Dogtown Wire

The total was actually over 17,000.00 and the upcoming NLC meeting is in Orlando FL.
The only thing he could admit learning at these meetings was that "Traffic can be controlled by Speed bumps" and that there were some new kind of temporary Rubber ones that could be moved around. He was asked how the City benefitted by him traveling to these meetings, he replied "there is no benefit to the City"
And he had no Idea how they were funded. 10 trips in 3 1/2 years and he has no idea how they are funded, but he doesn't have any trouble getting reimbursed for them. When asked to cancell the Orlando trip imediately and pledge to stop wasting money on them if he is reelected, he said I'm NOT going to do that".
Cary Gaine was Thrown under the Bus by Parker saying that "Cary would go if he had time". Mr Gaines adamantly stated he had no reason to spend Tax dollars in that way, and considered it a waste of Money that could be used in other areas, on needed projects for the citizens of NLR.
Also brought to light was a total of about $200,000.00 total spent on travel by about 4 members of the city council and the Mayor.
$17,000.00 to learn that Speed bumps slow traffic?
Potholes do the same thing, and they are free, and abundant.

This is just unbelievable to me that an alderman from this very poor and underserved ward would spend this sort of money on trips. Let's be honest here, he had to search for an answer about what he learned to benefit his ward and all he could come up with was portable speed bumps? It seems to me that someone from the street department or the traffic department should have been the one that discovered these. Again being honest, these trips are nothing more than a way for these people to travel on our dime. Just look at the places they have these conventions.

It seems the mayor is the most guilty of them all. How many times did he travel to Turkey? And Mexico? And Italy? And other places that have absolutely no benefit to our city. If they did have benefit, would our infrastructure be in the shape it's in?

My wife and I moved here 10 years ago and our neighborhood has gone downhill ever since. Absentee landlords of boarded up and vermin infested properties, children in the streets, trashed piled high in front of the same houses, fireworks all the time. It is just very sickening to us to see our once nice neat place falling into such a state.

I hope the people of this city wake up and put new and responsive leadership into place. This can be accomplished by throwing out all of Hays' "yes" men on the council. I can only hope that Greg Yielding does run against Hight (the height of arrogance) and Neil Bryant isn't much better either. It goes without saying John Parker needs to be sent packing back to being a paper boy again.

It is my understanding from what I have been told & heard that Yielding is unable to run for City Council again due to his past "business venture" in double dipping reimbursement (1) from the City and (2) from his employer at the time. Any one can correct me if I'm wrong.

It is astronomical what WE are paying for our "leaders" to travel cross-country and abroad to learn about speed bumps. Those monies could have been used for fire, police & code enforcement personnel, drainage improvements, sidewalks, etc. The list of needs is so great in this city that Santa Claus has said "to hell with ya".

Greg Yielding cannot run. You are correct.

How is Hight, the Height of arrogance? Do you ever talk to the Alderman or Mayor, or just assume that what everyone says on the internet/word of mouth is how these people are? I bet if you talked to one of them and expressed your concerns, they would listen.

Would you rather have someone who may have misrepresented city expenses holding public office? Keep digging on Yielding and alot will come about it. Someone should ask him why he dropped out of politics.

I agree the city trips are out of control, however, some good does come out of these meetings. City officials are paid peanuts to hold public office, with little or no recognition. No one ever points out the good things they do, only the bad. It is kind of like the police.

The government cannot fix everything. You should go to a third world country and see how their public infrastructure operates, streets, police (corruption rampant), schools, city parks, etc. We live in a decent state and city. The city doesn't have the funds like other cities, such as New York, Nashville, etc. We don't have tourism, therefore we don't generate a ton of money. You have to work with what you have.

The problems in Levy/Baring Cross/Rose City are mostly the fault of the citizens that live their. After all, it is their neighborhood to keep up, not the government's. If you let your neighborhood turn into slum, it will. They have a long way to go to clean it up, but it can be done. Look at Argenta or over by UALR. Those areas are being refurbished because the people who live their participate. They do not sit around and wait for Uncle Sam or the city of Little Rock/North Little Rock to solve their problems. Invest your money and time, and good things can happen.

Off of my soap box now.

nlrablover, did you watch the council meeting on the night that Charlie Hight publicly dressed down some of his own constituents over the issue having to do with Central Baptist Church's parking lot? And I for one have talked to his arrogant ass and he basically told me to quit bitching to him about stuff outside his ward. That's what I do best and he is an elected official and is paid by our tax dollars to deal with OUR problems. I agree that Hight is the Height of Arrogance.

As far the problems of Levy/Baring Cross/Rose City being mostly the fault of the residents, you NLRABLOVER are also arrogant and have empowered yourself with some of Hays, Witcher and Hight's pomposity. The people who live in these areas are the ones that need the most aggressive representation by their elected officials, which they are certainly not getting.

