16 SEP 08: CONSERVATIVE CONVERSION?

It was a small notice in the Ledger-Enquirer - so small that most people might have missed it. The Business Resource Center is holding a workshop today on "A Practical Guide to Union Avoidance." Some people outside Columbus must have laughed at that title, since they never travel north of the Mason-Dixon Line.

But when one Columbus activist spotted a familiar name among the workshop presenters, she simply could not believe it. She fired an e-mail to the mayor, City Manager and Columbus Council - and kindly (I assume) cc-ed it to your blog as well:

Mr. Mayor;

We know you are not a man without a heart and there are problems you need to address in this city.

Why would your Exec. Assistant advocate and make money from opposing labor unions? Are you not Democrats? Have not the Unions improved the working conditions and pay of many American workers?

It is a point toward her support, and your administration's financial involvement with the large companies in this area.

This is an outrageous affront to your own background. Police Unions, NAPO (for one), advocacy show the need for unions with the good work they have done.

Your admin has repeatedly favored big business over the worker--whether it was the tax exemptions given to vacuous conglomerates who fire employees while robbing the till to the tune of millions or by taking money to raise taxes from organizations that run the city through pay-for- hire politicians. May I remind you that in 2006 Richard Anthony took 4.2 Million and Jim Blanchard took 3.4 Million from the company they so willingly raped and plundered before firing and putting 9%, thousands, of employees on the unemployment roles and perhaps into the soup kitchens! You will note in the article below [14 Sep] that the Carpenters Union opposed the Director's position with the company...wonder why--that was in 2006!

The white collar corruption is rampant in Columbus and you are not cleaning it up. It is white collar crime with CB& T, (who was thrown out of NY STATE with Steve Melton named on the Atty Gen website in papers filed to stop them), et al, running the political campaigns. Remember Don Siegelman? You were elected to be a strong man to fight for the little man and fairness--was not your wife raised in Peabody?

Who owns whom?

CB&T --- POWER BROKERS IN COLUMBUS:

1. Paid for political campaigns

2. Holds city accounts

3. Holds the reserves at unknown and refused to be discussed interest rates. In a disgraceful move the city manager refused to answer activist questions at council on interest paid by CB&T to the city for reserve holdings. He would not even state that he did not know the interest rate---just ignored the questions. How outrageous --and you let it happen, Mr. Mayor.

4. Paid for campaigns for tax hikes, which will benefit them since they hold the city accounts and reserves

5. Has put their people on council

6. Has their people controlling the most powerful boards in the city

7. Has given themselves tax exemptions through board certified "Servant Leadership" recommending themselves as tax exemptions.

The city is under the control of a few at CB&T, and Synovus. Mr. Mayor- you need to stop this violation of our democratic process. Anthony & Blanchard should not be on any boards since they have shown extreme fiscal irresponsibility.

You need to clean house if you want your legacy to be something other than corruption. When Council members get money in tax exemptions for either their own companies or their employers' companies there is a problem with ethics in the council and the mayor's office. when the common man --not a lawyer from JAG or an outsider, one of our own gets elected mayor and he lets it happen --- we know the mayor's office needs prayer for direction.

Step up to the plate, Mr. Mayor clean up your administration.

Thank You,

Deborah Owens

Let's start with the executive assistant who apparently triggered this message. The newspaper noted Judy Thomas spent almost 30 years working with the California Teachers Association. Then she moved to Columbus two years ago - and may have been surprised by the extra money in her pocket, from not paying dues.

Judy Thomas told me Monday she will NOT be an advocate against labor unions, when she appears at today's seminar. Thomas assured me she still supports them. She may have a hard time finding them south of metro Atlanta, but she still supports them....

Judy Thomas says her appearance at the Business Resource Center will be to explain how managers should deal with employees. She believes if there's good communication and discipline, workers are less likely to consider forming unions. And these days, that means the workers are far less likely to be laid off.

Judy Thomas noted other seminars at the Business Resource Center have considered unions "from the management.... point of view." So her appearance today is a bit like Barack Obama appearing on "The O'Reilly Factor" the other night.

A couple of bills are pending in Congress that could change the rules for organizing unions in businesses. Judy Thomas says she'll address those bills at the seminar as well. Then the audience will be given a choice of House members to call about them - Lynn Westmoreland one way, Sanford Bishop the other.

In the classic words of Dee Armstrong during a newscast years ago, "This is NOT a union town!" Judy Thomas admits she's seen no signs of a union resurgence in Columbus, especially inside city government. And a garbage collection union is rather hard to form, when the collectors are inmates who hope to quit in a couple of years.

But back to the original question - is Judy Thomas "making money" from opposing labor unions? She told me her appearance at the Business Resource Center will be unpaid, and she's taking a vacation day from work on top of that. The only way Thomas might personally benefit is if a friend shows up with a camera, and turns her session into a DVD.

While Mayor Jim Wetherington is a Democrat, I've never heard anyone indicate he supports organizing a police union. Besides, he spent a year as headmaster of a private school - instead of lobbying in Atlanta for uniformed officers inside the public ones.

