Strange Green Comet Passing By Earth Next Week
February 18, 2009
The strange green comet passing by Earth next week is not the Stimulus Bill, it is actually a real astronomical event.
For those interested in such things, see the story here.
Announcing: Application Submitted For City Council Vacancy
February 18, 2009
Having followed events recently in Sunnyside, I believe it is in the best interest of the public and the City staff to have the vacant seat on the Council filled. With this in mind, I submitted my name for consideration. The budget process and the overall economy have presented challenges that I believe will continue for the next few months, and beyond. I am prepared to stand with the Council to face these challenges.
To my pleasant surprise, several applications were turned in to City Hall, in addition to my own. The names I heard mentioned as additional candidates are recognizable to those who are involved in the community. This means that the City Council will get the opportunity to select from a dynamic group of people in making their appointment. Regardless of whether I am ultimately selected, I view this as a positive event for Sunnyside.
I look forward to meeting all of the candidates in the near future. It is a great honor to be considered among them. More information on the appointment process and how it develops will be forthcoming.
Thank you,
Jason R. Raines
Blog Editor
Announcement To Be Made Tomorrow 8 A.M.
February 17, 2009
Tomorrow at 8 A.M. an announcement will be posted to this blog…stay tuned.
State Superintendent Of Public Instruction Randy Dorn Wants More Federal Control Of Classrooms
February 17, 2009 1 Comment
Previously, I have stated on this blog that I am a supporter of local schools. I still am.
Let me say it again: I am a supporter of LOCAL schools.
During the last eight years we have heard the teachers’ union cry foul over the No Child Left Behind Act. “Unfunded mandates!” they cried. What we did not hear was that the only way the Federal government could mandate anything was if they took the Federal money. You see, with money comes conditions. This is the way that the Federal government inserts itself into things that it has no Constitutional business being involved in.
As a supporter of local schools, I have this crazy idea that states and local school boards should control the education system. That way, if there is a problem, a local person can address it with their local school board. Even to the point of running for the local school board, if they feel so inclined. Why would we want a pencil pusher in a government cube farm in Washington D.C. to control what happens in our local schools? They are not living in our community, have never visited here, and do not understand the local conditions of our schools.
This is why I am frustrated at some remarks made by Randy Dorn, the new state superintendent of public instruction. Reportedly, on February 8, he was meeting with local school superintendents and school board members. At this meeting, he urged school leaders to lobby Congress to include education funding in the stimulus bill.
After these remarks, Dorn was told that some school board members were concerned that Dorn might shut them out of discussions with his office because they didn’t think it was appropriate for them to get involved in politics outside of their districts. Some felt he was abrupt and rude to a board member during a question and answer session.
The next day, Dorn issued a public apology for his treatment of the board member.
This is not a partisan issue. When it comes to public schools, it does not matter to me what party is dominating in Washington D.C. I am opposed to the Federal government taking over our schools. This same union that did not like No Child Left Behind is now pushing for more Federal money (and mandates) from the Federal government. Have we not learned our lessons with the expansion of the Education Department during the Bush years?
Even if you are naive enough to think that having education funding in the stimulus bill will make everything good in the classroom, the loss of control over the classroom will be permanent, lasting long after this President and members of this Congress have left office.
Randy Dorn was the union endorsed candidate for the job of State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The union is on record opposing Federal meddling in the classroom under President Bush. How does the non-partisan union feel about their endorsed candidate calling for Federal meddling in the classroom under President Obama?
For reference, see the Seattle Times article: State school chief apologizes after some find remarks offensive
Special Meeting Of City Council Called In Order To Consider $34,400 For Airport
February 16, 2009 2 Comments
A special meeting of the Sunnyside City Council has been called. The meeting will be at 6:30 PM, Tuesday to consider a special allocation of $34,400 for airport improvements. These funds will be used as a local match for $688,000 of FAA grant money. A special meeting is necessary because the City did not have an airport layout plan completed until just before the deadline to apply for the FAA funds.
The Planning Commission cancelled meetings in January and February of this year. The Airport Committee has not held a meeting in over a year.
As of 12:00 noon on President’s Day, the FAA grant is the only item on the agenda for this special meeting of the City Council.
The Onion: Is It Time To Close The National Money Hole?
February 14, 2009 1 Comment
Now that the Senate has passed the stimulus, and the bill is being sent to President Obama for signing, there does not seem to be much worth saying about it. To try and break the sour mood, we can all laugh at this video from The Onion, which satirizes the whole affair with a news panel discussion about whether or not it is time to close the National Money Hole. What is more efficient: government destruction of money by throwing it in a hole, or free market money holes? Watch the video to hear all sides of this debate! 
Members of Congress Asked To Read 626 Words Per Minute
February 13, 2009 1 Comment
Thursday night at 11 PM text of the proposed stimulus bill was made available to members of Congress. The bill is 1073 pages long. At 9 AM debate on the bill started in Congress. Members of Congress would have to be able to read 626 words per minute to be able to read the bill before the debate started. This means that the largest spending package proposed by President Obama so far, will be debated and voted on without members of Congress actually reading what’s in it!
In this video, Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price discusses what he calls a “Non-Stimulus” and how it is being pushed through the legislative process.
Some Teachers Should NOT Have A Computer In The Classroom
February 12, 2009 1 Comment
This story comes from Fox News.
While the overwhelming majority of schoolteachers work hard, and have honorable character, some bad apples occasionally slip into the system. In this latest case from Ohio, a 4th grade teacher has been charged with prostitution after allegedly using a school computer to arrange an afternoon tryst at a motel. She apparently skipped class to go to the motel.
