Despite mayor's veto, Riverdale to proceed with project

Wed, Oct 31st 2007, 08:39

 By MEGAN MATTEUCCI
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/29/07

Despite some last-minute political wrangling, Riverdale will move forward with plans to break ground on a new town center early next year.

Voters approved the downtown redevelopment project — part of a tax allocation district — during a special election in September.

"It's not only a town center," Council member Michelle Bruce said. "This will create jobs and a sense of unity that we never did have in this city. It will bring everybody together and give kids something to do."

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/clayton/stories/2007/10/29/riverdaleplan_1030_web.html

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Riverdale City Council overrides mayor's TAD veto

Wed, Oct 31st 2007, 08:36

By Joel Hall

The Riverdale City Council has overturned a veto by Mayor Phaedra Graham that would have derailed the city's plan for the Riverdale Town Center, a tax allocation district (TAD).

"To me, [Graham] slapped the voters in the face when she did this," said Councilmember Bruce. "[The Town Center] creates jobs for our citizens, it creates tax base ... [the voters] wanted this and this hurts the taxpayers in the city."

http://www.news-daily.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=22460&SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&S=1

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Proposed mortgage rules face hurdles

Mon, Oct 29th 2007, 16:37

WASHINGTON -- Democrats introduced legislation Monday that would tighten an array of mortgage lending standards and require U.S. regulators to issue new rules ensuring that loans be made only to borrowers who can afford to repay them.

The bill, by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and two North Carolina colleagues, could set the baseline for the emerging debate over how to prevent a repeat of the mortgage meltdown. But its passage is by no means assured, and elements of the bill are likely to draw intense opposition from the lending industry.http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-mortgage23oct23,1,6715773.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage&ctrack=1&cset=true

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Novice challenges city council incumbent Clark

Thu, Oct 25th 2007, 14:10

Judy Fenton, who wants to retrofit the Alaskan Way Viaduct and remove statues at the Olympic Sculpture Park, is running for Position 9 against incumbent Sally Clark, who wants to continue the work she's done for the city's neighborhoods.

"I'm a geek for Seattle's neighborhoods," Clark said.

"I want to figure out how to both retain the character that we like about them and see them grow in ways that allow new people to move in."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003946792_elexseacouncilnine13m.html

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Governor Schwarzenegger Approves DPA Legislation to Expand Clean Syringe Access

Thu, Oct 25th 2007, 13:55

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed Assembly Bill 110, authored by Assemblymember John Laird (D – Santa Cruz), which allows local governments to use state HIV prevention funds to purchase clean syringes. http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/102307ab110.cfm

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Washington Post Endorses Adam Ebbin

Thu, Oct 25th 2007, 10:04

District 49: Democratic incumbent Adam P. Ebbin faces only nominal opposition from James Ronald Fisher, an Independent Green Party member. Mr. Ebbin, the only openly gay member of the General Assembly, has the rare courage in Richmond to speak out against the political scapegoating of illegal immigrants, religious minorities, homosexuals and other easily exploited groups.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/24/AR2007102402341.html

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Oklahoma’s first openly gay legislator visits Dallas

Mon, Oct 22nd 2007, 08:12

From one “blue” region to another, gay Oklahoma Rep. Al McAffrey is coming to share his experiences with Dallas’ political activists.

“We have a lot in common with his district,” said Jesse Garcia, president of Stonewall Democrats of Dallas. “He’s in a little blue island of Oklahoma City, and he’s coming to Dallas County where there’s another blue island in a sea of red.”http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_7018.php

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Dallas County sheriff vows to crack down on warrants

Fri, Oct 19th 2007, 11:56

Dallas County constables have started helping the Sheriff's Department serve felony and other high-level criminal warrants, giving the county a total of 100 full-time warrant deputies – a force unrivaled by any other county in Texas.

  "If you have a warrant out in Dallas County, someone is going to be knocking on your door," Sheriff Valdez said.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/101607dnmetwarrants.30d1adb.html

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A December Primary in New Hampshire? It's His Call.