But maybe the critics are forgetting something here. Jim Wetherington wasn't elected mayor as a Democrat, since the job is nonpartisan in Columbus. Perhaps the critics want him to be as "blue" as those police uniforms he loves so much....

Deborah Owens should be relieved to learn Richard Anthony is NOT on any boards listed on the city web site. We noted recently James Blanchard does not seem to be there, either [31 Aug]. Maybe she wants a "black list" started of forbidden citizens - which I hope doesn't get mixed up with the Sheriff's list of registered sex offenders.

So do Synovus and a few bankers run the city of Columbus? If so, that would shock some people - especially the man who predicted to us last summer that by now, the city would be run completely by Mexicans [17 Aug 07]. Somehow, I don't think Richard Anthony and Steve Melton fit that description....

E-MAIL UPDATE: We had another call to make Monday. With seven weeks left until Election Day, another reader smells something funny....

Hi Richard, Love your blog. I couldn't help but notice the nice Billboards sprouting up all over town and I ask you -unbiased Columbus blogger for your input on this touchy subject. I've seen five billboards for Superior Court Candidate Alonza Whitaker located at Flat Rock, Columbus Park Crossing, Wynnton Road, 13th Street and Victory Drive. Only one of those five billboards actually sports his photograph, the one strategically placed in South Columbus. (Victory Drive to be exact) Is this a case of campaign economics (maybe it costs more to have your picture on a billboard) OR could it be a case of blatant pandering to the black vote? You be the judge.

Sincerely,

Ann Patrick

There's actually a second billboard showing Alonza Whitaker's face. It's on Buena Vista Road, which could would play into Ann's theory. But indeed, the signs at other locations do NOT have his picture. And no, I did NOT check for Whitaker's picture at the post office....

Instead of appointing myself judge, I talked with the candidate running for the job Monday. Alonza Whitaker told me he has 12 billboards scattered throughout six counties, since the Superior Court Judge covers a regional circuit. If you can drive around to check all those billboards right now, don't come griping to me about gas prices.

Alonza Whitaker said as far as he knows, it costs more money to prepare billboards with his picture on it. But he added he's willing to put his picture everywhere, if Ann Patrick wants to donate to his campaign. No, I didn't name her during the phone call - so her e-mail account should be safe for the next seven weeks.

Alonza Whitaker denied he's practicing any kind of racial pandering. He noted his picture is on campaign flyers throughout the circuit - and he needs "white voters as well as black voters" to be elected. You do in that race, at least. We'll see if either side in the Zephaniah Baker-Calvin Smyre state House race agrees with that idea....

Alonza Whitaker wondered aloud briefly about a couple of points, related to the pandering theory. He asked if his opponent for judge has HIS pictures on billboards. I noted Gil McBride does appear on one, along Veterans Parkway north of Manchester Expressway. Maybe he'll dodge the issue in Columbus South, and stick to yard signs.

Then Alonza Whitaker suggested people driving down Buena Vista Road and Victory Drive are NOT all African-American. He stopped short of finishing that point, but his conclusion was clear -- and I don't think the crowd at the upcoming Taylor Swift concert will be quite as diverse as the Columbus International Festival.

When I visited Thunder on the Hooch on Independence Day, I was impressed to find Alonza Whitaker even has his own campaign water bottles. I jokingly asked Whitaker if he had his own spring, and he said he "wouldn't dignify that" with a comment. Hmmmm - does this mean he'll be disqualified from any rulings on Chattahoochee River water sharing?

People in several states and at least three countries are reading our new blog about poker and life. Visit "On the Flop!"

BLOG UPDATE: Suspicions were confirmed Monday night about the sale of the old Baker High School. Muscogee County Superintendent (for now) John Phillips told WXTX "News at Ten" the buyer of the building is having financing problems. If all else fails, there's the Bill Heard "price slicer...."

The school board approved the sale of the Baker High School building in March. Monday night, members approved a four-month extension of an "inspection period" to next January. Judging from what a blog reader told us the other day, the building might not pass an inspection for low-rent apartments right now.

Let's see what else caught our attention Monday:

+ Muscogee County school officials reported the district is down to a two-day supply of diesel fuel for the buses. There's no better time to remind your children about how you had to walk uphill morning after morning, year after year....

+ The kidnapping case of former Hurtsboro Police Chief Marvin Christian was referred to the October Bullock County grand jury. Imagine what could have happened here. If Christian is cleared, he might have found an entire city has disbanded and deserted him.

+ Atlanta Falcons defensive back Lawyer Malloy was arrested on drunk driving and speeding charges. You'd think someone with "Lawyer" in his name would know better than this - but that hasn't stopped some elected officials, has it?

+ Instant Message to Tammy Terry: I hope there aren't any problems with your baby boy. You've been away from WRBL on maternity leave nearly three months now -- and it can't really take that long to get your hair perfect again, after giving birth.

Our number of unique visitors is now up 28 percent from last year. To advertise to our readers, offer a story tip or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

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