^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

12 SEP 04: LAND OF THE LOST?

We have a couple of e-mail topics to consider this weekend. Our main event concerns an upcoming vote in Columbus:

I'm curious, what is your stand on the upcoming lost tax and the "negotiations" between the Fraternal Order of Police and The City Council? Do you think that the citizens of Columbus have been well informed of what the FOP is requesting of Council, or do you think that they are just asking for more money for raises?

What's my stand? At this point, I'm simply LOST in thought about it....

For those who may not know: LOST stands for Local Option Sales Tax. It's a one-cent tax Columbus city officials want you to approve in November. City Manager Carmen Cavezza warns if it fails, there could be government layoffs - which is a sure way to get Republicans to vote against it.

City officials are holding forums across Columbus to answer your questions about LOST. At the first one last Thursday, they explained a sales tax increase would mean lower property taxes. Now this is unfair! The city went all the way to
Georgia's Supreme Court to keep a property tax freeze - and now it could be dumped.

One well-known Columbus figure expressed his opposition to the LOST at Thursday's forum - veterans' activist Jim Rhodes. Maybe if an exception was made for U.S. flags, and items bought at Ranger Joe's....

I'm not familiar with "negotiations" between Columbus Council and the Fraternal Order of Police - but that group of officers once opposed the LOST, and now supports it. Someone I know dared to say the other day the F.O.P. "pulled a
John Kerry."

(I suggested to that man the group's name should change to Fraternal and Local Order of Police - if it really pulled a flip-FLOP.)

While the Fraternal Order of Police now supports the LOST, the Police Benevolent Association still seems to be leaning against it. Maybe the P.B.A. is waiting to see where the candidates for Sheriff and Marshal stand on it - which amazingly could turn this into an argument of "white tax, black tax."

Are Columbus citizens "well informed" about what the F.O.P. wants? It's just my opinion, but I'd tend to say no. I've heard about too many phone calls where citizens can't figure out which TV station has the "Problem Solvers."

The Fraternal Order of Police isn't helping Columbus citizens, when it comes to informing them of what it wants. For one thing, the only phone numbers I see on billboards are for city officials - with not one for a concerned police officer.

Is the Fraternal Order of Police "just asking for more money for raises?" Well, it doesn't have to ask for more money for guns. We've learned in recent weeks that Marshal Ken Suddeth can come up for the money for those....

My main concern over this issue is the abbreviation for this proposed sales tax: LOST. I doubt any sincere church pastor would support this - because he'd want people to be saved instead.

On the other hand, this tax question might pass if Columbus city officials market it properly. For instance:

+ The money will buy new street lights - or you'll be "LOST in the dark."

+ If the money will improve the Space Science Center, say so - that it's "LOST in Space."

+ Allocate money for animal control - so dogs can be "LOST and found."

E-MAIL UPDATE: We said we had a couple of topics - and here's the second one, which is more of a fan letter:

Richard,

I'm writing to tell everyone that Robbie Watson is back. Robbie is intelligent, educated, informative, and most of all a best friend to me. It has been a long time coming for her and she deserves it. She was the best sports broadcaster at WTVM Channel 9 and she will be the best talk line host. She is
definitely respected by her peers, family and friends. What a great person to know and to have as your friend. Archway has a jewel on their hands!!!

A friend to Robbie,

Taffy Keller

Hoover, Alabama

Taffy, I'm not sure what to make of this. The last time e-mail to our blog praised someone so much, that person was running for Superior Court Judge.

I worked with Robbie Watson several years ago, and I wish her well as the host of WRCG's "TalkLine." But I can recall a few times when I had to give her guidance and assistance. Take the Monday afternoon around 4:00 p.m., when I stunned her by mentioning a rain-delayed NASCAR race....

My current schedule does not allow me to hear Robbie Watson on TalkLine. But it was interesting to read her quote in the Ledger-Enquirer about WRCG going "too far to the left." I never realized D.J. Jones was such a liberal.

Now other notes from a surprisingly rainy weekend:

+ Northside High School won its first varsity football game ever, beating Columbus High 28-14.. NOW will visitors to Northside Park be allowed to walk on the practice field?

+ Georgia Tech stunned Clemson in college football 28-24 -- a game Clemson should have won, except a fourth-down punt in the final minute was botched on a bad snap, leading to a Tech touchdown. They call Tiger Stadium "Death Valley," but on this night Dr. Jack Kevorkian showed up.

(It took about 30 years, but we've finally found a sequel for Auburn's "Punt 'Bama Punt." Maybe this should be called "Roll Tigers Roll.")

+ WDAK revealed Scott Miller was considered for the Auburn University sportscasting job, after Jim Fyffe died last year. Could you imagine Miller and Larry Munson talking with each other before an Auburn-Georgia game? They'd both be so negative that neither team might want to leave the locker room.

+ I mentioned the change of B-101 FM to "The Beat" to some teenagers in the church congregation I attend. One girl said she'd already switched to "Rock 103." She should be thankful our Pastor was nowhere near that conversation, because her whole family might be in big trouble.

+ Instant Message to WXTX: Was it really a good thing to have Joshua McKinney ask viewers during the 10:00 p.m. news if he should buy Semone Doughton a steak dinner? In other cities, I think TV stations arrange to have these things catered.

BLOGGER'S NOTE: Daily blogging may diminish in the next couple of weeks, as we prepare for a fall vacation....

To offer a story tip, make a donation or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post a reply.

If you quote from this in public somewhere, please be polite enough to let me know.

© 2003-04 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.