News & Updates

Remember Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from it's death throes? He has a new book, and here are some excerpts. Lee Iacocca Says:

 'Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Stay the course' Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America , not the damned 'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the bums out!'

 

Continue reading "Lee Iacocca Says "Throw the Bums Out"" »

Posted by SDD at 08:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

In a recent Weekly Fax, the Chamber Board announced its support for the status quo in Decatur's city government. Their comments are below.

Readers should know that no one on the Chamber Board ever had a meaningful discussion with any of the leaders of ChangeDecatur to learn about the merits of changing Decatur's city government. They think that Decatur should keep the form of government that has proven unresponsive and unaccountable. 

ChangeDecatur advocates a strong mayor form of government where the mayor is the head of government and accountable to voters for city government. Also, a strong mayor form of government has professional management and alderman elected from each neighborhood of Decatur. 

ChangeDecatur looked up where the Chamber Board votes. It turns out that half of the Board does not vote in Decatur. Go figure. Do they think it is fair to the voters of Decatur to remove a key question from the ballot that 1,600 Decatur residents asked to vote on? Tell us what you think.

It is simply untrue that the current system provides better representation. The argument that it is more costly can be easily shown as misleading.

 

From The Recent Weekly Fax - CHAMBER BOARD VOTES TO SUPPORT COUNCIL-MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT

After careful consideration, the Chamber's board recently decided to support Decatur's present council-manager form of government.

Continue reading "The Decatur Chamber Of Commerce Board Said What?" »

Posted by SDD at 02:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

On Nov. 12 in a story entitled “Residents Fear Traffic Ruckus,” councilman Shad Edwards said he was unaware of studies to build tunnels or bridges on the city’s east side. “I had no clue,” Edwards said. “They (city administrators) didn’t tell us that.” He said the council should be better in-formed about the scope of city studies.
If we had the mayor/alderman form of government at the time of those studies, those east side alderman would not have been “unaware or clueless” as they would have been involved from day one. Here in lies the glaring weakness of managerial government as planning and study sessions are often conducted in a vacuum out of view from those who need to be involved. On the other hand, the alderman type of gov-ernment is conducted in the open and there in lies its strength.

Continue reading "Strong Mayor Government Will Lead to Better Informed Representatives - Tom Allen" »

Posted by SDD at 07:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It is time for Decatur to change to a strong mayor form of government that will better represent all people in the major decisions affecting our city. The current council-manager form of government lends itself to the prominent and the powerful unduly influencing important decisions. A few “at-large” council members are less likely to be in touch with the individual concerns of people in each neighborhood of our City.

 

Continue reading "ChangeDecatur will lead to Better Representation - Norm Etnier" »

Posted by SDD at 07:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

On Nov. 7, the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce announced its intention to hire legal counsel to oppose ChangeDecatur�s court-approved ballot initiative on the basis, in part, of its confusing format and appearance on a primary election ballot. I have three businesses that are Chamber members, I am a strong supporter of the Chamber, Randy Prince and the Chamber board, but I believe strongly that they are doing the wrong thing here.

Continue reading "Let the Voters Decide - John Phillips" »

Posted by SDD at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Change Decatur, an opportunity of my lifetime! I have been a Decatur citizen for 52 years. I have seen the better times, which meant a larger population and stronger job opportunities. It would really be cool to see our young people stay here; citizens that have left come back, and witness new people making their first trip to a new Decatur.

Continue reading "A Citizen Comment - Celestino Ruffini" »

Posted by SDD at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)