Merry Christmas

A quick post to wish you all, and I mean all regardless of political orientation, a merry Christmas. I can't speak for anyone but myself, but this time of year is very dear to me. I've been around for a long time and one thing I know for sure is that without Jesus Christ I would not have the peace, hope, and salvation I enjoy. They say there are no atheists in fox holes, and I have found that to be true. Without my faith in God I doubt that I could have enjoyed the peace of mind which has sustained me all these years. Christmas is the remembrance of Jesus's birth, and combined with the resurrection, gives me the courage to carry on and cope with the daily pitfalls of life. I know I am protected always, and when death finally comes, as it inevitably will, know that I will be accepted into the presence of God. It sure beats the other alternative. I'm proud to be a Christian, proud to be an American, and make no apologies for either.

So, Merry Christmas and God bless you all.

Bob Conner

Police and fire contracts. again

What is it that some folks just don't understand? If you don't plan for the future, there is no way you are going to be able to survive in it. The attitude that we have the money now is certainly no guarantee that we will have any in the future. The Times-Reporter editorial this Sunday is beyond comprehension. If you haven't had the opportunity to read it, log on to http://www.timesreporter.com/, check out opinions for the article, "Police, fire raises were justified." It is obvious this opinion is based on a lack of understanding of basic financial principles, lack of concern for the welfare of the city, and not even a rudimentary understanding of political reality.

A city, or state, or nation for that matter, is no different than a household. There is a certain amount of money that goes into the household, income, and a certain amount that goes out, expenses. There are certain things that must be paid out of the income every month, rent, food, heat. Keeping track of what goes in and what goes out is called cash flow. With a positive cash flow, money is left over at the end of the month or year, which ever applies. If more money goes out than comes in, that's negative cash flow, and you're on the slide to losing your home, your car, what ever you own. To prevent this, you put money aside to save for that rainy day. That's called planning ahead. The City does have some carryover money this year because of council's past planning for this year's decreasing revenues from the city income tax and other income sources.

It would be wonderful if your boss would give you more money every year because you were a good guy. I'm talking about businesses who have to make a profit to stay in business, where if you expect to get a pay raise, you have to produce more. If you don't produce more, from where is company income to come from to give the pay raise? There is one answer. Raise prices. The consumer then has the choice to to pay the higher price, go elsewhere, or just don't buy at the higher price. The manufacturer makes his choice based on what he thinks will help his cash flow and profits. If he guesses wrong, sales fall off, profits fall, cash flow goes negative, the business fails, jobs are lost.

But, that only applies in business. Government is just the opposite. Government produces nothing. As it produces nothing, its revenue comes from taxes, The sole source of government funds, all government funds, at all levels, come from taxes. What about government bonds, you might ask? How do they get paid off? From money brought in from taxes. There is no other source. And government, at whatever level, seldom, if ever, sustains a positive cash flow.


The wage increase received by the fire and police departments was not given for increased production nor for an increase in work load. Nothing changed. Matter of fact, when asked what the wage increase for the fire department was going to provide the city, the Fire Chief's answer was, "Continued fire protection." For a combined wage increase of 16% in those two departments alone, what changes? Nothing. More money, but no changes. No increase in protection from either department.


Understand one thing, and understand this well. I do not fault any city department for trying for more money under the current administration of New Philadelphia. In this bargaining period, it is fortunate that the taxpayers didn't take a bigger hosing than they got. We don't know what the other two city bargaining units are going to get, there has been no communication between the Mayor and City Council, but that bill will be coming. A look at the bargaining talents of both sides explains a lot. Both the fire and police departments were represented, and advised, by professional union lawyers and/or advisers, who have spent years doing only one thing, representing their members against inept advisers for the city. The administration representatives have very little, if any, experience in labor negotiations. An outside negotiator was hired by the city whose qualifications are as a human resources individual. What was needed was an attorney schooled in labor contract confrontations who understands labor law and we didn't get one. Is it any wonder that the negotiations ended up as they did?


The editorial blames the current situation on council. The fact of the matter is that City Council was not advised about the state of contract negotiations but was presented with a finished contract in both cases without sufficient time to study either. Communication between the Mayor and City Council was nonexistent during the negotiations, an inexcusable fault on the part of the Administration. When presented to Council at the eleventh hour, suggestions for changes were from Council were evidently ignored and not explored.


In the matter of the fire contract, inadequate representation by the Administration during fact finding resulted in pay increases for the fire department from the fact finder. In the case of the Council vote on the police contract, the absence of Councilman at Large Jim Locker and the single vote against refusal to accept the contract by Councilman Rob Maurer precluded even taking the contract before the fact finder.


The editorial comments in "Police, fire raises were justified" were off the mark due to its ignorance of the facts. But then, that's what editorials are for, whether they are based on facts or not.


For further information about the Police and Firemen contracts, see past articles on this blog.

Gun Restriction Makes No Sense

Last Monday, October 14, New Philadelphia City Council passed Ordinance No. 31-2009 which repealed Section 549.12 of the city's Codified Ordinances. That Section basically prohibited the carrying of guns in City owned buildings.

The repeal of that ordinance makes sense. The Ohio Revised Code lists places where weapons are not permitted. If you are interested you can look those up in Ohio Revised Code 2923.126. Secondly, the carrying of concealed weapons significantly lowers crime rates.

While repeal of 31-2009 was being considered, there were a number of comments made to the media about the terrible carnage which was surely to follow. A number of folks said they were not going to go to New Philadelphia's parks anymore as they fear for the safety of their families. It is difficult to understand their concern in light of the facts. The evidence is overwhelming that legally carrying a concealed weapon decreases crime.

The facts speak for themselves. Those cities with the most numerous, and strictest, gun controls are the ones with the highest crime rates, including murder. Two years ago, Chicago had a crime rate of 1,179 per hundred thousand population, which included 443 murders. At the same time, New York City had a crime rate of 614 cases per hundred thousand, about half that of Chicago, but still experienced 496 murders. Both these cities have extremely stringent and restrictive gun laws. Gun laws just don't work. Criminals don't obey the law, so where is the surprise that criminals carry, and use, weapons against unarmed citizens?

