Montgomery City Council unanimously passes 2019 budget, raises garbage pick-up fee
The Montgomery City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange‘s proposed budget for fiscal year 2019 Tuesday evening. The slightly more than $252 million budget was approved only after several amendments were added, including a 3 cent per gallon gas tax increase, a reduction of the garbage pick-up from two days a week to just one, as well as $3 increase to garbage fees. The garbage fee increase will save the city about $2.2 million. “Charlie Jinright (the City Council president) gets a lot of credit,” Strange said according to the Montgomery Advertiser. The council president proposed all of the ordinances Tuesday that successfully bridged the gap between individual council member’s desires and the mayor’s original budget.
John Merrill announces 92 percent of Alabama election complaints closed
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill announced on Tuesday that his office has successfully resolved all election complaints from the 2016 election cycle and the 2017 Senate election. Since taking office, Merrill’s team has closed over 92 percent of election issues and complaints that have been submitted. “Our goal since taking office has been to make it easy to vote and hard to cheat,” Merrill said in a press release. “When I first sought this office, there was no process for documenting voter fraud reports. It is unfortunate complaints like this have to be made at all, but I am proud of the way we have worked to follow through and get them closed or reported to the appropriate authorities.” In March of 2015, former Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency partnered with the Secretary of State’s office to form the Alabama Elections Fairness Project; a united effort to “investigate and prosecute allegations of voter fraud or campaign finance irregularities,” according to AL.com. The team has since created a page on the Secretary of State’s website where concerned individuals can report suspected fraud or suspected violations of the Alabama Fair Campaign Practices Act in state and local elections online. Since April of 2015, Merrill’s office has received 764 complaints about voting issues from several sources, including personally observed voting fraud. Of the 764 complaints received, the office has only 58 remaining cases under investigation. The following is a breakdown of which organizations closed the 706 complaints which were resolved: Seven closed reports were handled by Merrill’s office 24 were sent to the ethics commission 37 were reported to the Attorney General 151 were closed due to lack of sufficient information 39 were reported to local or state law enforcement two were withdrawn 446 were closed generally Each member of the Alabama Elections Fairness Project received complaints in accordance with their jurisdiction. For example: complaints sent to the Ethics Commission involved campaign material or finance issues and those sent to the Attorney General’s office were sent because the complaint contained “improper procedures in the administration of the election process, absentee balloting issues or misuse of campaign materials,” according to the press release. “Our office is committed to serving the citizens of Alabama and to doing our part to uphold the rule of law,” Merrill continued in the press release. “We work closely with our law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal levels to ensure these issues are properly investigated and vigorously prosecuted. We currently have several cases under investigation that could lead to criminal charges, and we hope that serves as a deterrent for people who would seek to harm our electoral process in the future.”
Birmingham’s MotionMobs named finalist for Small Business of the Year Award
Birmingham’s own MotionMobs, a mobile-first custom software development firm, on Tuesday was named a Woman-Owned Business Achievement Award Finalist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Dream Big Small Business of the Year Awards. Every year, the awards program honors the achievements of small businesses and honors their contributions to America’s economic growth. MotionMobs is one of 21 finalists set to be honored during the Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C. on October 3. “Small businesses are a vital sector of our economy. Every day small business owners wake up, work hard, and give their all. When small businesses thrive, our communities thrive, and that’s good for everyone,” said Tom Sullivan, U.S. Chamber vice president of small business policy. “The U.S. Chamber is proud to honor small businesses across the country who embody the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship and significantly contribute to our country’s growth and prosperity.” The Dream Big Awards program includes Business Achievement Awards to recognize excellence in six categories and reflect the leading businesses in each of the following areas: emerging, green/sustainable, minority-owned, veteran-owned, woman-owned, and young entrepreneur businesses. Additionally, each finalist is entered in to an online ballot for our Community Excellence Award that recognizes a small business that has demonstrated an exemplary level of leadership and community engagement to positively impact the quality of life in its community. Online voting, running now through Friday, September 7 at 11:59 p.m. ET, will allow the people who know a company best — its customers, employees, and neighbors — to cast a vote for their favorite business. MotionMobs is asking for Alabama’s support. “Friends! We need your help! We are a finalist for the @USChamber‘s Dream Big awards. Vote for us to win the Community Excellence Award! Voting ends September 7. https://buff.ly/2N3jlRj #SmallBiz18 #DreamBig,” the company tweeted. Friends! We need your help! We are a finalist for the @USChamber‘s Dream Big awards. Vote for us to win the Community Excellence Award! Voting ends September 7. https://t.co/OhffDwvQhZ #SmallBiz18 #DreamBig pic.twitter.com/5PVibmiTLY — MotionMobs (@motionmobs) September 3, 2018 Founded in 2010, MotionMobs is a member of the Birmingham Business Alliance, TechBirmingham, and The App Association.