Off my soapbox now.

One more thing. If Greg Yielding did some sort of shenanigans with public monies as you are alleging and it was not prosecuted, then whoever didn't prosecute should be run out of town. Dealing with public funds is a trust that must be scrutinized very carefully. I think you are off base on this one and if I were you I would be very careful about those sorts of allegations.

I am not a supporter of Yieldings but I have heard that he stood up to the bullying tactics of Hays so it seems to me that if he had played fast and loose with public funds, Hays would've tried to roast him over it. Hiding money in various ratholes is Hays' forte and he don't want nobody interfering.

Oh yea, and the city doesn't have funds like NYC etc, so why does Hays spend the funds like we do? Wait until his travel budget is revealed. Wait until his little hidey holes of money are discovered. While areas suffer through overflowing drains, garbage piles, pot holes and the like, he continues to travel extensively and is planning on expanding the maritime museum. Do you know how much he has spent on the USS Hoga and it is still sitting out in California? Do you know how much he is planning on spending on the USS Orleck, a boat the city where it is now wants to get rid of? Ask yourself if it is such a draw for tourists, why is Orange TX adamant on ridding itself of it. Keep defending Hays.

What do you do for your neighborhood? Do you invest money and time in trying to better it? Or are you one of the naysayers who comes on here only to gripe and moan on how the sky is falling? Who's fault is it that these neighborhoods are rotting? If it is the governments fault, explain how? I would like to know. Give specific examples and a time line.

So it is the governments fault that Barring Cross is the murder capital of NLR? I think not. Or that Levy's property value has dropped significantly over the past 20 years? No. It is those that have stakes in the neighborhood. City Governments are not in the business of raising property values in districts. That is up to the local landowners and people that live there.

Lakewood/Overbrook/Park Hill/ don't get special treatment. The only thing I have noticed over the last 20 years is extra sidewalks and speedbumps. I have seen new sidewalks, speed bumps, and street improvements in all areas of NLR. It is called a master street plan, read up on it.

What would be your solution to the problems in your neighborhood? How are you going to make it better? Sitting around on a blog and bitching about it isn't going to do anything. Or pitting neighborhood against neighborhood isn't going to make it better.

I didn't originally post the information about Yielding on here either. So, if it were me, I would place my threats to those that post the info. I was just agreeing with Barracuda on what I have heard.

As for talking to elected officials, if you use the same tone in person as you use on here, I would probably tell you to get lost too. You can always attract more flies with honey than vinegar.

"The problems in Levy/Baring Cross/Rose City are mostly the fault of the citizens that live their."

I agree with this quote but I believe it's not for reasons that you intended. I've always felt that it was the lack of home ownership in these areas that lead to a majority of the problems. What these neighborhoods are dealing with is a fluid population whose money is not invested in the neighborhood. Thus, a large portion of the residents have nothing to gain and nothing to lose. As long as these neighborhoods are filled with a high percentage of renters, they will continue to face the problems they have today.

Well said Nick, it's called reverse gentrification.

It would be so easy to sit on the beautiful hills of Lakewood/Overbrook/Park Hill and judge those of us who live in the valley of Levy and Baring Cross, Even Rose City has seen a decline from neglect. I do agree with Nick, but I can garauntee you there are plenty of folks over here who try and do keep there places nice with little help from a worthless system. On the night of the cc meeting when the RV park was voted on. Parker himself (at the meeting) said the RV park in Burns park could be brought up to the expectations of the FMCA with as little as $20,000.00.(About what he has spent on travel) Instead of fighting to put it in his ward and for less money than the mayor wanted to "Borrow" He voted to Neglect his ward and the wishes of his constituents and put it on the river, and again voted against his people and with His Highness Hayes. So instead of a nice Park setting RV park that might actually be marketable and make money it is being put on the river in an Industrial setting. If you don't live in Ward 3 you cannot possibly understand what it is like to see one alderman who wants to work with his people and one who WILL NOT work with his people. Before we had an alderman who will answer and return calls, we had no idea what we were missing. Also I will point out that it was not that long ago when we began using the internet to comunicate our dissatisfaction with the system. Now we know better, and we know we have been neglected, and we have neglected to do anything about it. Our eyes have been opened Thanks to blogs and various neighborhood groups. We can now see where we were wrong and it is now that we can do something about it. This is the first citywide election since Dogtown Wire, LP3, LIM, Argenta News or any other blog has been up and running. We NOW have a voice and we are shouting. And the city is listening.