Economist John R. Lott, author of More Guns, Less Crime (Chicago University Press), said, “Letting law-abiding citizens carry guns reduces the rate at which criminals are carrying guns.” He went on to say that armed citizens increase the risk to armed criminals, who typically prefer to avoid life-threatening risk and so are less likely to use guns in the commission of a crime. Lott explained that where there is an increase in CCPs (Concealed Carry Permits), there is also a drop in violent crime relative to property crime -- fewer armed robberies and more larcenies. Also, criminals tend to move from areas in which more citizens are armed, resulting in an increase in crime in counties and states that restrict gun ownership and CCPs.

New Philadelphia Police Chief Jeff Urban, who originally requested the ordinance repeal, feels strongly about the issue of citizens and weapon possession. He is a strong advocate of the Second Amendment of the Constitution which guarantees the right for a citizen to possess, carry, and use a weapon for his protection. He points out that the Ohio Constitution guarantees that right as well. It is legal in Ohio to carry a firearm in the open, or concealed with the proper Concealed Carry Permit, anywhere in the state except where restricted by law, such as in court houses, police stations, prisons, and the like.

On this, Chief Urban and I agree. The right to carry a weapon, the ability to carry it concealed with a proper Concealed Carry Permit, and the right to defend one's self by its use, is a right which should be honored and protected.

I came across an excellent article about depressions, you may had heard the term recently, and thought it was worth while to mention it on the blog. I tried to get permission to reprint it but was unsuccessful in contacting the apparent copyright holder. Not wanting to create problems, I decided to do the next best thing and make the address for the article available. Well, here it is. I think you’ll find it interesting.

http://www.fff.org/freedom/fd0903e.asp

We Gotta Do Better Than This

Monday's New Philadelphia City Council meeting could be a classic case of "I don't know." Had you been there, you would have seen a display of irresponsibility which, quite possibly, will push the city budget into the red for years to come.

Two of the four contracts for city workers have been completed, the second, for the Firefighters Union, accepted by default last night. In a procedural maneuver, in which Councilman Rob Maurer blocked a possible reexamination of the fireman's contract, the city was committed to increases in wages and benefits that the city may find difficulty in paying.

With two contracts, fire and police, now in effect the first of the year, the financial question of how we are going to pay for them still hasn't been answered. In the Finance Committee meeting, which preceded the regular council meeting, the inability of the administration to answer basic financial questions by council members, showed a lack of preparation, planning, and understanding of city finances.

Money, as usual, was the focus of the questions. When the Mayor was asked what the cost of the new contract was going to be, he was unsure. When the City Auditor was asked the same question, she didn't know, replying that there were too many variables. When the Safety Director was asked what the projection was for over-time costs in the next year, he replied he didn't know because it "changed every day." When Mr. Seyer, the city's representative during the Fact Finding session, was asked about financial considerations, his answers were evasive. When all was said and done, the city, and its residents, were saddled with another contract which will increase city salaries above the ability of the city to pay.

For those members of the administration who couldn't find the budget figures, a question. How, without knowing the costs, could you enter into contracts which will increase the cost of city salaries in the immediate future? And how, Mr. Mayor, do you plan to pay for it. Ah, yes. I remember. During the Mayoral debate at Kent University two years ago, the then Candidate Taylor told us he would raise taxes to pay for such matters.

Well, just so you know what Mayor Taylor, Auditor Gundy, and the city's negotiator Mr. Sayer, couldn't find, didn't ask about, or knew and didn't make a case for with the Fact Finder, here are some of those figures.

Receipts into the City's General Fund, that's the fund with which we operate the city on a daily basis, have been decreasing over the last nine years. Comparing this November's income to 2008, there was a seven percent decrease in General Fund income, a loss of $362,270.

Income Tax receipts for November were down $89,000, which puts the income tax loss for the year at $451,000 when compared to 2008.

The Safety Forces Fund is down $133,831 comparing this November's figure to November 2008, and $219,221 below November of 2007.

Then there is the money from investments we have made as a city, mostly in bank deposits, and you know what the economy has done to interest rates. For the city it meant a $148,000 loss to the city's income in November alone when compared to a year ago.

We are in a deepening depression. City funds and income are decreasing. But according to the Fact Finder, New Philadelphia is in good financial condition and can afford pay raises to city employees. If you read his report, his findings are based on 2008 financial figures. Does this mean the Mayor and Mr. Seyer did not have the figures from 2009 available? Or if they had them available they didn't present them to the Fact Finder? Or does it mean that sending an inexperienced team to deal with the professional negotiator from the Firemen's Union was poor judgement for which we are going to pay dearly?

The negotiations of both the police and fire contracts were poorly handled. The contracts are unreasonable, both in salaries and benefits. It is time to get professional negotiators who have the legal expertise and experience in dealing with professional Union negotiators to represent the city in union negotiations. It is time the City Auditor provides accurate financial information to City Council instead of "I don't know" and "I didn't figure that." It is time that the Mayor honors his pre-election promise to better communicate with City Council. It is time that City Council fulfills its obligation to provide full representation of its citizens by looking into issues before voting on legislation. And it is time the citizens become involved in their city and watch, question, and confront both the Administration and City Council.

The Economy Is Really Getting Better?

Well, the White House, translated Obama, says we're getting out of the depression and back to work again. Sounds great. My concern is that according to Sunday's paper, the Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court reports an almost double increase in credit card collection filings over last year. The Clerk of Courts, Rockne Clarke, is quoted as saying that in 2008 filings were only 301 for the entire year, but through last Friday they were up to 592. It really doesn't matter how you try to explain it away, the fact is that folks just can't pay their bills. To read the whole story check http://www.timesreporter.com/ for the article "Credit card cases soar."

Last Friday, Paul Volcker, the former Chairman of the Federal Reserve and advisor to Obama, didn't seem as optimistic as the President. Matter of fact, while in Berlin he commented that, “We have another economic problem which is mixed up in this of too much consumption, too much spending relative to our capacity to invest and to export. It’s involved with the financial crisis but in a way it’s more difficult than the financial crisis because it reflects the basic structure of the economy.”

Basically this translates to we are spending more money as a nation that we can afford. There are lots of figures churned out to deny that we're going broke as a nation, but the economic fact is that we are over our head in debt. If you are worried about owing your bookie twenty dollars because of this weekend's football game, consider this. The public debt, as of this writing, stands at $7,722,301,552,000 plus. That first figure behind the dollar sign is trillions of dollars. Seems like a lot, right? The public debt, by the way, is the money that has to be paid back to lenders, like taxpayers, the Chinese and other foreign investors, for money borrowed from the sale of federal bonds, loans, and other debts accrued by the government.