Former Arizona U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl to replace John McCain
Prolonging the uncertainty over who will fill the late John McCain’s U.S. Senate seat, the governor of Arizona on Tuesday announced the appointment of former Sen. Jon Kyl but said he has only committed to serve until the end of the year. Kyl, a Republican who retired from the Senate in 2012 to spend more time with his family, is currently shepherding Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. Kyl’s appointment will make it possible for him to vote for the nomination. But it’s unclear what more Kyl, 76, will do in Washington. He said he agreed to serve briefly out of a “sense of duty” and will not run for the seat in 2020, when Arizona voters will decide who fills the seat through 2022. The seat will then be up again for a full six-year term. Gov. Doug Ducey, also a Republican, said Kyl was “the best possible person, regardless of politics” for the job, and he hopes Kyl serves past the end of the year. If Kyl does leave the Senate after the end of the current congressional term next Jan. 3, Arizona’s governor can appoint another senator for the remaining year. By state law the senator will have to be a member of the same party as the departing one, in this case the GOP. For now, Kyl will pad Republicans’ margin in the narrowly divided Senate. They hold a 51-49 majority but that dwindled to a single vote while McCain stayed in Arizona for much of this year being treated for the brain cancer that killed him on Aug. 25. The GOP is hoping Kyl will be a more reliable partisan vote than McCain, whose opposition to a partial repeal of President Obama’s health care law pitched the party into turmoil last year. Kyl is well-respected in Arizona and has been able to avoid many of the battles with activists that complicated McCain’s career and that of the state’s other senator, Jeff Flake, who is retiring because his feud with Trump made his re-election impossible. Kyl’s entire career in Washington overlapped with McCain’s, and he served with the state’s senior senator for three terms before stepping down. Kyl carved out a profile as a reliable conservative vote and a foreign policy expert. McCain’s widow, Cindy, tweeted: “Jon Kyl is a dear friend of mine and John’s. It’s a great tribute to John that he is prepared to go back into public service to help the state of Arizona.” Doug Cole, a veteran Republican consultant and former McCain aide, said Kyl was a good, safe pick. “I think McCain would be very happy with the pick. Honors his legacy while putting some major horsepower for Arizona in the seat, at least for now,” he said. An attorney, Kyl speaks in a formal, reserved manner that is a sharp contrast to President Trump, and he belongs to an older, less populist vanguard of the GOP. At a news conference where he was introduced as McCain’s replacement, Kyl said in a response to a question that he’s only met Trump once, though he noted he is working for the White House by serving as Kavanaugh’s so-called “sherpa.” With a nod toward McCain, Kyl said the president’s “desire to jump into the middle of or be in the middle of a fight — and by the way that reminds me of somebody — can be detrimental in the end to what he’s trying to achieve.” The unusual timing of Kyl’s appointment could work out for another Arizona Republican who wants to become a U.S. senator — Rep. Martha McSally. She’s currently locked in a tough campaign against Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema for the Senate seat Flake is vacating. Should she lose, McSally — a former Air Force colonel who once worked on Kyl’s staff — could be appointed to the McCain seat if Kyl vacates it in January. Filling McCain’s seat marks a turning point in Arizona political history. The seat has been held by two men who were heralded as giants of the Senate: McCain took the seat once held by Sen. Barry Goldwater after McCain had served in the House of Representatives. The choice of Kyl will also have political consequences for Ducey. He’s up for re-election this November against Democratic challenger David Garcia. For Republican voters who are on the fence about Ducey, a choice they dislike could cause them to withdraw their support for the incumbent or stay home on Election Day. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Alabama Power prepared for Tropical Storm Gordon
Alabama Power is preparing for Tropical Storm Gordon as it strengthens this afternoon and heads toward the Gulf Coast. Alabama Power crews and personnel are ready to respond, if needed. Current forecasts predict Gordon will make landfall on the central Gulf Coast overnight Tuesday. The forecasts suggest Gordon could intensify to hurricane-strength before arriving on shore in Alabama, Mississippi or Louisiana. The storm is expected to drop between 4 and 12 inches of rain in the western Florida panhandle, southwest Alabama, central Mississippi, eastern Louisiana and into southern Arkansas. Alabama Power crews are preparing for any damage or outages that may come when Tropical Storm Gordon makes landfall in the state later today. [Photo Credit: file/Alabama Newscenter] Forecasters say southwest Alabama, including the metro Mobile area, will be affected by high winds