council meetings on Ch. 4 where Martin tries to explain the deficiencies in the report and why it is bad business to pay all this $$ and not get what you ordered. Lawson deals with him swiftly and declares that he goes along with Moeler and decrees the document as "substantially complete". That's a $385,000 payment for nothing useful. I am curious as to whether Delores will pay the $13,000 balance for this worthless manure. I am told that this group is Myron's idea, project, and friend. Kick their ass Spanky. With responsible councilpeople in Dist 2, 4, 5 (Chuck), and at-large, we get the city moving again.
OK Spanky, here is the Town Talk article referred to. I am told that one doesn't get the full flavor of DEMOCRACY IN ACTION unless one watches the replay of the Council.
Dear Anonymous: On behalf of the participants on this site I would like to thank you for your most recent, and hopefully your last intemperate attempt to discuss your very even-handed view on the Ball water dispute. I'm sure that your mother (and probably your father if she had any idea who it was) would be proud of your language skills and emotional stability. It is my hope that you will spare us any future exposure on this topic. And again we thank you.
Both Roy O. Martin III and Martin Johnson are both very capable, honest, and have foresight. The fact that they sit on the GAEDA board may give them both the impetus to serve in city council positions and abolish the board as it is duplicitous and established as a personal tool of you know who. It is maddening to me that the board can levy fees (taxes) and operate independently of the electorate. It rather upset the hotel/motel folks initially and I guess they rolled over because of the battle it would take to undo the board through the courts. Any way, there are two possibilities if any one is close to them to discuss the matter.
Listen pencildick, anytime you want to meet face to face and discuss our respective parentage, let me know. you can reach me at: mean_as_hell87@yahoo.com
I await your response to my invitation, if you have the balls to put your skinny ass on the line.
Considering the relationship, would Martin Johnson be a viable candidate? It does not appear that he can not be manipulated if the most recent GAEDA action is considered. I would at least put him on the consideration list as more names are developed. I would say that Hobbs seat should be the target of active recruitment as there is activity on the others. You guys need to lighten up on Hobbs because it is not nice to make fun of the handicapped.
Close enough -- your grand prize is a free pass on ethics violations when it comes to selling insurance to city employees and vendors. Thanks you for playing JEOPARDY.
Does everything have to conspiratorial overtones? I can admit a poor suggestion but don't necessarily agree that Martin could be that easily controlled.
Spanky, Johson lives in District 5 and can't run agaist Hobbs. I assume that you are therefore wanting him to run for mayor, a fulltime job that would conflict with his bank, or to run against Myron for the at-large seat. If you totally disregard the conspiratorial potential, his history would make him, at the very least, beholding to Myron at some level. Is this the independence we want?
Spanky, I don't understand your discomfort with Dr. Slatkin. He is independant, has to be motivated by pure interests, is financially secure and not in need of graft, is very well thought of by all who know hime (from the medical community to his numerous patients) and he has demonstrated his committment to run and win. I really don't understand what you are looking for. Help me.
OKay , already. See what happens when one does not think through a scenario. You are right. I think Dr. Slatkin would make a great candidate and most of all, highly electable.
To the persons who keep insisting that Dr. Slatkin is a great candidate, I am sure he is a very nice man and will garner the support of his family and patient base. But, he will NOT win the election because in order to win the at large race, he must win votes in the black community. Remember them? They make up over 50% of this community and contrary to stereotype many of them vote and some will even vote for a white candidate. Unfortunately, Dr Slatkin is an unknown in the black community and will get very little support. A viable candidate against Lawson must get a small percentage of the black vote in order to win. That is politics.
I'm not about Dr. Slatkin but I really disagree with your assessment of his viability in the black community. In the first place, I think that Lawson will get Slatkin more votes in the black and white community than he could possibly capture for himself, Secondly, I think you underestimate his image, reputation, and attraction in the black community. He is liked and trusted. Thirdly, he is a non-politician and has a huge reputation for intelligence and decency. The task he has taken on is pretty formidable and I think that the responsible interested people in Alexandria need to get behind him. The only other name that I have heard mentioned for this very critical position is Bob Madison. Madison has done nothing to recommend him or justify our confidence. It is rumored (and only rumored) that he is being put in the race by Lawson to attempt to dilute the white vote. Who knows??!!? I just am grateful to the doctor for taking on the task and depending on his hard work plus the "anybody-but-Myron" sentiment to see us through.
I agree. Just let the utility bills (along with gasoline prices which really have nothing to do with the Council but increase financial pressure on moderate to low income people) take care of Lawson. Slatkin deserves something for just stepping into the ring. I trust the black voters. The chalenge will be to keep the white folks from doing something stupid.
While I regret that this blog operator has abandoned the site and there is nobody to maintain the site, this really is the most effective format for exchange. It is more like an active conversation than Lamar's two sites. Lamar's sites are two closely controlled. He picks the area and direction of the discussion and you have to shop topics and categories to post or review posts.
I think the blog operator has abandoned the site because his only goal was to unseat Lawson. And now that he sees, with the current candidate opposing him, that is virtually impossible, he has retreated and given up.
Anonymous, surely you jest about the operator & Lawson. The folks in the hood realize that Myron is all pearly whites when he wants their vote and don't have the time when he is in. Myron is for Myron and lies like a Persion Rug, so folks say. I am sure black folks are getting a little tired of thinking they can be lumped into one class and counted on to support a "brother" - especially when he robs them blind.
I think you underestimate the huge impact of utility bills, particulary in this stressed economic climate. He is promising sports arenas and high rise condos on the Red but that has little to with people that can't run their AC or fan or heat water for cooking, bathing, and washing clothes. I don't see the incumbants having a way out. The mood screams CHANGE.
I think it's pretty unlikely that some well-financed charismatic political powerhouse is going to emerge to vie for a dipshit office in a one-horse town. If you are waiting for Rudi Giulliani to ride into town and declare, you are not well. This guy Dr. Alex is a good guy and he's all we got. We can hope the bird flu strikes down Myron or we can try to make this thing work. God, I hate hand-wringers.
If there is any doubt in anyone's mind as to whether or not Alexandria can be the shining city on a hill, you needed to be at the corner of 3rd and Desoto last night. I, for one, have gone from cautiously optimistic to frankly excited. We really are worth saving. Think about it.
Slatkin will need to spend about $200,000 to unseat Lawson. I'm sure he has that in his checking account, but is he willing to spend it? Some blacks would vote against Lawson if they had a viable alternative. The Tennyson Oaks thing does not set well on lower 3rd.
Let's see, $1500.00x12x4=72000 (city council salary for 4 years) which would hardly make sense for him to dig into his pocket for 200K. ( It has not cost that much for to run the race in the past) That is why candidates need help both financially and physically from a band of supporters. I would like to know what DR. Slatkin intends to do before I throw my full support behind him. I would say he is a viable candidate, but in what direction? What I want is a back to basics approach priortized as follows (business will come if these are addresses & will leave if not): 1.Effective police & fire protection reflected in the statistics resulting in lower insurance rates & safer environment. 2.Infrastructure - streets, water, electricity ,gas, facilities etc.- we are faced with aging maintenance & replacement needs as well as manageable expansion. (Remember, more area annexed into the city = greater maintenance demand.) My contention is that these two items alone are enough to drive people (hence business) to look for better living conditions elsewhere. It is almost analgous to Mexico. While we look at Mexican immigration as a problem for us, it is almost equally so for them because the labor they need to grow an economy is here therefore, retention of our population is a similar circumstance,(ie. our young people leave for an education and do not return here using their talent to build other local economies.)Alexandria is my birthplace and while I have traveled 46 states and overseas, I live here because it is home, therefore, I want the quality of improved here.
Spanky, I agree with everything you said in your above posting. I don't know anything about Dr. Slatkin except that his colleagues and patients think very highly of him and he is NOT Myron Lawson. My point really tracks yours. We need to see if we can get behind this guy and support him and in order to do that we need to find out what he is about. I am going to try to contact him and find out his stance on all of these expensive and unproductive consulting contracts. Why don't you give him a call and talk to him about the things that are important to you. At least that way we will answer some of the biggest questions which are: is he available, open-minded, and will he listen.
I just don't want to let this opportunity for change to slip away.
Spanky, I agree with everything you said in your above posting. I don't know anything about Dr. Slatkin except that his colleagues and patients think very highly of him and he is NOT Myron Lawson. My point really tracks yours. We need to see if we can get behind this guy and support him and in order to do that we need to find out what he is about. I am going to try to contact him and find out his stance on all of these expensive and unproductive consulting contracts. Why don't you give him a call and talk to him about the things that are important to you. At least that way we will answer some of the biggest questions which are: is he available, open-minded, and will he listen.
I just don't want to let this opportunity for change to slip away.
I applaud Hobbs for calling the Mayor’s hand. Problem is the Mayor does NOT have the character or the support (at City Hall or at home) to step down. We did not elect Albin, Delores or Ken and they have no business (but their own) running the city. It is not this gaggle of three’s choice to or who should run the city…that is set by charter.
The Charter provides a method for removal of a disabled mayor by 2/3 vote of the council but I doubt that there could be anything but upheaval and anarchy if they attempted to effectively get him off of the 2nd floor by election time. Injunctions and litigation delays would make that a vain and useless exercise. I don't understand the purpose of doing this thing at this time.
One full week has come and gone since Lamar posed his querry; The liklihood of posting answers is looking pretty bleary; Questions are easier to ask than answers to receive; His youth, vigor, and naivete caused him to believe; It's a shame if Lamar's effort turns into a bust; Perhaps the lesson he will learn is "who Lamar can Trust"
I just read Lamar's latest post and am inclined to wonder whether he is so emotionally and financially invested in downtown developement that he is unable to put the welfare of the entire city in perspective. Myron is making him the promises he wants to hear and he is unwilling to embrace the obvious. I am not saying that Lamar is bad, just "blinded by the light". He seems willing to totally disregard Myron's consistent and uninterrupted history of financial self-nurture to keep Myron "promising". Rather dissappointing but, at some level, understandable.
I don't agree. I just think that Lamar is dazzled by this attention and, like most realtors, never met a commission he didn't like. It would be refreshing if he would just say "screw downtown" for about an hour and think about the whole community. Tunnel vision??
A Question and Answer Session With The Candidates for Alexandria City Councilman At-Large.
1. Tell us a little bit about your background. Where are you originally from? Where did you go to school? How long have you lived in Alexandria?
Slatkin: I am originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where I was born and grew up being part of multiracial and cultural society. After graduating from medical school (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) I migrated to the United States in the early 1970’s. Since my very early teens I was a big admirer of the United States, its people, history and movies. I always had an intense desire to be part of this family. I can say, I was a true American at heart. My family, of middle class, like many Brazilians, were immigrants themselves. I completed my medical training in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Diseases at the Universities of New York, Cincinnati, and Louisville. I moved to Alexandria in 1978 and began working for the Veterans Administration Medical Center where I spent one year as a full time medical officer. I then decided to engage in private practice. I am on the active medical staff of both Rapides Regional Medical Center and Christus St.Frances Cabrini Hospital in addition to running a pulmonary clinic at the VA Hospital on a weekly basis. I can speak English and Portuguese fluently. I also have a good comprehension and communication in Spanish. I have knowledge of written and spoken both Italian and French. I am a Ham Radio Operator, (KB5MEX), enjoy music and riding scooters. I currently am the managing physician of the Internal Medicine Associates and I have managed its finances for the last 25 years. In think I am a very honest, fair, broad minded and an outspoken person. I dislike very much dishonesty and sweet deals behind curtains and in secrecy.. I am one of those that, when assigned with a task, it will be done as correct as possible. When the answers are not readily known, I never hesitate to seek an expert opinion. I am very responsible and caring, striving every day to make sure that those trying to reach me are being promptly responded to, even if in a negative manner. Usually those that dislike me are the ones being pointed out for incompetence, negligence and dishonesty, thereby affecting the lives of others.
Lawson: I was born and reared in Alexandria. I attended the following public schools: Silver City Elementary, Jones Street Jr High, Peabody High, and LSUA. I graduated from Southern University with a bachelors in business management. I have served as Chairman of the Board and am currently Vice Chairman.
2. What is the number one problem facing Alexandria?
Slatkin: There are many important issues afflicting our city. However, I perceive that the number one problem, which is much related to what I frequently hear from Alexandrians, is the high cost of utilities.
Lawson: The number one problem facing Alexandria is the lack of people stepping up and getting involved in the community. I am worried that the interest of the citizens is not where it needs to be. I feel that young adults getting involved in the community is drastically needed. Young adults in our community have expressed to me that they do not feel that they have had the opportunity to participate in various aspects of our community.
3. What is the single greatest accomplishment of the current City Council?
Slatkin: I am sure several accomplishments could be considered but I believe that the approval of Ordinance No 44-2006 of February 7, 2006 relating to the prohibition of smoking in certain areas is the most important and productive one.
Lawson: I think the single greatest accomplishment of the current City Council was being instrumental in bringing Union Tank Car Company to Alexandria.
4. What is the biggest failure of the current City Council?
Lawson: I think the biggest failure of the current City Council is not making more opportunities available for our youth to get involved in the governmental process.
Slatkin: Last year’s failure to secure a favorable natural gas contract prior to Hurricane Katrina, which once in place, would have prevented the enormous financial burden currently being experienced by thousands of our citizens. This is articularly true among our senior and low income citizens.
5. Recently, it was reported that Alexandria is suffering from a lack of skilled workers. What measures will you propose in order to solve this labor problem?
Lawson: I have worked with our Governor to make sure that we receive more state funding to assist in this matter. I have also worked with our Federal Delegation as well. As a City Councilman I will continue to work on pushing for advanced training, as I did in the past budget hearings, for all of our skilled workers.
Slatkin: I believe that we do have the skilled workers as well as the necessary tools for their formation. Our learning institutions appear to be comparable with others. What we actually lack are the opportunities and consequently the incentive for those workers. Therefore, leading to job-seeking elsewhere. I believe that the solution for the problem lies in economic growth and the migration of new businesses to our area. I would actively investigate, maximize and energize every aspect of feasible possibilities that would allow these ideas to come to fruition. Alexandria has wonderful young people who grow up, and are trained and educated, and have to move elsewhere for opportunities. If we can encourage growth and expansion of opportunity in Central Louisiana, we will have the best skilled worker resource possible, our own children.
6. How will you (do you) balance your professional career with a political career?
Lawson: I have proven to balance my professional and political career. I have one of the highest attendance rates of any elected official in the parish. My business has continued to grow throughout my 17 years as a State Farm Agent and Real Estate Broker. I take great pride in being available to my church, family, customers and community.
Slatkin: I have always been able to optimize my time effectively. I am a twenty four hour type person and frequently able to accommodate and add onto my time immediate needs and important issues that I may have to confront. When it comes to the ability to perform a job a busy person should be the one to ask. As a primary care physician, I have always recognized the necessity of getting things done NOW and not procrastinating. I am used to people depending on me for important decisions.
7. It is also well-known that Alexandria suffers from a lack of affordable housing. What measures will you propose in order to solve this housing problem?
Lawson: I have already started working on our housing problem. Within a month, Lawson Heights will be open to the public. Fifty units will be available to the lower income community. Lawson Heights was established through my family's foundation. I am proud to say that I will not profit from this endeavor now or in the future. Several other developers have contacted me for similar projects to be done in the near future. I have also worked with Hibernia Bank on affordable housing.
Slatkin: The construction of new homes and neighborhoods should not be a primary function of the city government but a function of the private sector. The city government however, may and should create a desirable economical environment in order for developers and builders to prosper. The city government on the other hand should be able, as much as possible, to create incentives for builders, investors, and families, to facilitate housing development and home ownership. As a Councilman I will favor such allocations and expeditiously, explore other funding sources such as the National House Trust Fund. I will favor every dignified measure to prevent and correct indigence.
8. What is your vision for Downtown Alexandria?
Lawson: My vision for downtown Alexandria is to have high rise housing along with shopping and eating facilities. I am working with developers on condos that will overlook our river. I would like to see more green space and the Bentley Hotel fully operational again. I am very interested in promoting more festivals and family functions in the downtown area such as the Bar-B-Que Festival, which I promoted. I would also like to see an exquisite water fountain displayed in the center of our downtown area. Most importantly, I would like to preserve the nostalgia in the downtown area. I would hate to see new structures that don't conform to our downtown style. I have also teamed up with organizations such as the GAEDA Board, which I lobbied for the creation of, Downtown Development District and the Chamber of Commerce to foster public/private ventures in the downtown area and the city as a whole.
Slatkin: The issues related to downtown area should be part of a comprehensive plan which involves the entire city. The prosperity and vitality of that part of town are immensely dependent on developers, merchants and recreation. I believe progress has been made and it is clearly noticeable. As they work and plan together I foresee continuing improvement in the future.
9.There are many people here in Alexandria who must make a choice between paying their utility bill and paying their rent. How do you plan on solving the utilities crisis in Alexandria?
Lawson: First, I would get a professional organization to review how we operate from top to bottom. Second, I would use the advice of that organization. I have asked for this to be done and now it is in the process of happening. Third, I would continue to make motions, such as I did this past fiscal year, to make money available for the poor.
I worked with the administration and the council to place $250,000 in an account at the Shepherd Center to assist the poor. I suggested the Shepherd Center because of its history and to take the politics out of who gets assisted.Hundreds of people took advantage of this initiative.
Slatkin: The wrong decisions have been made and we cannot go back in time. We can, however, prepare ourselves for the future and trusting that our elected officials make decisions that are sensible, correct and for the right reasons.
10. Why are you running for office?
Slatkin: I have interests in many things in life including politics. I actually am not much of a fan of that word as it frequently depicts a negative thought. When I think of a councilman, I think of someone appointed by the residents of a community to engage in decisions and vote, with honesty and impartiality, about the changes, budget approvals and allocations pertaining the collective interests of the community. I feel that, at this stage of my life, I can embrace such responsibility, and above all, I know I possess a true, genuine and sincere wisdom to help others. Many of my patients and friends have asked me in the past: Why don’t you run for office?
Lawson: I am running simply because as the scripture states, "to whom much is given, much is required". I have been blessed at a young age and I see so many others that need to be assisted. That is why I offered myself for public service as soon as I finished college. I have used this office to assist thousands of people and pledge to continue to do so. I have dedicated my time as a charter member of the England Authority and later served on the Police Jury and currently the City Council. I believe that one should definitely put in more than he or she gets out of public service. That's why I have always put 100% of my salary received from the Police Jury and the City Council back into charities in the community. I have also refused to participate in retirement plans, health insurance plans and other perks offered by the city.
11. What will you do differently?
Slatkin: I will diligently exercise caution, prudence and fairness involving any of my decisions. Whenever appropriate, I will obtain expert and non-bias quality consultations, carefully focusing on the common interests and the costs that might inflict upon our community. I will be very responsive, as I do on a one to one basis in the practice of medicine, to my constituents' requests and making sure that they never feel that "I have let them down."
Lawson: I will use the knowledge I have obtained to work with more people in business to help them expand and hire local workers. I will also work more with the School Board on programs for at-risk youth.
12. What can our community do in order to ensure that Lower Third and South Alexandria are safe and clean?
Slatkin: Promoting and improving infrastructure, increasing neighborhood education, pride and reinforcing security. We have to move forward together as a city, a community, and as people.
Lawson:As finance chair, a budget has been passed to hire 5 more police officers to be placed on the streets of South Alexandria. I have also been working with the neighborhood leadership on clean-up efforts. I will continue to promote homeownership and commercial development in the Lower Third and South Alexandria areas.
13. If the city was suddenly awarded with $1 billion, how would you spend that money?
Slatkin: I would try with prudence and in a very wise manner to utilize and properly allocate that huge sum of money. I would prioritize the needs of our city, for example, based upon their level of necessity and classifying them as a) Extremely Important b) Very Important c) Somewhat Important d) Not Important. After a careful consideration and identifying those needs, the funds should be appropriately distributed. I would make accountability and competence extremely important issues. Having said that, I would utilize the funds into areas such as the police department, intending to increase security, upgrading technology and salaries, number of mobile units and police personnel. I would also review and upgrade the fire department, sanitation, and utility Department. Basically, all city departments would be reviewed. I would improve the conditions of many of our streets, roads, sidewalks in addition to improving recreation and parks. I would improve/create programs for assistance to our senior citizens and handicapped. I also would allocate funds for a comprehensive youth activity program, arts, museums and other cultural activities. I would favor allocations of funds as inquired in question number 7, for the planning and construction of low income housing.