There are also what are called Intergovernmental Holdings, which is money borrowed from assets and funds owned by the government itself, stuff like the Social Security Trust Fund, Medicare Trust Fund, things which we have been required to pay for which are supposed to be tucked away for our future security, needs, and future. That debt comes to $4,370,371,347,000 plus, that's trillions again. Add them together and you get a gross national debt, that is, the total amount of money that the government owes, of $12,092,672,900,000 plus.

The next thing to consider is the Gross Domestic Product, or GDP. That's the amount of all goods and services produced by a nation. In the United States, it amounts to, give or take, $14,261,000,000,000 . Consider for a minute, that the amount of money that the federal government owes is only two trillion, one hundred sixty nine billion dollars less than the total amount of goods and services manufactured in the entire United States this year.

Look at it this way. If you had a job and were making $142 a week, I know its not much but we're just supposing, and before you could spend anything on electricity, gas, gasoline, food, house rental or mortgage, you had to pay your neighbor $121 a week for loans he made to you. It would be kind of hard to live wouldn't it? That would only leave you with $21 for the entire week's necessities. And suppose that the cost kept rising $41 every week because of the interest payments. That would pretty much finish off your financial stability. Oh, you ask. Where did the $41 come from? That represents the $40,759,555,481 interest payment this year on the gross federal government debt.

But, you see, the government is different than you and I. They don't care. Where we have to pay our debt off or go bust, congress just raises the debt limit, the president approves it, and they let somebody else worry about paying it off.

It is a vicious circle in which, as things get worse, the government spends more. As the government spends more, taxes go up. As taxes go up, businesses close. As businesses close, jobs are lost. As jobs are lost, tax revenue falls. As things get worse, the government spends more. As the government spends more, taxes go up. It just goes on and on and on.

And the White House says things are getting better? Go figure.

Old Timers Westerns Reminisence

It's all a case of perception. As the years have passed by the entertainment industry has changed and I'm not sure it has been for the good. In the old days, back when I was growing up, movie westerns were the standard fair both in the movies and on television. The youngsters won't remember the stars, movies, and television of those days, but we old folks will. Take a trip back to the days of yesteryear. Relive the memories. Turn on the sound and click on the link below. It looks best in full screen mode.


Those Old Westerns

And the Moral Is...

Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question.. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death.
The question? What do women really want? Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end.
He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: the princess, the priests, the wise men and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer.
Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer. But the price would be high; as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged.
The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first. The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend!
Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc. He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life.
He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden; but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur. He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the preservation of the Round Table.
Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur's question thus: What a woman really wants, she answered is to be in charge of her own life. Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that Arthur's life would be spared. And so it was, the neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding.
The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen lay before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened.
The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth, be her horrible deformed self only half the time and the beautiful maiden the other half.. Which, she asked, would he prefer? Beautiful during the day or night?
Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day, a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch? Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night, a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous intimate moments?
Noble Lancelot said that he would allow her to make the choice herself.
Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life.
Now, what is the moral to this story? The moral is, if you don't let a woman have her own way, things are going to get ugly.

The Front Page

One of the things I enjoy, well, most of the time, is the morning paper after breakfast. I guess it comes from my grandfather who was a newspaper man. In his lifetime he published three newspapers, one in Fort Smith, Arkansas, another in Helena, Montana, and the last in Everett, Washington. The closest I ever got to the business was a number of years ago when I wrote a column for the Pharos-Tribune of Lafayette, Indiana. There is a big difference in writing a column and running a newspaper and I know nothing about the latter. That being said, I got a chuckle out of the front page of the Times-Reporter this morning.

The headline was a grabber. “School’s in for unemployed.” According to the article Governor Strickland has expanded unemployment benefits to out-of-work folks if they go back to school on a full time basis. The reasoning is that unemployed people will have less stress if they know that they won’t have to make a “sacrifice” to go to school. Hello. Does this really make any sense? How can having a degree which is subsidized by the state be good when there aren’t any jobs? How can spending more taxpayer money going to help Ohio when the state is more than a billion dollars in debt? Governor Strickland evidently doesn’t understand. The problem in Ohio is not too little education, but too few jobs. Wouldn’t it be better for the state to use that money to decrease business taxes which would make more money available for business expansion? I guess it’s me. I can’t figure out how a better educated out-of-work force is going to create jobs in the depression we are in.

We had another robbery in New Philadelphia. This time it was the First Federal Community Bank on West High. There is a picture on the front page, from one of the surveillance cameras in the bank, of a man with a mask, a pistol, and a bag in his hand. The caption is a classic. “A suspected robber, armed with a gun, leaves First Federal Community Bank in this image from surveillance cameras.” Hey, guys, he is the robber. No question about that. He has the gun, the teller saw him, and I’m sure she knew he robbed her. They may not know who he is but there is no doubt that guy in the picture did it. A thought to be considered. Had there been a couple of armed Concealed Carry License holders in the bank at the time, would the police be looking for this fellow today. One other thing. Paper said that he was talking on a cell phone during the robbery. Talk about being tied to the phone. This is ridiculous.

One other item on the front page. Headline says, “Authorities stepping up interstate traffic enforcement.” Good move. The article gives a warning that on this coming Friday from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday, the State Highway Patrol will be patrolling I-77 and Route 8 from Tuscarawas county north to Cleveland looking, for drunk drivers, drug users, and speeders. But, wait. I don’t know what they are going to be using as guidelines for drunks and addicts, but speeding as defined in the article is “more than 20 miles over the speed limit.” We’re talking about flying past New Philadelphia and Dover at 85 miles an hour without being liable for a ticket. I’m not sure my car can go 85 miles an hour. A spokesman for the State Police was quoted as saying, “We want to send the message of slow down and be patient.” Slow down to 85 miles and hour? How fast are they going now?

I don’t read a lot of the paper. The biggest section is sports, and I don’t follow them that much. If I want to find out what’s going on in the world, the news for that is relegated to the back pages, which is one of the reasons that people aren’t aware that terrorism is picking up again in Iraq. National news is pretty much the same, Obama pictures and quotes saying that the economy is doing fine. Do like the comics, no matter what section they appear in. In honesty, I guess I’d miss not having a local paper.

