One Small Step for Mankind

Yesterday, the Request For Proposal Selection Committee chose Greenland Wrecker Service as the Fayetteville Police Department’s primary towing service, with A & B Towing and Hawg Country Towing as its secondary towing services. Congratulations to Fayetteville Alderman Adella Gray and the four cops on the committee; they could have done a lot worse.

According to Police Chief Greg Tabor, the goal of the contract is for the department to be more efficient and to improve customer service when it requests that a vehicle be towed. I don't know much about Cyclone Cox or his Greenland Wrecker Service. I have, quite surprisingly, heard some good things about the prices and services of A & B Towing and Hawg Country Towing.

A major benefit to the public is that Terry's Towing, rejected by the committee earlier this month, will no longer be among the wrecker services used by the police department. That's one small step, and maybe it will be the first step to ridding our city of the notorious predatory towing bandits.

Pilot Project on Commercial Recycling

Jammin Java, Common Grounds, Brewski’s, Nightbird Books, Hugo’s, Urban Table ,and Terratots have partnered with Roll Off Service to participate in a six-month trial commercial recycling program in Fayetteville. The businesses can recycle all types of materials by bringing them to one of several dropoff locations throughout the city, where the recyclable items will be picked up by Roll Off and hand-separated at its facility.

The trial project is called the Green Heart Initiative, and it is a result of collaboration of the businesses with consultant Walt Eilers, Aaron Stahl of waste consulting firm P3, and Brandon Karn of Jammin Java, who helped sign up businesses to participate in the program.

Part of the project will be to evaluate the impact of the program on business, Eilers said, and the businesses are being asked to maintain records of their recycling experience and the cultural or educational changes in the workplace. Some people think it is just a campaign gimmick for Eilers, but it seems like a good one.

The results of this trial program, combined with the earlier study of recycling for apartment complexes by Drs. Jennie Popp and Stephan Pollard at the UA, should help the city design a practical recycling program for business and apartment dwellers. The good thing is that both can be done without having to spend $110,000 of taxpayers' money for another of Mayor Coody's out-of-state consulting firms to tell him what we more easily can learn from local people and local practices.

Blustering BS of the Day

"The U.N. has determined that world population should be decreased by at least one-third immediately and more later. Long ago, it started this reduction through birth control, feminism, homosexuality and war. I reject their plan. …

"Secondly, birth control gives a false sense of security to those who are promiscuous, thus bringing disease just like homosexuality and war. …And thirdly, feminism makes frustrated men and keeps them from a lasting relationship with women, causing both homosexuality and the wars mentioned above….

"If man wants to cool the wrath of God and thus protect himself from global warming, then man must repent and acknowledge God in all his ways. That way man can still drive his V-8 automobile to a Bible-teaching church with the air-conditioner on."

--Jay Cole, Jr., "Sinners Cause Global Warming," Leter to The Morning News

A Weekly Dining Feature?

John Brummet, a political columnist held in varying degrees of regard across the local political spectrum, had a piece yesterday about Steve Clark and his desire to be Mayor of Fayetteville. He gives Clark credit for overcoming alcoholism and getting his personal life back together. Yet, he speculates, "Clark may still be afflicted, in the way of so many unrecovered politicians, with acute neediness for the public validation and ego-exalting of public office."

As a trailer, Brummet made note that Mr. Clark appeared to be excusing himself and his past by saying that, of all the charges on his state credit card within the statute of limitations, that the investigation by the State Police and Prosecuting Attorney (now Judge) Chris Piazza focused on only 43 fraudulent transactions. "I'm hoping and trusting," Brummet worried, "that's not rationalization or mitigation. Forty-three frauds is about 43 too many."

How about 56 frauds, spending your tax dollars for personal pleasure and political purposes then lying about it? That's how many I count. Here are only two examples, with the location; the total expenditure; the amount spent on food, non-alcoholic beverages and taxes (collectively noted as food);the amount spent on other charges including alcohol and tips; the guests Clark listed as accompanying him; and the phantom guests' accounts to state police investigators:

1. Alouette's Restaurant, Little Rock, November 25, 1986: Total $368.53, including $126.53 food, $242 alcohol and tips. Guests: Hugh and Carrick Patterson, Vic Freeman and Graham Catlett. The Pattersons said they were at the restaurant and saw Clark, but he neither dined with them nor paid their tab.