In view of the current high costs of oil and with much pragmatism, knowing that the situation will tend to worsen in the future, I would favorably advocate the expansion of our city transportation system, thereby increasing the number of routes and making public transportation more accessible and convenient. I would undoubtedly, reserve a substantial amount of funds for the possible unforeseen emergencies that might occur in the future, such as natural disasters and terrorism.
Lawson: I would spend $1 billion on making sure we have a safe, healthy community. Crime prevention and healthier communities such as a completely smoke free public environment would be at the top of the list. Every child would have proper health care along with good nutrition. The elderly would have more assistance in making sure their houses are well insulated and energy efficient thus providing a better quality of living.
14. Who is your favorite musical artist?
Lawson:My favorite musical artist is Stevie Wonder.
Slatkin: I basically enjoy all types of music including classical music. I enjoy listening, among many, to Celine Dion , Neil Diamond, Alicia Keys, Billy Joel and Madonna. I also enjoy watching American Idol.
15. Who is your political role model?
Lawson: My political role model is Nelson Mandela. I have had the opportunity to meet him and admire what he stands for. Charlie Weems and I were Chairman of the Boards for LSU and Southern University when we presented Mr. Mandela with Honorary Doctorates. He is a living legend.
Slatkin: There have been a few that I would describe as my political model and each of them with unique characteristics not shared by the others. Because of his leadership role, ability to make decisions in time of crisis and undisputable humility, I have had a special affinity toward the former president, Harry S Truman.
Slatkin needs to publish this entire interview in the TT. His answers make Myron look like a mental midget. Thanks, Lamar, for asking these questions.
A Question and Answer Session With The Candidates for Alexandria City Councilman At-Large.
1. Tell us a little bit about your background. Where are you originally from? Where did you go to school? How long have you lived in Alexandria?
Slatkin: I am originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where I was born and grew up being part of multiracial and cultural society. After graduating from medical school (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) I migrated to the United States in the early 1970’s. Since my very early teens I was a big admirer of the United States, its people, history and movies. I always had an intense desire to be part of this family. I can say, I was a true American at heart. My family, of middle class, like many Brazilians, were immigrants themselves. I completed my medical training in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Diseases at the Universities of New York, Cincinnati, and Louisville. I moved to Alexandria in 1978 and began working for the Veterans Administration Medical Center where I spent one year as a full time medical officer. I then decided to engage in private practice. I am on the active medical staff of both Rapides Regional Medical Center and Christus St.Frances Cabrini Hospital in addition to running a pulmonary clinic at the VA Hospital on a weekly basis. I can speak English and Portuguese fluently. I also have a good comprehension and communication in Spanish. I have knowledge of written and spoken both Italian and French. I am a Ham Radio Operator, (KB5MEX), enjoy music and riding scooters. I currently am the managing physician of the Internal Medicine Associates and I have managed its finances for the last 25 years. In think I am a very honest, fair, broad minded and an outspoken person. I dislike very much dishonesty and sweet deals behind curtains and in secrecy.. I am one of those that, when assigned with a task, it will be done as correct as possible. When the answers are not readily known, I never hesitate to seek an expert opinion. I am very responsible and caring, striving every day to make sure that those trying to reach me are being promptly responded to, even if in a negative manner. Usually those that dislike me are the ones being pointed out for incompetence, negligence and dishonesty, thereby affecting the lives of others.
Lawson: I was born and reared in Alexandria. I attended the following public schools: Silver City Elementary, Jones Street Jr High, Peabody High, and LSUA. I graduated from Southern University with a bachelors in business management. I have served as Chairman of the Board and am currently Vice Chairman.
2. What is the number one problem facing Alexandria?
Slatkin: There are many important issues afflicting our city. However, I perceive that the number one problem, which is much related to what I frequently hear from Alexandrians, is the high cost of utilities.
Lawson: The number one problem facing Alexandria is the lack of people stepping up and getting involved in the community. I am worried that the interest of the citizens is not where it needs to be. I feel that young adults getting involved in the community is drastically needed. Young adults in our community have expressed to me that they do not feel that they have had the opportunity to participate in various aspects of our community.
3. What is the single greatest accomplishment of the current City Council?
Slatkin: I am sure several accomplishments could be considered but I believe that the approval of Ordinance No 44-2006 of February 7, 2006 relating to the prohibition of smoking in certain areas is the most important and productive one.
Lawson: I think the single greatest accomplishment of the current City Council was being instrumental in bringing Union Tank Car Company to Alexandria.
4. What is the biggest failure of the current City Council?
Lawson: I think the biggest failure of the current City Council is not making more opportunities available for our youth to get involved in the governmental process.
Slatkin: Last year’s failure to secure a favorable natural gas contract prior to Hurricane Katrina, which once in place, would have prevented the enormous financial burden currently being experienced by thousands of our citizens. This is articularly true among our senior and low income citizens.
5. Recently, it was reported that Alexandria is suffering from a lack of skilled workers. What measures will you propose in order to solve this labor problem?
Lawson: I have worked with our Governor to make sure that we receive more state funding to assist in this matter. I have also worked with our Federal Delegation as well. As a City Councilman I will continue to work on pushing for advanced training, as I did in the past budget hearings, for all of our skilled workers.
Slatkin: I believe that we do have the skilled workers as well as the necessary tools for their formation. Our learning institutions appear to be comparable with others. What we actually lack are the opportunities and consequently the incentive for those workers. Therefore, leading to job-seeking elsewhere. I believe that the solution for the problem lies in economic growth and the migration of new businesses to our area. I would actively investigate, maximize and energize every aspect of feasible possibilities that would allow these ideas to come to fruition. Alexandria has wonderful young people who grow up, and are trained and educated, and have to move elsewhere for opportunities. If we can encourage growth and expansion of opportunity in Central Louisiana, we will have the best skilled worker resource possible, our own children.
6. How will you (do you) balance your professional career with a political career?
Lawson: I have proven to balance my professional and political career. I have one of the highest attendance rates of any elected official in the parish. My business has continued to grow throughout my 17 years as a State Farm Agent and Real Estate Broker. I take great pride in being available to my church, family, customers and community.
Slatkin: I have always been able to optimize my time effectively. I am a twenty four hour type person and frequently able to accommodate and add onto my time immediate needs and important issues that I may have to confront. When it comes to the ability to perform a job a busy person should be the one to ask. As a primary care physician, I have always recognized the necessity of getting things done NOW and not procrastinating. I am used to people depending on me for important decisions.
7. It is also well-known that Alexandria suffers from a lack of affordable housing. What measures will you propose in order to solve this housing problem?
Lawson: I have already started working on our housing problem. Within a month, Lawson Heights will be open to the public. Fifty units will be available to the lower income community. Lawson Heights was established through my family's foundation. I am proud to say that I will not profit from this endeavor now or in the future. Several other developers have contacted me for similar projects to be done in the near future. I have also worked with Hibernia Bank on affordable housing.
Slatkin: The construction of new homes and neighborhoods should not be a primary function of the city government but a function of the private sector. The city government however, may and should create a desirable economical environment in order for developers and builders to prosper. The city government on the other hand should be able, as much as possible, to create incentives for builders, investors, and families, to facilitate housing development and home ownership. As a Councilman I will favor such allocations and expeditiously, explore other funding sources such as the National House Trust Fund. I will favor every dignified measure to prevent and correct indigence.
8. What is your vision for Downtown Alexandria?
Lawson: My vision for downtown Alexandria is to have high rise housing along with shopping and eating facilities. I am working with developers on condos that will overlook our river. I would like to see more green space and the Bentley Hotel fully operational again. I am very interested in promoting more festivals and family functions in the downtown area such as the Bar-B-Que Festival, which I promoted. I would also like to see an exquisite water fountain displayed in the center of our downtown area. Most importantly, I would like to preserve the nostalgia in the downtown area. I would hate to see new structures that don't conform to our downtown style. I have also teamed up with organizations such as the GAEDA Board, which I lobbied for the creation of, Downtown Development District and the Chamber of Commerce to foster public/private ventures in the downtown area and the city as a whole.
Slatkin: The issues related to downtown area should be part of a comprehensive plan which involves the entire city. The prosperity and vitality of that part of town are immensely dependent on developers, merchants and recreation. I believe progress has been made and it is clearly noticeable. As they work and plan together I foresee continuing improvement in the future.
9.There are many people here in Alexandria who must make a choice between paying their utility bill and paying their rent. How do you plan on solving the utilities crisis in Alexandria?
Lawson: First, I would get a professional organization to review how we operate from top to bottom. Second, I would use the advice of that organization. I have asked for this to be done and now it is in the process of happening. Third, I would continue to make motions, such as I did this past fiscal year, to make money available for the poor.
I worked with the administration and the council to place $250,000 in an account at the Shepherd Center to assist the poor. I suggested the Shepherd Center because of its history and to take the politics out of who gets assisted.Hundreds of people took advantage of this initiative.
Slatkin: The wrong decisions have been made and we cannot go back in time. We can, however, prepare ourselves for the future and trusting that our elected officials make decisions that are sensible, correct and for the right reasons.
10. Why are you running for office?
Slatkin: I have interests in many things in life including politics. I actually am not much of a fan of that word as it frequently depicts a negative thought. When I think of a councilman, I think of someone appointed by the residents of a community to engage in decisions and vote, with honesty and impartiality, about the changes, budget approvals and allocations pertaining the collective interests of the community. I feel that, at this stage of my life, I can embrace such responsibility, and above all, I know I possess a true, genuine and sincere wisdom to help others. Many of my patients and friends have asked me in the past: Why don’t you run for office?
Lawson: I am running simply because as the scripture states, "to whom much is given, much is required". I have been blessed at a young age and I see so many others that need to be assisted. That is why I offered myself for public service as soon as I finished college. I have used this office to assist thousands of people and pledge to continue to do so. I have dedicated my time as a charter member of the England Authority and later served on the Police Jury and currently the City Council. I believe that one should definitely put in more than he or she gets out of public service. That's why I have always put 100% of my salary received from the Police Jury and the City Council back into charities in the community. I have also refused to participate in retirement plans, health insurance plans and other perks offered by the city.
11. What will you do differently?
Slatkin: I will diligently exercise caution, prudence and fairness involving any of my decisions. Whenever appropriate, I will obtain expert and non-bias quality consultations, carefully focusing on the common interests and the costs that might inflict upon our community. I will be very responsive, as I do on a one to one basis in the practice of medicine, to my constituents' requests and making sure that they never feel that "I have let them down."
Lawson: I will use the knowledge I have obtained to work with more people in business to help them expand and hire local workers. I will also work more with the School Board on programs for at-risk youth.
12. What can our community do in order to ensure that Lower Third and South Alexandria are safe and clean?
Slatkin: Promoting and improving infrastructure, increasing neighborhood education, pride and reinforcing security. We have to move forward together as a city, a community, and as people.
Lawson:As finance chair, a budget has been passed to hire 5 more police officers to be placed on the streets of South Alexandria. I have also been working with the neighborhood leadership on clean-up efforts. I will continue to promote homeownership and commercial development in the Lower Third and South Alexandria areas.
13. If the city was suddenly awarded with $1 billion, how would you spend that money?
Slatkin: I would try with prudence and in a very wise manner to utilize and properly allocate that huge sum of money. I would prioritize the needs of our city, for example, based upon their level of necessity and classifying them as a) Extremely Important b) Very Important c) Somewhat Important d) Not Important. After a careful consideration and identifying those needs, the funds should be appropriately distributed. I would make accountability and competence extremely important issues. Having said that, I would utilize the funds into areas such as the police department, intending to increase security, upgrading technology and salaries, number of mobile units and police personnel. I would also review and upgrade the fire department, sanitation, and utility Department. Basically, all city departments would be reviewed. I would improve the conditions of many of our streets, roads, sidewalks in addition to improving recreation and parks. I would improve/create programs for assistance to our senior citizens and handicapped. I also would allocate funds for a comprehensive youth activity program, arts, museums and other cultural activities. I would favor allocations of funds as inquired in question number 7, for the planning and construction of low income housing.
In view of the current high costs of oil and with much pragmatism, knowing that the situation will tend to worsen in the future, I would favorably advocate the expansion of our city transportation system, thereby increasing the number of routes and making public transportation more accessible and convenient. I would undoubtedly, reserve a substantial amount of funds for the possible unforeseen emergencies that might occur in the future, such as natural disasters and terrorism.
Lawson: I would spend $1 billion on making sure we have a safe, healthy community. Crime prevention and healthier communities such as a completely smoke free public environment would be at the top of the list. Every child would have proper health care along with good nutrition. The elderly would have more assistance in making sure their houses are well insulated and energy efficient thus providing a better quality of living.
14. Who is your favorite musical artist?
Lawson:My favorite musical artist is Stevie Wonder.
Slatkin: I basically enjoy all types of music including classical music. I enjoy listening, among many, to Celine Dion , Neil Diamond, Alicia Keys, Billy Joel and Madonna. I also enjoy watching American Idol.
15. Who is your political role model?
Lawson: My political role model is Nelson Mandela. I have had the opportunity to meet him and admire what he stands for. Charlie Weems and I were Chairman of the Boards for LSU and Southern University when we presented Mr. Mandela with Honorary Doctorates. He is a living legend.
Slatkin: There have been a few that I would describe as my political model and each of them with unique characteristics not shared by the others. Because of his leadership role, ability to make decisions in time of crisis and undisputable humility, I have had a special affinity toward the former president, Harry S Truman.
Lawson's political hero is a communist agitator and Slatkin's hero is a president who didn't mind nuking thousands of innocent civilians. not good not good at all.
I think both of these guys found excellent heros to emulate. Slatkin should continue to commit himself to saving hundreds of thousands of American lives like Truman did in WW2 and Lawson should go to prison for 6 years like Mandela.
Meet the real Lamar White, Jr. - philosopher, analyst, seasoned veteran of life, king maker and self-made man:
Lamar White, Jr. said... To the anonymous moron on Cenla Antics (This isn't worthy of its own entry):
Let the record reflect that my family does not own any downtown property and that I am not a realtor. I may become one in the future, but I am NOT a realtor. I manage property and assets. Sorry to disappoint you and your theories about commissions and inside deals.
This is what gets me about Alexandria: You're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't.
People want to see Alexandria improve and expand, but no one wants to see anyone make money off of the expansion. WHAT WORLD ARE YOU PEOPLE LIVING IN?
Well obviously you are mistaken. Lamar White, Jr. does not engage in name-calling, insult, personal attack, or run-of-the-mill nastiness. This must be some imposter who would like to share in Lamar's enormous fame and achievment.
Curious. Ever notice how Lamar requires all diaglogue to be on his site under his control? I think he is also into identifying participants that post on his site. Antics is sort of a neutral site. I like that.
I am an avid reader of this blog, but I have never felt the need to post anything, until now.
I propose a few questions. How many of you know who,Lamar is? How many have met him in person? How many know personally, what type of guy he is. It is amazing to me how he has amassed a huge fan club by writing a few catchy phrases.
This guy is a wet behind the ears farce. He has not proposed one original thought, just warmed over, touchy feely, let's all get along doubletalk.
Yet, all of you seem ready to follow him like lemmings to the sea!
Now I know why this city is on the verge of a long downhill slide into the sewer. If you all are representative of the capacity for critical thought, prevalent in our city, God help us all.
awww looks like someone is jealous. at least he writes in his own name thats more than what can be said of you. then you go on about "He has not proposed one original thought..." yet you only use tired worn out cliches yourself. you should look within yourself and identify what it is that white represents to you that you are afraid of.
scarlett you silly wingnut moonbat lamar said from the outset that he is a liberal and yet you get all bent out of shape when he posts rush limbaugh's mugshot on his own blog? lmao how whacked is that? you in your typical halfcocked fashion assumed something without checking it out first when in fact the truth is that white never has pretended "to be one type when they are really the other." the fact is, is that it was you who didnt know what you were talking about.
"we saw that" is defending Lamar because your bona fide pundits are not very keen on receiving criticism but quite keen on dishing it out. If you read their respective postings you will see that each and both have chips the size of the Bently Hotel on their rather narrow shoulders. They much prefer it when you laud their brilliance and rapier-like wit.
To "we saw that." Jealous? Of what? Please enlighten me oh sage...what does Lamar or you have that anyone else would be desirous of?
From your choice of words and their use, one would assume you are not an educated person. Your thoughts betray your inexperience in dealing with the real world. You blather on with righteous indignation whenever someone, who is obviously your better, strips your facade and exposes your ineptitude. You, my sorry friend, are the epidome of a sheep.
However, because I am somewhat enamored of those who are wandering the wasteland of yet found intellect, searching for a means to enlightenment, I will watch you from my lofty pearch and correct you when you need redirection.
To the other Bloggers here, be kind to those who engage their "rapier-like-wit" before their brain. Their swords are short and dull. They do no damage. Take pity on them, and ignore their childish rantings.
Liberal or conservative, Lamar is what he is...a child. He thinks as a child, and acts as a child. By defending him, you confirm that you are one of his flock, blindly following a Judus Goat.
lol we arent formally educated and dont pretend to be. we arent eloquent and dont pretend to be that either. your words on the other hand are representative of someone who is full of hate and bitterness. you blather on with your "educated parlance" and say nothing substantive. you in your jaded reality are about nothing but destruction and despair. we feel sorry for you and the nasty environment you have existed in that have made you this way.
Just back from Argentina, Hugo sends his love and thinks Alexandria will be an easy conquest. Gotta pack the next load. See ya'll in two weeks. P.S. - I got the job.
Lamar White Jr. is a continuation of the silk stocking gang, silver spoon in their mouths families that have long controlled Alexandria. His Grandmother owns her church, having music directors hired, preachers fired for not abiding by her wishes, and bringing tremendous discord to the Alexandria political arena. She will back the loudest malcontent in a local political tiff and, when she can't win all the time, corresponds with political contacts at all levels.
Yes Junior is a chip off the old block. Never forget the moneyed folks in Alexandria know better than us what is best for us.
As a side note, Nagin should run for Mayor of Alexandria. He would, once again, realize his dream of a "chocalate city." Alexandria's next Mayor will be a Black puppet of the Majority of the City Council. The majority (if not all) of revenue received by the City will be spent in the Black Neighberhoods or amongst Black friends (socially called consultants.)
The drive has started to "get what is owed to us" by Whitey and will continue until there is no money left to spend. One needs only look around to see the useless projects already completed in the neigherhoods. I especiall like the the "walking path" dowtown and down Bayou Rapides. Now It has been determined that the Blacks right to everything free is being impacted by the White folks being at the Mardi Grasd parade. "We gwine move it to Lee Street and dat will limit the White folks attending." How many White folks are going to subject their families to the environment on Lee Street most especially from MLK to 3rd.
Lamar White Jr. is a continuation of the silk stocking gang, silver spoon in their mouths families that have long controlled Alexandria. His Grandmother owns her church, having music directors hired, preachers fired for not abiding by her wishes, and bringing tremendous discord to the Alexandria political arena. She will back the loudest malcontent in a local political tiff and, when she can't win all the time, corresponds with political contacts at all levels.
Yes Junior is a chip off the old block. Never forget the moneyed folks in Alexandria know better than us what is best for us.
As a side note, Nagin should run for Mayor of Alexandria. He would, once again, realize his dream of a "chocalate city." Alexandria's next Mayor will be a Black puppet of the Majority of the City Council. The majority (if not all) of revenue received by the City will be spent in the Black Neighberhoods or amongst Black friends (socially called consultants.)
The drive has started to "get what is owed to us" by Whitey and will continue until there is no money left to spend. One needs only look around to see the useless projects already completed in the neigherhoods. I especiall like the the "walking path" dowtown and down Bayou Rapides. Now It has been determined that the Blacks right to everything free is being impacted by the White folks being at the Mardi Grasd parade. "We gwine move it to Lee Street and dat will limit the White folks attending." How many White folks are going to subject their families to the environment on Lee Street most especially from MLK to 3rd.