Water Department Double Billing

If you received two New Philadelphia water bills this month, don't panic. There has been a glitch in the Water Office billing system which resulted in a double billing being mailed to many of the users of New Philadelphia water.

A couple of things you should be aware of. If you received a duplicate bill for your water, you are only responsible for one payment, you don't have to pay both. If you have more than one water meter, check the bills to be sure you received proper billing for each meter.

If you didn't get the duplicate billing you don't have to be concerned. If you did get a double billing you are not alone. When I talked to the Water Office today I was told that there is no pattern to the double billing error, it happened randomly across the city.

If you have any questions call the New Philadelphia Water Office at 330-364-4491, extension 502, or your city councilman. If you don't have your councilman's number call Mary Jo in the mayor's office at 330-364-4491, extension 242.

Pearl Harbor Remembered

December 7, 1941. For the folks who were alive on that day, it will always be burned into their memory. I remember hearing of the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese with a clarity which has not changed over the years.

I was a youngster then. My dad was in the Army, a colonel. We were living in Seattle at the time. The family had been to church that morning, it was a Sunday, and in the afternoon we were at the Preston Lumber Company. Dad was finishing a drop leaf table which he had been working on for a couple of months. Working with wood, in this case mahogany, was a favorite pastime of his. The table design was based on plans he had received from the Smithsonian Institute. All it needed was the final coat of finish. It was to be a gift from him to my mother that Christmas.

He was finishing it up when the radio announced the attack on Pearl Harbor. I remember my dad's deep sigh followed by a silent prayer. I asked him what the problem was, and he tried to explain to me how our world was going to change. It didn't mean a lot to me, but his demeanor caused apprehension which I didn't understand. He took another hour or so to finish the table before we left. That table, which is now in possession of my brother, was the last major piece of woodwork he ever made.

The seriousness of the Japanese attack didn't really mean anything until we got home. Dad was pretty silent. He didn't even have that much to say to my mother. He just went upstairs to the bedroom, opened the closet, and got out his uniform.

I polished his shoes and Sam Browne belt while he showered and dressed. I cried as I did. I knew that things would never be the same although I didn't know why. Dressed in his uniform he went downstairs where the rest of the family was listening to the radio news about the attack. "I think I'll be going to the office for a while. I don't know when I'll be home so don't wait up," he said. Of course we did. It was a dark day.

We later found out that most of the Navy's Pacific fleet had been destroyed or damaged on that Sunday. Military deaths at Pearl Harbor numbered 2,403. The United States was plunged into the most violent and widespread war in history. Before it was over five hundred thousand Americans died in combat. They fought all over the world and liberated tens of millions of people enslaved by the worst kind of tyrants. Our industry produced unimaginable amounts of materials with which to fight and win a war that spanned all of Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, India, the Pacific Ocean, Alaska, Borneo.

In the end, United States resources, production, manpower, and dedication literally saved the world from dictatorships whose violence was, and still is, beyond comprehension. And after it was over we rebuilt the economies of not only of our allied countries with whom we fought, but also of the countries which we defeated and were in financial and physical devastation.

We helped millions of people who were displaced from their homes and countries and starving to death because of the German new order of the Thousand Year Reich and Japanese Imperialism. We liberated dying prisoners in Nazi concentration camps, death camps literally, where more than six million Jews along were murdered and systematically cremated or buried, often alive, in mass graves by German oppressors. Atrocities by the Japanese were no less brutal as millions died in their prison camps throughout Asia and the Pacific.

We gained nothing from the war. No new lands, no loot, no tribute. We did it because it was right. We did it because we expected it of ourselves and because we knew God expected it of us.

What we did in those years is remembered by those of us who lived through it. It is mostly unknown to the generations who followed us. It's too bad. It was our country's finest hour.

Imprimis Newsletter

About once a month I get a pamphlet from Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. I'm not sure how I got on their list, but the publication, Imprimis, is very good. Fortunately, they have a website which gives me the opportunity to recommend you give it a look at the address below. I found it interesting because of a military upbringing and background. Victor Davis Hanson, the author of the piece, discusses the difference in approaches to war by the Western countries and those of the Near East. You might want to take a look at the article as it opens up some questions I have not considered before and it may do the same for you. It is also possible to get a free Imprimis subscription by contacting them at (800) 437-2268. Take a look at their website, you will find it worth while.

https://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis/archive/issue.asp?year=2009&month=11

Economic Crisis with a Purpose

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) today issued the most recent unemployment figures. You might rejoice or shudder depending on whether you are working or not. Take a look at http://www.bls.com/. Remember, however, that these figures represent the folks who are on the unemployment benefit rolls, not those who are no longer eligible, who haven't made application for the government dole, and are on other forms of government "assistance." The Administration says things are looking up as claims for unemployment were down in November compared to October.

According to the BLS, total unemployment in the United States increased from twenty four million five hundred thirty two thousand (24,532,000) people in October 2009, to twenty four million five hundred forty two thousand (24,542,000) in November 2009. The way I was taught math, an increase of ten thousand unemployed is still an increase. What Washington does not tell us is that the number of unemployed people who have been out of work for more than 25 weeks has continued to rise until it now stands at 6o% of those who have lost their jobs. This is not an indicator that things are getting better.

What can be done to stop this economic chaos? A look at past history, which evidently isn't taught in schools anymore, makes one thing very clear. Socialism, Communism, Fascism, any type of government which has control of the economy just doesn't work. The Obama administration is using socialistic principles, and is winning in its efforts, to destroy capitalism and free enterprise in the United States.

You don't believe it? What happened to General Motors and Chrysler, two privately owned corporations? They were overburdened with excessive costs, mostly labor, which is always the highest cost of doing business. In the normal scheme of things, they would have declared bankruptcy, reorganized, rewritten contracts, and gotten back to the job of producing automobiles and trucks. If they couldn't make it and did go bankrupt, history shows that another company would have been formed to take their place. The government says they did us a favor by taking these companies over. Did us a favor? What gave the government the right to steal money and income from the stockholder's who owned both companies? And who is going to pay the debt caused by the government's refinancing those companies? The taxpayer. And remember this, if the government can take over these two huge corporations without a constitutional precedent, it can just as easily take your house, your finances, and your liberty with equal ease.

Can't afford to buy a home? Who cares? By government mandate, housing lenders were forced to loan money to home buyers who couldn't make the mortgage payments and eventually went to foreclosure. Who ate the debt? The banks, which, if you remember, were grabbed by the government as were the automotive companies. And who is going to pay those losses? The taxpayer.

