BEAT BYTE: Columbia mayoral candidate lays out vision

[CoumbiaHeartBeat]

THE COLUMBIA HEART BEAT -- 2/8/10
Columbia's Alternative News Source
http://www.columbiaheartbeat.com


1) SID SULLIVAN: A Community that Works -- for Everyone
2) ANIMAL RESCUERS: Columbia 2nd Chance announces amazing new HQ
3) COUNTY COLLECTOR: Addresses online bank payment snafus
4) LEADING JEWISH MAG: Calls out Columbia Islamic Center
5) GOING GREEN: Columbia businesses, City Hall launch new initiatives
6) HEAR YE! HEAR YE! Local agendas, Muleskinners
7) CRAIGSLIST WANT ADS: http://columbiamo.craigslist.org


My Vision of Columbia as a Community that Works—for Everyone
By Sid Sullivan, Candidate for Columbia Mayor

When Columbia Business Times (CBT) columnist Al Germond told readers it was safe to “ignore” me and Columbia’s other mayoral candidates in favor of two “thoroughbreds” named Wade and McDavid, largely because they’ve lived in Columbia for decades, I thought it a good time to tell CBT readers that Mr. Germond—an outsider made good—is the last person I ever thought I’d accuse of such provincial thinking.

But he’s guilty as charged, because as Mr. Germond the successful businessman from New York should know, living in a city for years is hardly sufficient qualification to govern it, guide its destiny, or prosper within its borders.

The Columbia my wife Joan and I have grown to love is progressive, enlightened, and educated enough to realize that people should be judged, not by the community of their origin, but by the power of their ideas and the strength of their character.

As I consider the character of the city we’ve chosen to call home, the ideas I have shape the vision I see: Of transparency, where all people are invited and encouraged to participate.

Transparency and participation mean that our citizens should have an opportunity to look at our City Charter (local Constitution) as it has evolved over the past 60 years to see if it will guide us through the next 60 years, without undo resistance from the so-called "powers that be."

It means that our City Council should more fully assume its policy-setting responsibilities. It is not enough to say we need more and higher paying jobs, for instance. Accounting for our limited resources, Council needs to focus on a realistic vision for Columbia that provides fair and equitable opportunities to create those jobs, while rethinking old strategies that may not work.

Presently, city government is embarking on an expensive, high-risk attempt to attract industry with so-called “shovel ready” industrial sites. This approach may have been a good idea 10 years ago, but today, manufacturing is less than 20% of the U.S. economy and shrinking fast.

What’s more, the competition for manufacturers among other cities is fierce. And the real manufacturing growth is in small firms more likely to be homegrown than recruited from afar.

On the other hand, given our aging demographic and increasingly adverse economic climates in more traditional retirement areas like California, promoting Columbia as a retirement haven could attract people with annual incomes of $40,000 plus who don't take jobs, but create them. Not only is competition for retirees not as fierce, but it could be a better fit for our city. In addition to the many young people our three excellent colleges attract, promoting retirement promotes the uniquely-Columbia quality of life we all enjoy.

Likewise, we need to promote true community development. We need to consider neighborhoods with the sense of place and identity that connects them to the rest of the city. As we pass the 100,000 population mark, we need a strategy to incorporate long term promotion of the city with short term growth where it all happens—neighborhood by neighborhood.

In several articles on these themes for the Columbia Business Times, I’ve written about planning and development that combines neighborhood, commercial, and traffic considerations as they relate to all stakeholders—our city, our schools, our county, our state, and most of all, our citizens.

My work experience has helped shape my understanding of community, especially our abiding need to keep the peace. Prior to working as a sales and marketing manager for Roche Pharmaceuticals, and after working for the Illinois Department of Corrections, I was a criminal justice administrator for an agency that supervised about 8,000 non-serious offenders within the Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago. I developed the budget, coordinated staff training and developed new offices as the agency more than doubled in size and responsibility.

As a young man, I studied to be—but did not ultimately become—a priest in the Jesuit community, a Catholic teaching order where I specialized in urban problems in New York City and completed an master’s degree in sociology. I also volunteered with the local police department on youth activities and worked for then-U.S. Senator Jacob Javits, for whom I coordinated community and government leaders at the local, state and federal levels to create job training opportunities for unemployed minorities.