2. Alouette's Restaurant, Little Rock, November 29, 1986: Total $422.50, including $144.50 food, $278 alcohol and tips. Guests: Dr. Ruth Steele, Tom Smith, Dr. Linda Beane. Steele, Smith and Beane denied being there or ever eating with Clark.

That leaves 54 other instances. Since there are now 27 weeks until the election, unless we get bored with the project, The Iconoclast will review the rest of the fraudulent expenditures in a regular weekly feature called "Tuesday’s Two Tabs for Taxpayers." Bon Appétit!

That's Why They Call It the Power Company

Carroll Electric is installing new overhead electric lines in Rogers along West Drive, which borders the Bent Tree, Berry Farm, Warren Glen and Montrouex subdivisions. Thanks to the solid support of the state legislators from Benton County, there is absolutely nothing the city or local residents can do about it. The people no longer have a right to a public hearing to express their opinions or to have them taken seriously, thanks to Act 468 of 2007.

More than 200 people showed up for an informal meeting at Bellview Elementary School to complain and tell Carroll Electric Vice President Mike Dodge exactly what they think about what his company is doing. “As long as we know there is a possibility of harm to our children, how can we sleep at night?” Dr. Cheryl Fulton asked. Others complained about decreased property values, the health dangers of high-voltage wires, and the fear that a utility pole or power line might fall on their houses or in the community pool. Too bad.

House Bill 1367 was introduced at the request of the big utility corporations by Representative David Dunn, Executive Director of the Forrest City Chamber of Commerce. It says a utility can do whatever it wants within its existing right of way, from cutting your dogwood trees to erecting huge metal towers across Dickson Street, and they no longer have to request permission from anyone. It was supported by Senators David Bisbee and Kim Hendren and Representatives Keven Anderson, Eric Harris, Horace Hardwick, and Aaron Burkes.

Those Benton County Republican politicians like to talk about private property and individual rights. They like even more campaign contributions and steak dinners from corporate lobbyists.

If the people of Benton County would recruit and elect legislative candidates more concerned about the public interest than the special interests, we'd all really appreciate it. When they elect clowns to city and county offices, we are merely amused by their antics. When they elect corporate toadies and wingnuts to the legislature, we all must suffer the consequences of their votes.

Theresa Pockrus and the Politicheskoye Buro

The Benton County Zoning Committee met with the county’s Zoning Focus Group last night at the Rogers Public Library to rationally consider and discuss planning issues for the county. As might be expected in Benton County, what they got was something else. Theresa Pockrus, the former Republican Tax Collector for Benton County, offered up a political diatribe on the dangers of communism.

Benton County residents can't say they haven't been warned about the Red Menace lurking in their county government. Last summer, Penne S. Ramsey of Garfield issued a warning about the proposed county nuisance abatement ordinance to infringe on the individual liberty to decorate the compound surrounding one's bunker with old cars and refrigerators. "I just wonder who the communist is who wants to tell me just how to use my property and how clean I am to keep it," she inquired, but the pinko politician was never apprehended.

Attorney Pockrus said she adamantly opposes any zoning for the county, because it would be “moving toward communism and away from capitalism.” You see, she explained, zoning is more about protecting the common good and the collectivist concept of community, subrogating the sacred property rights of the rugged Individual. Capitalist hog lot next to the capitalist lake house? No problem. Better an overwhelming stench of pig shit than a whiff of socialism in Benton County.

Committee member Lane Gabel sounded like he was already brainwashed. He said, “The democratic process decides” which areas should be zoned. “I’m not willing to accept that 60 percent of counties in this country are leaning toward communism or that 100 percent of our cities are leaning toward communism.” Like she said....

Fellow travelers and useful idiots abound, it seems. Benton County is just lucky to have Theresa Pockrus on the front line, Ann Coulter on Fox News, and KURM on the radio.

Sign City Cowbirds Mull Granting Permission

Springdale is the only major city in Northwest Arkansas that doesn’t ban unsightly billboards, and their excuse for a City Council last night backed down from passing any billboard or sign regulations, waiting to give the Springdale Chamber of Cowbirds more time to consider giving their permission to let the Aldermen vote on whether to limit signs.