And cash for clunkers. Really got the automotive industry moving. Car sales jumped. But after the program ended and the free money went away, went down again. How many of those cars are going to be repossessed? If the buyer couldn't find the money to make a down payment, how is he going to pay the monthly payment? And who is going to pay the loss of repossessed cars? The taxpayer.

It goes on and on and on. And it will continue because the economic crisis we are in, the one that won't go away, is not caused by some fluke in the system. It is the direct result of a plan by Obama to grab the power to rule, not administer, the United States. Obama, Clinton, Pelosi, Reed, the whole gaggle of Administration, Senate, House of Representatives, have remembered their history lessons on how to take over a country and are successfully destroying our Constitution. And what is it we have to lose? Our liberty. Our freedom. Our property. Our way of life.

Future generations will never know what they missed. To them tyranny will be a way of life. They won't know any better. Freedom will be something not even discussed in schools, the same way that Christianity is barred today. Human rights will be a memory. Instead of free choice, it will be direction from the top and whose who disagree will disappear in the dark of night. If you think I lie, read about Germany under Hitler, Russia under Stalin, China under Mao, Italy under Mussolini. Check out other countries which are run by dictators of a similar ilk, like North Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and others. Communism just doesn't work. A dictatorship destroys everything, including its own people. If the current trend continues in the United States, we will lose our country to totalitarian dictatorship.

We must get the government out of our lives if our country is to survive. Get involved. Let the market place do its thing. Stand up and be counted, take action, or the life we have today will be but a memory in five years.

A Fable About Financial Matters

Its a slow day in a little Western Arkansas town. The sun is beating down, and the streets are deserted. Times are tough, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit.

On this particular day a rich tourist is driving through. He stops at the motel and lays a $100 bill on the counter and says he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs first in order to pick one to spend the night.

As soon as the man walks upstairs, the owner grabs the bill and runs next door to pay his debt to the butcher. The butcher takes the $100 and runs down the street to retire his debt to the pig farmer. The pig farmer takes the $100 and heads off to pay his bill at the Co-op feed supplier. The guy at the Farmer's Co-op takes the $100 and runs to pay his debt to the local prostitute, who has also been facing hard times and has had to offer her "services" on credit. The hooker rushes to the hotel and pays off her room bill with the hotel owner. The hotel proprietor then places the $100 back on the counter so the rich traveler will not suspect anything. At that moment the traveler comes down the stairs, picks up the $100 bill, states that the rooms are not satisfactory, pockets the money, and leaves town.

No one produced anything. No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now out of debt and now looks to the future with a lot more optimism. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the United States Government is conducting business today.

Fire Department Contract Update

The monthly income tax revenue report is out today. This month the income tax revenue for New Philadelphia is $101,121 less than November of last year. That puts us $450,872 behind last year at this time. We're not alone in this. It isn't hard to find cities all around us who have financial troubles, Akron, Canton, Lakemore, Cleveland, even Tuscarawas County.

The news is filled of late with stories of cutbacks, layoffs, required days off without pay, and other measures designed to decrease spending and adjust to the fact that the money just isn't there. Administrations, City Councils, and government employees are sweating out ways to make do with collapsing budgets. Pay raises are being cut back or eliminated, purchases are being scaled down or eliminated. And New Philadelphia, in its own special way, is on the road to break the bank.

City Firefighters refused to back off on their demands for pay and benefit increases after City Council didn't go along with them. I guess city Council didn't understand the importance of increasing payrolls during this time of economic disaster. In any event, their contract went to a fact finder on November 24, and his ruling will be, according to the Mayor, available to Council sometime during the week of December 7. A meeting is in the works to discuss this contract in the Finance Committee on December 14, immediately before the regular Council meeting. Now, for the clinker. Council has seven days after they receive the fact finder's decision to accept or refuse the fact finder's ruling. If they don't meet that deadline, the contract automatically goes into effect.

Seems like another good deal, if you are in the Administration or employed by the City. They know what is going on, but Council doesn't have the foggiest idea because, as usual, they have been cut out of the the process. No briefings on this contract. None of the open communication promised by the Mayor. Just a terse letter, unsigned as usual. So what is Council going to get with no more than seven days to digest it? A 46 page document and a half-an-hour or so before the Council meeting to get a briefing on a contract which will bind the city for three years during a depression. Way to go!

Now for the good news. There are three more contracts in the wings. The Fire Fighter contract may be the inexpensive one. You'll love the Police contract (see New Philadelphia Police Contract, 11/17). Have no clue about the other two. They are still in the secrecy stage.

Oh, yeah. One other thing. You know who is going to pay the bill. That's our job as citizens regardless of the insanity of proposals.

Max Miller Dead at 93

We lost a friend Sunday. Max Miller died at 93 Sunday morning. If you knew Max, your life was better. The eulogies will be better said by others, but New Philadelphia will miss this quiet man who gave his life to make things better for all of us, unselfishly, without expecting a return, just because he thought it was right. You'll be missed Max.

Police Contract Vote

In answer to a question from an anonymous writer on the voting on the Police contract, see the comment on Police Contract Reprise of November 24, a note of explanation. There were two resolutions, 35-2009 to Adopt the Agreement with the FOP, and 36-2009 to Reject the Agreement with the FOP. Each resolution required five votes to pass as they both were proposed as emergency resolutions.
On Resolution 35-2009 the vote to Accept the contract the Police requested, the vote was three Against Acceptance, Sandy Cox, Winnie Walker, and Bob Conner, and four For Acceptance, Jim Locker, Colleen Espenschied, Darin Lautenschleger, and Rob Maurer.
On Resolution 36-2009 the vote to Reject the contract the Police requested, the vote to Reject was four in Favor of Rejection, Sandy Cox, Bob Conner, Jim Locker, and Winnie Walker, and three Against Rejection, Colleen Espenschied, Darrin Lautenschleger, and Rob Maurer.
As the the Police Contract was neither adopted nor rejected by City Council, and no opening of negotiations on this contract is planned by either the Administration or the Police Department, by Ohio law, the contract will automatically go into force the first part of October with the effective date of January 1, 2010.

