Mid-Missouri Advocacy Coalition
"All Aboard!! The Columbia Star Discrimination Train begins its maiden run on 15 July 2011 .... nothing like taking 10 steps backwards"
"Demonstration planned 15 July 2011 at Columbia COLT RR Depot @ 6PM, Columbia MO ... Off Brown Station Rd and Route B .... make your signs and come join the demonstrartion in protest of the city of Columbia using tax $$ to subsidize an inaccessible business venture .... or if you like, you may wish to include the train itself as being inaccessible.
I like the idea someonbe had .... buy a ticket and have the news people be there to report when I am turned away because the train does not include wheelchair/walker access ..."
I believe it may send a double message .... no access and another veteran left behind, might be worth the $70 just to make a point ... since I am both a veteran and a wheelchair user ... I certainly am considering it
I believe another good idea would be for 15 wheelchair users to buy tickets for each run .... then when they cant get on the train there will be 15 empty places for several initial runs
Source:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/john-hinten/all-aboard-the-columbia-star-discrimination-train-is-pulling-out/10150304181670033
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Disinformation about the parking at and near Paquin Tower
Residents of Paquin Street told KOMU 8 Friday the parking meters installed this week there are an unncessary inconvenience. "I was really pissed off that they were put here, this is a resident area," said Paquin Tower resident Charles Fair. "What if a person living in the towers has a day off and they park on this street? They have to keep feeding the meter or they get a ticket."
The parking meters were installed about a week shy of a parking rate increase effective July 1st. Downtown meters will increase from 30 cents to 60 cents an hour. To buy and install the meters, it cost $840 dollars. The meters could generate an annual revenue of $1,840.
Paquin Street visitors also expressed their frustration. "It's going to be more stressful, now I have to pay to see my brother," said Brandon Lynes, who visits his brother regularly at Paquin Tower. "It's enough that my brother has to pay rent to stay, he shouldn't have to pay to park."
Source:
http://www.komu.com/news/residents-annoyed-by-new-meters-on-paquin/
My two responses to KOMU on this issue that are posted to their main web site page and to their Facebook page.
Mr Fair will not have to worry about parking next to one of these meters when the new parking lot behind Paquin Tower is completed soon. The old parking lot had to be tore up for the entire new installation of the Geo Thermal Project for Paquin tower and Mr Fair should have been issued a parking pass by the manager of Paquin Tower so he could park in the University Street parking Garage or he could have used the free parking along Waugh Street.
The same goes for Mr Brandon Lynes too.
Obviously they were not telling the reporter here "The Rest Of The Story".
Ashley Zavala sorry I was late in getting your message about wanting to talk to me. I could have given you the complete and totally true story about this issue unlike the two citizens you did interview. You are obviously not getting all of the story. If you would like to do a "follow up" just contact me via Face Book messaging or Sarah Hill has my email.
After watching the video that was not up early last night those two gentlemen obviously are not educated in the entire situation. Those two gentlemen just spread the two biggest lies ever about this issue. The only reason there has been no visitor or resident parking available at Paquin Tower is due to the reasons I stated in my last post. Disinformation like these two told the reporter is why reporters need to check their stories before they go on the air.
How could these two not know about the parking issues when there have been notices plastered all over Paquin Tower since the Geo Thermal project began!!
The parking meters were installed about a week shy of a parking rate increase effective July 1st. Downtown meters will increase from 30 cents to 60 cents an hour. To buy and install the meters, it cost $840 dollars. The meters could generate an annual revenue of $1,840.
Paquin Street visitors also expressed their frustration. "It's going to be more stressful, now I have to pay to see my brother," said Brandon Lynes, who visits his brother regularly at Paquin Tower. "It's enough that my brother has to pay rent to stay, he shouldn't have to pay to park."
Source:
http://www.komu.com/news/residents-annoyed-by-new-meters-on-paquin/
My two responses to KOMU on this issue that are posted to their main web site page and to their Facebook page.
Mr Fair will not have to worry about parking next to one of these meters when the new parking lot behind Paquin Tower is completed soon. The old parking lot had to be tore up for the entire new installation of the Geo Thermal Project for Paquin tower and Mr Fair should have been issued a parking pass by the manager of Paquin Tower so he could park in the University Street parking Garage or he could have used the free parking along Waugh Street.