Mon, Oct 15th 2007, 17:16

One person who may know what Gardner is thinking is Jim Splaine, who was along for the ride to Keene and back. Splaine, 60, is a Democratic state legislator who wrote the 1975 law giving the secretary of state power to set the primary date. Splaine also wrote subsequent amendments extending that power.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/11/AR2007101102109.html?hpid=topnews

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Okla.: Utilities' Rate Increase Denied

Mon, Oct 15th 2007, 14:45

Commissioner Chairman Jeff Cloud and Commissioner Jim Roth signed two separate orders rejecting the request of Public Service Company of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co. PSO is a subsidiary of American Electric Power Co.http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/0a229e7c61966c73612c99b4bdd1be86.htm

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Houston City Council: The Chronicle recommends Lovell, Noriega, Jones, Adams and Williams

Mon, Oct 15th 2007, 13:21

• At Large Position 2, Sue Lovell — After decades of community involvement, this longtime Montrose resident was elected to her first term on council two years ago and has shown both independence and the ability to build consensus. Lovell is a strong advocate for providing more after-school programs and park space in densely developed parts of the city.http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/5211158.html

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Baldwin fights for trans-inclusive ENDA

Fri, Oct 12th 2007, 10:42

Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), one of two openly gay members of Congress who are leading efforts to pass pro-LGBT legislation, broke her public silence on the controversy this week.http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=2304

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SAVE Dade endorses Beach candidates and responds to offensive flyer

Thu, Oct 11th 2007, 12:04

Among the candidates for Group VI, is Frank Kruszewski, a long time community activist and an openly gay candidate who is a board member of SAVE.  In responding to the flyer, Frank Kruszewski stated "It is clear that three specific candidates in the Group VI race are being targeted in this mailer. It is ethnically bigoted, homophobic and sexist."

Commissioner Michael Gongora, currently running for re-election in Group V, stated "I have seen the piece and I am very offended by the content and do not believe the residents of the City of Miami Beach deserve or want this type of politicking in our community. Although, this piece is not a consequence of the Group V race, it is important that all candidates in all the races this year denounce this type of campaigning as wrong and not what the voters of Miami Beach want to hear.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2007/10/save-dade-endor.html

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Improve Seattle Council

Wed, Oct 10th 2007, 16:34

In Position 9, Sally Clark is endorsed to retain the council seat she has held since January 2006, when she replaced Jim Compton. Her past experience as a legislative aide and department staffer and her current work as a council member place her far ahead of newcomer Judy Fenton. Clark has earned a full four-year term.http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003928186_counciled07.html

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New law to keep drug dealers farther from kids

Wed, Oct 10th 2007, 16:26

Sen. Julia Boseman helped propose legislation that will expand safe zones around schools and parks from three hundred feet to one thousand feet. That means if you sell drugs within those areas, you can be charged with a class-E felony.http://www.wwaytv3.com/new_law_to_keep_drug_dealers_farther_from_kids/10/2007

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Commissioner Michael Góngora Pushing Green Initiatives

Wed, Oct 10th 2007, 15:32

Miami Beach October 2007 - Commissioner Góngora issued a proclamation marking September 27, 2007 as:  “DadePaper Greensafe & Innovations Expo Day.” DadePaper was founded in 1939 by current Chairman Irving Genet and his father Harry Genet in Miami, FL. The company remains family owned and operated. It was the first annual expo and its mission was to showcase a variety of products and services- both “green” and innovative in order to educate customers on the latest options in foodservice disposables and janitorial supplies.http://www.citydebate.com/florida/miamibeach/template.php?url=0110080705.htm

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AEP-PSO case before regulators: The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is expected to approve a final order that could affect electricity rates for more than half a million utility customers

Wed, Oct 10th 2007, 15:22

"This state is hungry for energy efficiency, and this commission is taking the step . . . to require a utility to begin that journey," Commissioner Jim Roth said in August, following final deliberations in the case. http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?articleID=071009_5_E1_spanc88676

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Panel to Fight Poverty in Alabama

Wed, Oct 10th 2007, 15:18

"I hope we can walk away with something we can use to help people," said Rep. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham, chairwoman of the panel and sponsor of the resolution that set up the committee.http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/10/09/ap4203140.html

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State budget: Revenues fall -- projected deficit soars

Wed, Oct 10th 2007, 15:06

Assemblyman John Laird, who chairs the Assembly Budget Committee, said projections in the last three budget years have been worse than reality.

"You always have to be a little nervous, but it's too early to tell," Laird said.

http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/424058.html

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Marriage victory in CA State Senate

Mon, Oct 8th 2007, 09:19

A bill authored by openly gay State Senator Mark Leno eliminating gender specific language from the marriage laws now moves to the governor.http://www.bgay.com/bnews/news70907_ca_lawmakers_pass_gay_marriage_bill.htm

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