Certainly not a racist, just adept at Amos & Anday dialect. Look, I'm sorry you aren't rich or important or black. I am also sorry you aren't determined or intelligent or courageous. I respectfully suggest that you take your "sky is falling" BS on "down de road". I know a little about Lamar's grandparents and they are not silver spoon elitists. They came from modest families and rose to positions of leadership in the community through hard work and community service and leadership. Alexandria's problem is not the Whites but shortage of Whites.
Lamar's opinionated self-importance is a product of his youth and privilege and should be discounted as such but one should hope that he continues to care enough so that when his vocabulary rises above the VH1 level (way cool), he is still engaged in the process. Face it. Lamar doesn't remember the downtown he remembers. He has simply been seduced into pimping for certain interests.
The City Council: that's where it's at. We have a chance to make some meaningful change but we just gotta do it instead of all this nasty hand-wringing.
Grandmother is a demonic, power hungry little old lady. Her, Felix Mouton and Malxom X ran the Parish's Job Programs into tturmoil so bad the State was trying to place the program under Vernon Parish, When the lady friend of Myron was finally rooted out she went to work at the "trade school" (another institute of finer finances for the Bretheren. When Felix was rooted out for sexual harrassement he was hired at the "trade school" at a much higher salary then he was making at the Parish. All this through the good graces of Grandmother
When her church (and have no doubt it is her church) need a music director she used her influence to have a person hired who, attested to by departing members of the choir and church, could not sing, had no peronalty and could not lead, when her music director was fired she had the preacher fired and tune heistger rehired.
By the Way "YOU AIN'T LIKE THE WHITE FOLKS I KNOW" can I call you DAN? 50 points if you can tell me Kingfish's wife's name and his mother-in-law's name speaking of Amos & Andy.
Actually my favorite is the Buckbo T Shirt. Buckwheat impersonating Sly. Funny as hell - if you got a sense of humour.
What's all this original sin crap anyway. Not that you aren't showing your nobility by beating up on a couple octogenerians but what does that have to do with Lamar. You should evaluate Lamar on Lamar's accomplishments and how they stack up with yours (which I am sure you will list with enormous accuracy).
As for comparing religious credentials, the quality of your christian love is showing all over your stuff.
Just proving the old cliche "An apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
Paul White, father of and Grandfather off, was an assistant DA to Ed Ware. My My these poor, common, pulled themselves up by their bootstraps folks seemed to have started their rise to influence and success by feeding from the Rapides Parish Political trough.
And one more tid bit. Junior was party, along with the widow, to a law suit filed to prevent the Town Talk from obtaining the results of the autopsy as to what contributed to the automobile accident that killed his father.
Apparently it is ok for the family to try and keep family secrets secret and maintain the pristine image done through Junior but let someone desmirch the family name and your picking on octoroonians or however you speel it.
"Alias 'I CAUGHT THE CITY BUS ON FOURTH STREET OUTSIDE THE BACK DOOR OF KRESS"
The quality of your information seems to parallel the quality of your grace and compassion. The grandfather is self-made and his son, Paul, was an assistant district attorney before becoming an episcopal priest. That family has had more than it's share of tragedy in every generation have always managed to endure.
Now tell us a little something about yourself . . .
If Lamar Junior is the son of Lamar Senior who was the son of Paul who was the Grandfather? Paul - Lamar Junior's grandfather was the assistant D.A. Geneology isn't your strong suit.
Christian Compassion - as much as she showed the priest when she had the Bishop fire him for his actions in firing the music director. An action approved by the board not the retailation of one person as are her actions.
Your bleeding heart bull shit relative to this family is not moving me. The matriach is tyrinnical (sic?), has been, always will be and has destroyed everything that was good before she touched it.
Lamar's grandfather, Paul, is a real estate developer. Lamar's uncle, Don, was an ADA under Ware for a brief time (like so many other young lawyers) and left the legal profession to become a priest. I only point this out because you are so misinformed and so certain. A more rational approach would be "so what?".
See Lamar, this is what people tried to warn you about. Sniveling petty insignificant weak-minded envious people will take cheap shots at you because they blame their own miserable existance and seriel failures on those who have been successful and gained respectability and/or wealth through their respective accomplishments.
All that being said, I really think you need to get your mind off of Third Street and think about the whole array of promise and problems. But you just don't seem able to do that. Pity.
13. FROM THE PAST May 14, 2003 •• 227 words •• ID: alx2003051415170209 25 Years Ago in The Town Talk May 14, 1978. New assistant district attorneys Donald Johnson and Paul Donald White have joined the staff of Rapides Parish District Attorney Ed Ware.. City clerk quits: Pineville City Clerk Betty DeKeyzer resigned her post in order to accept another job.. 50 Years Ago in The Town Talk. May 14, 1953. New Elks ruler: Dr. Milton Honigman has been installed as the exalted ruler of Alexandria Elks Lodge No. 546.. 100 Years Ago in The Town Talk. May
1. Funeral services today for Lamar White February 5, 2001 •• 476 words •• ID: alx9968696156574 Services for Alexandria real estate developer F. Lamar White Sr. will be at 2 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church with the Dr. Don White, Rev. Roy James and Dr. Henry Blount officiating. Burial will be in Alexandria Memorial Gardens under direction of John Kramer & Son.. White, 41, of Alexandria died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, in Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital following a traffic accident.. He was president of Coldwell Banker-White Real Estate and was a real estate
Is it true that William Earl, Joe McPherson and Dewey Helverson are equal owners of a fishing lodge at a certain lake in Mexico with Dewey fronting the venture?
Why does this not seem like a strange collection of bedfellows? All that is lacking "I want to be Sheriff" Charlie Dewitt.
Let Charlie become Sheriff and we will really see payback. He is notorious for retaliation against those that oppose him how bad will he be as Sheriff?
its really stupid to attack lamar by way of his grandparents parents aunts uncles cousins etc. are you responsible for the actions of your own family? the answer is no. goodness gracious the guys dad died when lamar was only 18 or 19 years old. dont you have any shame?
one thing is for sure and thats with a new sheriff all the sheriff cars will get a new paint scheme. remember when grady kelly was sheriff and all the cars were green? then william earl gets in and changes the color and seems like he changed the uniforms as well.
Are (Do) things we do or OUR FAMILY members do define the completeness of their (our) being?"
What does this person mean? Completeness of their being? And why are they putting OUR FAMILY in caps? Gee, I wonder.
When there's nothing to attack someone for (in a small town like Alexandria), attacking their family seems like the next best thing. Nice try.
That said, yes, I believe it is perfectly reasonable to assume certain things about someone who once joined the KKK. Is it fair? Maybe not. But the KKK is serious... and if we just excuse people who joined this organization (even if they were only active for a few months) and then we allow them to assume positions of power and importance in our community, I think we're really selling ourselves short.
This guy may be right about all of these furtive recordings, but I'm ready to change subjects. This is starting to bore me."
Seems Junior can attack and even question if attacking the family is OK?
WE SAW THAT (ALIAS SUCKUP) Apparently Junior has no qualms about attackting a person's youthful discretions. Gee his should be hero the gray haired gentlemen named Byrd even admitted to being a klan member.
So if once a klan member the possibility exists to become one again holds the we better watch Congressmen.
I reserve my shame and sympathy for people worthy of it. Not descendants of family line carrying on the same inane traditions.
Isn't the history of fat arsed Ted's inability to get the lady home being brought up to show the family's perpensity (sic?) for wicked ways?
Even if it is an Uncle the apple doesn't fall far from the family tree. Now We Saw That you can pontificate about the ability of Junior and his family to walk on water in your response.
This attempt to deflect attention onto my family is really shameful.
I am more than willing to answer questions about my family, but I don't know anyone who would tolerate the kind of ignorant, petty, and undeserved hatred toward their own grandmother.
I may be young ("just a child"), but it seems to me that some of you are the ones who really need to grow up.
For the past two months, I have used my blog to write about Central Louisiana. I do not have any secret motives. I want to see my community succeed, and I'd like those in my generation to be a part of that success. This is not a crooked or corrupt motivation. It's honest. And I feel very sorry for those of you who don't recognize honesty when you see it.
If mentioning my father's death or my grandmother's church (particularly lame and irrelevant) was an attempt to cause me pain, well, congratulations. I feel pain for you. I feel pain for anyone whose life is so pathetic that they derive their greatest joy at the expense of others. I feel pain for those who live with the constant urge to do others harm.
My remarks on the KKK were not intended to be personal, and I know that some people make mistakes in early in their lives. When I wrote about the KKK, I was writing about a government official, someone entrusted to serve the public good. I think that this person has probably "turned his life around," and I am happy for him. I can think of only a handful of people who would use this as an opportunity to call attention to remarks I made over a month ago on one of 110 entries. They fail to recognize the most basic premise: I was criticing this official's decisions, not his family.
I hope that we can all work together to make this blog what it should be: an honest discussion of the issues. It should be the responsibility of all of us to resist those who infect us with this type of hatred. I refuse to believe that these spiteful voices are the mainstream.
I did not have the ability to chose my family. None of us do.
Let me say this and will leave the issue and family alone. Your remarks relative to the clan membership, a foolishness of youth, rendered the person bespoiled forever. Let me once again paste a portion from your blog:
"That said, yes, I believe it is perfectly reasonable to assume certain things about someone who once joined the KKK. Is it fair? Maybe not. But the KKK is serious... and if we just excuse people who joined this organization (even if they were only active for a few months) and then we allow them to assume positions of power and importance in our community, I think we're really selling ourselves short."
Now I am going to tie this into Christianity and your family - who we all know are deeply religious. Your pasted remarks indicate, in your opinion, nobody, no matter how deeply sorry they are about their actions and their attempts to obtain forgiveness they are never to be forgiven.
If you have the right to assume certain things about people I have the same right to assume things about you and your family based upon what I personnally know. By your logic I can safely asume your Grandmother will at anytime, once again, call in favors from Washington D.C. to do harm to the citizens of Rapides Parish.
You, in an unchristianlike manner, judged this individual, condemed him to repeat his mistakes and, basically asserted, he was going to be burning crosses in the most immediate future.
You want respect for your family and yourself render respect. However, based upon your own expressed thought pattern, cannot, IMHAO, show respect and courtesy to us humble ass pissants not born to society circles.
Summation: I believe I spent the better part of a day taking your postulate thoughts and compared them to your actions and validated the fact that you are just a penis head child.
Hanging the KKK banner on an individual is nothing but a mean spirited method of causing more discontent between races and is used in the absence of any other facts to try and turn the black voter against the person so labeled.
Wonder if any of the political bretheren were afro-headed card carrying members of radical black organizations?
Hello "we saw that." As previously stated I'll watch and correct, for your own good.
In one of your recent childish outbursts you whined..."its really stupid to attack lamar by way of his grandparents parents aunts uncles cousins etc. are you responsible for the actions of your own family? the answer is no. goodness gracious the guys dad died when lamar was only 18 or 19 years old. dont you have any shame?"
People die every day, life goes on. Should we excuse Lamar's mistakes because he had a parent die? I think not. Like you, Lamar needs to grow up.
We are all responsible for our own actions, but when you place yourself in a position where you spew advice to others, prepare for a very personal rebuttal.
Those who recall to us the follies of Lamar's family are attempting to draw a correlation between them and Lamar himself. They discount Lamar because his pedigree is faulty. A point well taken.
If his family is a bunch of loonies, and Lamar himself displays a certain disconnection from reality, why should anyone take anything he says seriously?
Still, I understand your infatuation with him. It's a "grass is always greener" thing....
you are entitled to your own opinion and we respect that. the only reply that we can give to you is that only time will tell. as far as your statement about the grass is always greener thing well nothing could be further from the truth. dealing with businessmen politicians attorneys bankers renters purchasers employees etc is not our idea of a good time. we are quite content here with our horses cattle dogs alligators beavers deer ducks etc.
ps this will be our final download and reply on this thread its too cumbersome. we will be posting on the new thread if you wish to reply then reply there.
To "we saw that" and "Lamar White, Jr." - you gentlepersons are incredibly slow learners. You try to fend off these baseless attacks by unseen, unidentified, and uninformed people when they are designed for the sole purpose of cheap shots at defenseless personalities. How do you really think these conversations will end. Do you think these amoral attackers are going to finally own up and apologize. Not likely.
To the attacker(s) - you are an unprincipled cowardly son of a bitch and I am just guessing that this is not the first or last time you have been deservingly called that. But here's the bottem line: you don't matter - you never have and you never will. And that is good.
Cowardly Son of a Bitch though I may be I don't sit on a throne condeming others when my own family closet is full of skeletons.
Mr. Aymond admitted to the youthful mistake of joining the Klan. Let me inform you that joining the Klan is not against the law. Politically incorrect but not illegal. Another revelation may be that the use of the "N" word is not against the law. Once again politically incorrect but not illegal
Junior has decried, from his lofty judgemental tower, that Mr. Aymond, due to past habits, is highly likely at anytime to don a sheet and go to burning crosses.
Now let us discuss what is illegal. Driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content twice the legal limit is a violation of law. Speeding is a violation of tghe law. Lamar Sr. made two bad decisions that cost him his life. He was drunk and speeding. Had it not cost him his life Sr. could be (by Jr.'s standards) still out and about driving under the influence and placing others in harms way.
So one person admits to the error of his youthful ways and life goes on. The other's family files a law suit to prevent the cause of Sr.'s death from becoming public knowledge. Those born to high places do not want their transgression open to public view but feel a birthright to condem others.
What is the old adage "When you live in a glass house..."
As far as personal tragedy Sr. made the personal decisions that took his life. Go look at the long black wall in D.C. and see the 50,000 plus names on it. Their families also sufferred personal tragedies but the individuals the names represent were not given the opportunity to make a decision.
I may be a cowardly son of a bitch but I am not a elitist dickhead pointing out the shortcomings of the lower social levels from my lofty high society pedestal while attempting to benefit finasncially from my dealings with the City Council members and trying to cover up family baggage.
Oh and if you have such a big pair why didn't you sign your name? Could it be cowardice?
So we finally have one universal point of AGREEMENT. The person attacking Lamar because he/she is displeased with Lamar's family is a cowardly son of a bitch. and quite accustomed to and comfortable with his/her station as such. Thank you. Now we can all identify from whence he/she comes and accord his/her opinions and feelings the proper weight. Case closed.
I said Lamar White, Jr. was a slow learner. In fact, he is a non-learner. He keeps fanning the flames in response to a confessed malicious cowardly SOB. There is some point where youthful optimism becomes entirely foolish. That point was some time ago.
Recently there have been some blatant ad hominem attacks directed towards Lamar White and his family. These attacks are egregious attempts to cloud the issues that Lamar is trying to have a very open and honest discussion about.
Alexandria suffers from a disease. There is a certain power hungry element that would rather maintain status quo instead of being part of progress. This element only wants progress if they are in total control of what is done and who receives the credit and profits. An honest debate is necessary for this city to return to past glory and hopefully achieve new glory. Engaging in this debate, I believe, is Lamar’s true motive.
If those of you who are attacking Lamar and his family truly are concerned about the progress of Alexandria, you would engage in this fruitful debate instead of sniping with tremendously insulting comments. The very fact that many of you would prefer to attack Lamar and his family personally shows two things. One, you have nothing truly fruitful to contribute. And two, you are cowards.
I have to agree...like his opinions or not lets not attack the kid . I mean tragedies that his family have experience are much more hurtful to him that we as grownups should inflict . Its all bullshit anyway lets not make it hurtful to someone who is only expressing his thoughts and opinions. Right or wrong at least he is trying to express some thought.....
Hmmmmmm I must agree, those whom attack Lamar without any alternate suggestions or course of action are just as worthless as Lamar himself.
My comments have never been anti-Lamar, however, I have questioned those who blindly follow a juvenile, who views the world through a pollyanna prisim.
Lamar is no more worthy of respect than any other self adsorbed child. This is not to say that he cannot earn the respect he craves, but he must pay his dues. To date he has not. He believes that his last name will garner instant acceptence. Sorry Lamar, it don't work that way.
Anyone who sings the praises of an un-tried leader is blind to the realities of human nature. They are sheep, easily lead by a Judus goat.
Actually, I am beginning to wonder about the legitimacy of these brutal attacks. Lamar Sr. was, in my humble opinion, never much of a factor in the big picture. Yet Jr. is trying so very hard to keep this line of attack/pity/attack going. Could this be Lamar's way of promoting Lamar?
My question is why are we paying all of this attention to an insignificant child while Alexandria burns in the coils of the Snake? The Snake will eat Lamar for breakfast.
It seems to me that this has become a blog about Lamar's blog.
If you people really think that he's insignificant, then you probably wouldn't be so OBSESSED with him and his family.
Get a life. Talk about the issues. That's all Lamar's asking for.
The only reason he's had to write about himself and his father is because you people keep writing about it. Go read from the beginning. It's all there in black and white.
I don't know Lamar, but I know how to read.... which is obviously more than some of you know how to do.
Lamar, you need to wise up: Ignore these dumbasses. For real. I know your theories on your blog being a "project," but this is obviously getting to you. Don't let it.
We need people like you and thechickdowntown, because right now, we're obviously lacking.
THIS illustrates a lot about Farrar and Fields. Fields goes on TV and says he supports Farras bill then Town Talk sends a NEW reporter to cover Pineville who isnt a lap dog to write PR pieces fed to Bill Sumrall by Dupree and so Fields flip flops in a letter ....and Farrar cant get the respect of the house to even get a local bill passed. Both of these guys are pathetic and liars.
Bill allowing Rapides governments to use Web sites as official journal dies in committee By Mike Hasten mhasten@gannett.com (225) 342-7333
BATON ROUGE – After accusing a Town Talk employee of lying and indicating that he didn’t trust the House Municipal Affairs Committee, state Rep. Rick Farrar wasn’t surprised today that the panel killed his bill seeking to allow Rapides Parish governmental bodies to use their own Web sites to publish legal notices.
State law requires legal notices to be published in an official journal with paid circulation. In Rapides Parish, it’s The Town Talk.
Farrar, D-Pineville, said putting the notices on Web sites would save local governments more than $400,000 in printing costs. He said the governing bodies of Alexandria, Pineville, Ball, Cheneyville, Lecompte and a waterworks district passed resolutions supporting his proposal, known as House Bill 8.
Newspapers oppose changing the law because “it’s about greed,” Farrar told the committee. “It’s me not wanting my citizens paying so much.”
When Jim Smilie, online manager of The Town Talk, and representatives of the Louisiana Press Association contested his figures, Farrar told the committee, “I wish you would swear people in before they testify. … What they just told you is absolutely not the truth. I wish everybody would be honest.”
Farrar said he obtained advertising expenditures from the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, Rapides Police Jury, Rapides School Board and the municipal governments of Alexandria and Ball, and said the figures were higher than the $250,000 estimate cited by Smilie. He said Alexandria alone spent $106,000 on public notices.
Smilie’s copy of the letter the city sent to Farrar in February shows Alexandria spent $48,330 on legal notices. The total advertising bill was higher, but the bulk of it was not for information required to be published.
Ed Humphrey, president and publisher of The Town Talk, said in a telephone interview that he was pleased with the committee's decision.
"The committee made the right call on a matter of tremendous importance to the public," Humphrey said. "The public has the right to know what their local governments and other public bodies are doing, and the newspaper is the place they expect to find that information."
During today's hearing, Rep. Clara Baudoin, D-Carencro, questioned Farrar about having the support of the city of Pineville. She quoted a letter from Mayor Clarence Fields opposing posting legal notices on the Internet.
“I really don’t believe 75 to 100 years from now citizens will be able to go back and see notices that were posted online,” Fields said in a letter dated May 10.
Committee Chairman Ernest Baylor, D-Shreveport, asked Farrar why he did not respond last summer to the committee’s notice of conducting a hearing on using the Internet for legal notices that was scheduled when Farrar’s legislation from last year was converted to a study. When the author did not respond, plans for a hearing were canceled.
Farrar said, “It was pretty obvious to me last year and this year, too” that the proposal would be defeated.
He said he did not want a study because “I didn’t have faith and confidence in the Louisiana Press Association to participate in the spirit of cooperation.” Also, “The Town Talk would have the opportunity to come down here and sway you.”
Jeff David, publisher of the Livingston Parish News, said online publication has its hazards. He said hackers altered news he has posted on the newspaper’s Web site.
Farrar said, “The more I get into this, the more I realize how much the almighty dollar is in involved in this.”
Farrar criticized Gannett Co. Inc., owner of The Town Talk and newspapers in Lafayette, Monroe, Opelousas and Shreveport, as being “about one thing, and that’s money.”
