As other bloggers have reported, Tuesday's City Council meeting was dominated by yet another chapter of the youth baseball league saga, this time featuring the on-camera embarrassment of a longtime supporter of youth sports.
The "discussion" prior to council business was largely a rehash of attitudes and opinions already heard over the past six years. The subplot appeared to be an outright attempt to discredit the Mapp administration. When one commenter insulted City Administrator Rick Smiley, instead of allowing Smiley to respond, Council President Bridget Rivers cut him off, saying "There is a speaker at the mike." This despite the council's own rules: "No speaker shall engage in any personally offensive, derogatory or abusive remarks. The President shall immediately call to order any speaker who violates this provision."
Another speaker gave several anecdotes before saying, "Not to beat a dead horse, but to beat a dead horse ..."
Roland Muhammad, a former employee of the Recreation Division, reprised his routine with charges that some people are afraid to go to the West End, a recitation of all the youth centers of his childhood and digs at new Recreation staff. He has become as predictable as others who have set speeches at council meetings, though he did not whistle "Taps."
New Councilwoman Diane Toliver led off a funding ploy by saying she would be the first to donate $100 to "adopt a kid" for a city baseball league.
"Let's start fundraising," she said.
While volunteer leagues rely on contributions of money and time, it is unclear how a city league would operate with donated funding. Supporters of a city league estimated there would be 300 participants at a cost of $30,000. Several people commented on a timetable that should have included registration starting weeks ago.
Check the other blogs for details on the controversy. Or just wait until the Feb. 2 and Feb. 9 meetings - it's likely to come up again. And again. And again.
--Bernice
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Councilwoman Toliver should be able to afford her $100 donation. She's saved many $1000s when PMUA was illegally paying for her health insurance.
ReplyDeleteBernice,
ReplyDeletePerhaps I misunderstood--I thought Councilwoman Toliver was offering a donation to whatever the Negro League will be turning into--an independent league. I don't think they will be coming to the mic anymore. though. Rev. Greer made it clear that they would just be running baseball clinics this year (all volunteer, of course), and would be getting financial assistance from the MLB sources he mentioned. They first must establish a 501 (c) 3 like other leagues--as I noted as well, others offered to donate to it. I may be mistaken, but I don't think she meant that money should be donated to the city.
Rebecca
So is she going to do it? There is nothing stopping her from donating, was it grandstanding - you know - your mouth overloading your ***.
ReplyDelete