JB Johnson Appointed - Former Clearwater City Commissioner JB Johnson was selected from a list of 13 people who expressed interest in serving the City of Clearwater as an interim city councilmember.
With years of experience as a city commissioner and member of the Community Development Board (CDB), JB Johnson has remained "in-touch" with happenings in Clearwater. Of course, the list of potential candidates willing to serve the city reflected many citizens with years of community service.
The selection process was clearly a difficult task for city council members.
As one person commented, "It is a decision I would not like to make."
JB Johnson is back serving on the city council, who would have thunk.
What does it all mean?
It means that several of the people on the list could decide to run for the open city council seat in the next city election. JB Johnson has stated he is merely serving the remainder of Hoyt Hamilton's term of office.
Congratulations JB (This will help to keep JB off the golf course!)
Downtown Clearwater Streetscape - Good news, Clearwater officials voted to support beautifying downtown Clearwater.
Yes, it seems that the remaining business owners in downtown Clearwater will notice another streetscape project that is designed to be more pedestrian friendly.
In fact, and perhaps adding insult to injury, the city will also review adding a "Signage Task Force" for downtown Clearwater.
All of this is to allegedly help the merchants while there is construction.
Many believe that without a downtown city marina and several other attractions to help increase pedestrian traffic, all of the money in the world won't help bring pedestrians to downtown Clearwater. Other than a few businesses, why would people drive to downtown Clearwater?
Yes, the downtown city marina would be a major gain for downtown Clearwater; however, and from what is being said by some Clearwater citizens, I'm not sure that voters would support such an idea. Taxpayers in Clearwater are skeptical of new city projects, in some cases, with good cause. Time will tell how all of this "beautification" might work for a better Clearwater.
Bush To Move To Miami - Gov. Jeb Bush will soon leave the Governor's Mansion and move back to Miami. Jeb Bush's love for the Miami area is well noted and perhaps fits into Bush's fluency with the Spanish language. However, when Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo recently referred to Miami as a "Third World Country," Bush quickly responded by saying, "Miami is a wonderful city filled with diversity…. Overheated rhetoric won't solve this issue (illegal immigration.)"
Bush referred to Rep. Tancredo's comments as "naive."
Tancredo referred to Bush's comments as, "I appreciate your need and desire to try and create the illusion of Miami as a multi-ethnic All American City. Indeed, one of us is naive."
With the recent low poll ratings of his brother (President George W. Bush) and his policy of avoidance of illegal immigration issues, among other things, it makes one wonder why Jeb Bush opted to defend his brother's ideas of "hands-off" illegal immigration policies in America (and places like Miami). It should be clear to Republicans that independent conservative voters in the last election did not support GOP illegal immigration policies and war strategies in Iraq.
Jeb Bush back to Miami?
Yes, and loving it.
Gators Are In - Gator fans are excited about being ranked second behind Ohio State in the latest BCS football rankings. Gators will now play Ohio State for the national collegiate football championship in January.
However, BCS football computer rankings and resulting college football bowl games have come under criticism by many college coaches. Urban Myers, coach of Florida, formerly Utah, believes the BCS computer ranking system is flawed. Most coaches agree with Myers.
"You should win the right on the playing field," says Myers.
Gators were fortunate to win the right to play Ohio State, Michigan fans are not pleased with the result.
Wal-Mart Vs. Big Unions - The way I see it, folks who shop over the holidays should ask workers at their local grocery stores if they have company paid health insurance. I did. In fact, shoppers could also ask workers at other notable retail shops if workers have health insurance. I did. Fact is: They do not.
Wal-Mart typically starts employees at $7.50 per hour. Other good name stores (that I inquired) do not match that hourly rate. In fact, it is laughable to note that former Senator John Edwards was autographing books at a Barnes & Noble recently where the beginning employee hourly rate is not better than Wal-Mart's $7.50. Of course, you would not read about this in many other newspapers - but, misspell a word and you become ex-vice president Dan Quayle (a fellow lawyer like John Edwards).
Selective attacks?
Wal-Mart is criticized by many unions for making about $10 billion in profits. Ironically, the same unions seem to have forgotten the $10 billion in profits recently made by Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Of course, in one instance the unions would like a union shop (Wal-Mart) and the other instance, BC/BS could lower premiums for their insureds (not a union issue?)
Wal-Mart should be reviewed as a company where workers are perhaps treated better than many other large companies with unionized workers. This might be tough to swallow for some folks, but just look at the facts.
Wal-Mart has been unfairly attacked.
Shopping Days Until Christmas - 18 days (if you shop on Sundays!)
Man - Man is woman's last domesticated animal. - Author Unknown