The same goes for Mr Brandon Lynes too.
Obviously they were not telling the reporter here "The Rest Of The Story".
Ashley Zavala sorry I was late in getting your message about wanting to talk to me. I could have given you the complete and totally true story about this issue unlike the two citizens you did interview. You are obviously not getting all of the story. If you would like to do a "follow up" just contact me via Face Book messaging or Sarah Hill has my email.
After watching the video that was not up early last night those two gentlemen obviously are not educated in the entire situation. Those two gentlemen just spread the two biggest lies ever about this issue. The only reason there has been no visitor or resident parking available at Paquin Tower is due to the reasons I stated in my last post. Disinformation like these two told the reporter is why reporters need to check their stories before they go on the air.
How could these two not know about the parking issues when there have been notices plastered all over Paquin Tower since the Geo Thermal project began!!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Racial bias claim halts Section 8 program in L.A.
Facing a lawsuit alleging racism, county officials have temporarily stopped a program that was allegedly targeting Antelope Valley minorities on public housing assistance by subjecting them to extra inspections and police harassment.
The county imposed a 90-day moratorium on the program last week, so that the allegations of racism could be investigated, and the Board of Supervisors upheld that decision Tuesday.
Officials in Palmdale and Lancaster acknowledged they were getting tough on recipients of Section 8 public housing assistance, but denied it was racially motivated. Instead, they said, it was an effort to root out fraud and reduce crime.
Lancaster Mayor Rex Parris predicted that ending the program will lead to an increase in crime, including rape and murder.
"I don't know how many people are going to be victimized but I know for a fact there will be," he said. "There will be children killed, there will be people murdered, women raped, because now we're not allowed to do something we know that works."
But Maria Palomares, an attorney with Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County, said the moratorium is a "great first step toward making the community a welcoming community."
Her organization is part of a group that sued the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale on June 7 over aggressive "compliance checks" which supporters said were aimed at rooting out fraud in the use of Section 8 vouchers, but which
critics said was intended to intimidate and drive out minorities.
"We heard stories over and over and over again about how sheriffs would show up with the investigators (from the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles) - 10 officers with guns drawn," Palomares said.
Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford denied having an ulterior motive for ordering the compliance checks.
"We are not a community of racists," he told the board. "We believe that this program is accomplishing several goals in our community, certainly one of compliance with the rules."
HACoLA Executive Director Sean Rogan testified that even with the moratorium in place, law enforcement would not be hampered.
"If it's a policing matter, (deputies) will be able to investigate the facts of that policing matter," Rogan said. "If a household, whether it be Section 8 or non-Section 8, for example, is suspected of having guns or drugs, the police can investigate that as they would any matter."
There are more than 20,000 families receiving Section 8 vouchers in Los Angeles County, and about 3,500 of them - almost 17 percent - are in Lancaster and Palmdale. Of those Antelope Valley recipients, 86 percent are African-American or Latino.
Supervisor Michael Antonovich defended the need for enforcement of Section 8 rules.
"Individuals who cheat the system are not only ripping off the taxpayer, they are depriving the needy, the disabled and the elderly a place in the program," he added. "The Section 8 program wait list is currently closed and there is a backlog of some 10,000 deserving individuals."
Antonovich said of the 126 Section 8 vouchers that investigators recommended for termination in the past year, 39 were for narcotics violations; 37 for unauthorized tenants; 38 for criminal activity; 26 for unreported income; three for providing false information; and one for a nuisance violation.
Sheldon Carter, one of dozens of Antelope Valley residents bused in to testify before the board, said he was tired of his taxpayer money being abused by people fraudulently benefiting from Section 8.
"This is not a racial issue," said Carter, who is African-American. "It is a color issue. The color is green and it's my dollars."
But several Section 8 recipients, who testified remotely from the Lancaster library, said they did not deserve to be "harassed."
Bobby Collins, an African-American woman, said her home was raided, and members of her family were falsely accused of crimes so they could be disqualified from Section 8.