Investers Business Daily

A link was added to bring you a new perspective on world news. I know. There are losts of news pages floating around, but this one does not seem to have the bias of the major networks and big city newspapers. You owe it to yourself to give it a try. If you are tired of the party line coming from the White House and Congress you will certainly find this one interesting.

Road Signs

It seems a long time ago, but there was a time when my wife and I traveled the country in a 34-foot motor coach. I wrote for an Indiana newspaper in those days. I was going through some files the other day and came across some articles I had written. This one shows that times haven't changed in the last fifteen years.

MILE MARKERS REMAIN A MYSTERY

RHODES, IOWA - One of the great mysteries of travel is when are we going to get there? How far away are we? With children, this translates to, "Are we there yet?" After four cups of coffee, distance converts into crisis.
Fear not. The highway department understands and wants to help. So does the American Automobile Association, lovingly known as Triple A.
Triple A makes great maps. They show more towns than you ever want to visit, more roads than you ever want to drive. Mileage between towns is marked on the map. Look for the little numbers. Some are red, some are black. I never figured out why.
The highway department puts up signs all over the road system. Most have green backgrounds and white letters. Chicago 120 miles, or Ames, if you happen to be in Iowa, 23 miles.
But wait. Between what points do they measure?
I asked Deb McNamara of the Marshalltown Triple A.
"Between the main post offices," she said.
"But, Deb", I asked. "What about a place like Las Vegas where the post office is out of town?"
"Maybe we should call the county engineer," she said.
Deb dialed the county. Gene McKiven answered at the county engineer's shop. A miss. Gene is a mechanic. He suggested the court house. I talked to Wayne Chezek. Wayne is a computer specialist. He can write programs to do anything, probably get a man to Mars, if you want.
"Interesting question," he said. "I never thought about it before."
Royce Fichtner happened by Gene's desk. He is the county engineer. Knows all about roads and things.
"It's measured from the center of town, or from the court house," he said.
Well, maybe. "In Des Moines," Royce said, "the starting point is someplace downtown, but might not be the courthouse." He wasn't sure. The state capitol is there. That complicates things. Sometimes the starting, or ending, point of the measurement is at a cross roads.
"Here in Marshalltown," he said, "it's measured from the junction of US 30 and Route 14."
I mentioned to Royce that was five miles from the court house.
"Yeah," he said.
What happens if you are coming from the other side of town? I guess it's further.
It depends on who is marking the mileage, according to Royce. Everybody does it differently. On major roads, like US 30, it is the state's responsibility to determine starting and stopping points. His responsibility is for county roads. Depending on the size of the town, it can be the city limits, the town hall, the blinker light, what ever. There doesn't seem to be a rule.
"A lot of times," Royce said, "the man who puts up the sign decides."
I called the Iowa state department of transportation highway department. Nobody answered. After 12 minutes I hung up.
I called the department of transportation, United States Government. They have a recorder. Press 1 for a two minute presentation by the secretary of transportation on spraying of insecticides in airplanes coming from overseas and its effect on passengers. Press 2 for an explanation by an under-secretary of transportation about labels that are going to be put on cars showing in which country they were manufactured. Press 3 for news about the Coast Guard guarding the coast. I pressed 0 and got an operator.
I think she thought I was crazy. I don't believe she knew about mileage markers.
I got transferred to Warren Flaceau in the highway information department.
"What is used as a starting and ending point for measuring the mileage between towns and along the way," I asked?
"Who is this," he said?
I told him who I was and that I worked for a newspaper.
"I don't know the answer. I don't think anyone here does," he said. "We'll have to do research on it and call you back."
Sure.
On the other hand, I'm usually in the car, not walking, so maybe a guess is good enough.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving. In spite of it all, there are a number of things to be happy about this year. For one we can quote Will Rogers, if the name isn't familiar to you, you are younger than you think. Anyhow, he said that we should be thankful that we aren't getting all the government we are paying for.

My thought was to write something about Thanksgiving which would be memorable prose, memorable due to its eloquence and profundity and not its length, but in the interest of Thanksgiving will keep it short.

I want to thank God for what He has so generously given us. We have it mixed up when we say God bless America, because He already has ten thousand fold. We have the blessing of a country which is abundant in natural resources, minerals, timber, water, coal, petroleum, natural gas, futile ground, material things beyond the imagination.

He gave us the ability to become the greatest country which ever existed, making the glories of Rome and Greece, in their day, pale before what our country has accomplished. He bestowed knowledge, understanding, and moral values which, in a few hundred years, built a wilderness into a power which, by its industrial might, twice armed a world to fight tyranny and destroy plans for enslavement.

By His might and in His name we have freed millions of people from oppression, protected countries too weak to defend themselves, helped the oppressed in times of peace when disaster struck, and asked nothing in return.

We stood proud as our soldiers, sailors, and airmen answered the call to duty from Concord and Bunker Hill to Iraq and Afghanistan. We lived the fights of Lake Erie, Gettysburg, Little Round Top, the Little Big Horn, Mexico, the Marne, Bataan, Iwo Jima, the daylight raids, Normandy, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf and Near East. Our soldiers died to preserve freedom and expected nothing in return.

We stopped the concentration camps of Adolph Hitler, the brutality of Josef Stalin. We rebuilt a destroyed Europe and Japan. We freed the satellite countries of the Soviet Union and asked nothing in return.

What do I have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving? That I was a part of this country when it stood for right, liberty, freedom, and responsibility to its citizens. I'm thankful that I have a God who loves and protects me and who will continue to do so regardless of what man will do to destroy the bounty and blessings He so lovingly bestowed on us.

I am thankful for the knowledge that God and Jesus will protect me and remain with me through the troubled days which may come to my country and family.

God bless and keep all of you, not only during this Thanksgiving Day, but for ever and a day.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Police Contract Reprise

Well, New Philadelphia, you've been had again.

The Police Contract is evidently going to be approved, even if only by a technicality. Last night City Council couldn't muster the votes to either adopt or reject the proposed contract. It required a vote of five to do either, and both options, accept and reject, were one vote short. In another week it becomes effective by state law because of the lack of decision. It was, to me, an unbelievable display of self interest and ignorance which set the stage to let this contract go into effect.

The Mayor indicated that a pay raise from $20.41 to $21.61 was only 1%. One of us needs a new calculator.

One council member indicated that the proposed contract will save the city money. If you increase wages, benefits, overtime formulas, and retirement, how can that save money?