Leon Coleman Sr., publisher of the Alexandria News Weekly, said his publication is an auxiliary journal used by local governments to reach a targeted audience, the black community, on specific issues.
Requiring citizens to use the Internet for public notices “would be devastating to our community,” he said. “Many of our residents don’t have access to computers
This incredibly irresponsible exercise of the first amendment was posted on the "we saw that" blog. It is amazing in its inaccuracy. The assistant district attorney involved in the Hypes case is NOT Tom Searcy who is a misdemeanor prosecutor, but TOM WALSH, a heavy hitter from Baton Rouge.
"will mike small bring down the rapides parish district attorney... it looks pretty good that mike small can prove corruption on the part of rapides parish assistant d.a. tom searcy. according to court papers that small filed in behalf of his client amanda gutweiler hypes, searcy leaked grand jury testimony of hypes to expert witnesses without first obtaining the courts consent. and of course if he went to get the courts consent he would have to give notice to small and he would have opposed it. so searcy took a shortcut. after a lot of legal wrangling thats been featured in the town talk small has filed a motion captioned "We call the bluff" in this motion small called out the rapides parish da for: "astonishingly unprofessional and inappropriate manner." apparantly the gist of it all is that the point of the leak was so dr john dehaan and bobby sandoval a rapides parish deputy sheriff would know which story to pitch at trial.
notice in this article rocky willson is now speaking for the da office he must have taken over the case. we guess he would be taken off after he practically called judge donald johnson a dumbass. why didnt they just follow the law and go through the motions? what gives them the right to decide to just arbitrarily break one law to enforce another? the truth is ms hypes should have been tried ages ago. its ridiculous for her and her families and for us too that someone should be in jail so long. if the state is so sure of its evidence that they were once talking about the death penalty why take so long to present it? it looks like you are trying to manufacture it. and that brings us back to the title of our post. will the public be so outraged at the actions of the da's office in screwing this up so bad, translate to change at the polls? sheriff hilton is retiring too. maybe this is time for sweeping change." ==== related post Judge Protects Constitutional Rights & Gets Called a Dumbass by Rapides' D.A. Office
If Rick Farrar is really so concerned about the newspaper charging too much to print the legals in the paper he should author a bill setting a cap on fees that can be levied by newspapers to carry official minutes etc. This crap about the internet being used is just that, CRAP.
Rick Farrar should have IM A DUMB ASS BULLY tatooed on the front of his bid old ugly head. Its an embarrassment that we have such a low life representing this area. Incidentally he is laughed at in Baton Rouge and does not get ANY respect from any of the other elected legislators . WE can do better. How did this moron even get a law license. We need to send a message to the rest of the bully fat heads in this area that their days are numbered.
Two problems: Lamar's site is locked up - technical problem; and
Lamar is depending on scoop information from "we saw that" who distinguished himself by accusing poor Tom Searcy of blowing up the Hypes case. After a wreckless blunder like that, who relies on this guy?
Read the Town Talk about the new LC contracts, the bible college, and the Da Vinci Code pickets? We are becoming a southern cartoon town that would make Elmer Gantry blush.
Lamar White, Jr., self-ordained guru of social justice, conscience of cenla, and social gadfly, has decreed that Louisiana College should lose its accreditation.
The regents of LC are in a special meeting right now to decide if they should just voluntarily surrender their certificate of accreditation rather than face the prospect of disappointing Lamar some more. More to follow.
Lamar do you have Rules at the "JOB" you work at? Ha...let me ask that another way. Do the Mortals at your place of business have rules? Do the employees make the rules or does the employer? And dont give us any bullshit rhetoric about how you have joint managment or any of that crap.....Well its now the same at LC. The Owners are setting the rules for the employees who incidentally are working there voluntarily and not under force.
Employers make the rules. That's the rule - but, educational institutions have objective standards of academic structure, freedom, and curriculum and that's their rule. Should the employees have to live by the employer's rules - yes. Should LC have to live by the objective standards and criteria of institutions of higher education in order to receive their certification - yes. Ponder that, shithead.
ya see, any whore house or goat farm or asset management concern can have employee rules and employement conditions but that doesn't mean that they can confer respected recognized academic degrees and professional credentials. Stick with me here because the concepts will be getting easier.
As a follow-up to the article I wrote this morning:
Obviously the business analogy is what we're working with here, so let's expound on that a little bit.
LC isn't like a privately-held small business; it's more like a publicly-traded mid-sized business.
The Board doesn't "own" LC, and although the Southern Baptist Convention claims ownership, they don't actually "own" LC either. LC is owned by shareholders: its students, its alumni, its donors, its professors.
These groups have the most "stock" in the future success of LC, because their worth in "human capital" is directly correlated to the value of their degree and/or job. Like a publicly-traded company, LC is also beholden to regulating bodies that determine whether or not it's violated established guidelines for accreditation, Title 9, etc.
"Ownership" can make decisions contrary to these established guidelines, but by doing so, they risk violating the regulations of their accreditation.
I believe LC should lose its accreditation, because accreditation bodies typically require that colleges practice academic freedom. I believe that any dogmatic directive instructing professors on what to believe and how to teach is a flagrant violation of the principle of academic freedom.
I believe this because I respect the professors and students of LC, and I believe that the current administration is in the process of significantly "devaluing" their degrees through a series of decisions based on a fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible.
While I understand that a loss of accreditation would be a major shock to the system, I believe that students (as well as the community at large) needs to wake up and fix this problem before it's too late. In my opinion, there is only one other solution: The present board and administration needs to resign in order to avoid future embarassment.
Again, I am NOT the lone voice calling for this. There are many people, including many LC alumns, who feel that the present administration needs to be reprimanded for their actions.
Think about it like this: What if, ten years from now, LC does become a Bible School? What if fundamentalists continue to control its curriculum? Any student who is serious about getting a job with a major employer and any student who wants to seek an advanced degree from a reputable university will be met with skepticism because their degree is from LC. That's not the way things are now, but people are making a mistake if they think that all of the professors who left were "just the bad apples." In time, it will be difficult (perhaps impossible) for LC to hire anyone with a phD from a serious institution. Why? Because most professors don't like to be told what to teach. You may disagree with that philosophy, and that's your perogative. But serious professors committed to research and teaching do not like taking orders on what to research and how to teach.
Look, you can call me an elitist. Fine. Keep shooting the messenger. You can label me whatever you want to. I'm just conveying my opinion. I want to see LC succeed, because I know that a good, private college is good for our entire economy. It's good for our art scene, music scene, nightlife, and tourism. It can put us on the map as a destination, and it can create wealth and opportunities for its students and alumns.
Blogspot.com is the place to start. My suggestion is to do just what lamar has done and that is to open threads on specific topics. I will do it if you guys want another site, but want suggestions for topics beforehand so that this can be a functional site.
My thought is that the reason that this site has been so successful is it's unstructured nature. Lamar has two sites: one is organized by topic and you have to browse thru the list and open it to see if there are any new postings. CenLamar, on the other hand is sort of "me on stuff" that let's Lamar expound and others respond. This site really more like a conversation - you talk then I talk. The last posting is the most recent posting. I think the Cenla Antics is the main site because it works. It attracts us nut cases but still, it is easy to hear and be heard. Merely my observation after having tried to cope with these three (or 4 including "we saw that".
On May 17, 2006, the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board dismissed the compalint filed by Water works Dist. 3 Board President Thumrna Kelly, which he filed again Greg Aymond. Mr. Kelly complained that Aymond was harassing the board members by publishing untruthful information against those Board Members, and should not be allowed to do so since the Board Members were his former clients. The Disciplinary Board informed Thurman that; "it appears that Mr. Aymond was employed by the water district, acting throught its Board of Commissioners. The Rule of Professional Conduct impose duties on an attorney in this type of representation to act on behalf of the organization to prevent substantial injury to the organization." Maybe now the legal scholars on the Water Board can understand that a lawyer must report the misuse of a public body's funds and property, even if they desire to cover it up.
Wonder Why Lamar Jr Doesnt publish these OFFICIAL VINDICATIONS like he so passionately published his attacks on Aymond? But its the rest of the world that is narrow minded remember.
I guess there is just a group of near sighted folks that have difficulty in seeing the virtue of someone who advocates the extermination of Negros, Catholics, Jews, Latinos, Asians, etc. Go figure!
Think the Enron trial results is a vision of what will happen at Cleco ? Maybe just maybe today is a wake up call . I think for sure its a message that CEOs are going to be accountable. Lets see.
Remember when Cleco had a layoff of as I recall about 80 people a few years ago? Well, that is when they aborted their baby Enron. Hence the concern over Sansing and Pugh and the deal with the City of Alexandria. They have bolted the hatches and are looking for any sign of leaks. Ever wonder why the mayor was not more adamant about fact-finding and just wanted to move on (remember the settlement document?)? Who loves ya baby? It ain't our current elected officials unless you have a cookie for them.
But I hear that some at Cleco have already given Sworn testimony that implicates CLECO and big shots at cleco and that regardless of what the City does, the truth is coming out ..perhaps in Civil Court PERHAPS in criminal court. ..but its coming out.
Did anyone hear about the reinstatement by the Civil Service Board of another longtime City employee(29 yrs) wrongly fired by Ned Randolph. Again on the advise of his great legal team of Sanders and Provosty and aganist the recomendations of the Utiliy Director and Superintendant. That is four for the good guys and zero for Baby Ned, at a cost of over $200,000 to you the citizens of Alexandria.
I am reliably told that Delores Brewer showed up for a campaign speech at the Garden District meeting and had in tow, at least two city employees, at least one of which was civil service, and used these employees in her campaign presentation. That is patently illegal and the employee's job is in jeapordy. Delores knew that there was some kind of new gas contract but really didn't know how much it cost and had to refer all meaningful inquiries to the city employees that accompanied her. I was told that she was not very smart but apparently she is also quite reckless.
I was one of the people at the meeting you are talking about and what you say is Absolutely NOT True. She was very articulate and very informed. I think One question was asked of her that she did not want to guess on and said so. And there were No civil service types answering any questions...so...wrong!
I think it is equally as wrong to attack Lamar's views based on his ancestry as it was for Lamar to attack Aymond. Have you all forgot that this is supposed to be a freedom of thoughts and ideas country? Lamar's thoughts on ex-clansmen being unfit would have kept not only Senator Byrd out of politics, but also Pres, Woodrow Wilson, and supreme court justice Hugo Black What Lamar doesnt' seem to understand is that all do not agree with him nor think he has all of the right answers, and can been seen by David Duke election to the legislature or his run off for governor. Also, economic progress with its crowded streets and political graft and corruption is not desired by all people who choose to live in a smaller city. But Lamar's family seems no different than most families. None are perfect. I knew his father. Lamar Sr. wasn't perfect nor all bad. He was human like the rest of us. Views should be discussed based upon their underlying facts and conclusions, not upon peoples' pasts, Lamar's or Aymond's.
This guy has expressed some regret at his Klan membership but has never reputiated the Klan doctrine of hate, bigotry, oppression, and racism. I think he just regrets being caught.
I don't think he was caught. I recall him being openly in a clan uniform which was published in the Towntalk, and publicing he was in the clan back in the 70's. If being against forced school busing, giving minorities benefits and jobs over the best qualified, and enforcing the immigration laws makes one a racists, or a biggot, there are a lot of closet clansmen running around on the loose. I think people even have the right to be a racist in this country, as long as they don't break the law. Its amazing that the politically correct believe in free speach and thought, as long as it is what they wish to be thought and said.
Of course people can subscribe to the tenents of the KKK. And of course, others can regard them as racist biggoted cowards who spew hatred and violence. That is precisely what we have here. He is asserting his right to belong to the KKK and civilized people are exercising their right to consider him dispicable. Like someone said, he only regrets being caught. He should consider that hating black people because they are black is a lot like hating fat people because they are fat (although fat people have some choice). He can wear his robe and hood down the street as far as I'm concerned. I just hope he's a better fighter than he is a lawyer.
How about Preachers who write on here anonymously and spew venom and then stand up in front of people on Sunday and pretend to be a man of God. Does that sound familiar Toney Tiger?
Anyone who foments hatred and intolerance is a distructive force in society. Don't know Rev. Toney the Tiger. Do know KKK. It is no answer that someone else may be bad. That in no way excuses those cowardly lynching bands of vermin that preyed on the poor and defenseless while hiding behind a hood and flying a christian banner.
Another Alexandria Housing Authority board member resigns
A third member of the five-member Alexandria Housing Authority Board of Commissioners has resigned.
Morris "Pat" Doss in an e-mail notified Mayor Ned Randolph last week to “please remove my name from the Board of the Housing Authority” effective immediately.
The e-mail, dated June 3, does not give a reason for Doss’ resignation.
Doss’ departure marks the third resignation from the board in less than a month.
On May 11, George Williams resigned “due to circumstances beyond my control. Former board Chairman Henry “Hank” Lazarone resigned on May 31.
The housing authority is to be investigated by the state legislative auditor’s office over a host of financial and contractual issues.
Maybe KALB News is on our side. That dept. has undergone a remarkable change in the past week. Godard is apparently applying her skills, talent, and determination and coming up with some excellent coverage of local developements. If KALB is true to form it will run Godard off in favor of some ineffective moron that will work for peanuts. Hope she stays.
Lets see if we can keep an accurate score card. Bridgett Brown is in business with Myron Lawson either as a renter or as a real estate partner. She hires Kelvin Sanders. Kelvin Sanders pursuades Myron Lawson to get Sanders appointed as City Atty. Bridgett Brown is the atty for the Housing Authority. Kelvin helps make sure that Bridgett friendly appointments are made to housing authority. Bridgett helps pursuade the Housing authority to give Kelvins wife a very lucrative contract with the housing authority. Bridgett gets rewarded with a big contract with the City to do ..get this...Bond work..and a big contract re the Cleco deal. Bridgett also serves on the England Authority. Bridgett makes the motion to give KElvins wife a Big contract to manage the housing at England Airpark after katrina..even threatening to march Jessie Jackson through the park if the board does not pass it. They do. ...coincidenc??...Sure....
Let's not forget Kelvin using city letterhead and vehicles to go to other public bodies, with the assistance of Joe Fuller, to get Bridgett work as a bond counsel, and that the City of Alexandria did so without her being placed on the agenda.
If you like exercises in futility, check out Lamar's (CenLamar) attempt to achieve social justice, journalistic objectivity, and a racially balanced view from the Cenla News Leader.
Hey, when is Myron Lawson going to be indicted along with his girlfriend Bridgette Brown? Has anyone understood her very public conflict of interest in first representing Sansing and Pugh, then representing the City in the Cleco dispute?
Hey, when is Myron Lawson going to be indicted along with his girlfriend Bridgette Brown? Has anyone understood her very public conflict of interest in first representing Sansing and Pugh, then representing the City in the Cleco dispute?
2,571 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 2401 – 2571 of 2571Initially I enjoyed this site as a method of discussion for local issues. My apologies for aiding in the degeneration of that discussion. So, now without regard to party affiliation, how in the world are we going to get responsible individuals to run for our mayor and city council seats in the upcoming election.
Brewer is on a roll. I was at the "event' last night and it was VERY impressive. Lots of people with money supporting this lady. Word is that they made over $100,000 on this first fund raiser. 3 things needed to win..Money, Money and Money. ..It looks Very good right now.
I second Spanky's plea. We already have Brewer and Sams for mayor, Slatkin for the at-large council seat, and Mark Lampert running for the Dist. 4 seat. We just need to make some decisions and get behind them. I see no problem with any of these candidates. We desparately need an atmosphere of change.
These folks have committed to run so we need to make them feel loved. On the mayor's seat you may have some reservations but there are probably more coming. These guys running for council are definately people we can get behind.
Very clever Aymonds, but all your useless talk about who duplicated the tapes, who was present in court, and a song and dance about this date and that date, is all usless BULLSHIT. Don't cloud the issue! Reveal the CONTENT of the tapes PUBLICLY. I'm sure you recall from your vast legal experience that someone cannot be sued for slander and defamation by telling lies PRIVATELY. Your willingness to distribure a copy to anyone who comes to your office ammounts to PRIVIATE distribution of your lies.
Release the information PUBLICLY and see how quickly the injured parties respond. No excuses, no weaseling, in fact post the transcripts to your own website on Yahoo! C,mon tubby, stop hiding!
As to the Hebron thing, there is no state law prohibiting the disclousure of the RESULTS of an ethics investigation! Another attempt to hide Greg. Why don't you tell everybody that Hebron was cleared by:
1) State Police Detectives
2) La. State Legislative Auditor
3) La. State Ethics Board
4) Rapides Parish D.A.
Where's the complaint Greg? Face it, you don't like Hebron because he's on to your game and he sees you for what you really are, a con man who is very talented at twisting the truth.
Those who scream "checkmate" and comment on how honest and sincere you are, don't have a clue as to how slimy you really are. I do.
Me and Spanky want to get on with the business of Alexandria. You two spoiled sports go have your testosterone-fest someplace else.
The Court of Appeals has spoken. Done. Finished. Over. Kaput.
You seem self rightous why not give us YOUR name. If what YOU say is true tell the truth yourself. Who are you ? Who do you work for? What is your relationship with Mr Dupree if not one and the same?
I agree with the above. You guys take your pissing contest behind the levee and settle it to your satisfaction. I find it difficult to imagine what is left to argue about. If you think the 3rd Circuit is wrong ask for rehearing or ask the Supremes to take a look at it. You ain't gonna settle it here. Quit this shameless public display of weinerdom.
Rich would never say BULLSHIT like that in mixed text...
Naa...he would get someone else to say it and then deny it after admitting it.
Hobbs says Randolph should consider stepping down
By Billy Gunn
bgunn@thetowntalk.com
(318) 487-6378
Alexandria Councilman Everett Hobbs says Mayor Ned Randolph should consider resigning the office he has held since 1986.
“If the mayor can’t perform his duties, he needs to step down,” Hobbs said, alluding to an illness he said Randolph might have that prevents him from fulfilling his mayoral duties.
Randolph, who announced earlier this month that he would not seek a sixth term, denied today that he suffers from or has been diagnosed with a debilitating illness.
“No, absolutely not,” said Randolph, who will relinquish his office in December after the election this fall. He said he would not resign.
Hobbs’ comments today, made in a telephone interview with The Town Talk, followed allegations he made at the end of Tuesday’s council meeting, where he said three aides close to Randolph were making the decisions, not the mayor.
IF there was EVER a more clear reason to wipe the floor with such idiots on our City Counsel this is an example. Hobbs is an intellectual midget. If you watched the City counsil meeting on Tues you saw that it was clear that Charles Frederick Smith was orchestrating this whole thing. Cuz guess what Kingfish, if Randolph steps down guess who gets to sit in the big chair??...ITs time...ITS TIME....ITS TIME. For every person who reads this blog and knows anything about the crooked dealings of mr Hobbs and his associates ..Its time to blow the whistle...Its also time to use the democratic process to rid ourselves of ignorance ...Elect Delores Brewer, Elect people to replace people like Lawson and Hobbs and Johnson. Its Time. If you have never been angry before its time. If you have never felt like your city was being taken from you ..its time. ITs time for those of us who work hard all day and come home at night to see the MONKEY business that is going on down town to stand up...its time for those of us who have before now been too busy to stand up..its time. Mr Hobbs you made mistake. let this date...April 20 , 2006 be remembered by you and those who put you up to it...Its the day things began to change and your stupidity back fired. ....Its time.
Hey Hobbs. A man with ALzheimers is less INCAPACITATED than you.
You got it wrong. Have you ever known Hobbs to break wind without permission. Poor foolish Hobbs was set up. That being said, he still has to go.
Unfortunately, no one has surfaced to oppose Hobbs in the election. He will probably be re-elected unopposed AGAIN. Surely, there is someone in Hobbs district who would consider running against him? Any ideas??
Maybe JUST Maybe Aymond had the right idea all those years ago.
more sheet music
Hobbs is harmeless. You gotta get the puppet master, not the puppet. Morons.
Hobbs is not smart and Hobbs is not in control but Hobbs is not harmless and as president of the council (which would happen if Randolph resigned and President Smith became acting mayor) he would be genuinely dangerous. I agree that Smith is engineering this and Myron welcomes the distraction.
Dorsey as cheif of staff - think about that.