"They put so many false accusations in the paper about us, (such as) I stole cars, I stole jewelry, I robbed this, I did that," Collins said. "All of those was lies ... You put me through hell."
Source:
http://www.dailynews.com/ci_18325425?source=most_viewed
The county imposed a 90-day moratorium on the program last week, so that the allegations of racism could be investigated, and the Board of Supervisors upheld that decision Tuesday.
Officials in Palmdale and Lancaster acknowledged they were getting tough on recipients of Section 8 public housing assistance, but denied it was racially motivated. Instead, they said, it was an effort to root out fraud and reduce crime.
Lancaster Mayor Rex Parris predicted that ending the program will lead to an increase in crime, including rape and murder.
"I don't know how many people are going to be victimized but I know for a fact there will be," he said. "There will be children killed, there will be people murdered, women raped, because now we're not allowed to do something we know that works."
But Maria Palomares, an attorney with Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County, said the moratorium is a "great first step toward making the community a welcoming community."
Her organization is part of a group that sued the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale on June 7 over aggressive "compliance checks" which supporters said were aimed at rooting out fraud in the use of Section 8 vouchers, but which
critics said was intended to intimidate and drive out minorities.
"We heard stories over and over and over again about how sheriffs would show up with the investigators (from the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles) - 10 officers with guns drawn," Palomares said.
Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford denied having an ulterior motive for ordering the compliance checks.
"We are not a community of racists," he told the board. "We believe that this program is accomplishing several goals in our community, certainly one of compliance with the rules."
HACoLA Executive Director Sean Rogan testified that even with the moratorium in place, law enforcement would not be hampered.
"If it's a policing matter, (deputies) will be able to investigate the facts of that policing matter," Rogan said. "If a household, whether it be Section 8 or non-Section 8, for example, is suspected of having guns or drugs, the police can investigate that as they would any matter."
There are more than 20,000 families receiving Section 8 vouchers in Los Angeles County, and about 3,500 of them - almost 17 percent - are in Lancaster and Palmdale. Of those Antelope Valley recipients, 86 percent are African-American or Latino.
Supervisor Michael Antonovich defended the need for enforcement of Section 8 rules.
"Individuals who cheat the system are not only ripping off the taxpayer, they are depriving the needy, the disabled and the elderly a place in the program," he added. "The Section 8 program wait list is currently closed and there is a backlog of some 10,000 deserving individuals."
Antonovich said of the 126 Section 8 vouchers that investigators recommended for termination in the past year, 39 were for narcotics violations; 37 for unauthorized tenants; 38 for criminal activity; 26 for unreported income; three for providing false information; and one for a nuisance violation.
Sheldon Carter, one of dozens of Antelope Valley residents bused in to testify before the board, said he was tired of his taxpayer money being abused by people fraudulently benefiting from Section 8.
"This is not a racial issue," said Carter, who is African-American. "It is a color issue. The color is green and it's my dollars."
But several Section 8 recipients, who testified remotely from the Lancaster library, said they did not deserve to be "harassed."
Bobby Collins, an African-American woman, said her home was raided, and members of her family were falsely accused of crimes so they could be disqualified from Section 8.
"They put so many false accusations in the paper about us, (such as) I stole cars, I stole jewelry, I robbed this, I did that," Collins said. "All of those was lies ... You put me through hell."
Source:
http://www.dailynews.com/ci_18325425?source=most_viewed
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
City installs parking meters on Paquin Street
The sound of coins clinking against metal can now be heard along Paquin Street following the installation of new parking meters.
The City Council approved an ordinance at its June 6 meeting allowing for the placement of the meters, Columbia Supervising Traffic Engineer Scott Bitterman said.
The goal of the new meters is to create turnover so one car does not occupy a spot for days or weeks at a time, Bitterman said.
The meters cost $840 to purchase and install, and they could generate an annual revenue of $1,840, a figure expected to rise following the increase in parking rates effective July 1, Bitterman said.
Kerby Mitchell, who owns properties on Paquin, told Bitterman that it is difficult to enter and exit properties because cars park too close to the driveways between houses, and Mitchell said he thought meters would help.