What do you do for your neighborhood? Do you invest money and time in trying to better it?
Until you have operated a business in your neighborhood, step to the back of the class and listen to those who have.
Levy and ward three is full of volunteerism. FACT: when the firemen have the fill the boot fundraiser there is more money raised in Levy than any other corner of NLR.FACT: We have the Amboy food bank that helped 8184 people in 2007. FACT we have a Police Athletic League who is helping reach hundreds of kids in Levy and Rose City through Volunteerism FACT We have people who help each other through trying times. We have two neighborhood groups that are hugely affecting the area. And the list goes on and on.
What have we done for or neighborhood? nothing short of everything.

Wait until his travel budget is revealed. Wait until his little hidey holes of money are discovered.

When are we gonna hear an explanation about the $7 million in hiding?

Ok, I agree with you that say alot of this responsibility belongs to the residents of our area. One area that some of you may consider is that Levy, Rose City and Baring Cross do have alot of rental. Most of the Section 8 (which the Mayor does have control over) are in these areas. Check out the 20 percent rule in the city, you will see the pattern.

For alot of us we are trying to do something and yes it will be a challenge to encourage and get more participation. We are doing good things and will continue. I love the people of Levy, Rose City and Baring Cross, these are some very strong people and think of it this way, it would be much worse if it werent for these people.

I for one am proud of the people of Lakewood, Argenta, Park Hill, these people have also stood their ground, got in there and got what was coming to them. They have worked hard for what they have and in my opinion no one should be dare be saying that they get more than they deserve.

We can learn from each other and have in the past year. We have good relationships with people from all over NLR and we will keep going.

Nick, good perspective. I have mentioned on here before about slum lords or land lords in those areas.

BDD,

I wasn't really addressing you or your giving the most to the fireman fund. I was addressing Levy Lover, however, since you brought it up. Don't react to everything so defensively. We are all in this together.

BTW, the police athletic league was founded by people who live in parkhill and lakewood. Just thought you ought to know.

And, I didn't know owning a business in your neighborhood gives you autonomy over everyone else. Money and time can also mean donating or helping out. Bow wow wow yippee you yippee yay.

You just dont get it do you. I'm really glad for you to be able to have aldermen you can count on. I just wish you wouldn't run down things you obviously know nothing about. You could not know until you lived here, and observed what we have. Look back at the record and see for yourself. its all public record. CC meetings for example are archived, and easily found on the internet.
By the way its Bow wow wow yippee yo yippee yay.

Shame.

I'm a little late to the party, but I caught up quickly. Here's what I've learned: "Neener, neener, neener!" "Oh yeah, you're another!" "Don't take it so bad when I spit in your face!" "Spit in my face, will you; I'll make water on your yard!" "I let that arrogant slob know he was a good-for-nothing incompetent, and he wasn't nice to me!" "Hey, can't one of you jerks fix my sewers? I'm having to find blogs and places to spread my crap!"

Please, before posting, read you comments aloud and imagine they were the last words you would ever say to the best friend who saved your life once, or maybe to a grandchild, or heck, even to your dog. If those aren't the words you'd want to be remembered by, please stop and find a better way.

The snarling dogs are the ones you whack on the butt and tie up in the back where no one has to deal with them. Maybe you all feel you've been tied up out back long enough. Well, most of us feel like the little guy most of the time and we want someone to listen.

But this doesn't come off as "save our streets and help our children." This is "pay attention to me, because I deserve it."

Please take yourselves seriously and turn the heat off.

I would like to see a list of travel expenses for each of the Aldermen/Alderwomen as well as the Mayor.
I doubt that anyone would single out Alderman John Parker so as to "pick on" him, if it has been a common practice for
the Aldermen/Alderwomen to travel for special events and meetings.

The problem we have encountered is that
the electric contract was increased by
over 100 per cent. Reserve funds had to
be spent in order to bring the residential
ratepayer increase to 38 per cent.

Common sense would tell us that until
this situation is brought under control,
there should be a limit on all lavish
spending, or spending that is not for
a priority item.

The citizens of Ward 3 are mostly low to
moderate income level and small businesses. Alderman Parker should realize that in order to "connect with"
the voters in his Ward, he must understand
their concerns.

I did hear Alderman Parker say that he
would cancel his travel plans, if that's
what the people wanted. I counted about
28-29 persons present at the Amboy Crime
Watch Meeting.

(Name Removed Upon Request),
Please get your facts straight before Commenting. Yes there were only 28 people at the beginning of the meeting. I did not count them. The number was confirmed today by one of the Members. It was counted as the meeting started. Several came in after that and they were no counted.
Also Mr Parker at first sadi he would cancel the upcoming event in Orlando then a couple minutes later said he would not, that it would benefit him to much to do that.
If you are so eager to get your hands on information I would suggest you go and get it yourself. I have told you many times. people are not going to do your research for you.