In a system that rewards seniority before qualifications or results, we know that the teacher, 35 year old Amber Carter, is a 13 year veteran of Bellafontaine City Schools in central Ohio. We also know that she has never received a reprimand before this incident.
Several years ago, I had a conversation with an admissions officer for the Education department at a state run university. She haughtily explained to me that not just anyone could be a school teacher. Explaining further that the shaping of young minds involved skills that could only be learned in “professional” programs such as what this government school taught. Incredibly, she went even further, comparing the educational process of developing children’s brains to the work of a neurosurgeon doing brain surgery!
While I will admit the job of being a schoolteacher requires a unique set of skills, I still think this comparison is a bit over the top. When is the last time we heard of a neurosurgeon being charged with prostitution?
Personally, I am a supporter of public schools. As an advocate of freedom however, I believe parents reserve the right to send children to private schools, or to educate their children in alternative environments such as home schooling. If we let government bureaucrats like the university admissions officer I mentioned run things, we would have a system of government control that forced everyone to send children to a specific school determined by the government. (After all, they have been trained to teach children, while parents have no qualifications to instruct children on anything!)
Going back to the comparison of education to the medical field, I think most Americans would agree that we should be able to choose our own doctor or surgeon. For surgery, we should be able to choose which hospital we want the procedure to be done in. Following that same principle, we should also be able to choose what teachers will be educating our children, and what school we want our children to go to.
If school teachers want to be taken seriously as a “profession” like medical doctors, they have some catching up to do. Traditionally, job fields that are considered “professions” are doctors, lawyers, clergy, military, and education. Of these, only one has a union. It’s not the brain surgery that is unionized. Brain surgeons do not rely on government force to compel patients to come to their office. Who do you have more respect for?
While City Council Was Meeting: Gang Related Shooting In Sunnyside
February 11, 2009 1 Comment
Monday night, while the Sunnyside City Council executive session was in progress, a gang related shooting occurred in town. According to a press release from the Sunnyside Police Department, the incident occurred near 10th St and Harrison Ave around 9PM. The victim, Jose Valencia, Jr., of Sunnyside, told police he was walking on Harrison Ave when he was shot by occupants of a passing brown or tan sedan. The victim returned fire, possibly causing damage to the passing vehicle, and then discarded the gun. Police believe the gun was picked up before their arrival.
At the time this incident was reported, I was in conversation with one of Sunnyside’s police detectives. We were waiting outside the meeting room, while the Sunnyside City Council was in executive session. Our conversation was cut short when the police chief came out of the meeting, and informed the officers present that a shooting had occurred.
In what is perhaps a bit of irony, the executive session included Council discussions about the police labor contracts. A few police personnel were anxious to see the outcome of the meeting, but unfortunately most on hand had to leave to attend to their duties.
While contract negotiations continue, people may take different sides on details within the proposed agreement. This is only natural. Prior to last night’s meeting, the City Council had discussed this topic in an open regular meeting. Last night, that changed to a discussion in executive session. Mayor Garcia informed me prior to the meeting, that City Manager Eric Swansen had requested that it be moved to executive session, where the public is excluded. Under state law, there is an exemption to open meetings legislation that allows the City to do this.
While I might not agree with all of what the police negotiators are asking for in their contract, I do believe in transparency in government. I believe that the police officers, and the general public, deserve to hear the discussion in a public forum. Historically, the policy of the City Council has been to hold these discussions in public. What has changed here? We do have a relatively new City Manager, who apparently is calling the shots on this.
City Council: Is this the new policy for labor contract discussions? Is anyone willing to go on record to explain if the police contract negotiations are a unique circumstance requiring executive session? This is an issue that affects all the taxpayers, and a sizable number of City employees. The citizens deserve to be informed with information other than a recitation of the Revised Code of Washington number that applies to executive session meetings.
At the conclusion of the executive session, no action was taken on the labor contracts. Perhaps it will be discussed at the next meeting of the Council. In the meantime, police officers do not have a current contract in place.
Sunnyside City Council Seeks Applicants For Vacant Position
February 10, 2009 1 Comment
Following the resignation of Council Member Bruce Epps, who resigned for work and health reasons, the Sunnyside City Council is seeking qualified applicants to fill the vacant position for the remainder of the term. The position will be up for regular election in November.
Applicants need to be registered voters in the City of Sunnyside, and have been a resident of the City for at least one year preceding appointment to office. In addition, applicants can not hold any other public office or employment under the City government. Applications must be turned in by 5:30 P.M., Tuesday, February 17, 2009.
Following the conclusion of the City Council meeting last night (February 9), I spoke with Mayor Pablo Garcia about the vacant position. He said after the deadline for applications has passed, Council will most likely review the applications in an executive session. A public interview with candidates for the position will be held during a regular Council meeting, after which a decision will be made by the Council. It is Mayor Garcia’s intent to have a replacement named to fill the position in the first half of March.
The vacant position is currently an at-large position. Garcia said after districts are drawn, the position will represent one district within the City. Depending on the residence of the new Council Member, they may find themselves running against a current office holder in the fall election.
Anyone interested in serving on the City Council is encouraged to apply. Applications and related forms are available at City Hall, and also on-line. To see the application and related information, visit the City of Sunnyside website here.
Mayor Garcia stated that there is no filing fee to apply, and the position pays $40 per meeting. The City Council typically meets twice a month, on the second and fourth Mondays at 6:30 PM. As of the conclusion of last night’s meeting, no applications have been received.
Ever wanted to serve your community by being in public office? Now is your chance. If you are not interested in serving yourself, please encourage someone you know to apply.
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