I am running for Mayor of Columbia because I want to represent everyone while promoting Columbia as the wonderful place to live, work and enjoy that my wife Joan and I have grown to love.

As a retired business person with extensive community involvement, I know that a vibrant business environment is one foundation of a strong community.

And for a strong community to work, it has to work for everyone.

(This article also appears in this week's Columbia Business Times)

RELATED:
Angry voters might decide hotly contested local races
by Al Germond
http://www.columbiabusinesstimes.com...d-local-races/


ANIMAL RESCUERS: Columbia 2nd Chance announces amazing new HQ

COLUMBIA, 2/8/10 (Beat Byte) -- After 25 years of quietly plugging along on volunteer help and private donations, local animal rescue group Columbia Second Chance has done what the Central Missouri Humane Society, local government, and a so-called "Million Dollar Makeover" have yet to accomplish: Purchased a shiny new, much larger headquarters on 38 scenic acres in neighboring Cooper County, about 12 miles from Columbia.

PICTURES HERE: http://www.columbiaheartbeat.com/

Starting Monday, Second Chance volunteers will start moving the organization from its current headquarters in the Brady's Glass building on Providence, where the group currently handles dog and cat adoptions. The new 6,000 square foot headquarters, which includes 1,800 square feet of finished office/living space with a kitchen, will serve as the new adoption center and house an innovative cage-free "cat habitat" where up to 50 cats will live "with plenty of stuff to climb on, scratch, and nap on" said Second Chance board member and former president Shannon Kasmann. "It will be a big, bright, inviting environment that should provide a great setting."

The group will outfit eight 140 square foot rooms where the cats will live based partly on their personality traits -- outgoing, shy, active, older, or younger, Kasmann explained. "We'll also have screened off outdoor areas," she said.

Renting their present headquarters in the Brady's Glass building since 2007, Columbia Second Chance houses dogs at a 60-acre ranch in Moniteau County, complete with live-in, onsite caretakers "and plenty of space to roam," Kasmann said.

The new Columbia Second Chance headquarters is located at 24687 Highway 179, one half mile from Interstate 70 at Exit 111. It won't be open until March 1, so watch the group's website for further details before visiting.

Columbia Second Chance
http://www.columbia2ndchance.org/DesktopDefault.aspx


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[CoumbiaHeartBeat]

COUNTY COLLECTOR: Addresses online bank payment snafus

We received this letter from Shawn and Jennifer regarding a problem with online property tax payments:

I had an experience today that I thought you may be interested in. As with a lot of the population today, most if not all of my bills are paid online through the bank. This also includes my personal property taxes. I paid my taxes like a responsible citizen through the bank, which I set the pay date of December 31, the due date.

Two weeks into the New Year, I received a letter from the Boone County Collector stating they received my payment on January 4, 2010 without a postmark and I will be assessed a late payment penalty. No problem, I thought, I will call the bank and they can help me take care of this.

The bank agreed, and sent a letter of good faith stating they mailed the check on the 28th. I promptly took the letter to the Collectors Office and was told under no circumstances would they honor this and the late fee still applied.

Upon a return call to the bank, I was told that many people, not only at their bank but all banks throughout Boone County, were scrambling to deal with this. They have no idea why the Boone County Collector will not accept this as verification.

As this seems to effect many in the community, I thought you would be interested in taking up the issue. With money so tight these days, I guess they will just start stealing it from us pretty soon (if not already!!) Thanks!

County Collector Pat Lensmeyer responds:

Thank you for forwarding the e-mail to me for comment. Under Missouri laws, property tax payments not received by the collector prior to January 1 are delinquent and late charges must be applied and collected. Every year, I encourage taxpayers not planning to pay in person to remit payments in November or early December to allow ample opportunities for my office to receive the payment timely regardless of any issues with mail delivery .

Every year we receive some mailed payments late and this year is no exception, with several remittance checks coming from on-line payment processing centers in January.

The banking officials with whom I have discussed the "on-line" payments have told me their banks' payment sites inform users that the on-line payment process is not recommended for governmental payments because timeliness cannot be guaranteed.