and heavy rainfall, with the possibility of flash flooding. Downtown Mobile also faces potential flooding. Gov. Kay Ivey issued a state of emergency at 7 a.m. Tuesday for Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington counties. “All coastal Alabama residents need to prepare now ahead of tonight’s potential landfall near Alabama,” Ivey said. “I have directed essential state agencies to be on the ready should they be needed over the next couple of days.” Localized flooding is possible across the southern portion of the state. Dangerous wind gusts of up to 45 mph will be an issue as the storm makes landfall. Tornadoes also are possible. Based on current forecasts, the Mobile area will see the greatest impact from this storm in Alabama before it moves north and west on its forecasted track through Mississippi, Louisiana and toward Arkansas. Heavy rain and gusting winds could cause trees to fall. As always, safety is a top priority for all Alabama Power. Individuals, families and businesses in the projected path of the storm should take precautionary measures and make sure they have a hurricane plan, including a fully stocked emergency supply kit. Click here for specific tips related to hurricane preparedness. Alabama Power customers who experience storm-related outages can report them online via mobile devices at www.alabamapower.com. Customers also can call the company’s automated outage reporting line at 1-800-888-APCO (2726). Republished with the permission of the Alabama Newscenter.
ALGOP Chair: time is now for Doug Jones to decide if he’s with Chuck Schumer or Alabama
The confirmation hearings for President Donald Trump‘s Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) pick, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, began Tuesday. If confirmed by the Senate, Kavanaugh will take the seat currently held by retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy. The confirmation hearings are expected to be the scene of highly partisan battle over the future high court, where Alabama’s junior Senator, Doug Jones, among a handful of other Democratic senators in red states, are facing pressure to confirm Trump’s SCOTUS nominee. On Tuesday, the Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) Chairman Terry Lathan asserted the State Party’s support for Kavanaugh and called on Jones to “decide to either vote with Chuck Schumer or with Alabama.” “The Alabama Republican Party strongly supports Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the United States Supreme Court. A brilliant and fair mainstream jurist with over 20 years of public service on the bench, Judge Kavanaugh is thoroughly qualified to serve on the High Court of our great nation,” said Lathan.” Political theatre Kavanaugh’s confirmation has already been overtaken by political theatre as Democratic lawmakers delayed the start of the hearing by more than an hour saying they lack of important information about the judge’s record. “Helpful reminder: Democrats didn’t show up to see sensitive documents that were made available to them, the idea the hearing should be delayed because they haven’t read material is quite laughable,” tweeted Sen. Orrin Hatch‘s office. Helpful reminder: Democrats didn’t show up to see sensitive documents that were made available to them, the idea the hearing should be delayed because they haven’t read material is quite laughable. #KavanaughConfirmation — Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) September 4, 2018 Hatch’s office continued to set the record straight, tweeting the process has not been rushed. Myth: “this has been rushed.” Fact: that’s nonsense, this has been an appropriately paced, deliberate process. Kavanaugh was nominated 64 days ago ✅ Sotomayor was confirmed in 66 days ✅ Roberts in 23 days ✅ Kennedy in 65 days ✅ Ginsburg in 42 days#KavanaughConfirmation Nevertheless Senate Democrats have interrupted the hearing 63 times during the first half of the first day. “As his confirmation hearings begin and senseless attacks from the left continue, it is imperative that Americans remember the truth surrounding this nomination. Senate Democrats are reacting in a knee jerk manner of disapproval simply because it is President Trump’s choice,” Lathan continued. “In fact, many Democrats publicly stated they would oppose whatever nominee he chose. Their attempt to discredit Judge Kavanaugh, who earned the unanimous endorsement of the American Bar Association, is another example of their consistent obstructionist choices.” Jones to decide: Schumer or Alabama Lathan encouraged Alabamians to call Jones’ office and let him know of their support for Kavanaugh. “The Alabama Republican Party urges Senator Jones to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the U.S Supreme Court. In 2020, our voters will remember a ‘no’ vote. We urge every Alabama citizen to call Senator Jones’ office at 202.224.4124 to let him know of your support for Judge Kavanaugh.” “The time is now for Senator Jones to decide to either vote with Chuck Schumer or with Alabama. We thank Senator Richard Shelby for making an early and firm commitment to support Judge Kavanaugh. We hope Senator Jones will follow Senator Shelby’s lead and hear the voices of Alabamians,” Lathan concluded.