Ok now you people are starting to get it. I have a copy of Master Plan 2010 - the first city study, and my thought after reading it was " is that what we get for our money?". I intend to read this next one to see if what I was told is true that it is Master Plan 2010 copied and re-arranged with some update. From the sounds of GAEDA's decision to pay for their half even though incomplete, it may be a possibility that once again this is a vehicle to funnel public money for distribution to private pockets. I am analyzing the districts to see who may be a good person to draft for Hobbs' seat. I will post results with my thoughts. I agree wholeheartedly that "It's Time"
Spanky the Humbled
This is for all you idiot pinheads here who demand the truth, but refuse to see it when it's laid out before you.
Here's the bottom line on the Aymonds debate. The truth can be found in the sworn statements made by those who were questioned by the authorities investigating the related cases.
In case you're too stupid to understand that, I'll boil it down for you. Aymonds is a half-ass attorney who tried to use the courts to take down his political enemies. He failed because he's a liar and could not prove his case in court. Period!
To those of you on this blog who see black helicopters everywhere and believe that there is some sort of illegal crap going on in Ball, Pineville, and WW#3, you are just as nutty as that tub of bullshit Aymonds. Go get a life....
Oh, and one more thing, no body really cares what you pinheads think about the cesspool at Alexandria City Hall. You all are guilty of causing the shitstorm over there. If you had paid attention to your own city government, demanded honesty, and voted smart, you would not be up to your ass in alligators now! You created your own mess, now you have to sleep in it...sweet dreams assholes.
According to Roy Martin III of the Gaeda Board, this McElroy submission does little more than the preliminary submission that everybody described as unsatisfactory and a feeble attempt to respond to their contract obligation. Watch the council meetings on Ch. 4 where Martin tries to explain the deficiencies in the report and why it is bad business to pay all this $$ and not get what you ordered. Lawson deals with him swiftly and declares that he goes along with Moeler and decrees the document as "substantially complete". That's a $385,000 payment for nothing useful. I am curious as to whether Delores will pay the $13,000 balance for this worthless manure. I am told that this group is Myron's idea, project, and friend. Kick their ass Spanky. With responsible councilpeople in Dist 2, 4, 5 (Chuck), and at-large, we get the city moving again.
Spanky, watch the council committe meeting on the McElroy plan then get this follow Town Talk article, I think it appeared online Tuesday:
Features Opinion GAEDA accepts strategic plan despite shortcomings By Robert Morgan rmorgan@thetowntalk.com (318) 487-6313
OK Spanky, here is the Town Talk article referred to. I am told that one doesn't get the full flavor of DEMOCRACY IN ACTION unless one watches the replay of the Council.
http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060419/NEWS01/604190318&SearchID=73242234068492
Dear Anonymous:
On behalf of the participants on this site I would like to thank you for your most recent, and hopefully your last intemperate attempt to discuss your very even-handed view on the Ball water dispute. I'm sure that your mother (and probably your father if she had any idea who it was) would be proud of your language skills and emotional stability. It is my hope that you will spare us any future exposure on this topic. And again we thank you.
Both Roy O. Martin III and Martin Johnson are both very capable, honest, and have foresight. The fact that they sit on the GAEDA board may give them both the impetus to serve in city council positions and abolish the board as it is duplicitous and established as a personal tool of you know who. It is maddening to me that the board can levy fees (taxes) and operate independently of the electorate. It rather upset the hotel/motel folks initially and I guess they rolled over because of the battle it would take to undo the board through the courts. Any way, there are two possibilities if any one is close to them to discuss the matter.
For the moron that thinks Hobbs is harmless:
His vote counts as much as the other councilmen.
HE'S GOTTA GO!
For 50 points -- Does anyone know who lives across the street from Martin Johnson?
if it's worth 50 points I'm thinking its got to be Myron Lawson???
To: "why do they call it Ball?"
Listen pencildick, anytime you want to meet face to face and discuss our respective parentage, let me know.
you can reach me at:
mean_as_hell87@yahoo.com
I await your response to my invitation, if you have the balls to put your skinny ass on the line.
Correct -- Your double jeopardy question:
Who made sure Martin Johnson was appointed to the GAEDA Board and England Authority?
Uh - Lawson?
Considering the relationship, would Martin Johnson be a viable candidate? It does not appear that he can not be manipulated if the most recent GAEDA action is considered.
I would at least put him on the consideration list as more names are developed. I would say that Hobbs seat should be the target of active recruitment as there is activity on the others. You guys need to lighten up on Hobbs because it is not nice to make fun of the handicapped.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Right again!
And now for your FINAL JEOPARDY 3 part question:
Who do you think Martin Johnson took orders from in the past?
Who do you think he takes orders from now?
Who do you think he will take ordes from in the future?
damn, shit, I had it on the tip of my tongue - uh, Herbert Hoover?
Close enough -- your grand prize is a free pass on ethics violations when it comes to selling insurance to city employees and vendors. Thanks you for playing JEOPARDY.
Does everything have to conspiratorial overtones? I can admit a poor suggestion but don't necessarily agree that Martin could be that easily controlled.
Poor naive Spanky !!
Spanky, Johson lives in District 5 and can't run agaist Hobbs. I assume that you are therefore wanting him to run for mayor, a fulltime job that would conflict with his bank, or to run against Myron for the at-large seat. If you totally disregard the conspiratorial potential, his history would make him, at the very least, beholding to Myron at some level. Is this the independence we want?
Spanky, I don't understand your discomfort with Dr. Slatkin. He is independant, has to be motivated by pure interests, is financially secure and not in need of graft, is very well thought of by all who know hime (from the medical community to his numerous patients) and he has demonstrated his committment to run and win. I really don't understand what you are looking for. Help me.
OKay , already. See what happens when one does not think through a scenario. You are right. I think Dr. Slatkin would make a great candidate and most of all, highly electable.
To the persons who keep insisting that Dr. Slatkin is a great candidate, I am sure he is a very nice man and will garner the support of his family and patient base. But, he will NOT win the election because in order to win the at large race, he must win votes in the black community. Remember them? They make up over 50% of this community and contrary to stereotype many of them vote and some will even vote for a white candidate. Unfortunately, Dr Slatkin is an unknown in the black community and will get very little support. A viable candidate against Lawson must get a small percentage of the black vote in order to win. That is politics.
I'm not about Dr. Slatkin but I really disagree with your assessment of his viability in the black community. In the first place, I think that Lawson will get Slatkin more votes in the black and white community than he could possibly capture for himself, Secondly, I think you underestimate his image, reputation, and attraction in the black community. He is liked and trusted. Thirdly, he is a non-politician and has a huge reputation for intelligence and decency. The task he has taken on is pretty formidable and I think that the responsible interested people in Alexandria need to get behind him. The only other name that I have heard mentioned for this very critical position is Bob Madison. Madison has done nothing to recommend him or justify our confidence. It is rumored (and only rumored) that he is being put in the race by Lawson to attempt to dilute the white vote. Who knows??!!? I just am grateful to the doctor for taking on the task and depending on his hard work plus the "anybody-but-Myron" sentiment to see us through.
I agree. Just let the utility bills (along with gasoline prices which really have nothing to do with the Council but increase financial pressure on moderate to low income people) take care of Lawson. Slatkin deserves something for just stepping into the ring. I trust the black voters. The chalenge will be to keep the white folks from doing something stupid.
While I regret that this blog operator has abandoned the site and there is nobody to maintain the site, this really is the most effective format for exchange. It is more like an active conversation than Lamar's two sites. Lamar's sites are two closely controlled. He picks the area and direction of the discussion and you have to shop topics and categories to post or review posts.
I think the blog operator has abandoned the site because his only goal was to unseat Lawson. And now that he sees, with the current candidate opposing him, that is virtually impossible, he has retreated and given up.
Anonymous, surely you jest about the operator & Lawson. The folks in the hood realize that Myron is all pearly whites when he wants their vote and don't have the time when he is in. Myron is for Myron and lies like a Persion Rug, so folks say. I am sure black folks are getting a little tired of thinking they can be lumped into one class and counted on to support a "brother" - especially when he robs them blind.
I think you underestimate the huge impact of utility bills, particulary in this stressed economic climate. He is promising sports arenas and high rise condos on the Red but that has little to with people that can't run their AC or fan or heat water for cooking, bathing, and washing clothes. I don't see the incumbants having a way out. The mood screams CHANGE.
By Sept. 30, everybody will be angry.
I think it's pretty unlikely that some well-financed charismatic political powerhouse is going to emerge to vie for a dipshit office in a one-horse town. If you are waiting for Rudi Giulliani to ride into town and declare, you are not well. This guy Dr. Alex is a good guy and he's all we got. We can hope the bird flu strikes down Myron or we can try to make this thing work. God, I hate hand-wringers.
If there is any doubt in anyone's mind as to whether or not Alexandria can be the shining city on a hill, you needed to be at the corner of 3rd and Desoto last night. I, for one, have gone from cautiously optimistic to frankly excited. We really are worth saving. Think about it.
Slatkin will need to spend about $200,000 to unseat Lawson. I'm sure he has that in his checking account, but is he willing to spend it? Some blacks would vote against Lawson if they had a viable alternative. The Tennyson Oaks thing does not set well on lower 3rd.
Let's see, $1500.00x12x4=72000 (city council salary for 4 years) which would hardly make sense for him to dig into his pocket for 200K. ( It has not cost that much for to run the race in the past) That is why candidates need help both financially and physically from a band of supporters. I would like to know what DR. Slatkin intends to do before I throw my full support behind him. I would say he is a viable candidate, but in what direction? What I want is a back to basics approach priortized as follows (business will come if these are addresses & will leave if not): 1.Effective police & fire protection reflected in the statistics resulting in lower insurance rates & safer environment. 2.Infrastructure - streets, water, electricity ,gas, facilities etc.- we are faced with aging maintenance & replacement needs as well as manageable expansion. (Remember, more area annexed into the city = greater maintenance demand.) My contention is that these two items alone are enough to drive people (hence business) to look for better living conditions elsewhere. It is almost analgous to Mexico. While we look at Mexican immigration as a problem for us, it is almost equally so for them because the labor they need to grow an economy is here therefore, retention of our population is a similar circumstance,(ie. our young people leave for an education and do not return here using their talent to build other local economies.)Alexandria is my birthplace and while I have traveled 46 states and overseas, I live here because it is home, therefore, I want the quality of improved here.
Spanky, I agree with everything you said in your above posting. I don't know anything about Dr. Slatkin except that his colleagues and patients think very highly of him and he is NOT Myron Lawson. My point really tracks yours. We need to see if we can get behind this guy and support him and in order to do that we need to find out what he is about. I am going to try to contact him and find out his stance on all of these expensive and unproductive consulting contracts. Why don't you give him a call and talk to him about the things that are important to you. At least that way we will answer some of the biggest questions which are: is he available, open-minded, and will he listen.
I just don't want to let this opportunity for change to slip away.
Spanky, I agree with everything you said in your above posting. I don't know anything about Dr. Slatkin except that his colleagues and patients think very highly of him and he is NOT Myron Lawson. My point really tracks yours. We need to see if we can get behind this guy and support him and in order to do that we need to find out what he is about. I am going to try to contact him and find out his stance on all of these expensive and unproductive consulting contracts. Why don't you give him a call and talk to him about the things that are important to you. At least that way we will answer some of the biggest questions which are: is he available, open-minded, and will he listen.
I just don't want to let this opportunity for change to slip away.
Damn, now Scarlett's going to write me up for double posting. I don't know what I did wrong. Sorry.
check out Cenlamar site
I applaud Hobbs for calling the Mayor’s hand. Problem is the Mayor does NOT have the character or the support (at City Hall or at home) to step down. We did not elect Albin, Delores or Ken and they have no business (but their own) running the city. It is not this gaggle of three’s choice to or who should run the city…that is set by charter.
The Charter provides a method for removal of a disabled mayor by 2/3 vote of the council but I doubt that there could be anything but upheaval and anarchy if they attempted to effectively get him off of the 2nd floor by election time. Injunctions and litigation delays would make that a vain and useless exercise. I don't understand the purpose of doing this thing at this time.
Leave Ned alone. You will have at least four years with a bad mayor, why start prematurely?
Checking for a pulse.
R I P Cenla Antics.
What happened? Suddenly, all is right in Alexandria?
One full week has come and gone since Lamar posed his querry;
The liklihood of posting answers is looking pretty bleary;
Questions are easier to ask than answers to receive;
His youth, vigor, and naivete caused him to believe;
It's a shame if Lamar's effort turns into a bust;
Perhaps the lesson he will learn is "who Lamar can Trust"
I just read Lamar's latest post and am inclined to wonder whether he is so emotionally and financially invested in downtown developement that he is unable to put the welfare of the entire city in perspective. Myron is making him the promises he wants to hear and he is unwilling to embrace the obvious. I am not saying that Lamar is bad, just "blinded by the light". He seems willing to totally disregard Myron's consistent and uninterrupted history of financial self-nurture to keep Myron "promising". Rather dissappointing but, at some level, understandable.
I don't agree. I just think that Lamar is dazzled by this attention and, like most realtors, never met a commission he didn't like. It would be refreshing if he would just say "screw downtown" for about an hour and think about the whole community. Tunnel vision??
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
A Question and Answer Session With The Candidates for Alexandria City Councilman At-Large.
1. Tell us a little bit about your background. Where are you originally from? Where did you go to school? How long have you lived in Alexandria?
Slatkin: I am originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where I was born and grew up being part of multiracial and cultural society. After graduating from medical school (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) I migrated to the United States in the early 1970’s. Since my very early teens I was a big admirer of the United States, its people, history and movies. I always had an intense desire to be part of this family. I can say, I was a true American at heart. My family, of middle class, like many Brazilians, were immigrants themselves. I completed my medical training in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Diseases at the Universities of New York, Cincinnati, and Louisville. I moved to Alexandria in 1978 and began working for the Veterans Administration Medical Center where I spent one year as a full time medical officer. I then decided to engage in private practice. I am on the active medical staff of both Rapides Regional Medical Center and Christus St.Frances Cabrini Hospital in addition to running a pulmonary clinic at the VA Hospital on a weekly basis. I can speak English and Portuguese fluently. I also have a good comprehension and communication in Spanish. I have knowledge of written and spoken both Italian and French. I am a Ham Radio Operator, (KB5MEX), enjoy music and riding scooters. I currently am the managing physician of the Internal Medicine Associates and I have managed its finances for the last 25 years. In think I am a very honest, fair, broad minded and an outspoken person. I dislike very much dishonesty and sweet deals behind curtains and in secrecy.. I am one of those that, when assigned with a task, it will be done as correct as possible. When the answers are not readily known, I never hesitate to seek an expert opinion. I am very responsible and caring, striving every day to make sure that those trying to reach me are being promptly responded to, even if in a negative manner. Usually those that dislike me are the ones being pointed out for incompetence, negligence and dishonesty, thereby affecting the lives of others.
Lawson: I was born and reared in Alexandria. I attended the following public schools: Silver City Elementary, Jones Street Jr High, Peabody High, and LSUA. I graduated from Southern University with a bachelors in business management. I have served as Chairman of the Board and am currently Vice Chairman.
2. What is the number one problem facing Alexandria?
Slatkin: There are many important issues afflicting our city. However, I perceive that the number one problem, which is much related to what I frequently hear from Alexandrians, is the high cost of utilities.
Lawson: The number one problem facing Alexandria is the lack of people stepping up and getting involved in the community. I am worried that the interest of the citizens is not where it needs to be. I feel that young adults getting involved in the community is drastically needed. Young adults in our community have expressed to me that they do not feel that they have had the opportunity to participate in various aspects of our community.
3. What is the single greatest accomplishment of the current City Council?
Slatkin: I am sure several accomplishments could be considered but I believe that the approval of Ordinance No 44-2006 of February 7, 2006 relating to the prohibition of smoking in certain areas is the most important and productive one.
Lawson: I think the single greatest accomplishment of the current City Council was being instrumental in bringing Union Tank Car Company to Alexandria.
4. What is the biggest failure of the current City Council?
Lawson: I think the biggest failure of the current City Council is not making more opportunities available for our youth to get involved in the governmental process.
Slatkin: Last year’s failure to secure a favorable natural gas contract prior to Hurricane Katrina, which once in place, would have prevented the enormous financial burden currently being experienced by thousands of our citizens. This is articularly true among our senior and low income citizens.
5. Recently, it was reported that Alexandria is suffering from a lack of skilled workers. What measures will you propose in order to solve this labor problem?
Lawson: I have worked with our Governor to make sure that we receive more state funding to assist in this matter. I have also worked with our Federal Delegation as well. As a City Councilman I will continue to work on pushing for advanced training, as I did in the past budget hearings, for all of our skilled workers.
Slatkin: I believe that we do have the skilled workers as well as the necessary tools for their formation. Our learning institutions appear to be comparable with others. What we actually lack are the opportunities and consequently the incentive for those workers. Therefore, leading to job-seeking elsewhere. I believe that the solution for the problem lies in economic growth and the migration of new businesses to our area. I would actively investigate, maximize and energize every aspect of feasible possibilities that would allow these ideas to come to fruition. Alexandria has wonderful young people who grow up, and are trained and educated, and have to move elsewhere for opportunities. If we can encourage growth and expansion of opportunity in Central Louisiana, we will have the best skilled worker resource possible, our own children.
6. How will you (do you) balance your professional career with a political career?
Lawson: I have proven to balance my professional and political career. I have one of the highest attendance rates of any elected official in the parish. My business has continued to grow throughout my 17 years as a State Farm Agent and Real Estate Broker. I take great pride in being available to my church, family, customers and community.
Slatkin: I have always been able to optimize my time effectively. I am a twenty four hour type person and frequently able to accommodate and add onto my time immediate needs and important issues that I may have to confront. When it comes to the ability to perform a job a busy person should be the one to ask. As a primary care physician, I have always recognized the necessity of getting things done NOW and not procrastinating. I am used to people depending on me for important decisions.
7. It is also well-known that Alexandria suffers from a lack of affordable housing. What measures will you propose in order to solve this housing problem?
Lawson: I have already started working on our housing problem. Within a month, Lawson Heights will be open to the public. Fifty units will be available to the lower income community. Lawson Heights was established through my family's foundation. I am proud to say that I will not profit from this endeavor now or in the future. Several other developers have contacted me for similar projects to be done in the near future. I have also worked with Hibernia Bank on affordable housing.
Slatkin: The construction of new homes and neighborhoods should not be a primary function of the city government but a function of the private sector. The city government however, may and should create a desirable economical environment in order for developers and builders to prosper. The city government on the other hand should be able, as much as possible, to create incentives for builders, investors, and families, to facilitate housing development and home ownership. As a Councilman I will favor such allocations and expeditiously, explore other funding sources such as the National House Trust Fund. I will favor every dignified measure to prevent and correct indigence.
8. What is your vision for Downtown Alexandria?
Lawson: My vision for downtown Alexandria is to have high rise housing along with shopping and eating facilities. I am working with developers on condos that will overlook our river. I would like to see more green space and the Bentley Hotel fully operational again. I am very interested in promoting more festivals and family functions in the downtown area such as the Bar-B-Que Festival, which I promoted. I would also like to see an exquisite water fountain displayed in the center of our downtown area. Most importantly, I would like to preserve the nostalgia in the downtown area. I would hate to see new structures that don't conform to our downtown style. I have also teamed up with organizations such as the GAEDA Board, which I lobbied for the creation of, Downtown Development District and the Chamber of Commerce to foster public/private ventures in the downtown area and the city as a whole.
Slatkin: The issues related to downtown area should be part of a comprehensive plan which involves the entire city. The prosperity and vitality of that part of town are immensely dependent on developers, merchants and recreation. I believe progress has been made and it is clearly noticeable. As they work and plan together I foresee continuing improvement in the future.
9.There are many people here in Alexandria who must make a choice between paying their utility bill and paying their rent. How do you plan on solving the utilities crisis in Alexandria?
Lawson: First, I would get a professional organization to review how we operate from top to bottom. Second, I would use the advice of that organization. I have asked for this to be done and now it is in the process of happening. Third, I would continue to make motions, such as I did this past fiscal year, to make money available for the poor.
I worked with the administration and the council to place $250,000 in an account at the Shepherd Center to assist the poor. I suggested the Shepherd Center because of its history and to take the politics out of who gets assisted.Hundreds of people took advantage of this initiative.