However, several tenants along Paquin Street and one property owner oppose the new meters, Bitterman said.
In an e-mail to Bitterman, Elliot Ewert, a tenant on Paquin Street, said the argument that meters will prevent cars from occupying spaces for long periods of time is an “illusory alleviation” and that the proposal establishes an “infringement upon (tenants') economic means,” according to documents presented to the council.
Nina Furstenau, who occasionally parks on Paquin, said she is disappointed parking meters were installed, especially since parking prices are already rising in The District. However, Furstenau said she understands why the measure was taken.
“They have to do it,” she said. “It’s one of those necessary evils.”
Source:
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/06/21/city-installs-parking-meters-paquin-street/
The City Council approved an ordinance at its June 6 meeting allowing for the placement of the meters, Columbia Supervising Traffic Engineer Scott Bitterman said.
The goal of the new meters is to create turnover so one car does not occupy a spot for days or weeks at a time, Bitterman said.
The meters cost $840 to purchase and install, and they could generate an annual revenue of $1,840, a figure expected to rise following the increase in parking rates effective July 1, Bitterman said.
Kerby Mitchell, who owns properties on Paquin, told Bitterman that it is difficult to enter and exit properties because cars park too close to the driveways between houses, and Mitchell said he thought meters would help.
However, several tenants along Paquin Street and one property owner oppose the new meters, Bitterman said.
In an e-mail to Bitterman, Elliot Ewert, a tenant on Paquin Street, said the argument that meters will prevent cars from occupying spaces for long periods of time is an “illusory alleviation” and that the proposal establishes an “infringement upon (tenants') economic means,” according to documents presented to the council.
Nina Furstenau, who occasionally parks on Paquin, said she is disappointed parking meters were installed, especially since parking prices are already rising in The District. However, Furstenau said she understands why the measure was taken.
“They have to do it,” she said. “It’s one of those necessary evils.”
Source:
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/06/21/city-installs-parking-meters-paquin-street/
Thursday, June 16, 2011
What do YOU need to improve YOUR quality of life?
The Columbia Disabilities Commission is soliciting input from persons with disabilities regarding ways in which the City can be more helpful in serving its citizens with disabilities. The Commission would especially appreciate hearing from persons who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing, have affective or cognitive disabilities, or represent families with a member who has a disability.
There are many ways to communicate with the Commission:
1) email: disabilitymedia@centurytel.net
2) phone: 573-446-0441
3) in person by attending a Disabilities Commission meeting and sharing your concerns.
The Commission meets the second Thursday of each month at 3:00 P. M. at the Walton Building, 300 S. Providence Rd. All members of the public are welcome.
Homer Page
Chairperson of the Columbia Disabilities Commission
Source Link:
http://www.disabilitiesforum.net/2011/06/what-do-you-need-to-improve-your.html
There are many ways to communicate with the Commission:
1) email: disabilitymedia@centurytel.net
2) phone: 573-446-0441
3) in person by attending a Disabilities Commission meeting and sharing your concerns.
The Commission meets the second Thursday of each month at 3:00 P. M. at the Walton Building, 300 S. Providence Rd. All members of the public are welcome.
Homer Page
Chairperson of the Columbia Disabilities Commission
Source Link:
http://www.disabilitiesforum.net/2011/06/what-do-you-need-to-improve-your.html
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
It is just good politics
WHEN THE PEOPLE LOSE ALL FAITH IN THEIR GOVERNMENT! It is time for the citizens to install a new government!
So it is with the Paquin Tower Resident Association board of officers.
That process might be long in coming but rest assured it is moving forward solidly so ALL of you the residents/members of the Paquin Tower Residents Association are severed and respected as you should be.
So it is with the Paquin Tower Resident Association board of officers.
That process might be long in coming but rest assured it is moving forward solidly so ALL of you the residents/members of the Paquin Tower Residents Association are severed and respected as you should be.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Portable Ice Makers
Residents in Paquin Tower have been wanting Ice Cubes because it is Summer and one of our residents showed me the Portable Ice Maker he bought for himself and has given me the link to the information.