Former Chief Justice, gubernatorial candidate Sue Bell Cobb calls for Nancy Worley’s resignation
Former Chief Justice and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sue Bell Cobb called for the resignation of Alabama Democratic Party Chair Nancy Worley, and Alabama Democratic Conference leader Joe Reed on Sunday. In an Opinion-Editorial published by the Anniston Star, Cobb makes her case against Worley and Reed, saying they should “make a sacrifice worthy of their lifelong dedication to racial and gender equality and their decade-long contributions to the party,” and step down from their positions so that new leaders may recruit and support “qualified, electable Democratic candidates.” “The upcoming November election has given Democrats in Alabama an opportunity to achieve measurable gains. Republicans in our state are proven to be corrupt, with the former governor, speaker of the House and chief justice all being ousted for wrongdoing. It should be easy to take advantage of the embarrassment caused by the former Republican governor’s love affair, subsequent divorce and resignation,” Cobb continued. “It should be easy to take advantage of the felony conviction of the former Republican speaker of the House and for his violation of the ethics laws he championed in his rise to power. And it should be easy to take advantage of the twin removals of a Republican chief justice. Sadly, Worley and Reed were unable or unwilling to do so.” The party has faced a tumultuous month since Worley’s re-election in early August. Worley herself is being sued by a fellow member of the party, Susan Cobb for allegedly removing her from the party’s website and restructuring the committee, effectively removing her from office. And Ralph Young, a Jefferson County Democrat, filed a seven-page complaint with the Democratic National Committee (DNC) saying that Worley did not follow proper procedures when calling the meeting that led to her re-election. Claiming she gave inadequate notice and failed to comply with diversity requirements for officers.
Lockheed Martin’s Jason Crager named to Manufacture Alabama Board of Directors
Manufacture Alabama — the state’s only trade association dedicated exclusively to the competitive, legislative, regulatory and operational interests and needs of manufacturers and their partner industries and businesses —on Tuesday announced the addition of Jason Crager to the Board of Directors effective immediately. Crager, who serves as the Director, Lockheed Martin Pike County Operations, has more than 20 years of experience in various roles within Manufacturing Operations and Product Management at Lockheed Martin. “We are extremely pleased to have Jason come on in a leadership role,” said Manufacture Alabama President George Clark. “Just as Alabama’s manufacturing sector evolves, so does Alabama’s manufacturing trade association. Jason brings with him a certain insight into the aerospace and defense segments of Alabama’s manufacturing base that will be of great value to the association.” The Texas native started his career as a Production Technician at Loral Vought in Lufkin, Texas while completing his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Business Communication and Legal Studies from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. “I’m honored to be part of a great group of leaders in raising the profile of Alabama manufacturing,” said Crager. “This state is well-recognized for its place in the industry thanks to Manufacture Alabama, and in this role I intend to add to those efforts to continue strengthening Alabama’s economy and workforce. In addition to Crager, Manufacture Alabama’s Board of Directors includes: Chairman David Carroll of Hunt Refining Company in Tuscaloosa Vice-Chairman David Hendrixson of Daikin America, Inc. in Decatur Treasurer Marty Parker of Packaging Corporation of America in Jackson Secretary Paul Vercher of United States Steel in Birmingham Mark Bush of SSAB North America in Axis Carl Gunter of International Paper in Prattville
Kay Ivey issues State of Emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Gordon
In anticipation of the arrival of Tropical Storm Gordon, which the National Weather Service (NWS) says will soon be upgraded to a hurricane, Gov. Kay Ivey has declared a State of Emergency for several Alabama counties. Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington Counties are all included, effective at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 4. “I’ve issued a State of Emergency for #TSGordon directing essential state agencies to be on the ready should they be needed over the next couple of days. All coastal Alabama residents need to prepare now ahead of tonight’s potential landfall,” tweeted Ivey. I’ve issued a State of Emergency for #TSGordon directing essential state agencies to be on the ready should they be needed over the next couple of days. All coastal Alabama residents need to prepare now ahead of tonight’s potential landfall. Read–> https://t.co/aAzNF5G7ry pic.twitter.com/ythMpWwHAO — Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) September 4, 2018 “All coastal Alabama residents need to prepare now ahead of tonight’s potential landfall near Alabama. I have directed essential state agencies to be on the ready should they be needed over the next couple of days,” said Ivey. “As with any tropical weather event, being prepared is of utmost importance. Everyone should take the necessary precautions now and stay informed of the latest weather conditions for their area. This State of Emergency will ensure that all available state resources are ready when they