Most banks use third party processors for on-line payment services. And, even though funds are electronically drawn from an individual's bank account, those funds reach my office by way of a paper check cut from a bank account of the third party processor.

The payment processor uses a bulk mail processor for inserting the remittance checks into envelopes and delivering the envelopes to the post office. The post office processes the mailed pieces for delivery to my office. The majority of the checks we have received from on-line payment processing centers have come from Phoenix, Arizona.

In a nutshell, there is a minimum of four companies/processors between a taxpayer using an on-line bill payment process and my office: payer's bank, third party on-line payment processor, bulk mail processor, post office. Neither the taxpayer nor I have any control from the time the taxpayer pushes the submit button to when I receive the paper check in the mail.

One bank official I spoke with demonstrated her understanding of her responsibility of paying her property taxes when she told me she does not use the on-line bill pay service or mail to send her taxes. She pays in person at the window or drops the payment in my drop box.

Thanks again for contacting me.

Pat Lensmeyer
Boone County Collector


LEADING JEWISH MAG: Calls out Columbia Islamic Center

COLUMBIA, 2/8/10 (Beat Byte) -- An editorial board member of the leading Jewish periodical Commentary claims the Columbia Islamic Center is part of a "network" of American mosques" linked to incidents of 'home-grown terrorism,' including the Fort Hood murders."

The network -- of so-called "Wahabbist Islam mosques, and related Wahabbist entities" is "now bearing bitter fruit," writes Michael W. Schwartz in Commentary's February 2010 edition.

Founded by the 18th-century Islamic philosopher Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab, Wahabbism is a reformist Muslim sect that seeks to purify Islam from so-called "innovative" forces, or "Bid'ah" that might lead followers to stray from the true path of Allah and the prophet Mohammed. Based primarily in Saudi Arabia, Wahabbi adherents prefer to call themselves Muwahhidun (unifiers of Islamic practice).

Remembered as a man of religion and equity, al Wahhab was the Martin Luther of his faith, seeking reforms to basic Islamic law that would end pantheistic practices such as venerating trees, for instance, but also insisting on help for widows and orphans and fair allocation of inheritance shares to women.

Claiming the Saudi government is financing Wahabbi Islamists in America, Commentary's Schwartz cites a list of such mosques that appear on a "support" website maintained in honor of the late Saudi King, Fahd bin Abdul Aziz. The article also ties Fort Hood trigger man Nidal Hasan to the Wahabbi network, which Schwartz says includes an "unindicted co-conspirator in the first World Trade Center case, and two of the 9/11 perpetrators."

RELATED:
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/vi...mendment-15334
http://www.kingfahdbinabdulaziz.com/main/m460.htm

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[CoumbiaHeartBeat]

GOING GREEN: Columbia businesses, City Hall launch new initiatives

COLUMBIA, 2/8/10 (Beat Byte) -- Two Columbia businesses have joined City Hall in large-scale efforts to go green.

At Columbia's new $62 million regional wastewater treatment facility, high-efficiency blowers will help cut annual energy consumption 26 percent, while a combined heat and power system is 26 percent more efficient than the one it replaces.

Calling its latest endeavor The Red Fern Project, Columbia-based Dogwood Carbon Solutions, an agriculture and forestry conservation firm, is selling carbon offsets from over 300,000 acres of privately-owned forest in the Ozark mountains of Missouri and Arkansas.

Named Deal of the Year 2010 by Energy Risk Magazine, project Red Fern should generate revenue for forest owners without cutting trees. In fact, the more carbon-absorbing trees, the better. Companies purchase so-called "carbon offsets" to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. A factory belching 20 tons of carbon/month might buy carbon offsets from Dogwood, whose trees consume 20 tons of carbon/month. The net effect is zero net carbon.

"We are excited to offer landowners a program that provides carbon market expertise, forest management services and attractive financial incentives to assist in meeting their goals of good forest stewardship," said Jake Davis, Managing Partner of Dogwood Carbon.

To make a new line of air filters that lower energy consumption in heaters and air conditioners, air filtration equipment manufacturer AAF (American Air Filter) International will use a $570,000 tax credit to refit its Columbia plant starting this year. Air filters make electric and gas-powered blower motors work harder by resisting air flow, especially as the filters pick up debris. Benefiting from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, AAF plans to a new line of filters that will lower air flow resistance by as much as 40 percent.

