Political satire, 2011 style. (Please click here for the U-tube video.)

On this one I am going to give the following disclaimer. If your a rabid fan of Mr. Obama, or if your not able to set aside your political feelings for the Democrat party, I strongly suggest you not watch this video. However if you (like me) enjoy the political satire no matter what side it's on, enjoy.

So without further eloquence, here it is.


Tom Ford

NO. 881

Pulaski Bank wants "new deal" for failed retail center, (click here for the Call story.)

A lot of folks on his blog like to bring up "socialism" when it comes to what they believe is the right thing to do. I am wondering if this little deal could be a snapshot of "socialism," or would you call it corporate greed ?

Here we have a bank that made a loan to a developer in good faith, and after they did their due diligence (I guess,) and the developer for what ever reason failed to complete the project and the Bank got it back. This is not uncommon in todays business climate what with the economy in the tank and getting worse.

All that said, do we the taxpayers really need to bail out the bank ? Crestwood already has one of the highest tax rates in some areas (over 9%) thanks to TIF, TDD, CID programs that seemed like a good idea at the time, but now have pushed many shoppers out of our area,

You tell me what we should do with this. And while your at it, please call your Alderman and tell them what you think, because as Mr. Elliott Davis would say "You paid for it !"


Tom Ford

NO. 880

Tornado death toll at 300 plus. (click here for the story.)

Have you contributed to the storm victims in the South yet ? (I have.) If you would please click on the header you will see see of the devastation these folks have endured.

They will need all of our help and prayers to pull through this tragic event, so maybe this weekend you could send a small donation to the Red Cross, or other agency's that are helping these UN-fortunate Americans.

It's time that we ALL pull together and not wait for the Government to show up with too little, too late as they normally do.


Tom Ford

NO. 879

IAFF firefighters UNION SHIFTS TO "LOCAL" ELECTIONS, TROUBLE IN PARADISE ? (click here for the story please.)

The Firefighters international union (IAFF) has decided to shift it's strategy to State and local elections to try to shore up their faltering union presence. We just came off an election where the IAFF had a large presence at the polls and it did them no good what so ever.

Can it be that the era of public sector unions is coming to an end ? F.D.R said that there was no room in the public sector for union activity and I happen to believe he was right. Private businesses can do as they please, but in the public sector there can be no "strike," or stand downs, or slow downs as it effects the general welfare of the Nation as a whole.

What say you ?

Tom Ford

NO. 878

Agenda for the Board Of Alderman Meeting on Tuesday April 26, 2011 (please click here)

This coming Tuesday marks the changing of the guard so to speak as Mayor Robinson turns the gavel over to newly elected Mayor Jeff Schlink. Historic? perhaps not, but it does represent a new dawn for Crestwood as well as a new direction.

Please mark your calender to be there at 7:00 PM when outgoing Mayor Robinson is honored for his six years of service to Crestwood, and Mayor Schlink is sworn in. Mayor Schlink is taking the reins during a very trying time in our economy and to that end I offer a prayer for his success.

Heavenly Father, as we embark on a new era for our beloved community, we humbly ask for your blessing for our newly elected Mayor. Father please bestow upon him and our other elected officials courage, wisdom and strength during their deliberations so that our community may prosper,

AMEN

Tom Ford

NO. 877

My congratulations to the new animal control officer !

Wow ! The old animal control officer retired some time ago, and to date we have seen not one feral cat, or water buffalo, or vicious elephant roaming the streets of Crestwood attempting to wreak havoc with the citizenry !

Oh wait, The new animal control officer has not yet started and yet were not being inundated with any feline or canine, or fowl problems, How can that be ? Were we not told that without the animal control officer we were one step away from appearing on wild kingdom ? Was it not the case that our Police Department would be shooting the animals as someone said Webster and Kirkwood did ?

Is it possible that we really do not need to spend the money we so sorely need elsewhere for a service that doesn't seem to matter (other than to special interest groups ?) Let's examine the facts here, your Vet. gives you the rabies tags, St. Louis County send you notification of the need for the vaccination, and they have an entire division devoted to animal control. No matter what the special interests say this is a duplication we can ill afford !

I believe it's time we revisited this position and if we have in fact hired someone to fill it look at other possible uses for that employee and save the vehicle insurance, gasoline costs, and costly maintenance.


Now what to do with that little house in White Cliff park that is not anywhere near meeting the BOCA 2010 code known as the animal shelter ? Again I would look to St. Louis County to take it over as a south county shelter and possibly man it with the volunteers we have in Crestwood.

Time to think about cutting spending and improving Crestwood's bottom line folks while we still have the chance. Unless you missed it there is a financial train wreck coming, and we must be ready to survive which translated to leaner and meaner.

Tom Ford

NO. 876

Sarah Palin wows audience in Wisconsin (click here for the story.)