are needed.” Gordon is expected to bring increased rain activity and storm surge, with the threat of flooding and isolated tornadoes, the risk of which is expected to dramatically increase over the next 12 to 36 hours. “Gordon is a tight, fast moving tropical storm. Alabama is postured for a coastal wind and water event, but the key will be the preparation of our citizens,” Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Brian E. Hastings said. “If you live in the coastal counties, especially in surge and flood prone areas, it is imperative that you get to a safe place by early afternoon and stay there through Wednesday morning. With tropical storm force winds forecasted, we expect power outages concentrated in the coastal counties; so, make sure you have a 72-hour emergency kit ready.” Regardless of the final track and intensity of Gordon, it will produce heavy rainfall and flash flooding in several counties, and Ivey is encouraging Alabamians to prepare now. By declaring a State of Emergency, Ivey is directing the appropriate state agencies to exercise their statutory authority to assist the communities and entities impacted by Tropical Storm Gordon. For real-time road conditions, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is encouraging people to visit https://algotraffic.com/.
Animal activists fight what they call ‘inhumane practices’ by local animal shelters working with Tuskegee University
An Alabama Facebook group is creating waves in the animal rights community. Their main focus: stopping pound seizures from the Russell County-Phenix City Animal Shelter to Tuskegee University. According to the American Anti-Vivisection Society, pound seizure is the “sale or release of dogs and cats from a pound or shelter to a research, testing, or educational facility.” “Beginning in the 1940s, many state laws were passed that required pounds and shelters to release dogs and cats to research laboratories. Though these pound seizure laws were enacted in the 1940s and 1950s, some of them still exist today,” the group says. The Humane Society of the United States shows that Alabama is one of those states. Stop Pound Seizure In Alabama, a Facebook group dedicated to changing these laws in the Yellowhammer State has recently shed light onto one serial example of what they believe is an inhumane practice. According to the group, the Tuskegee University Vet school receives live animals from the Russell County-Phenix City Animal Shelter, so that students can practice various surgeries on them and then kill them. Tuskegee turns a blind eye to the more progressive vet schools which have moved to other ways for their practice surgery training. The taxpayer-funded pounds that Tuskegee obtains their victims from try to hide the relationship because they know it is shameful. Young, healthy, adoptable animals are given to Tuskegee by the hundreds every year. They admit to having a “contract” with the city/county but refuse to reveal the details. Inside information from concerned individuals say the dogs are kept in poor conditions, no socialization or enrichment, fed only 1 cup of food per day, regardless of size (because they don’t live long enough to starve to death), and given no medical care for any injuries they may arrive with or develop while being held. These helpless dogs, family pets, are already terror-stricken from their time at the pound, then hauled to Tuskegee in their dog trailer and stuffed into cages where the smells and sounds of death surround them. Then they are cut on and killed. According to the shelter’s monthly report, 61 animals were transferred in May, while 45 were transferred in June both reports indicate that a list of other agencies the animals were transferred to is supposed to be attached to the report. But neither report actually has a list. Meanwhile, the Tuskegee University Vet school has an Animal Health and Safety Plan, in which clear guidelines are set in order to ensure that animals at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital receive “appropriate care and support.” The plan includes guidelines for the following: Feeding—Animals are fed palatable and nutritionally adequate food daily or according to their particular needs. Watering—Animals have access to fresh, potable, uncontaminated drinking water. Watering devices are examined routinely to ensure their proper operation. When water bottles are used, they are appropriately sanitized. Veterinary Care and Euthanasia— A program of preventive and emergency medicine has been established by and supervised by a veterinarian. Sick or injured animals receive veterinary care promptly. Animals are euthanatized when necessary only by qualified personnel, in accordance with recommendations in the current report of the AVMA’s Guidelines on Euthanasia, and as permitted by law. But at least one student has been accused of animals related crimes while attending the school. In April, Fallon Blackwood was accused of deceiving several horse owners. “She was getting the horses and telling the owners they were going to nice pasture land and would happily live their days out. What she was doing was taking the horses to slaughter,” Macon County Sheriff Andre Brunson told WTVM, in Columbus, Ga. “Slaughtered to potentially be made into dog food is what is believed to have happened to some of the horses that landed in Blackwood’s possession.” Blackwood currently faces criminal charges in North Carolina for her actions. Alabama Today attempted to contact both the Tuskegee University Vet school and the Russell County-Phenix City Animal Shelter, but neither had comments at time of publishing.