Based in Louisville, Kentucky, AAF International has more than 2,600 employees, 25 manufacturing facilities and 5 R&D centers worldwide, supporting sales offices in 69 countries. AAF representatives hope the improved Columbia plant will boost sales and create jobs.

RELATED:
www.DogwoodCarbon.com
http://www.risk.net/energy-risk/feat...carbon-capital
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2...6-less-energy/
http://www.aafintl.com/


HEAR YE! HEAR YE! Local Announcements

Boone County Commission AGENDA THIS WEEK
Commissioners meet every Tuesday at 9:30 am and Thursday at 1:30 am. This week, they discuss the corrections budget; Columbia Youth Basketball; and a contract with MU for a medical examiner. Though the meetings are held at a terrible time during the working day, public comment is invited.
http://www.showmeboone.com/clerk/Age...LARMEETING.pdf

Columbia School Board This Week
http://www.columbia.k12.mo.us/bdagenda.php


Columbia City Calendar THIS WEEK
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/webcal/month.php


The Muleskinners Present:
Fri, Feb 12 4th Ward City Council Candidates Forum
Fri, Feb 19 Karen Taylor -Downtown Surveillance Camera Ballot Issue
Fri, Feb 26 Chris Belcher, Columbia Public Schools Superintendent

Dining room, lower level of Stamper Commons, Stephens College Campus, one block east of the Broadway/College Blvd intersection off Willis Blvd. Everyone is welcome! Questions: Scott Cristal a call at 573-999-3871 or Boone County Dems HQ at 573-875-1245. Optional buffet lunch, discounted for students. http://boonecountydems.org


"Priorities for Change in Missouri's Environmental and Conservation Laws" -- Kyna Iman, lobbyist for Missouri Votes Conservation and the Sierra Club. Everyone is invited, Tuesday, February 16, 7:30 p.m., Hillel Center, 1107 University, between Hitt St. and College Ave. Sponsored by Osage Group, Sierra Club.


Providence Road Pedestrian Crossing Public Informational Meeting
When: 5:30 pm Wednesday February 17, 2010
Where: Douglass High School Cafeteria, 310 N. Providence Rd.
Why: To view the plans for a Pedestrian Crossing and share your thoughts with City staff on designs being proposed for the stretch of Providence Road between Douglass High School, Douglass Park, and the Columbia Housing Authority.
To view drawings of this crossing, please go to the GetAbout website:
http://getaboutcolumbia.com/updates
Scroll to the list under “Sidewalk Project Designs” to find the link to the drawing on the Providence Crossing.
For more information: Steve Meyer P.E. 442-7189 ext. #35 or Scott Bitterman P.E. 874-7649


The Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture is holding two introductory workshops on urban hens. Learn about the benefits of raising backyard chickens; how to properly care for your hens; the city’s new chicken ordnance, and much more! Workshops will be held at 214 Saint Joseph Street in Columbia on Wednesday, February 17th at 7 PM, and Saturday, February 20th at 2PM. Workshop cost is on a sliding scale of $5-$20 with all proceeds benefiting CCUA. For registration and more information contact Caroline Hargrove at cchargrove1@gmail.com.


School board candidate Jonathan Sessions is holding a Campaign Kick-off Party" on Thursday, February 18 at 6:30 pm at PS Gallery in the District.


The Open Borders Music Series proudly presents:
WHO? Emily Kaitz in concert
WHEN? Sunday, 21 February 2010 at 7pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
WHERE? 2615 Shepard Blvd. (Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia does not sponsor the event)
SUGGESTED DONATION: $12 ($6 over 64 or under 16)
INFO: (573)673-7401 or OpenBordersMusic@gmail.com
also, www.myspace.com/OpenBordersMusicSeries


If you have an announcement, please send it along, but only in the body of an email. We cannot accept attachments of any kind. Not-for-profit event announcements are free of charge. Candidates for non-paying elected offices such as city council and school board may run position statements or announcements free of charge. Arts announcements always free of charge. For-profit event announcements require a nominal fee.


Mike Martin
Editor in Chief
The Columbia Heart Beat
http://www.columbiaheartbeat.com

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