Alderman Jesse Core, who has been trying to pass a sign ordinance since last August, asked, “How many meetings have we had on billboards? There is no reason to drag this out.” But it appears that there is: someone also wants to slip in approval for a new Walgreen’s before the proposed sign regulations might go into effect.

The Springdale Cowbirds meet today in their plush tax-exempt headquarters to discuss whether they will allow the City Council to pass an ordinance to regulate billboards and other gaudy business signs in Chickenopolis.

Mong Proves Bush Flat Wrong

Only one week after the world's enthusiastic response to President Bush's major address on Climate Change, renowned Benton County scientific experts have refuted the "theory" of global warming. Bob and Nadine Mong of Bella Vista today exposed the scam of climate change and global warming. Citing evidence from Oklahoma's U.S. Senator James Inhofe (R-Big Oil), John Coleman of the TV Weather Channel, and the Washington Times, they turn a phrase to flatly deny the hoax, "The really inconvenient truth is that for six years now there has [not] been no global warming."

That should end the debate. At least in Benton County, where the only good science is the Dismal Science.

A Site Too Far

Congratulations to Tim Hudson and the members of the Future of FHS Select Committee 2 who have worked tirelessly and for free -- pro bono publico -- in the public interest. They have devoted significant time and efforts to developing the appropriate criteria for determining the best location for Fayetteville High School. Most of the time, they did so with good cheer, only occasionally whining about the passionate opinions expressed by a concerned public.

They determined that cost to the taxpayers, space, proximity to the population center, aesthetics, fit with City Plan 2025, parking and access, impact of construction on school, access to emergency services, access to the University of Arkansas, and existing infrastructure were most relevant to the decision. Tomorrow they will frame a recommendation between the current central site and the Morningside Drive site for presentation to the School Board on Thursday. What the University of Arkansas decides to do now assumes even greater importance in influencing the final outcome, and no one should pretend otherwise.

The decision against recommending the Deane Solomon site is a sign that rationality prevailed to slow the march of Bobby New and the Cowbirds to push rampant development to Sprawlville west of I-540. The closing of Jefferson and the construction of Owl Creek; the abandonment of the accessible Boys and Girls Club near the high school for an isolated site on Ruppple Road in the far west; and the ill-advised multi-million dollar purchase of the Deane Solomon site from developer Tracy Hoskins near one of Brandon Barber's failed developments cannot be undone. However, future decisions can be more sensible and in the public interest instead of special interests.

Of course, Steve Percival Howard Hamilton, Susan Heil, and the other members of the School Board can ignore the Select Committee's recommendation altogether and go with the Cowbirds.

Issues, Integrity, and Involvement

Fran Alexander, one of my favorite columnists, offered up a little wisdom from long experience in local politics in today's paper. It is worth repeating and sharing, I believe, because she knows of what she speaks.

"In my early voting years," she confessed, "I was more issue oriented in choosing my favorite runners, but now after suffering the slings and arrows of hoodwinking, schmoozing and downright lying from some whom I have supported, I’m more prone to first determine how a person rates on integrity. Some people cannot even define integrity with both hands on a dictionary so, when I find a person I believe I can trust and who will listen, these traits far outweigh how much detail they may currently know about my particular, passionate issue. I figure if they are interested enough to listen, inquisitive enough to learn, and question enough to indicate they can think critically, then they care enough to hold an office, where they will make decisions that directly affect me and the town I live in."

Then, Alexander adds another element that weighs heavily in her decision -- whether the candidates have been involved in the details of government and public affairs for some time, or whether they just recently decided it would be neat to get their pictures in the paper and stroke their ego. "So far this season Fayetteville has had several candidates announce for the aldermen races and four announce for mayor. ...As announcements are made and Web sites created, as handshaking begins in earnest and campaign materials are printed, we need information about these people. I am always curious, for example, why if I’ve never seen some of them at City Hall. Politics, after all, is not an isolated homebound sport."

That's good advice all around. Take heed as you consider the candidates, and you'll be more likely to make a better choice.