Donald Trump says Jeff Sessions’ DOJ has placed GOP in midterm jeopardy
Showing his disregard for the Justice Department’s independence, President Donald Trump tweeted that federal indictments against two Republican congressmen placed the GOP in midterm election jeopardy. Trump again attacked Attorney General Jeff Sessions in the tweet suggesting that the Justice Department consider politics when making decisions: “Obama era investigations, of two very popular Republican Congressmen were brought to a well publicized charge, just ahead of the Mid-Terms, by the Jeff Sessions Justice Department. Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good job Jeff……” Trump has frequently suggested he views the Justice Department less as a law enforcement agency and more as a department that is supposed to do his personal and political bidding. Still, investigators are never supposed to take into account the political affiliations of the people they investigate. Trump did not name the Republican congressmen, but he was apparently referring to the first two Republicans to endorse him in the GOP presidential primaries. Both were indicted on separate charges last month: Rep. Duncan Hunter of California on charges that included spending campaign funds for personal expenses and Rep. Chris Collins of New York on insider trading. Both have proclaimed their innocence. The Hunter investigation began in June 2016, according to the indictment. The indictment into Collins lays out behavior from 2017. He was also under investigation by congressional ethics officials. Hunter has not exited his race, while Collins ended his re-election bid days after his indictment. Both seats appear likely to remain in GOP hands, but the charges have raised Democratic hopes. A spokeswoman for Sessions declined to comment, and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump did not have any public events Monday. He briefly exited the White House to a waiting motorcade, but then went back inside without going anywhere. Trump’s tweet drew a scolding from Sen. Ben Sasse, a Nebraska Republican who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee. “The United States is not some banana republic with a two-tiered system of justice — one for the majority party and one for the minority party,” Sasse said in a statement. “These two men have been charged with crimes because of evidence, not because of who the President was when the investigations began. Instead of commenting on ongoing investigations and prosecutions, the job of the President of the United States is to defend the Constitution and protect the impartial administration of justice.” Trump has previously pressed Sessions to investigate his perceived enemies and has accused Sessions of failing to take control of the Justice Department. Trump has also repeatedly complained publicly and privately over Sessions’ decision to recuse himself from the federal investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia because he’d worked on Trump’s campaign. Some of the issues Trump has raised have either already been examined or are being investigated. The tension between Trump and Sessions boiled over recently with Sessions punching back, saying that he and his department “will not be improperly influenced by political considerations.” Still, Sessions has made clear to associates that he has no intention of leaving his job voluntarily despite Trump’s constant criticism. Allies, including Republican members of Congress, have long advised Trump that firing Sessions — especially before the November midterm elections — would be deeply damaging to the party. But some have indicated that Trump may make a change after the elections. “I think there will come a time, sooner rather than later, where it will be time to have a new face and a fresh voice at the Department of Justice,” Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told reporters recently. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Rauf Bolden: Theory of economics in Orange Beach
The differences between theory and practice are often insurmountable, but Orange Beach may be the exception. Community-oriented development started in late 2006 with the Horizon 20/20 Plan, defining the direction Orange Beach wanted to take. The Great Depression of 2008 changed that, re-inventing the way businesses and cities look at long-term growth. A decade later, our local economy is booming, breaking records for municipal revenue, according to Mayor Tony Kennon in a Facebook video. John Maynard Keynes said, “Employment levels are determined by aggregate (total) demand rather than by the price of labor. Economies should not be expected to automatically right themselves after a temporary shock,” according to Macat An Intro to Keynes’ General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money, a YouTube video. After the Great Depression in 2008, finally seeing the ship right itself with record-setting revenue levels in Orange Beach, generating $48.6 Million in revenue in 2016, compared to $36.3 Million in 2010, according to Financial-Audit Documents on the web site, cityoforangebeach.com. This ship was not self righting, municipal intervention played an integral part with stimulus programs, like beach cleaning and the “Leave Only