The City Auditor said, for the umpteenth time, that in her opinion the City finances would carry us through the end of this year, but she didn't have a clue what was going to happen next year.

The City income tax is far behind last year's revenue, and there are still two months to be accounted for in this year. The money in general fund and Safety Forces fund are both well below last year.

And what we never did find out, is what more does the city get for it's money from this contract. Read the contract if you chose. It's a matter of public record. The answer is nothing. Well, that's not exactly true. You can look forward to higher taxes in the foreseeable future. The Mayor promised that in the Mayoral debate at Kent State when he was running for office.

But, that's not all. There are two other city unions negotiating contracts with the city. Their contractual requests are secrets at this point, but when they hit the council floor, you can expect to see similar increases to what the police contract contains.

So how did it finish up last night? Another round of pay increases for the Safety Forces. No predictions on next year's city income. A total unemployment rate in Ohio of sixteen percent. Increasing foreclosures in the state. Ohio in debt in excess of a billion dollars. The federal government in debt for more than eleven trillion dollars. No foreseeable increase in city income. More wage and benefit increases for city employees in the wings. I guess I'll have to borrow the mayor's calculator to figure this one out.

Thanks For Your Support

The Election Vote from the General Election on November 3 was certified last week with no changes to what was reported on election night. For those of you who keep count, I finished with 551, Zucal with 604, and Buterbaugh with 61. And so it went.

I want to thank those of you who voted in this past election. The turnout in Ward Two was gratifying, the number of voters far outnumbering those of any of the other three wards.

While I won't return to City Council, what I have learned over the past four years will not be wasted. The New Philadelphia Tattler will be your watchdog, not only for City Council, but the Administration and what ever else needs looking at, and reporting to you, the voter. After four years I know where to look, and look I will. If you need a place to vent your frustrations, here it is. If you can't get answers to your questions, let me give it a try. If you have concerns about the city, items of interest, whatever, drop a note. I don't have the council seat anymore, but I do have New Philadelphia Tattler, and will report the answers, non-answers and evasions.

So, in short, I didn't get sent back to represent Ward Two. But I'll still carry your case to Council, report what I hear, and generally make myself more beloved to the Administration.

Thanks again for your support in the election. But it's over and I'm for getting on with trying to protect the City from the spending and fiscal irresponsibility which is lurking in the new year.

Increasing City Costs

Union contracts are progressing. Even before the vote on the Police Contract on Monday, November, 23, 2009 in City Council, the Mayor has announced that the Police Department has requested a fact finder hearing. The date is set for December, 7, 2009. The Fire Department fact finding is scheduled for Tuesday, November 24. The American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees union (AFSCME) which represents city employees other than the Police and Fire Departments, had their third meeting with the Administration last Friday, the 20th, and announced suspension of bargaining until they see how the Fire Department makes out in their fact finding session. City Council, at this writing, has no clue as to what AFSCME is requesting but if the past month is any indication, you can bet it is going to be expensive.

How did we get to this point? The difference is in experience. The union advisers are professional union negotiators. The City does not have the experience in contract negotiation. Maybe there are different motivations involved, different priorities. One thing for sure, the welfare of the New Philadelphia citizen is not on the top of the list.

Total unemployment in Ohio has now reached 16.1%. Home foreclosures are growing daily. Food banks are serving record numbers of folks not able to meet daily food requirements. City tax revenues have fallen $352,735 this year and there are still two months yet to be reported.

The unions do not take this into consideration in the new contracts. Their consideration is self-serving. They demand pay increases of up to nine percent, fifteen percent when you include benefits, at a time when other municipalities are taking cuts and facing layoffs.

And so the lines are drawn between city workers, who believe the City owes them wages which are greater than 51% of those New Philadelphia families they serve and those who feel the obligation to protect tax payers from the increased tax burden which is waiting in the wings.

Public service or self service? City Workers, the Administration, and City Council must decide.

New Philadelphia Police Contract

The police contract is up for grabs again in New Philadelphia. City Council will vote on it come Monday, November 23. Actually, Council votes on whether to accept it or turn it down. There is no other option. The contract itself was put together by members from the Police Department and the Administration who agreed on what will be changed and included in the contract. It is their wish that Council just accept it without any consideration of its effects on the folks who have to pay the bill. This time, it's a honey. I've seen it, Council had a short discussion about it, and this one isn't in the best interests of the city.

Here we are in the midst of severe economic problems. Total unemployment in the state exceeds 16% with that number still on the rise. Washington considers it a victory when the number of folks applying for unemployment insurance is slightly down from the previous month. Less workers being laid off isn't good news. People getting jobs is good news, unless those jobs are newly created government jobs, which most are. It's back again to ignorance on the part of governments, large and small, and their inability to understand what is happening to middle America, those folks who are dependant on jobs for wages. One thing that never changes. No matter what the common man faces, government wages seldom fail.

Council asked that wages be held to a one-percent increase for this contract.
When the proposed contract was presented to council, the one-percent increase had long since disappeared. Consider the following hourly wage increases agreed to by the Administration for Patrol Officers based on service time:
1 to 2 years - increases 7.5% from $20.17 to $21.61, or from $41,954 to $44,949 a year
2 to 4 years - increases 5.9%, from $20.41 to $21.61, or from $42,452 to $44,949 a year
4 to 8 years - increases 3.8% from $20.81 to $21.61, or from $43,285 to $44,949 a year
8 to 15 years - increases 2.4% from $21.11 to $21.61, or from $43,909 to $44,949 a year
15 plus years - increases 1.0% from $21.40 to $21.61, or from $44,512 to $44,949 a year

Same thing for Dispatchers and Jailers:
1 to 2 years - increases 9.6% from $17.74 to $19.45, or from $36,899 to $40,456 a year
2 to 4 years - increases 7.8% from $18.04 to $19.45, or from $37,523 to $40,456 a year
4 to 8 years - increases 5.5% from $18.44 to $19.45, or from $38,355 to $40,456 a year
8 to 15 years - increases 3.7% from $18.75 to $19.45, or from $39,000 to $40,456 a year
15 plus years - increases 1.9% from $19.09 to $19.45, or from $39,707 to $40,456 a year

But, like the huckster on TV says, that's not all. If you happen to be a Jail Administrator, Dispatcher, SWAT member, or an On-call Detective, you get an additional $.25 an hour for every hour you work. Hear that? For every hour you work. Which means additional wages of $520 a year. But wait, that's not all. There's longevity paid at the following monthly rates:
5 to 10 years $15 for $180 a year
10 to 15 years $20 for $240 a year
15 to 20 years $30 for $360 a year
20 to 25 years $40 for $480 a year
Over 25 years $50 for $600 a year

Captains can't be left out, their wages to be set on a floating scale which pays them 10% more than the highest paid patrolman. New positions of Sergeant are included in the contract with another floating pay scale which is 5% above the highest paid patrolman. There is a danger here because according to the contract as it is now, the City and the Union shall reopen the bargaining contract for wage negotiations for in 2011 and 2012. The secret word here is "shall", and that is scary.