Main Site:
http://www.air-n-water.com/
Portable Ice Makers:
http://www.air-n-water.com/ice-maker.htm
Hope you find this informational.
Main Site:
http://www.air-n-water.com/
Portable Ice Makers:
http://www.air-n-water.com/ice-maker.htm
Hope you find this informational.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Paquin Tower Times Updates 6 6 2011
It has been a little bit since I have done an all around update of things going on all around Paquin Tower so let me see if I can catch it all up to the present.
The Geo Thermal Project is a little bit behind schedule but the companies involved are doing their best to get caught up,back on schedule and to have everything completed by the Mid November completion date.
The rear parking lot is now having all of the Geo Thermal Lateral Piping installed as it needs to be so the entire "Geo Thermal Well Field" can be hooked up to the building system itself. The rear parking lot should be able to be repaved sometime near the end of June if all works out then residents and visitors can once again park on CHA property instead of using the neighborhood curbs and parking garages.
The Heating/Cooling Units are being installed into the the Resident Units but the next step will be drilling the needed holes for all of the various piping. Just more construction noise to be made.
The Air Conditioning for the lobby and hall ways is also hopefully to be completed in 30 days but as we know feeling that cool air will be believing it. Not many people are hanging out in the lobby due to NO air circulation and even CHA Staff have small Air Conditioners in their offices but are keeping their doors closed so they can perform their jobs with out the added heat and construction noise.
The PTRA Officers are slowly learning their jobs in this(let me emphasize)"short interim government" but snags are being hit and huge cavernous holes in the road have opened due to the President that was elected is always in conflict with the other officers.
The President is not willing to learn what is needed to help all of the officers,the President is alienating the other officers,the President has tried to go around ie: and or re dig up,restart,put into action once again issues/projects voted upon in past meetings that were passed by a Quorum Vote to discontinue due to issues where these activities needed to be closed down for good.
The President has told certain residents they cannot be in the PTRA Office unless they are there to buy something only(which is totally wrong on so many levels because that office belongs to all of the residents),the President has verbally harassed other residents needlessly,spread false accusations and more. The President is not upholding the service and responsibility of his office. In short the President is not willing to listen to older residents who have been living at Paquin Tower far longer that he has. The President has only lived at Paquin Tower roughly 4 months. Also this source has heard first hand in person right from the President's very own mouth state openly he wants to get into Section 8 ASAP so my next question is why does he even want to be in office to begin with?
So what we have is the same old song and dance of a PTRA President on a power trip over his officers and over the residents and it just shows that this President does not stand for the residents but only for himself. This will not be tolerated by the residents who want government from the bottom up and not the top down nor by the other officers whom the President is alienating.
The over all opinion of all of the residents plus others talked to is that the current President is not fit nor has he the competence to serve as President of the PTRA in this interim government until the next election cycle which is to begin in August.
As of this time there was a Recall Petition that was openly circulated that gained the needed 20 signatures ie:quorum vote(22 signed and there were still more who wanted to sign) in about 3 hours and this was returned to the CHA Resident Services Coordinator for approval which latter mentioned CHA Staff member did approve and the official recall notice is now posted openly on all floors and the recall vote will be on July 6th at a special meeting.
I think that catches us up to all of the major issues with in Paquin Tower at this time. This blog is dedicated to telling the REAL STORY of what goes on in our microcosm of our much bigger society we all live in and will continue to do so.
During the coming next election cycle beginning in August many have asked me if I am going to run for any office again and to those asking I say if you nominate me I will run and do the best I can in that office you elect me into but it is up to you the residents to vote me into that office you nominate me for.
The only reason I lost this last time in my run for President was due to a smear campaign started by Debbie Miner,Don Burket and a few residents over a past Felony Conviction I had on my record which I have done all of the things required by law and am now a free citizen and have been since 2006. They started this smear camping just to get the current President into office to keep the PTRA in conflict and to hinder and stop any real changes that will help all of the residents. Residents though have seen what happened when the current President was voted in. The result the Special Recall Vote Meeting. Residents are waking up.
Also it does not matter whether I win or lose to me because as many residents have told me in discussions that I am just as effective whether I am on the outside looking in or on the inside working for change. Either or does not matter because my voice and opinions are still heard and respected.