I would like to read your thoughts on this weekend get together. I have no dog in this fight, but I do believe it will be most interesting to see just how Crestwoodians react to this.

Comments please (and remember, no nasty language.)


Tom Ford

NO. 875

Sarah Paddy Jones 75 years old ! (Please click here for the video.)

Way off topic, not about Crestwood, but great entertainment by a very great Lady !

Amazing to say the least, so the next time you think you may not be able to do ? Please re-play this video and give it a shot.

Correction please. I looked up Ginger Rogers and I now believe it was this Lady, (Sarah Paddy Jones) doing the dancing, and not Ms. Rogers. It appears that the U-Tube site was mis-labeled. Here is the Lady doing the "Salsa."


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjlyQEWyhQ8&feature=related

Tom Ford

NO. 874

And he wonders why he lost the election ! (click here for the "patch" story,)

Please tell me that were still in the United States of America. Please tell me that a citizen of this great Republic (and City) has the right of freedom of speech !

My God, what next from this man ? What segment of military service that told you to stifle free speech did I miss ? I always thought that we were supposed to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

That oath I and a lot of others took "without mental reservation, or purpose of evasion" was in effect then, and when I mustered out of the Navy it was not rescinded ! To the best of my knowledge it is still in effect today, and I intend to honor it !

The sort of disgusting behavior against a Crestwood Citizen, witnessed by Crestwood Citizens Tuesday night belongs in the Communist Bloc nations, not in Crestwood, and I condemn the very thought of it.

Thank God a change is forthcoming !

Tom Ford

NO. 873

The Board Of Alderman meeting on Tuesday, 4/12/11 (please click here, you won't believe it !)

Well I have seen and done a few things in my day but this "request" from City Administrator, Mr. Jim Eckrich takes the cake ! I dearly love the part where he says that after due consideration he has decided to recommend HIMSELF for the position of City Engineer !

Mr. Eckrich, you have a job, you asked for the job you now have, and unless I miss my guess we the citizens paid you handsomely to learn and grow into that job, no ?

Now you want to take a "huge" pay cut ($3,000.00 per year) and move back "down stairs" ? Why would that be sir ? Is the current position your in too stressful ? (No that can't be right, you wanted it in another town.) Please explain to me like I was a three year old why in the world anyone in his right mind would Grant you a gravy train position, a take home car, a huge amount of salary, to leave us open on the other end ?

We were all wondering why you didn't post the position when it became open, now we know. Can you honestly tell us that you should have held up the posting (I know it was not required to post it ) from the other employees of Crestwood ? Don't you think someone else may have wanted to apply ? Did you really think so little of our employees that you felt you were the "chosen one ?"

I speak for myself when I say that I believe we can wait awhile until we have a few applications for the job before we make a decision as to whom the best person would be to hire.

Tom Ford

NO. 872

CRESTWOOD HAS ELECTED A NEW MAYOR !

Well Ladies and gentlemen the sun rose in Crestwood this morning over a new mayor for all of us. We have a winner, and we have a person who while he tried as hard as he could did not make it this time out. I applaud both of them for their willingness to serve Crestwood, and in a larger sense their tireless pursuit of their goal.

We saw two entirely different men with two entirely different ideas of where Crestwood should be in the future, we studied each, we met each, we made a decision as to which to follow, and we voted for that man.

As we all know there can be only one Mayor at a time, and this time out the citizen's of Crestwood chose Mr. Jeff Schlink to lead us for the next three years. Mayor Schlink will need ALL our support, help and prayers to guide us through the troubled waters ahead, so I ask that each of us get behind him and our elected Board of Aldermen and do the things that will be best for Crestwood !

May God Bless Crestwood and you and yours.


Tom Ford

NO. 871

The Mayoral election on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 (please click here.)

If you will please click on the header, you will see a quote and comment from president Teddy Roosevelt reference competition in the arena of life, politics, and human endeavor.

On Tuesday we will be going to the polls to vote for one of two candidates for a three year term as Mayor of Crestwood. Both these candidates have worked very hard for your vote, and both have placed their qualifications for the job for you to see and understand. We owe it to these two candidates to exercise our most sacred privilege of voting.

It is not for me, or anyone else to tell you who you should vote for Tuesday, it is your decision, and yours alone. That's one of the greatest legacy's of our founding fathers, the right to elect those who we really believe will drive the City, State, and Republic in the right direction.

It is our sacred duty to vote in each and every election offered, and i pray that each of us will Honor that duty and vote for the candidate of your choice. There are other items on the ballot that require your attention as well, so study them and vote your conscience.

Crestwood is and always will be a fiercely competitive political City with all the trimmings that are relative to politics. Now we come to the final day when we the people make our decision. Please join me in wishing good luck and God speed to our candidates, they deserve no less.

Tom Ford

NO. 870