the money to pay for attorney Charles P. Bauer of Concord and his legal team came out of the city attorney’s line item budget, and estimated that cost to be somewhere between $20,000 and $25,000. The city hired Bauer’s firm because it has more experiences with these kinds of cases than the city attorney, officials said.
Was the city manager able to authorize this spending on his own without consulting the city council? IF the council was consulted, what was the vote and relevant discussion?
In reality, Gallagher, Callahan, and Gartrell was hired because they are the go-to law firm for NH government agencies. That’s what MacLean (or presumably MacLean – the Sentinel story cites city “officials” as the source of this claim) means when he says the firm “has more experiences with these kinds of cases”. Bauer’s clients are frequently cities, towns, and likely state agencies. He and his associates live off the taxpayer trough in all manner of frivolous and aggressive court litigation on behalf of municipalities.
Now, Bauer will likely be pressing to appeal to the NH Supreme Court, and it should be interesting to see how “the City” handles the prospect of an appeal now that people know how much “the City” has already spent. (more…)
A shocking trend of gang-related shootings plagued New Orleans following the hurricane infamous for destroying much of the city’s infrastructure. As national news media was reporting exaggerated claims of street-level violence occurring in understocked refuge centers, heavily armed and trained mobs were targeting and killings innocent civilians. Following the attempted murder of Donnel Herrington and the murder of Henry Glover on September 2, 2005, Danny Brumfield was killed with a shotgun blast to the back on September 3 near the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The Danziger bridge shootings were perpetrated on September 4, resulting in the deaths of James Brissette and Ronald Madison, with four other victims suffering injury in the attack. Who was responsible for these mob killings?
It would be years before a critical inquiry into the senseless killings would occur, primarily sparked by intrigued journalists and eventually followed up by the United States department of justice through the federal bureau of investigation. Potentially more disturbing than what is known is what is not known. With reports of bodies being spotted throughout the city that appeared to be victims of gunshot wounds rather than storm-related injuries, there is no way to know exactly how many homicides occurred during the post-storm havoc. Survivors have cited numerous bodies buried beneath debris showing gunshot wounds in Algiers Point, an area which was not flooded after the rupture of the levees. In various journalistic reports, drunken neighbors in largely wealthy, european-american residential areas admit to operating armed patrols and firing on people who, “didn’t belong.” (more…)
As some of you are already aware local bully and tyrant, Fred Parsells, submitted a letter to the Keene Sentinel titled: Stealing from Keene taxpayers, early last week. In it he actually suggests that the residents of Keene should blame their high property tax on the Robin Hooders. I immediately submitted my own rebuttal but it was denied because it did not meet the Sentinel’s standards. It would seem that it is quite alright for Fred to call the Robin Hooders thieves but not for me to call him a busybody and a parasite. Here is my submission:
In response to Fred Parsell’s letter “Stealing from Keene taxpayers.”
Sorry Fred, you got it wrong. The Robin Hood of lore was not stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. He was in fact taking money back from an oppressive government that stole through forced taxation and giving it back to the rightful owners. The taxpayers. A lot of folks don’t seem to understand that part.
Something else people might not be clear about: This year the city estimates it will take in $634,406 from meter collections and fines, but will end up spending $602,000 on the parking enforcement operating costs for a whopping total gain of $32,406. Does anyone not see a problem here? The fines and collection barely pay for the enforcers and their uniforms. So why even have them? If the city managers believe it’s so important to get folks to visit downtown and spend their money, why risk scaring them away with nasty tickets?
The bottom line here: Fred, who has been living off the backs of the taxpayers his whole working career, can’t fathom the idea of a community operating with any efficiency without the heavy hand of a tax-payer funded city government making every decision for us. The answer is the free market. If Keene is to survive the coming days, it must evolve past this mentality that government is the only solution to all of its problems.
Fred, what do you actually do? Besides collecting $56,610 a year in pension and $x/year as a housing inspector. Every time I’ve seen you downtown you’re either helping the parking enforcers write tickets or washing chalk off the sidewalks with your little spray bottle. You’re nothing but a busybody and a meddler. If you really cared about the taxpayer, you’d quit your job and give back some of that pension.
Conan Salada – Candidate for City Council – ward 4
Your AKPF #1 installment this week Adequate Koexistence Personify Flourish is sure to spark continued controversy while informing the civilization of happenings in Keene and around the world. Airing October 14 2013 on Cheshire TV, AKPF #1 features the brave men and women of the Aqua Keene Parking Force official DPRK units exposing and documenting the activities of other central committee authorities and civilians. A Tribe Called Quest snags the intro music slot and rhymes on Midnight. Graham assists AKPF evening patrol featuring reflective safety vest. James and Garret reminisce on the solidarity building of the Occupy movement with pizza and cupcakes in Central Square after the end of the Free Battleground Keene Wars protests. In reflection, the scene of the first day of evidentiary hearings, August 12 2013 is recalled as James and Graham are sprayed with a hose by a bureaucrat trying to execute their chalkings. Robin Hood of Keene uncreative censorship by DPRK affiliates gets fancy pants all wet. Ji (Ji’e’toh Dog, co-host of Black Sheep Rising fame) contemplates a parking meter’s utility to the pursuit of his joy. Ridley talks about Jesus interpreted by European standards as applied to Robin Hooding. Ridley ambush interviews the governor about state police misaction, governor Hassan, Margaret does not speak or acknowledge, declines to shake hands of united states military veterans. Chris Sununu encounters the Ridley Cam regarding singing songs in liquor stores and banishment de no trespass orders per NH Liquor Commission. Finally, DPRK officials claiming authority over the AKPF gather before court and Jester Mullins delivers an infamous monologue about putting the truth aside and doing one’s institutional duty to “fight on that lie”.
This week’s AKPF #1 timeslot on Cheshire TV will be occupied by Aqua Kommandante Parkour Faction #1. Taking a break from tales of parking enforcement, this entry opens and closes with athletic action featuring parkour on the streets of Concord. Sandwiched in between the sequences is a special extended version of dramatic footage previously aired on Cheshire TV during the days of ShireTV. Don’t miss this week’s installment designed to shock and awe the masses in Aqua Kommandante Parkour Faction #1.
In a blog post published here this summer, it was asked what the “City of Keene” hiring of hotshot private attorneys Eric G. Moskowitz and Charles P. Bauer would cost taxpayers. Now we have an initial idea. According to the Keene Sentinel’s feature story on the Robin Hood case dismissal, city boss John MacLean claims,![jester_moscowitz_bauer[1]](https://i0.wp.com/freekeene.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/jester_moscowitz_bauer1-300x123.jpg?resize=300%2C123)
Now, Bauer will likely be pressing to appeal to the NH Supreme Court, and it should be interesting to see how “the City” handles the prospect of an appeal now that people know how much “the City” has already spent. (more…)
