Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Your words speak volumes

Dear Soap Box Hero,

I appreciate the clarity you have brough to a situation that others try to muddy. I'll respect your decision to remain unnamed, but if you would like to reach me - I can be contacted on the PATA phone line 755-2464.

Thank you.

Thank you so very much

Dear Soap Box,

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to write the letter to Mr. Hughes and for having the patience to post it on our PATA web site. This letter is the best narrative on the situation in our community that I have ever read and I do hope you publish it in the newspapers but I can understand your fear of being named and of retribution.

Ever since I initiated the failed Kroger Referendum almost two years ago, I have been characterized by city officials as a ''misinformed trouble maker'' in any effort I make to express my views on the problems I believe we face as a community. On this current referendum effort I see the city is once again attempting to discredit those who braved the cold to collect signatures as ''misinformed'' and spin the truth to favor their decisions and satisfy the swarming developers.

I cannot tell you how uplfting it is to see another citizen call a spade a spade... especially a city resident. For so long it has bewildered me that many city residents must be satisfied if the lights are on and the toilet flushes as their government assures them everything is just fine on the path they have charted.

I hope city residents become motivated by your words, and that the results of the last city council election are not repeated in November 2001 with the re-election of all of the incumbents.

Sincerely,
Lisa Ross
Founding Member of PATA

The mayor's gone madd

It appears the mayor is more concerned with putting a spin on the referendum issue than letting the voters decide for themselves, which is what a referendum is all about. His rhetoric doesn?’t hold water and his demeanor and personal attacks against concerned area residents are a disgrace to the office he holds.
His Jan 17th opinion in ThisWeek editorial was full of lies and half-truths. Hey Mayor Randy Hughes: R-1 zoning and R-4 zoning are completely different! There is no balance to the residential and commercial development in Pickerington. It's 90% homes - 10% fast-food joints. At least act like you?’re not deep in the pockets of area homebuilders.

I am humbled

Mr. Harding, Ms. Ross, Mr. Brinson (Mr. Logsdon, are you lurking around out there?),

I am humbled by your words of support and encouragement. After one of your petition workers spent time with me to explain everything I wanted to know about the petition, I also found out through our conversation that I wasn't the only one who thought ''I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!?” The kind person and I shared similar opinions on many of the issues that we face every day in our fair city. As I expressed in closing of my last post, I wish to find a way to seriously curtail or eliminate the Council's ability to utilize emergency legislation. Not being familiar enough yet with city governmental procedures, I don't know if it is possible to do or attempt so.

I admire you for your efforts n behalf of the citizens. I did mail the letter to Mr. Hughes and courtesy copied Mr. Dunlap. I thought of copying Mr. Fox, as I feel he is the only Councilman to act and vote responsibly on behalf of the taxpayers. However, since he does so, I hope he might visit this site on occasion and see it here.

Keep up the good work. When another member of the city government gets in my face, as I feel Mr. Hughes did on this occasion, I will again post.

Just so all readers of this discussion group will understand that I am an equal opportunity grumbler, I also support Dr. Riegelman and Ms. Oakes in their tireless crusade for fiscal responsibility. We the voters will again have the chance to change the majority. One board seat is all it takes. That is an undertaking. FOUR council seats must be won. That will be a challenge.


By Soap Box Hero