Article:

http://www.wave3.com/global/story.asp?s=8421634

Out of all the Councilmen serving Louisville I’ve seen Doug Hawkins stepping up time and time again in the cities best interests. This is another in a long line of legislature and issues with heavy community impact that the city council has not been taking seriously.
The botched Animal ordinance, allocating city funds for businesses around canceled development, the poor handling of the smoking ban jurisdictions, the ludicrous waste of time and money that is the tranz fat ban ordinance and benefits from public funds for illegals are all issues that Hawkins has tried time and time again to ask the city council to consider or at the very least open to the opinion of the public which they concern.

I noticed this article which explains the situation perfectly:


http://hosse.blogspot.com/2007/12/louisville-metro-soviet.html

“The Louisville Metro Council has devolved from a group of civic minded individuals interested in doing what’s best for the community at large into a lockstep bureaucratic perfunctory organization determined to manage our lives, and often at the behest of the "Mayor-for-Life". Instead of addressing a specific issue about certain dogs and their owners, it chose to punish all pet owners with a blanket ordinance. Instead of allowing businesses the option of being smoking or nonsmoking, and individuals the choice to work at or patronize these businesses, they made the blanket decision for everyone for our collective good. Instead of allowing individuals the choice of what they eat, Metro Council has decided they will pick our foods for us. If this isn’t the definition of the word “soviet”, I don’t know what is.”

I’m starting to think that more of Louisville’s problems stem from the people running the city rather then those living in it.
But then again, who elected these people?
Something I’ve always wondered is how they got elected in the first place.

quote:

Originally posted by Justin La Plante:
Article:

http://www.wave3.com/global/story.asp?s=8421634

Out of all the Councilmen serving Louisville I’ve seen Doug Hawkins stepping up time and time again in the cities best interests. This is another in a long line of legislature and issues with heavy community impact that the city council has not been taking seriously.
The botched Animal ordinance, allocating city funds for businesses around canceled development, the poor handling of the smoking ban jurisdictions, the ludicrous waste of time and money that is the tranz fat ban ordinance and benefits from public funds for illegals are all issues that Hawkins has tried time and time again to ask the city council to consider or at the very least open to the opinion of the public which they concern.

It's too bad Hawkins doesn't have the support of any experts in the matter. Since he's not an expert either, his interests aren't for the "good of the community" if the experts say there's no threat. His interests become politically motivated and I have a hard time supporting his sky is falling approach to win support.

Time to give it up unless he can back it up with something more substantial than some worst case scenario that even the experts shoot down.

quote:

Originally posted by Justin La Plante:
Article:


I noticed this article which explains the situation perfectly:


http://hosse.blogspot.com/2007/12/louisville-metro-soviet.html

“The Louisville Metro Council has devolved from a group of civic minded individuals interested in doing what’s best for the community at large into a lockstep bureaucratic perfunctory organization determined to manage our lives, and often at the behest of the "Mayor-for-Life". Instead of addressing a specific issue about certain dogs and their owners, it chose to punish all pet owners with a blanket ordinance. Instead of allowing businesses the option of being smoking or nonsmoking, and individuals the choice to work at or patronize these businesses, they made the blanket decision for everyone for our collective good. Instead of allowing individuals the choice of what they eat, Metro Council has decided they will pick our foods for us. If this isn’t the definition of the word “soviet”, I don’t know what is.”

I think people know where I stand with the smoking issue, I found his argument humorous when you substitute asbestos for smoking. Funny stuff Hosse, the same garbage can be applied to ANY regulated safety precaution: Stay out of our business Big Brother! We want the option to choose salmonella tainted foods, shoddy construction codes (or none would be better!), and the ability to stay off the roads if we don't want to get hit by a drunk driver!

Let's assume turnabout is fair play in this case. Mr Hosse (or his supporters for the sake of this thread) makes this stand:

quote:

the last I heard, we have employment at will in this Commonwealth. This means that if individuals know that the place where they’re seeking employment allows smoking and if that’s a problem, they can and should look elsewhere. Finally, patrons understand that certain establishments may have more smoking than others (like bars and taverns). If that’s an issue, you might want to try patronizing another establishment.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander right? Ok, the same applies to smokers. They can, and should seek employment at jobs where smoking is allowed. Feel free to leave metro louisville too, that's your right. You have the option to work/live elsewhere that allows smoking, please do so.

As long as tax payers foot the medical bill for smoking and second hand smoking related health issues, this IS a metro government issue. It's a dead horse issue, one that places ALL the sacrifice on the one group who ISN'T smoking. Let the smokers make take the extra steps if they want to pursue their addiction.

He got it right about Churchill Downs exemption.


Hosse is good at regurgitating the same old tired complaints (nothing unique, even when it was posted back in 2007), but I don't think it really sheds any new light on the current subject. In fact, the most enlightening point he made in his article was this:

quote:

Not so secret was Doug Hawkins’ attempt to bring illegal immigration to the Metro Council’s attention. Hawkins failed in his efforts, which really didn’t surprise me due to his lack of preparation. Doug needed more specific proposals than he brought to the table such as making English the official language of Metro Government and its agencies or imposing stiff penalties on any business or agency that harbors or employs illegal aliens. Despite federal laws to the contrary, there are local businesses and groups who defy existing laws on aiding illegals.

I agree more needs to be done about the immigration problems we face, but making English the official language of our government? Hosse's version of America:
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

P.S., make sure they speak English."


I disagree.

This issue about the explosives storage facility is much ado about nothing. A 2 1/2 gallon of gasoline would have more explosive potential than the materials kept at this proposed location. This is nothing more than a bad case of NIMBY (not in my backyard).

quote:

Originally posted by French Toast:
This issue about the explosives storage facility is much ado about nothing. A 2 1/2 gallon of gasoline would have more explosive potential than the materials kept at this proposed location. This is nothing more than a bad case of NIMBY (not in my backyard).

I spent all that time typing and u said the same thing in a paragraph. No wonder i always wait for you to post first.

Your right, this guy is an ill prepared blowhard gunning for public support in election runs.
There is another point of concern in all of this though. Just how much money does this non-issue take or give to the public coffers?
Who was that other Republican on Louisville’s city council? The one who wanted the mayor’s office to hold off on handing our money for those businesses around the postponed art center/condo development?