Slatkin: The wrong decisions have been made and we cannot go back in time. We can, however, prepare ourselves for the future and trusting that our elected officials make decisions that are sensible, correct and for the right reasons.
10. Why are you running for office?
Slatkin: I have interests in many things in life including politics. I actually am not much of a fan of that word as it frequently depicts a negative thought. When I think of a councilman, I think of someone appointed by the residents of a community to engage in decisions and vote, with honesty and impartiality, about the changes, budget approvals and allocations pertaining the collective interests of the community. I feel that, at this stage of my life, I can embrace such responsibility, and above all, I know I possess a true, genuine and sincere wisdom to help others. Many of my patients and friends have asked me in the past: Why don’t you run for office?
Lawson: I am running simply because as the scripture states, "to whom much is given, much is required". I have been blessed at a young age and I see so many others that need to be assisted. That is why I offered myself for public service as soon as I finished college. I have used this office to assist thousands of people and pledge to continue to do so. I have dedicated my time as a charter member of the England Authority and later served on the Police Jury and currently the City Council. I believe that one should definitely put in more than he or she gets out of public service. That's why I have always put 100% of my salary received from the Police Jury and the City Council back into charities in the community. I have also refused to participate in retirement plans, health insurance plans and other perks offered by the city.
11. What will you do differently?
Slatkin: I will diligently exercise caution, prudence and fairness involving any of my decisions. Whenever appropriate, I will obtain expert and non-bias quality consultations, carefully focusing on the common interests and the costs that might inflict upon our community. I will be very responsive, as I do on a one to one basis in the practice of medicine, to my constituents' requests and making sure that they never feel that "I have let them down."
Lawson: I will use the knowledge I have obtained to work with more people in business to help them expand and hire local workers. I will also work more with the School Board on programs for at-risk youth.
12. What can our community do in order to ensure that Lower Third and South Alexandria are safe and clean?
Slatkin: Promoting and improving infrastructure, increasing neighborhood education, pride and reinforcing security. We have to move forward together as a city, a community, and as people.
Lawson:As finance chair, a budget has been passed to hire 5 more police officers to be placed on the streets of South Alexandria. I have also been working with the neighborhood leadership on clean-up efforts. I will continue to promote homeownership and commercial development in the Lower Third and South Alexandria areas.
13. If the city was suddenly awarded with $1 billion, how would you spend that money?
Slatkin: I would try with prudence and in a very wise manner to utilize and properly allocate that huge sum of money. I would prioritize the needs of our city, for example, based upon their level of necessity and classifying them as a) Extremely Important b) Very Important c) Somewhat Important d) Not Important.
After a careful consideration and identifying those needs, the funds should be appropriately distributed. I would make accountability and competence extremely important issues. Having said that, I would utilize the funds into areas such as the police department, intending to increase security, upgrading technology and salaries, number of mobile units and police personnel. I would also review and upgrade the fire department, sanitation, and utility Department. Basically, all city departments would be reviewed. I would improve the conditions of many of our streets, roads, sidewalks in addition to improving recreation and parks. I would improve/create programs for assistance to our senior citizens and handicapped. I also would allocate funds for a comprehensive youth activity program, arts, museums and other cultural activities. I would favor allocations of funds as inquired in question number 7, for the planning and construction of low income housing.
In view of the current high costs of oil and with much pragmatism, knowing that the situation will tend to worsen in the future, I would favorably advocate the expansion of our city transportation system, thereby increasing the number of routes and making public transportation more accessible and convenient. I would undoubtedly, reserve a substantial amount of funds for the possible unforeseen emergencies that might occur in the future, such as natural disasters and terrorism.
Lawson: I would spend $1 billion on making sure we have a safe, healthy community. Crime prevention and healthier communities such as a completely smoke free public environment would be at the top of the list. Every child would have proper health care along with good nutrition. The elderly would have more assistance in making sure their houses are well insulated and energy efficient thus providing a better quality of living.
14. Who is your favorite musical artist?
Lawson:My favorite musical artist is Stevie Wonder.
Slatkin: I basically enjoy all types of music including classical music.
I enjoy listening, among many, to Celine Dion , Neil Diamond, Alicia Keys, Billy Joel and Madonna. I also enjoy watching American Idol.
15. Who is your political role model?
Lawson: My political role model is Nelson Mandela. I have had the opportunity to meet him and admire what he stands for. Charlie Weems and I were Chairman of the Boards for LSU and Southern University when we presented Mr. Mandela with Honorary Doctorates. He is a living legend.
Slatkin: There have been a few that I would describe as my political model and each of them with unique characteristics not shared by the others. Because of his leadership role, ability to make decisions in time of crisis and undisputable humility, I have had a special affinity toward the former president, Harry S Truman.
posted by Lamar White, Jr. @ 7:50 PM 0 comments
Slatkin needs to publish this entire interview in the TT. His answers make Myron look like a mental midget. Thanks, Lamar, for asking these questions.
A Question and Answer Session With The Candidates for Alexandria City Councilman At-Large.
1. Tell us a little bit about your background. Where are you originally from? Where did you go to school? How long have you lived in Alexandria?
Slatkin: I am originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where I was born and grew up being part of multiracial and cultural society. After graduating from medical school (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) I migrated to the United States in the early 1970’s. Since my very early teens I was a big admirer of the United States, its people, history and movies. I always had an intense desire to be part of this family. I can say, I was a true American at heart. My family, of middle class, like many Brazilians, were immigrants themselves. I completed my medical training in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Diseases at the Universities of New York, Cincinnati, and Louisville. I moved to Alexandria in 1978 and began working for the Veterans Administration Medical Center where I spent one year as a full time medical officer. I then decided to engage in private practice. I am on the active medical staff of both Rapides Regional Medical Center and Christus St.Frances Cabrini Hospital in addition to running a pulmonary clinic at the VA Hospital on a weekly basis. I can speak English and Portuguese fluently. I also have a good comprehension and communication in Spanish. I have knowledge of written and spoken both Italian and French. I am a Ham Radio Operator, (KB5MEX), enjoy music and riding scooters. I currently am the managing physician of the Internal Medicine Associates and I have managed its finances for the last 25 years. In think I am a very honest, fair, broad minded and an outspoken person. I dislike very much dishonesty and sweet deals behind curtains and in secrecy.. I am one of those that, when assigned with a task, it will be done as correct as possible. When the answers are not readily known, I never hesitate to seek an expert opinion. I am very responsible and caring, striving every day to make sure that those trying to reach me are being promptly responded to, even if in a negative manner. Usually those that dislike me are the ones being pointed out for incompetence, negligence and dishonesty, thereby affecting the lives of others.
Lawson: I was born and reared in Alexandria. I attended the following public schools: Silver City Elementary, Jones Street Jr High, Peabody High, and LSUA. I graduated from Southern University with a bachelors in business management. I have served as Chairman of the Board and am currently Vice Chairman.
2. What is the number one problem facing Alexandria?
Slatkin: There are many important issues afflicting our city. However, I perceive that the number one problem, which is much related to what I frequently hear from Alexandrians, is the high cost of utilities.
Lawson: The number one problem facing Alexandria is the lack of people stepping up and getting involved in the community. I am worried that the interest of the citizens is not where it needs to be. I feel that young adults getting involved in the community is drastically needed. Young adults in our community have expressed to me that they do not feel that they have had the opportunity to participate in various aspects of our community.
3. What is the single greatest accomplishment of the current City Council?
Slatkin: I am sure several accomplishments could be considered but I believe that the approval of Ordinance No 44-2006 of February 7, 2006 relating to the prohibition of smoking in certain areas is the most important and productive one.
Lawson: I think the single greatest accomplishment of the current City Council was being instrumental in bringing Union Tank Car Company to Alexandria.
4. What is the biggest failure of the current City Council?
Lawson: I think the biggest failure of the current City Council is not making more opportunities available for our youth to get involved in the governmental process.
Slatkin: Last year’s failure to secure a favorable natural gas contract prior to Hurricane Katrina, which once in place, would have prevented the enormous financial burden currently being experienced by thousands of our citizens. This is articularly true among our senior and low income citizens.
5. Recently, it was reported that Alexandria is suffering from a lack of skilled workers. What measures will you propose in order to solve this labor problem?
Lawson: I have worked with our Governor to make sure that we receive more state funding to assist in this matter. I have also worked with our Federal Delegation as well. As a City Councilman I will continue to work on pushing for advanced training, as I did in the past budget hearings, for all of our skilled workers.
Slatkin: I believe that we do have the skilled workers as well as the necessary tools for their formation. Our learning institutions appear to be comparable with others. What we actually lack are the opportunities and consequently the incentive for those workers. Therefore, leading to job-seeking elsewhere. I believe that the solution for the problem lies in economic growth and the migration of new businesses to our area. I would actively investigate, maximize and energize every aspect of feasible possibilities that would allow these ideas to come to fruition. Alexandria has wonderful young people who grow up, and are trained and educated, and have to move elsewhere for opportunities. If we can encourage growth and expansion of opportunity in Central Louisiana, we will have the best skilled worker resource possible, our own children.
6. How will you (do you) balance your professional career with a political career?
Lawson: I have proven to balance my professional and political career. I have one of the highest attendance rates of any elected official in the parish. My business has continued to grow throughout my 17 years as a State Farm Agent and Real Estate Broker. I take great pride in being available to my church, family, customers and community.
Slatkin: I have always been able to optimize my time effectively. I am a twenty four hour type person and frequently able to accommodate and add onto my time immediate needs and important issues that I may have to confront. When it comes to the ability to perform a job a busy person should be the one to ask. As a primary care physician, I have always recognized the necessity of getting things done NOW and not procrastinating. I am used to people depending on me for important decisions.
7. It is also well-known that Alexandria suffers from a lack of affordable housing. What measures will you propose in order to solve this housing problem?
Lawson: I have already started working on our housing problem. Within a month, Lawson Heights will be open to the public. Fifty units will be available to the lower income community. Lawson Heights was established through my family's foundation. I am proud to say that I will not profit from this endeavor now or in the future. Several other developers have contacted me for similar projects to be done in the near future. I have also worked with Hibernia Bank on affordable housing.
Slatkin: The construction of new homes and neighborhoods should not be a primary function of the city government but a function of the private sector. The city government however, may and should create a desirable economical environment in order for developers and builders to prosper. The city government on the other hand should be able, as much as possible, to create incentives for builders, investors, and families, to facilitate housing development and home ownership. As a Councilman I will favor such allocations and expeditiously, explore other funding sources such as the National House Trust Fund. I will favor every dignified measure to prevent and correct indigence.
8. What is your vision for Downtown Alexandria?
Lawson: My vision for downtown Alexandria is to have high rise housing along with shopping and eating facilities. I am working with developers on condos that will overlook our river. I would like to see more green space and the Bentley Hotel fully operational again. I am very interested in promoting more festivals and family functions in the downtown area such as the Bar-B-Que Festival, which I promoted. I would also like to see an exquisite water fountain displayed in the center of our downtown area. Most importantly, I would like to preserve the nostalgia in the downtown area. I would hate to see new structures that don't conform to our downtown style. I have also teamed up with organizations such as the GAEDA Board, which I lobbied for the creation of, Downtown Development District and the Chamber of Commerce to foster public/private ventures in the downtown area and the city as a whole.
Slatkin: The issues related to downtown area should be part of a comprehensive plan which involves the entire city. The prosperity and vitality of that part of town are immensely dependent on developers, merchants and recreation. I believe progress has been made and it is clearly noticeable. As they work and plan together I foresee continuing improvement in the future.
9.There are many people here in Alexandria who must make a choice between paying their utility bill and paying their rent. How do you plan on solving the utilities crisis in Alexandria?
Lawson: First, I would get a professional organization to review how we operate from top to bottom. Second, I would use the advice of that organization. I have asked for this to be done and now it is in the process of happening. Third, I would continue to make motions, such as I did this past fiscal year, to make money available for the poor.
I worked with the administration and the council to place $250,000 in an account at the Shepherd Center to assist the poor. I suggested the Shepherd Center because of its history and to take the politics out of who gets assisted.Hundreds of people took advantage of this initiative.
Slatkin: The wrong decisions have been made and we cannot go back in time. We can, however, prepare ourselves for the future and trusting that our elected officials make decisions that are sensible, correct and for the right reasons.
10. Why are you running for office?
Slatkin: I have interests in many things in life including politics. I actually am not much of a fan of that word as it frequently depicts a negative thought. When I think of a councilman, I think of someone appointed by the residents of a community to engage in decisions and vote, with honesty and impartiality, about the changes, budget approvals and allocations pertaining the collective interests of the community. I feel that, at this stage of my life, I can embrace such responsibility, and above all, I know I possess a true, genuine and sincere wisdom to help others. Many of my patients and friends have asked me in the past: Why don’t you run for office?
Lawson: I am running simply because as the scripture states, "to whom much is given, much is required". I have been blessed at a young age and I see so many others that need to be assisted. That is why I offered myself for public service as soon as I finished college. I have used this office to assist thousands of people and pledge to continue to do so. I have dedicated my time as a charter member of the England Authority and later served on the Police Jury and currently the City Council. I believe that one should definitely put in more than he or she gets out of public service. That's why I have always put 100% of my salary received from the Police Jury and the City Council back into charities in the community. I have also refused to participate in retirement plans, health insurance plans and other perks offered by the city.
11. What will you do differently?
Slatkin: I will diligently exercise caution, prudence and fairness involving any of my decisions. Whenever appropriate, I will obtain expert and non-bias quality consultations, carefully focusing on the common interests and the costs that might inflict upon our community. I will be very responsive, as I do on a one to one basis in the practice of medicine, to my constituents' requests and making sure that they never feel that "I have let them down."
Lawson: I will use the knowledge I have obtained to work with more people in business to help them expand and hire local workers. I will also work more with the School Board on programs for at-risk youth.
12. What can our community do in order to ensure that Lower Third and South Alexandria are safe and clean?
Slatkin: Promoting and improving infrastructure, increasing neighborhood education, pride and reinforcing security. We have to move forward together as a city, a community, and as people.
Lawson:As finance chair, a budget has been passed to hire 5 more police officers to be placed on the streets of South Alexandria. I have also been working with the neighborhood leadership on clean-up efforts. I will continue to promote homeownership and commercial development in the Lower Third and South Alexandria areas.
13. If the city was suddenly awarded with $1 billion, how would you spend that money?
Slatkin: I would try with prudence and in a very wise manner to utilize and properly allocate that huge sum of money. I would prioritize the needs of our city, for example, based upon their level of necessity and classifying them as a) Extremely Important b) Very Important c) Somewhat Important d) Not Important.
After a careful consideration and identifying those needs, the funds should be appropriately distributed. I would make accountability and competence extremely important issues. Having said that, I would utilize the funds into areas such as the police department, intending to increase security, upgrading technology and salaries, number of mobile units and police personnel. I would also review and upgrade the fire department, sanitation, and utility Department. Basically, all city departments would be reviewed. I would improve the conditions of many of our streets, roads, sidewalks in addition to improving recreation and parks. I would improve/create programs for assistance to our senior citizens and handicapped. I also would allocate funds for a comprehensive youth activity program, arts, museums and other cultural activities. I would favor allocations of funds as inquired in question number 7, for the planning and construction of low income housing.
In view of the current high costs of oil and with much pragmatism, knowing that the situation will tend to worsen in the future, I would favorably advocate the expansion of our city transportation system, thereby increasing the number of routes and making public transportation more accessible and convenient. I would undoubtedly, reserve a substantial amount of funds for the possible unforeseen emergencies that might occur in the future, such as natural disasters and terrorism.
Lawson: I would spend $1 billion on making sure we have a safe, healthy community. Crime prevention and healthier communities such as a completely smoke free public environment would be at the top of the list. Every child would have proper health care along with good nutrition. The elderly would have more assistance in making sure their houses are well insulated and energy efficient thus providing a better quality of living.
14. Who is your favorite musical artist?
Lawson:My favorite musical artist is Stevie Wonder.
Slatkin: I basically enjoy all types of music including classical music.
I enjoy listening, among many, to Celine Dion , Neil Diamond, Alicia Keys, Billy Joel and Madonna. I also enjoy watching American Idol.
15. Who is your political role model?
Lawson: My political role model is Nelson Mandela. I have had the opportunity to meet him and admire what he stands for. Charlie Weems and I were Chairman of the Boards for LSU and Southern University when we presented Mr. Mandela with Honorary Doctorates. He is a living legend.
Slatkin: There have been a few that I would describe as my political model and each of them with unique characteristics not shared by the others. Because of his leadership role, ability to make decisions in time of crisis and undisputable humility, I have had a special affinity toward the former president, Harry S Truman.
Lawson's political hero is a communist agitator and Slatkin's hero is a president who didn't mind nuking thousands of innocent civilians. not good not good at all.
I think both of these guys found excellent heros to emulate. Slatkin should continue to commit himself to saving hundreds of thousands of American lives like Truman did in WW2 and Lawson should go to prison for 6 years like Mandela.
AMEN..I SAY AMEN!!
Meet the real Lamar White, Jr. - philosopher, analyst, seasoned veteran of life, king maker and self-made man:
Lamar White, Jr. said...
To the anonymous moron on Cenla Antics (This isn't worthy of its own entry):
Let the record reflect that my family does not own any downtown property and that I am not a realtor. I may become one in the future, but I am NOT a realtor. I manage property and assets. Sorry to disappoint you and your theories about commissions and inside deals.
This is what gets me about Alexandria: You're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't.
People want to see Alexandria improve and expand, but no one wants to see anyone make money off of the expansion. WHAT WORLD ARE YOU PEOPLE LIVING IN?
Well obviously you are mistaken. Lamar White, Jr. does not engage in name-calling, insult, personal attack, or run-of-the-mill nastiness. This must be some imposter who would like to share in Lamar's enormous fame and achievment.
Just based on the answers of the two men, I'd have to say that Lawson is much too simple-minded to lead Alexandria.
Curious. Ever notice how Lamar requires all diaglogue to be on his site under his control? I think he is also into identifying participants that post on his site. Antics is sort of a neutral site. I like that.
I am an avid reader of this blog, but I have never felt the need to post anything, until now.
I propose a few questions. How many of you know who,Lamar is? How many have met him in person? How many know personally, what type of guy he is. It is amazing to me how he has amassed a huge fan club by writing a few catchy phrases.
This guy is a wet behind the ears farce. He has not proposed one original thought, just warmed over, touchy feely, let's all get along doubletalk.
Yet, all of you seem ready to follow him like lemmings to the sea!
Now I know why this city is on the verge of a long downhill slide into the sewer. If you all are representative of the capacity for critical thought, prevalent in our city, God help us all.
You are sheep, easily led by a Judas Goat.
awww looks like someone is jealous. at least he writes in his own name thats more than what can be said of you. then you go on about "He has not proposed one original thought..." yet you only use tired worn out cliches yourself. you should look within yourself and identify what it is that white represents to you that you are afraid of.
Just looked in the phonebook for "we saw that". Is it oriental?
scarlett you silly wingnut moonbat lamar said from the outset that he is a liberal and yet you get all bent out of shape when he posts rush limbaugh's mugshot on his own blog? lmao how whacked is that? you in your typical halfcocked fashion assumed something without checking it out first when in fact the truth is that white never has pretended "to be one type when they are really the other." the fact is, is that it was you who didnt know what you were talking about.
"we saw that" is defending Lamar because your bona fide pundits are not very keen on receiving criticism but quite keen on dishing it out. If you read their respective postings you will see that each and both have chips the size of the Bently Hotel on their rather narrow shoulders. They much prefer it when you laud their brilliance and rapier-like wit.
Bush league.
To "we saw that." Jealous? Of what? Please enlighten me oh sage...what does Lamar or you have that anyone else would be desirous of?
From your choice of words and their use, one would assume you are not an educated person. Your thoughts betray your inexperience in dealing with the real world. You blather on with righteous indignation whenever someone, who is obviously your better, strips your facade and exposes your ineptitude. You, my sorry friend, are the epidome of a sheep.
However, because I am somewhat enamored of those who are wandering the wasteland of yet found intellect, searching for a means to enlightenment, I will watch you from my lofty pearch and correct you when you need redirection.