Footprints” initiative of 2014, injecting money into the economy, being so successful that a 2% lodging tax was laid-on-top in 2017, generating $5 Million in revenue, according to Ford Handley, Finance Director for the City of Orange Beach. This tax-based stimulus was enshrined into law, expanding its brief to cover traffic infrastructure, creating additional jobs and more economic growth. The importance of government intervention, helping economies grow cannot be underestimated. Assuming that natural-market forces and free enterprise will keep the economy in Orange Beach thriving is delusional, because governments have resources to intervene during economic shocks, creating jobs, like cleaning the beaches, and providing ambassadors for sunbathing visitors. These municipal efforts have a positive affect, supporting restaurants, fishing trips, and beach services. Stimulus may not have been Council’s Plan, but it is the result of their actions. Another example where actions begat stimulus is the $14.9 Million Middle School approved for construction in Orange Beach by the Baldwin County Board of Education in 2017, according to John Sharp at AL.com. These monies will generate jobs, purchasing everything from alphabet soup to zip ties. Workers will need to eat, perhaps persuading the city to temporarily ease permitting on food trucks, specifically servicing the school’s construction site. Local vendors will also benefit, because the city allows 5% leeway on Bids for City Contracts. “In accordance with State Law (Act 2015-293), the City does have a 5% local preference. Our local preference zone as set by City Council is Baldwin County. Please note that this local preference only applies to purchases subject to the State of Alabama’s Competitive Bid Law, which includes materials, equipment, and services $15,000 or more, with some exceptions, and does not apply to competitively bid Public Works Contracts,” said Renee Eberly, City Clerk & Procurement Officer for the City of Orange Beach in an email. Even without a written plan, big dollars will pour into the city’s coffers from the Middle School’s construction. Afterwards, additional jobs will come online for school administration, teachers, special-needs personnel, bus drivers, cleaners, cafeteria staff, and grounds keepers who will spend money in Orange Beach. So, who needs a plan? The stakeholders in Orange Beach are the entire community from beach condos to residential homes to local businesses. No one escapes an economic downturn like the one we had in 2008, knowing it has taken a decade to recover from the last cycle. We cannot avoid what happens on the national level, but we can lessen the impact on the local level, understanding there is a pillow to soften the landing with stimulus. Decision-tree strategies give government self-policing oversight, checking in the rear-view mirror, ensuring they are between the lines, defined by plans like Horizon 20/20. In the case of Orange Beach, I do not believe we would have achieved this level of success by welding our colors to one particular strategy. It took navigating-by-gut, seeing an opportunity to grow, strengthening beach tourism, and a little luck from hurricane-free years to succeed. Seen with 20/20 hindsight, we had a viable plan, as if the path were intentional, perhaps we should write it up, and share it with other municipalities. The classic-economic model decries stimulus-related thinking, “If the economy is allowed to work, the economy will automatically gravitate towards full employment, according to John Nash, The Keynesian Model and the Classical Model, a YouTube video. This will happen eventually, but taking so long that the economic devastation will impact a generation. Milton Friedman, the doyen of classical economics, argued against government stimulus. This is where the social conflict between the two ideologies of stimulus versus non-intervention becomes important. Friedman espoused free markets should be free from government meddling in his book Capitalism and Freedom according to Macat, An Introduction to Milton Friedman’s Capitalism and Freedom, a YouTube video. Friedman saw government intervention, leading to economic stagnation without innovation, threatening democracy, because of excessive-governmental intrusion. Both the Keynesian and the Friedman Models strive towards an economy operating at its full potential. The Keynesian model forces government intervention, arguing the economy is not always in full employment, realizing wages and prices can get stuck, like in a recession, requiring government stimulus for help, kick-starting the economy for a faster recovery. Keynesian theory is clearly the corner stone of economic thought in Orange Beach. Perhaps not being defined as such, because Keynesian doctrine was liberally applied by the Obama administration, yet here we are, enjoying the fruits of municipal stimulus in the heart of conservative orthodoxy. Proving liberal theories and conservative practices can work in harmony. Perhaps Orange Beach is the small-town exception, defining new rules for municipal economics. ••• Rauf Bolden is retired IT Director at the City of Orange Beach, working as an IT & Web Consultant on the Beach Road. He can be reached at: publisher@velvetillusion.com.