But, as the TV huckster says, there's even more. If an officer is called in for an emergency, he will get three hours minimum pay regardless of the time worked, and that paid at one-and-a half-times for overtime if necessary. And while that sounds like it should be it, it isn't. You add to that uniform allowances of $900 in 2010, $925 in 2011, and $950 in 2012, which is actually untaxed income. The city's payments to life insurance, health insurance, dental insurance, and wage based items such a Medicare, retirement, education, vacation, sick leave, and other payments to and for the members of the police force covered by contract, federal, and/or state mandate, add up to close to 48% additional cost up and above base salaries.

Simply put, to equal the package requested by this contract for one of our patrolmen in the non-governmental world would require a job paying a minimum of $65,000 a year.

City Council, the Administration, and the city's unions all have responsibility to the people of New Philadelphia which includes financial responsibility. Tax revenues are falling because of decreasing employment. Foreclosures are rising. Prices are still on the increase. Wages and jobs are still decreasing. It is time for the city as a whole to understand that city wage increases are not in the best interest of the city or its citizens. Wages can be increased by contract, revenues cannot. If our city employees believe that they have a responsibility to the citizens of New Philadelphia, they will forgo wage increases in this time of depression.

There may be a question why I speak out on contractual wage increases at this time. I am not singling out the police department. I had the same feelings when the fire department contract was discussed a month ago, but was unable to express them because the fire department contract was discussed behind closed doors in what I considered an unnecessary executive session. That session was unfair to the public and denied them the ability to understand the implications of that contract. This contract was briefly discussed by council and no decision made. The police department union contract will be voted on this Monday, November 23. I invite your comments. I invite you to contact your councilmen, your mayor, the media, and to make personal comments to the city council on this issue next Monday evening. Remember that this is your city, your finances, your savings we are talking about. There is no issue other than money here. The city must come to the realization that we are in a depression, that people are losing their jobs, incomes, and homes. This is not the time to raise expenses.

Concealed Carry Ordinance

Well, the uninformed are at it again. If you want to get people riled up, mention firearms in general and concealed carry specifically. I can't think of many issues which cause the debate and furor that those do. I've heard it all before from the anti-gun folks and it's started again with a requested change in legislation by Chief Urban to city council. As usual, the loudest complaints come from people who don't have a clue about the real world. Well, people, wake up and take a look.

Consider this. More people die from doctors' mistakes than from gunshots. More children drown in bathtubs than from gunshots. Cities which have the greatest restrictions on concealed carry have the largest crime rates including rape, murder, break-ins, theft, holdups, drugs, gang shootings, drive-by shootings. Don't believe it? Look up the statistics for Washington, DC, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Detroit. Guns are terrible, that's why shootings at schools make the news. What doesn't make the news, probably because of political bias, are incidents such as the shooting at the Appalachian Law School in Virginia in January 2002 which left three dead. That part made national news, but nothing was mentioned that the attack was brought to an end by two students who who ran to their cars, got their pistols which were in them, and confronted the shooter who immediately stopped the attack by throwing his gun down. The difference between that incident and the tragedy at Columbine High School is obvious, nobody at Columbine High School had a gun with which to confront the shooter. Yep. The gun ban there was effective in preventing any defense of the school by law abiding citizens. Unfortunately, the two murderers didn't see fit to obey the ban. What was the result of the gun ban at Fort Hood? Nobody had a gun except a Muslim who murdered unarmed soldiers.

The moral here is simple. Gun bans just don't work. They make victims of us all. If you don't want to carry a gun, don't. But don't deride those who legally carry concealed weapons to protect themselves, and consequently you, from criminals who don't give a hoot about laws which restrict the carrying of defensive weapons.

Well, back to the legislation in city council to permit the carrying of concealed weapons in the park. A couple of things. The state law is specific that guns are not allowed in government buildings. Buildings, not property outside the buildings. As state law takes precedence over local law, the ordinance had to be brought up to date. It's that simple.

Chief Urban was correct to request the change to the city ordinance. In the long run there won't be any noticeable change in concealed carrying in the parks and cemeteries. They are concealed. Concealed, get it? And that's the whole idea. The weirdos who may want to make an attack in the park will have second thoughts about it because they have no idea who is armed and who isn't. Criminals aren't stupid and readily admit that the risk of their injury or death is higher in areas where citizens are armed. Don't believe it? Look it up. I mean you look it up if you really care.

One final thought. You don't hear about it in the press but about a million and a half times a year some type of criminal activity, murder, theft, rape, you name it, is stopped because a citizen with a gun was there to challenge the perpetrator.

Welcome to the New Philadelphia Tattler

Welcome to a new blog. If you are interested in politics, especially in New Philadelphia, Ohio, this blog may be of interest to you. I am completing four years on the City Council and created this site because I think you should have the ability to know what goes on both in and out of council chambers.


It has been my experience that citizen interest in the operation of New Philadelphia has been limited by a history of inattention by the administration and city council to the needs, questions, and requests by the citizens of the city. This is the result of arrogance, ignorance, lack of understanding of the needs of the citizen, and a lack of commitment by members of both administration and council. For the most part, the administration and council are composed of members who long ago lost touch with the majority of people who live in the city. Decisions are not always made by existing law, which has been knowingly ignored, but on party lines, family ties, political expediency, financial gain, and just plain laziness to look into the facts and implications of legislation being considered.


With this in mind, the New Philadelphia Tattler was started. Our objectives are to provide news about what is going on in the city, along with commentary, both yours and ours, which you won't find anywhere else. You will be able to ask questions and get answers on this site. You have the opportunity to express your opinion on all types of subjects.

Here is the forum which the city should provide but doesn't. It's up to you now. I'd like to hear from you.