To the other Bloggers here, be kind to those who engage their "rapier-like-wit" before their brain. Their swords are short and dull. They do no damage. Take pity on them, and ignore their childish rantings.
Liberal or conservative, Lamar is what he is...a child. He thinks as a child, and acts as a child. By defending him, you confirm that you are one of his flock, blindly following a Judus Goat.
Baaaaa!
lol we arent formally educated and dont pretend to be. we arent eloquent and dont pretend to be that either. your words on the other hand are representative of someone who is full of hate and bitterness. you blather on with your "educated parlance" and say nothing substantive. you in your jaded reality are about nothing but destruction and despair. we feel sorry for you and the nasty environment you have existed in that have made you this way.
"we saw that" characterizes his detractor as "full of hate and bitterness". I think that's pretty generous choice of nouns.
T'was charitable indeed.
Just back from Argentina, Hugo sends his love and thinks Alexandria will be an easy conquest. Gotta pack the next load. See ya'll in two weeks.
P.S. - I got the job.
Lamar White Jr. is a continuation of the silk stocking gang, silver spoon in their mouths families that have long controlled Alexandria. His Grandmother owns her church, having music directors hired, preachers fired for not abiding by her wishes, and bringing tremendous discord to the Alexandria political arena. She will back the loudest malcontent in a local political tiff and, when she can't win all the time, corresponds with political contacts at all levels.
Yes Junior is a chip off the old block. Never forget the moneyed folks in Alexandria know better than us what is best for us.
As a side note, Nagin should run for Mayor of Alexandria. He would, once again, realize his dream of a "chocalate city." Alexandria's next Mayor will be a Black puppet of the Majority of the City Council. The majority (if not all) of revenue received by the City will be spent in the Black Neighberhoods or amongst Black friends (socially called consultants.)
The drive has started to "get what is owed to us" by Whitey and will continue until there is no money left to spend. One needs only look around to see the useless projects already completed in the neigherhoods. I especiall like the the "walking path" dowtown and down Bayou Rapides. Now It has been determined that the Blacks right to everything free is being impacted by the White folks being at the Mardi Grasd parade. "We gwine move it to Lee Street and dat will limit the White folks attending." How many White folks are going to subject their families to the environment on Lee Street most especially from MLK to 3rd.
Not a racist just a realist.
Lamar White Jr. is a continuation of the silk stocking gang, silver spoon in their mouths families that have long controlled Alexandria. His Grandmother owns her church, having music directors hired, preachers fired for not abiding by her wishes, and bringing tremendous discord to the Alexandria political arena. She will back the loudest malcontent in a local political tiff and, when she can't win all the time, corresponds with political contacts at all levels.
Yes Junior is a chip off the old block. Never forget the moneyed folks in Alexandria know better than us what is best for us.
As a side note, Nagin should run for Mayor of Alexandria. He would, once again, realize his dream of a "chocalate city." Alexandria's next Mayor will be a Black puppet of the Majority of the City Council. The majority (if not all) of revenue received by the City will be spent in the Black Neighberhoods or amongst Black friends (socially called consultants.)
The drive has started to "get what is owed to us" by Whitey and will continue until there is no money left to spend. One needs only look around to see the useless projects already completed in the neigherhoods. I especiall like the the "walking path" dowtown and down Bayou Rapides. Now It has been determined that the Blacks right to everything free is being impacted by the White folks being at the Mardi Grasd parade. "We gwine move it to Lee Street and dat will limit the White folks attending." How many White folks are going to subject their families to the environment on Lee Street most especially from MLK to 3rd.
Not a racist just a realist.
Certainly not a racist, just adept at Amos & Anday dialect. Look, I'm sorry you aren't rich or important or black. I am also sorry you aren't determined or intelligent or courageous. I respectfully suggest that you take your "sky is falling" BS on "down de road". I know a little about Lamar's grandparents and they are not silver spoon elitists. They came from modest families and rose to positions of leadership in the community through hard work and community service and leadership. Alexandria's problem is not the Whites but shortage of Whites.
Lamar's opinionated self-importance is a product of his youth and privilege and should be discounted as such but one should hope that he continues to care enough so that when his vocabulary rises above the VH1 level (way cool), he is still engaged in the process. Face it. Lamar doesn't remember the downtown he remembers. He has simply been seduced into pimping for certain interests.
The City Council: that's where it's at. We have a chance to make some meaningful change but we just gotta do it instead of all this nasty hand-wringing.
Grandmother is a demonic, power hungry little old lady. Her, Felix Mouton and Malxom X ran the Parish's Job Programs into tturmoil so bad the State was trying to place the program under Vernon Parish, When the lady friend of Myron was finally rooted out she went to work at the "trade school" (another institute of finer finances for the Bretheren. When Felix was rooted out for sexual harrassement he was hired at the "trade school" at a much higher salary then he was making at the Parish. All this through the good graces of Grandmother
When her church (and have no doubt it is her church) need a music director she used her influence to have a person hired who, attested to by departing members of the choir and church, could not sing, had no peronalty and could not lead, when her music director was fired she had the preacher fired and tune heistger rehired.
Yes gentile nice little born poor southern lady.
Lamar Junior comes from good stock.
By the Way "YOU AIN'T LIKE THE WHITE FOLKS I KNOW" can I call you DAN? 50 points if you can tell me Kingfish's wife's name and his mother-in-law's name speaking of Amos & Andy.
Actually my favorite is the Buckbo T Shirt. Buckwheat impersonating Sly. Funny as hell - if you got a sense of humour.
What's all this original sin crap anyway. Not that you aren't showing your nobility by beating up on a couple octogenerians but what does that have to do with Lamar. You should evaluate Lamar on Lamar's accomplishments and how they stack up with yours (which I am sure you will list with enormous accuracy).
As for comparing religious credentials, the quality of your christian love is showing all over your stuff.
Just proving the old cliche "An apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
Paul White, father of and Grandfather off, was an assistant DA to Ed Ware. My My these poor, common, pulled themselves up by their bootstraps folks seemed to have started their rise to influence and success by feeding from the Rapides Parish Political trough.
And one more tid bit. Junior was party, along with the widow, to a law suit filed to prevent the Town Talk from obtaining the results of the autopsy as to what contributed to the automobile accident that killed his father.
Apparently it is ok for the family to try and keep family secrets secret and maintain the pristine image done through Junior but let someone desmirch the family name and your picking on octoroonians or however you speel it.
"Alias 'I CAUGHT THE CITY BUS ON FOURTH STREET OUTSIDE THE BACK DOOR OF KRESS"
Wish I could spell - Mabel Hawthorne where are you when I need you. "dowen thru..." and besmirch
The quality of your information seems to parallel the quality of your grace and compassion. The grandfather is self-made and his son, Paul, was an assistant district attorney before becoming an episcopal priest. That family has had more than it's share of tragedy in every generation have always managed to endure.
Now tell us a little something about yourself . . .
down dammit down
If Lamar Junior is the son of Lamar Senior who was the son of Paul who was the Grandfather? Paul - Lamar Junior's grandfather was the assistant D.A. Geneology isn't your strong suit.
Christian Compassion - as much as she showed the priest when she had the Bishop fire him for his actions in firing the music director. An action approved by the board not the retailation of one person as are her actions.
Your bleeding heart bull shit relative to this family is not moving me. The matriach is tyrinnical (sic?), has been, always will be and has destroyed everything that was good before she touched it.
Christian - Beware wolves in sheep clothing.
Lamar's grandfather, Paul, is a real estate developer. Lamar's uncle, Don, was an ADA under Ware for a brief time (like so many other young lawyers) and left the legal profession to become a priest. I only point this out because you are so misinformed and so certain. A more rational approach would be "so what?".
See Lamar, this is what people tried to warn you about. Sniveling petty insignificant weak-minded envious people will take cheap shots at you because they blame their own miserable existance and seriel failures on those who have been successful and gained respectability and/or wealth through their respective accomplishments.
All that being said, I really think you need to get your mind off of Third Street and think about the whole array of promise and problems. But you just don't seem able to do that. Pity.
13. FROM THE PAST
May 14, 2003 •• 227 words •• ID: alx2003051415170209
25 Years Ago in The Town Talk May 14, 1978. New assistant district attorneys Donald Johnson and Paul Donald White have joined the staff of Rapides Parish District Attorney Ed Ware.. City clerk quits: Pineville City Clerk Betty DeKeyzer resigned her post in order to accept another job.. 50 Years Ago in The Town Talk. May 14, 1953. New Elks ruler: Dr. Milton Honigman has been installed as the exalted ruler of Alexandria Elks Lodge No. 546.. 100 Years Ago in The Town Talk. May
PAUL OR DON?
1. Funeral services today for Lamar White
February 5, 2001 •• 476 words •• ID: alx9968696156574
Services for Alexandria real estate developer F. Lamar White Sr. will be at 2 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church with the Dr. Don White, Rev. Roy James and Dr. Henry Blount officiating. Burial will be in Alexandria Memorial Gardens under direction of John Kramer & Son.. White, 41, of Alexandria died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, in Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital following a traffic accident.. He was president of Coldwell Banker-White Real Estate and was a real estate
Is it true that William Earl, Joe McPherson and Dewey Helverson are equal owners of a fishing lodge at a certain lake in Mexico with Dewey fronting the venture?
Why does this not seem like a strange collection of bedfellows? All that is lacking "I want to be Sheriff" Charlie Dewitt.
Let Charlie become Sheriff and we will really see payback. He is notorious for retaliation against those that oppose him how bad will he be as Sheriff?
its really stupid to attack lamar by way of his grandparents parents aunts uncles cousins etc. are you responsible for the actions of your own family? the answer is no. goodness gracious the guys dad died when lamar was only 18 or 19 years old. dont you have any shame?
one thing is for sure and thats with a new sheriff all the sheriff cars will get a new paint scheme. remember when grady kelly was sheriff and all the cars were green? then william earl gets in and changes the color and seems like he changed the uniforms as well.
COPIED FROM JUNIOR'S BLOG
Are (Do) things we do or OUR FAMILY members do define the completeness of their (our) being?"
What does this person mean? Completeness of their being? And why are they putting OUR FAMILY in caps? Gee, I wonder.
When there's nothing to attack someone for (in a small town like Alexandria), attacking their family seems like the next best thing. Nice try.
That said, yes, I believe it is perfectly reasonable to assume certain things about someone who once joined the KKK. Is it fair? Maybe not. But the KKK is serious... and if we just excuse people who joined this organization (even if they were only active for a few months) and then we allow them to assume positions of power and importance in our community, I think we're really selling ourselves short.
This guy may be right about all of these furtive recordings, but I'm ready to change subjects. This is starting to bore me."
Seems Junior can attack and even question if attacking the family is OK?
WE SAW THAT (ALIAS SUCKUP) Apparently Junior has no qualms about attackting a person's youthful discretions. Gee his should be hero the gray haired gentlemen named Byrd even admitted to being a klan member.
So if once a klan member the possibility exists to become one again holds the we better watch Congressmen.
I reserve my shame and sympathy for people worthy of it. Not descendants of family line carrying on the same inane traditions.
Isn't the history of fat arsed Ted's inability to get the lady home being brought up to show the family's perpensity (sic?) for wicked ways?
Even if it is an Uncle the apple doesn't fall far from the family tree. Now We Saw That you can pontificate about the ability of Junior and his family to walk on water in your response.
How about if I defend myself?
This attempt to deflect attention onto my family is really shameful.
I am more than willing to answer questions about my family, but I don't know anyone who would tolerate the kind of ignorant, petty, and undeserved hatred toward their own grandmother.
I may be young ("just a child"), but it seems to me that some of you are the ones who really need to grow up.
For the past two months, I have used my blog to write about Central Louisiana. I do not have any secret motives. I want to see my community succeed, and I'd like those in my generation to be a part of that success. This is not a crooked or corrupt motivation. It's honest. And I feel very sorry for those of you who don't recognize honesty when you see it.
If mentioning my father's death or my grandmother's church (particularly lame and irrelevant) was an attempt to cause me pain, well, congratulations. I feel pain for you. I feel pain for anyone whose life is so pathetic that they derive their greatest joy at the expense of others. I feel pain for those who live with the constant urge to do others harm.
My remarks on the KKK were not intended to be personal, and I know that some people make mistakes in early in their lives. When I wrote about the KKK, I was writing about a government official, someone entrusted to serve the public good. I think that this person has probably "turned his life around," and I am happy for him. I can think of only a handful of people who would use this as an opportunity to call attention to remarks I made over a month ago on one of 110 entries. They fail to recognize the most basic premise: I was criticing this official's decisions, not his family.
I hope that we can all work together to make this blog what it should be: an honest discussion of the issues. It should be the responsibility of all of us to resist those who infect us with this type of hatred. I refuse to believe that these spiteful voices are the mainstream.
I did not have the ability to chose my family. None of us do.
Let's move on.
All the best,
Lamar
Let me say this and will leave the issue and family alone. Your remarks relative to the clan membership, a foolishness of youth, rendered the person bespoiled forever. Let me once again paste a portion from your blog:
"That said, yes, I believe it is perfectly reasonable to assume certain things about someone who once joined the KKK. Is it fair? Maybe not. But the KKK is serious... and if we just excuse people who joined this organization (even if they were only active for a few months) and then we allow them to assume positions of power and importance in our community, I think we're really selling ourselves short."
Now I am going to tie this into Christianity and your family - who we all know are deeply religious. Your pasted remarks indicate, in your opinion, nobody, no matter how deeply sorry they are about their actions and their attempts to obtain forgiveness they are never to be forgiven.
If you have the right to assume certain things about people I have the same right to assume things about you and your family based upon what I personnally know. By your logic I can safely asume your Grandmother will at anytime, once again, call in favors from Washington D.C. to do harm to the citizens of Rapides Parish.
You, in an unchristianlike manner, judged this individual, condemed him to repeat his mistakes and, basically asserted, he was going to be burning crosses in the most immediate future.
You want respect for your family and yourself render respect. However, based upon your own expressed thought pattern, cannot, IMHAO, show respect and courtesy to us humble ass pissants not born to society circles.
Summation: I believe I spent the better part of a day taking your postulate thoughts and compared them to your actions and validated the fact that you are just a penis head child.
Hanging the KKK banner on an individual is nothing but a mean spirited method of causing more discontent between races and is used in the absence of any other facts to try and turn the black voter against the person so labeled.
Wonder if any of the political bretheren were afro-headed card carrying members of radical black organizations?
Hello "we saw that." As previously stated I'll watch and correct, for your own good.
In one of your recent childish outbursts you whined..."its really stupid to attack lamar by way of his grandparents parents aunts uncles cousins etc. are you responsible for the actions of your own family? the answer is no. goodness gracious the guys dad died when lamar was only 18 or 19 years old. dont you have any shame?"
People die every day, life goes on. Should we excuse Lamar's mistakes because he had a parent die? I think not. Like you, Lamar needs to grow up.
We are all responsible for our own actions, but when you place yourself in a position where you spew advice to others, prepare for a very personal rebuttal.
Those who recall to us the follies of Lamar's family are attempting to draw a correlation between them and Lamar himself. They discount Lamar because his pedigree is faulty. A point well taken.
If his family is a bunch of loonies, and Lamar himself displays a certain disconnection from reality, why should anyone take anything he says seriously?
Still, I understand your infatuation with him. It's a "grass is always greener" thing....
Baaaaaa!
you are entitled to your own opinion and we respect that. the only reply that we can give to you is that only time will tell.
as far as your statement about the grass is always greener thing well nothing could be further from the truth. dealing with businessmen politicians attorneys bankers renters purchasers employees etc is not our idea of a good time. we are quite content here with our horses cattle dogs alligators beavers deer ducks etc.
ps this will be our final download and reply on this thread its too cumbersome. we will be posting on the new thread if you wish to reply then reply there.
Astounding.
To "we saw that" and "Lamar White, Jr." - you gentlepersons are incredibly slow learners. You try to fend off these baseless attacks by unseen, unidentified, and uninformed people when they are designed for the sole purpose of cheap shots at defenseless personalities. How do you really think these conversations will end. Do you think these amoral attackers are going to finally own up and apologize. Not likely.
To the attacker(s) - you are an unprincipled cowardly son of a bitch and I am just guessing that this is not the first or last time you have been deservingly called that. But here's the bottem line: you don't matter - you never have and you never will. And that is good.
Cowardly Son of a Bitch though I may be I don't sit on a throne condeming others when my own family closet is full of skeletons.
Mr. Aymond admitted to the youthful mistake of joining the Klan. Let me inform you that joining the Klan is not against the law. Politically incorrect but not illegal. Another revelation may be that the use of the "N" word is not against the law. Once again politically incorrect but not illegal
Junior has decried, from his lofty judgemental tower, that Mr. Aymond, due to past habits, is highly likely at anytime to don a sheet and go to burning crosses.
Now let us discuss what is illegal. Driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content twice the legal limit is a violation of law. Speeding is a violation of tghe law. Lamar Sr. made two bad decisions that cost him his life. He was drunk and speeding. Had it not cost him his life Sr. could be (by Jr.'s standards) still out and about driving under the influence and placing others in harms way.
So one person admits to the error of his youthful ways and life goes on. The other's family files a law suit to prevent the cause of Sr.'s death from becoming public knowledge. Those born to high places do not want their transgression open to public view but feel a birthright to condem others.
What is the old adage "When you live in a glass house..."
As far as personal tragedy Sr. made the personal decisions that took his life. Go look at the long black wall in D.C. and see the 50,000 plus names on it. Their families also sufferred personal tragedies but the individuals the names represent were not given the opportunity to make a decision.
I may be a cowardly son of a bitch but I am not a elitist dickhead pointing out the shortcomings of the lower social levels from my lofty high society pedestal while attempting to benefit finasncially from my dealings with the City Council members and trying to cover up family baggage.
Oh and if you have such a big pair why didn't you sign your name? Could it be cowardice?
So we finally have one universal point of AGREEMENT. The person attacking Lamar because he/she is displeased with Lamar's family is a cowardly son of a bitch. and quite accustomed to and comfortable with his/her station as such. Thank you. Now we can all identify from whence he/she comes and accord his/her opinions and feelings the proper weight. Case closed.
I said Lamar White, Jr. was a slow learner. In fact, he is a non-learner. He keeps fanning the flames in response to a confessed malicious cowardly SOB. There is some point where youthful optimism becomes entirely foolish. That point was some time ago.
Recently there have been some blatant ad hominem attacks directed towards Lamar White and his family. These attacks are egregious attempts to cloud the issues that Lamar is trying to have a very open and honest discussion about.
Alexandria suffers from a disease. There is a certain power hungry element that would rather maintain status quo instead of being part of progress. This element only wants progress if they are in total control of what is done and who receives the credit and profits. An honest debate is necessary for this city to return to past glory and hopefully achieve new glory. Engaging in this debate, I believe, is Lamar’s true motive.
If those of you who are attacking Lamar and his family truly are concerned about the progress of Alexandria, you would engage in this fruitful debate instead of sniping with tremendously insulting comments. The very fact that many of you would prefer to attack Lamar and his family personally shows two things. One, you have nothing truly fruitful to contribute. And two, you are cowards.
I have to agree...like his opinions or not lets not attack the kid . I mean tragedies that his family have experience are much more hurtful to him that we as grownups should inflict . Its all bullshit anyway lets not make it hurtful to someone who is only expressing his thoughts and opinions. Right or wrong at least he is trying to express some thought.....
Hmmmmmm I must agree, those whom attack Lamar without any alternate suggestions or course of action are just as worthless as Lamar himself.
My comments have never been anti-Lamar, however, I have questioned those who blindly follow a juvenile, who views the world through a pollyanna prisim.
Lamar is no more worthy of respect than any other self adsorbed child. This is not to say that he cannot earn the respect he craves, but he must pay his dues. To date he has not. He believes that his last name will garner instant acceptence. Sorry Lamar, it don't work that way.
Anyone who sings the praises of an un-tried leader is blind to the realities of human nature. They are sheep, easily lead by a Judus goat.
Baaaaaaa!
Actually, I am beginning to wonder about the legitimacy of these brutal attacks. Lamar Sr. was, in my humble opinion, never much of a factor in the big picture. Yet Jr. is trying so very hard to keep this line of attack/pity/attack going. Could this be Lamar's way of promoting Lamar?
My question is why are we paying all of this attention to an insignificant child while Alexandria burns in the coils of the Snake? The Snake will eat Lamar for breakfast.