Peace and much love.
Charles E Dudley Jr
1201 Paquin St
#1209
Columbia Missouri
65201
Paquin Tower Times Owner/Administrator.
The Geo Thermal Project is a little bit behind schedule but the companies involved are doing their best to get caught up,back on schedule and to have everything completed by the Mid November completion date.
The rear parking lot is now having all of the Geo Thermal Lateral Piping installed as it needs to be so the entire "Geo Thermal Well Field" can be hooked up to the building system itself. The rear parking lot should be able to be repaved sometime near the end of June if all works out then residents and visitors can once again park on CHA property instead of using the neighborhood curbs and parking garages.
The Heating/Cooling Units are being installed into the the Resident Units but the next step will be drilling the needed holes for all of the various piping. Just more construction noise to be made.
The Air Conditioning for the lobby and hall ways is also hopefully to be completed in 30 days but as we know feeling that cool air will be believing it. Not many people are hanging out in the lobby due to NO air circulation and even CHA Staff have small Air Conditioners in their offices but are keeping their doors closed so they can perform their jobs with out the added heat and construction noise.
The PTRA Officers are slowly learning their jobs in this(let me emphasize)"short interim government" but snags are being hit and huge cavernous holes in the road have opened due to the President that was elected is always in conflict with the other officers.
The President is not willing to learn what is needed to help all of the officers,the President is alienating the other officers,the President has tried to go around ie: and or re dig up,restart,put into action once again issues/projects voted upon in past meetings that were passed by a Quorum Vote to discontinue due to issues where these activities needed to be closed down for good.
The President has told certain residents they cannot be in the PTRA Office unless they are there to buy something only(which is totally wrong on so many levels because that office belongs to all of the residents),the President has verbally harassed other residents needlessly,spread false accusations and more. The President is not upholding the service and responsibility of his office. In short the President is not willing to listen to older residents who have been living at Paquin Tower far longer that he has. The President has only lived at Paquin Tower roughly 4 months. Also this source has heard first hand in person right from the President's very own mouth state openly he wants to get into Section 8 ASAP so my next question is why does he even want to be in office to begin with?
So what we have is the same old song and dance of a PTRA President on a power trip over his officers and over the residents and it just shows that this President does not stand for the residents but only for himself. This will not be tolerated by the residents who want government from the bottom up and not the top down nor by the other officers whom the President is alienating.
The over all opinion of all of the residents plus others talked to is that the current President is not fit nor has he the competence to serve as President of the PTRA in this interim government until the next election cycle which is to begin in August.
As of this time there was a Recall Petition that was openly circulated that gained the needed 20 signatures ie:quorum vote(22 signed and there were still more who wanted to sign) in about 3 hours and this was returned to the CHA Resident Services Coordinator for approval which latter mentioned CHA Staff member did approve and the official recall notice is now posted openly on all floors and the recall vote will be on July 6th at a special meeting.
I think that catches us up to all of the major issues with in Paquin Tower at this time. This blog is dedicated to telling the REAL STORY of what goes on in our microcosm of our much bigger society we all live in and will continue to do so.
During the coming next election cycle beginning in August many have asked me if I am going to run for any office again and to those asking I say if you nominate me I will run and do the best I can in that office you elect me into but it is up to you the residents to vote me into that office you nominate me for.
The only reason I lost this last time in my run for President was due to a smear campaign started by Debbie Miner,Don Burket and a few residents over a past Felony Conviction I had on my record which I have done all of the things required by law and am now a free citizen and have been since 2006. They started this smear camping just to get the current President into office to keep the PTRA in conflict and to hinder and stop any real changes that will help all of the residents. Residents though have seen what happened when the current President was voted in. The result the Special Recall Vote Meeting. Residents are waking up.
Also it does not matter whether I win or lose to me because as many residents have told me in discussions that I am just as effective whether I am on the outside looking in or on the inside working for change. Either or does not matter because my voice and opinions are still heard and respected.
Peace and much love.
Charles E Dudley Jr
1201 Paquin St
#1209
Columbia Missouri
65201
Paquin Tower Times Owner/Administrator.
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