It seems to me that this has become a blog about Lamar's blog.
If you people really think that he's insignificant, then you probably wouldn't be so OBSESSED with him and his family.
Get a life. Talk about the issues. That's all Lamar's asking for.
The only reason he's had to write about himself and his father is because you people keep writing about it. Go read from the beginning. It's all there in black and white.
I don't know Lamar, but I know how to read.... which is obviously more than some of you know how to do.
Lamar, you need to wise up: Ignore these dumbasses. For real. I know your theories on your blog being a "project," but this is obviously getting to you. Don't let it.
We need people like you and thechickdowntown, because right now, we're obviously lacking.
Finally Scarlett, I agree with you on something!
here here
THIS illustrates a lot about Farrar and Fields. Fields goes on TV and says he supports Farras bill then Town Talk sends a NEW reporter to cover Pineville who isnt a lap dog to write PR pieces fed to Bill Sumrall by Dupree and so Fields flip flops in a letter ....and Farrar cant get the respect of the house to even get a local bill passed. Both of these guys are pathetic and liars.
Bill allowing Rapides governments to use Web sites as official journal dies in committee
By Mike Hasten
mhasten@gannett.com
(225) 342-7333
BATON ROUGE – After accusing a Town Talk employee of lying and indicating that he didn’t trust the House Municipal Affairs Committee, state Rep. Rick Farrar wasn’t surprised today that the panel killed his bill seeking to allow Rapides Parish governmental bodies to use their own Web sites to publish legal notices.
State law requires legal notices to be published in an official journal with paid circulation. In Rapides Parish, it’s The Town Talk.
Farrar, D-Pineville, said putting the notices on Web sites would save local governments more than $400,000 in printing costs. He said the governing bodies of Alexandria, Pineville, Ball, Cheneyville, Lecompte and a waterworks district passed resolutions supporting his proposal, known as House Bill 8.
Newspapers oppose changing the law because “it’s about greed,” Farrar told the committee. “It’s me not wanting my citizens paying so much.”
When Jim Smilie, online manager of The Town Talk, and representatives of the Louisiana Press Association contested his figures, Farrar told the committee, “I wish you would swear people in before they testify. … What they just told you is absolutely not the truth. I wish everybody would be honest.”
Farrar said he obtained advertising expenditures from the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, Rapides Police Jury, Rapides School Board and the municipal governments of Alexandria and Ball, and said the figures were higher than the $250,000 estimate cited by Smilie. He said Alexandria alone spent $106,000 on public notices.
Smilie’s copy of the letter the city sent to Farrar in February shows Alexandria spent $48,330 on legal notices. The total advertising bill was higher, but the bulk of it was not for information required to be published.
Ed Humphrey, president and publisher of The Town Talk, said in a telephone interview that he was pleased with the committee's decision.
"The committee made the right call on a matter of tremendous importance to the public," Humphrey said. "The public has the right to know what their local governments and other public bodies are doing, and the newspaper is the place they expect to find that information."
During today's hearing, Rep. Clara Baudoin, D-Carencro, questioned Farrar about having the support of the city of Pineville. She quoted a letter from Mayor Clarence Fields opposing posting legal notices on the Internet.
“I really don’t believe 75 to 100 years from now citizens will be able to go back and see notices that were posted online,” Fields said in a letter dated May 10.
Committee Chairman Ernest Baylor, D-Shreveport, asked Farrar why he did not respond last summer to the committee’s notice of conducting a hearing on using the Internet for legal notices that was scheduled when Farrar’s legislation from last year was converted to a study. When the author did not respond, plans for a hearing were canceled.
Farrar said, “It was pretty obvious to me last year and this year, too” that the proposal would be defeated.
He said he did not want a study because “I didn’t have faith and confidence in the Louisiana Press Association to participate in the spirit of cooperation.” Also, “The Town Talk would have the opportunity to come down here and sway you.”
Jeff David, publisher of the Livingston Parish News, said online publication has its hazards. He said hackers altered news he has posted on the newspaper’s Web site.
Farrar said, “The more I get into this, the more I realize how much the almighty dollar is in involved in this.”
Farrar criticized Gannett Co. Inc., owner of The Town Talk and newspapers in Lafayette, Monroe, Opelousas and Shreveport, as being “about one thing, and that’s money.”
Leon Coleman Sr., publisher of the Alexandria News Weekly, said his publication is an auxiliary journal used by local governments to reach a targeted audience, the black community, on specific issues.
Requiring citizens to use the Internet for public notices “would be devastating to our community,” he said. “Many of our residents don’t have access to computers
This incredibly irresponsible exercise of the first amendment was posted on the "we saw that" blog. It is amazing in its inaccuracy. The assistant district attorney involved in the Hypes case is NOT Tom Searcy who is a misdemeanor prosecutor, but TOM WALSH, a heavy hitter from Baton Rouge.
"will mike small bring down the rapides parish district attorney...
it looks pretty good that mike small can prove corruption on the part of rapides parish assistant d.a. tom searcy. according to court papers that small filed in behalf of his client amanda gutweiler hypes, searcy leaked grand jury testimony of hypes to expert witnesses without first obtaining the courts consent. and of course if he went to get the courts consent he would have to give notice to small and he would have opposed it. so searcy took a shortcut. after a lot of legal wrangling thats been featured in the town talk small has filed a motion captioned "We call the bluff" in this motion small called out the rapides parish da for: "astonishingly unprofessional and inappropriate manner." apparantly the gist of it all is that the point of the leak was so dr john dehaan and bobby sandoval a rapides parish deputy sheriff would know which story to pitch at trial.
notice in this article rocky willson is now speaking for the da office he must have taken over the case. we guess he would be taken off after he practically called judge donald johnson a dumbass. why didnt they just follow the law and go through the motions? what gives them the right to decide to just arbitrarily break one law to enforce another? the truth is ms hypes should have been tried ages ago. its ridiculous for her and her families and for us too that someone should be in jail so long. if the state is so sure of its evidence that they were once talking about the death penalty why take so long to present it? it looks like you are trying to manufacture it. and that brings us back to the title of our post. will the public be so outraged at the actions of the da's office in screwing this up so bad, translate to change at the polls? sheriff hilton is retiring too. maybe this is time for sweeping change."
====
related post
Judge Protects Constitutional Rights & Gets Called a Dumbass by Rapides' D.A. Office
If Rick Farrar is really so concerned about the newspaper charging too much to print the legals in the paper he should author a bill setting a cap on fees that can be levied by newspapers to carry official minutes etc. This crap about the internet being used is just that, CRAP.
Rick Farrar should have IM A DUMB ASS BULLY tatooed on the front of his bid old ugly head. Its an embarrassment that we have such a low life representing this area. Incidentally he is laughed at in Baton Rouge and does not get ANY respect from any of the other elected legislators . WE can do better. How did this moron even get a law license. We need to send a message to the rest of the bully fat heads in this area that their days are numbered.
No need for a tatoo.
Two problems: Lamar's site is locked up - technical problem; and
Lamar is depending on scoop information from "we saw that" who distinguished himself by accusing poor Tom Searcy of blowing up the Hypes case. After a wreckless blunder like that, who relies on this guy?
ALL IT TAKES IS THAT WE START A NEW BLOG SITE....LETS HEAR SOME SUGGESTIONS AND GET IT STARTED WITH SOME INPUT...
CenLamar is taking 30 - 50 minutes to load on my computers. Does anyone know why? Is anyone else haveing this difficulty?
All pictures of Rove are bad. Probably needs to have his server exorcised.
Read the Town Talk about the new LC contracts, the bible college, and the Da Vinci Code pickets? We are becoming a southern cartoon town that would make Elmer Gantry blush.
BULLETIN:
Lamar White, Jr., self-ordained guru of social justice, conscience of cenla, and social gadfly, has decreed that Louisiana College should lose its accreditation.
The regents of LC are in a special meeting right now to decide if they should just voluntarily surrender their certificate of accreditation rather than face the prospect of disappointing Lamar some more. More to follow.
Lamar do you have Rules at the "JOB" you work at? Ha...let me ask that another way. Do the Mortals at your place of business have rules? Do the employees make the rules or does the employer? And dont give us any bullshit rhetoric about how you have joint managment or any of that crap.....Well its now the same at LC. The Owners are setting the rules for the employees who incidentally are working there voluntarily and not under force.
Employers make the rules. That's the rule - but, educational institutions have objective standards of academic structure, freedom, and curriculum and that's their rule. Should the employees have to live by the employer's rules - yes. Should LC have to live by the objective standards and criteria of institutions of higher education in order to receive their certification - yes. Ponder that, shithead.
ya see, any whore house or goat farm or asset management concern can have employee rules and employement conditions but that doesn't mean that they can confer respected recognized academic degrees and professional credentials. Stick with me here because the concepts will be getting easier.
As a follow-up to the article I wrote this morning:
Obviously the business analogy is what we're working with here, so let's expound on that a little bit.
LC isn't like a privately-held small business; it's more like a publicly-traded mid-sized business.
The Board doesn't "own" LC, and although the Southern Baptist Convention claims ownership, they don't actually "own" LC either. LC is owned by shareholders: its students, its alumni, its donors, its professors.
These groups have the most "stock" in the future success of LC, because their worth in "human capital" is directly correlated to the value of their degree and/or job. Like a publicly-traded company, LC is also beholden to regulating bodies that determine whether or not it's violated established guidelines for accreditation, Title 9, etc.
"Ownership" can make decisions contrary to these established guidelines, but by doing so, they risk violating the regulations of their accreditation.
I believe LC should lose its accreditation, because accreditation bodies typically require that colleges practice academic freedom. I believe that any dogmatic directive instructing professors on what to believe and how to teach is a flagrant violation of the principle of academic freedom.
I believe this because I respect the professors and students of LC, and I believe that the current administration is in the process of significantly "devaluing" their degrees through a series of decisions based on a fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible.
While I understand that a loss of accreditation would be a major shock to the system, I believe that students (as well as the community at large) needs to wake up and fix this problem before it's too late. In my opinion, there is only one other solution: The present board and administration needs to resign in order to avoid future embarassment.
Again, I am NOT the lone voice calling for this. There are many people, including many LC alumns, who feel that the present administration needs to be reprimanded for their actions.
Think about it like this: What if, ten years from now, LC does become a Bible School? What if fundamentalists continue to control its curriculum? Any student who is serious about getting a job with a major employer and any student who wants to seek an advanced degree from a reputable university will be met with skepticism because their degree is from LC. That's not the way things are now, but people are making a mistake if they think that all of the professors who left were "just the bad apples." In time, it will be difficult (perhaps impossible) for LC to hire anyone with a phD from a serious institution. Why? Because most professors don't like to be told what to teach. You may disagree with that philosophy, and that's your perogative. But serious professors committed to research and teaching do not like taking orders on what to research and how to teach.
Look, you can call me an elitist. Fine. Keep shooting the messenger. You can label me whatever you want to. I'm just conveying my opinion. I want to see LC succeed, because I know that a good, private college is good for our entire economy. It's good for our art scene, music scene, nightlife, and tourism. It can put us on the map as a destination, and it can create wealth and opportunities for its students and alumns.
Blogspot.com is the place to start. My suggestion is to do just what lamar has done and that is to open threads on specific topics. I will do it if you guys want another site, but want suggestions for topics beforehand so that this can be a functional site.
My thought is that the reason that this site has been so successful is it's unstructured nature. Lamar has two sites: one is organized by topic and you have to browse thru the list and open it to see if there are any new postings. CenLamar, on the other hand is sort of "me on stuff" that let's Lamar expound and others respond. This site really more like a conversation - you talk then I talk. The last posting is the most recent posting. I think the Cenla Antics is the main site because it works. It attracts us nut cases but still, it is easy to hear and be heard. Merely my observation after having tried to cope with these three (or 4 including "we saw that".
I agree. Maybe a long download time is a blessing.
YET ANOTHER VINDICATION OF AYMOND. Wonder if Slander Suit is now in order against these accusers.
DISCIPLINARY BOARD DISMISSES THURMAND KELLEY ,PINEVILLE APPOINTMENTs COMPLAINTS!
On May 17, 2006, the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board dismissed
the compalint filed by Water works Dist. 3 Board President Thumrna
Kelly, which he filed again Greg Aymond. Mr. Kelly complained that
Aymond was harassing the board members by publishing untruthful
information against those Board Members, and should not be allowed to
do so since the Board Members were his former clients.
The Disciplinary Board informed Thurman that; "it appears that Mr.
Aymond was employed by the water district, acting throught its Board of
Commissioners. The Rule of Professional Conduct impose duties on an
attorney in this type of representation to act on behalf of the
organization to prevent substantial injury to the organization."
Maybe now the legal scholars on the Water Board can understand that
a lawyer must report the misuse of a public body's funds and property,
even if they desire to cover it up.
Wonder Why Lamar Jr Doesnt publish these OFFICIAL VINDICATIONS like he so passionately published his attacks on Aymond? But its the rest of the world that is narrow minded remember.
I guess there is just a group of near sighted folks that have difficulty in seeing the virtue of someone who advocates the extermination of Negros, Catholics, Jews, Latinos, Asians, etc. Go figure!
But at least he is not a LIAR like some of those he accuses of dishonesty
Klan blogging seems to be lagging a little lately.
Think the Enron trial results is a vision of what will happen at Cleco ? Maybe just maybe today is a wake up call . I think for sure its a message that CEOs are going to be accountable. Lets see.
Remember when Cleco had a layoff of as I recall about 80 people a few years ago? Well, that is when they aborted their baby Enron. Hence the concern over Sansing and Pugh and the deal with the City of Alexandria. They have bolted the hatches and are looking for any sign of leaks. Ever wonder why the mayor was not more adamant about fact-finding and just wanted to move on (remember the settlement document?)? Who loves ya baby? It ain't our current elected officials unless you have a cookie for them.
But I hear that some at Cleco have already given Sworn testimony that implicates CLECO and big shots at cleco and that regardless of what the City does, the truth is coming out ..perhaps in Civil Court PERHAPS in criminal court. ..but its coming out.
Did anyone hear about the reinstatement by the Civil Service Board of another longtime City employee(29 yrs) wrongly fired by Ned Randolph. Again on the advise of his great legal team of Sanders and Provosty and aganist the recomendations of the Utiliy Director and Superintendant. That is four for the good guys and zero for Baby Ned, at a cost of over $200,000 to you the citizens of Alexandria.
I am reliably told that Delores Brewer showed up for a campaign speech at the Garden District meeting and had in tow, at least two city employees, at least one of which was civil service, and used these employees in her campaign presentation. That is patently illegal and the employee's job is in jeapordy. Delores knew that there was some kind of new gas contract but really didn't know how much it cost and had to refer all meaningful inquiries to the city employees that accompanied her. I was told that she was not very smart but apparently she is also quite reckless.
I was one of the people at the meeting you are talking about and what you say is Absolutely NOT True. She was very articulate and very informed. I think One question was asked of her that she did not want to guess on and said so. And there were No civil service types answering any questions...so...wrong!
Lots of folks talking about Brewer dragging city employees to campaign function - who knows? I was not there.
I think it is equally as wrong to attack Lamar's views based on his ancestry as it was for Lamar to attack Aymond. Have you all forgot that this is supposed to be a freedom of thoughts and ideas country?
Lamar's thoughts on ex-clansmen being unfit would have kept not only Senator Byrd out of politics, but also Pres, Woodrow Wilson, and supreme court justice Hugo Black What Lamar doesnt' seem to understand is that all do not agree with him nor think he has all of the right answers, and can been seen by David Duke election to the legislature or his run off for governor. Also, economic progress with its crowded streets and political graft and corruption is not desired by all people who choose to live in a smaller city.
But Lamar's family seems no different than most families. None are perfect. I knew his father. Lamar Sr. wasn't perfect nor all bad. He was human like the rest of us. Views should be discussed based upon their underlying facts and conclusions, not upon peoples' pasts, Lamar's or Aymond's.
This guy has expressed some regret at his Klan membership but has never reputiated the Klan doctrine of hate, bigotry, oppression, and racism. I think he just regrets being caught.
I don't think he was caught. I recall him being openly in a clan uniform which was published in the Towntalk, and publicing he was in the clan back in the 70's. If being against forced school busing, giving minorities benefits and jobs over the best qualified, and enforcing the immigration laws makes one a racists, or a biggot, there are a lot of closet clansmen running around on the loose. I think people even have the right to be a racist in this country, as long as they don't break the law. Its amazing that the politically correct believe in free speach and thought, as long as it is what they wish to be thought and said.
Of course people can subscribe to the tenents of the KKK. And of course, others can regard them as racist biggoted cowards who spew hatred and violence. That is precisely what we have here. He is asserting his right to belong to the KKK and civilized people are exercising their right to consider him dispicable. Like someone said, he only regrets being caught. He should consider that hating black people because they are black is a lot like hating fat people because they are fat (although fat people have some choice). He can wear his robe and hood down the street as far as I'm concerned. I just hope he's a better fighter than he is a lawyer.
How about Preachers who write on here anonymously and spew venom and then stand up in front of people on Sunday and pretend to be a man of God. Does that sound familiar Toney Tiger?
Anyone who foments hatred and intolerance is a distructive force in society. Don't know Rev. Toney the Tiger. Do know KKK. It is no answer that someone else may be bad. That in no way excuses those cowardly lynching bands of vermin that preyed on the poor and defenseless while hiding behind a hood and flying a christian banner.
So, are they trying to frame Les Prestridge or cover for him?
From 6/8/06 Town Talk:
Another Alexandria Housing Authority board member resigns
A third member of the five-member Alexandria Housing Authority Board of Commissioners has resigned.
Morris "Pat" Doss in an e-mail notified Mayor Ned Randolph last week to “please remove my name from the Board of the Housing Authority” effective immediately.
The e-mail, dated June 3, does not give a reason for Doss’ resignation.
Doss’ departure marks the third resignation from the board in less than a month.
On May 11, George Williams resigned “due to circumstances beyond my control. Former board Chairman Henry “Hank” Lazarone resigned on May 31.
The housing authority is to be investigated by the state legislative auditor’s office over a host of financial and contractual issues.
Originally published June 8, 2006
"RATS LEAVING A SINKING SHIP?"
no ..i think the Rats are the ones still ON the ship
Maybe KALB News is on our side. That dept. has undergone a remarkable change in the past week. Godard is apparently applying her skills, talent, and determination and coming up with some excellent coverage of local developements. If KALB is true to form it will run Godard off in favor of some ineffective moron that will work for peanuts. Hope she stays.
Lets see if we can keep an accurate score card. Bridgett Brown is in business with Myron Lawson either as a renter or as a real estate partner. She hires Kelvin Sanders. Kelvin Sanders pursuades Myron Lawson to get Sanders appointed as City Atty. Bridgett Brown is the atty for the Housing Authority. Kelvin helps make sure that Bridgett friendly appointments are made to housing authority. Bridgett helps pursuade the Housing authority to give Kelvins wife a very lucrative contract with the housing authority. Bridgett gets rewarded with a big contract with the City to do ..get this...Bond work..and a big contract re the Cleco deal. Bridgett also serves on the England Authority. Bridgett makes the motion to give KElvins wife a Big contract to manage the housing at England Airpark after katrina..even threatening to march Jessie Jackson through the park if the board does not pass it. They do. ...coincidenc??...Sure....
Let's not forget Kelvin using city letterhead and vehicles to go to other public bodies, with the assistance of Joe Fuller, to get Bridgett work as a bond counsel, and that the City of Alexandria did so without her being placed on the agenda.
If you like exercises in futility, check out Lamar's (CenLamar) attempt to achieve social justice, journalistic objectivity, and a racially balanced view from the Cenla News Leader.
I hope the new ambulances at Hardtner Medical center at Olla, La
improves the service
Cleco or city of Alexandria? Who does Bridgette Brown represent?
what do we really know about ragheads wife anyway?
she must have lost a bet!
Hey, when is Myron Lawson going to be indicted along with his girlfriend Bridgette Brown? Has anyone understood her very public conflict of interest in first representing Sansing and Pugh, then representing the City in the Cleco dispute?
Hey, when is Myron Lawson going to be indicted along with his girlfriend Bridgette Brown? Has anyone understood her very public conflict of interest in first representing Sansing and Pugh, then representing the City in the Cleco dispute?
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