EyeOnMuskegon 12-30-2012

EyeOnMuskegon 12-23-2012

2012-12-20 Full board

2012-12-18 Ways & means

EyeOnMuskegon 12-16-2012

2012-12-13 Jail committee meeting

MuskegonPundit: UNIONS ASSAULT ON CAMERA!!

MuskegonPundit: UNIONS ASSAULT ON CAMERA!!

2012-12-11 Full board

EyeOnMuskegon 12-9-2012

LIBERTY REVIEW

LIBERTY REVIEW

2012-12-6 How we gonna pay for the jail part 2

2012 12 6 How we gonna pay for the jail part 1

2012-12-3 Public works special meeting

Muskegon Weekly Reader #2

The Muskegon Weekly Reader #2 

Hi community patriots!

I've been asked to compile some topical political info and blast it out to all of us who care about the future of Muskegon county, so here we go. 

Please try to attend this meeting!

They want to move the elected Public works board to an appointed "friendly" group (by the same folks who appoint the Brookhaven board and other debacles) so there will be NO ACCOUNTABILITY to the public.

I'll be at Carmen's today from noon until 1:15 and then we will go over to the meeting at the old Baker college campus (Apple and Pine).

This meeting is NOT at the County building!

•             Special Public Works Board-THIS IS BIG!!!!!

Major power grab attempt by county.

We do need you to attend and ask questions.

If citizens are interested, I'll be at Carmen's at noon to discuss and plan strategy.

E me if you're interested.

Special Public Works Board

When: Monday, December 3rd - 1:30 PM

Location: Training Center, 133 E. Apple, Room #203

Click Here for Agenda http://www.co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/agendas/pworks_12_12_03.pdf 

BIG BIG BIG-This THURSDAY!

This is where they will "hear" citizen input on their scheme to issue bonds for the new jail WITHOUT a vote by taxpayers... or anyone else for that matter!

•             Jail/Juvenile Transition Center Committee

When: Thursday, December 6th - 1:30 PM

Location: Hall of Justice - Board Room, 4th Floor, 990 Terrace, Muskegon, MI 49442

 

Don't forget these other meetings this week! 

Courts/Public Safety Committee

Human Resources Committee

When: Tuesday, December 4th - 3:30 PM

Location: Hall of Justice - Board Room, 4th Floor, 990 Terrace, Muskegon, MI 49442

 

This is NOT the BIG meeting-Jail/Juvenile Transition Center Citizens Review Committee

When: Tuesday, December 4th - 5:30 PM

Location: Hall of Justice - Board Room, 4th Floor, 990 Terrace, Muskegon, MI 49442  

Ways & Means Committee

When: Thursday, December 6th - 3:30 PM

Location: Hall of Justice - Board Room, 4th Floor, 990 Terrace, Muskegon, MI 49442 

 

This week's EyeOnMuskegon (Sunday 8:30-10AM-see below) is online: http://muskegonpundit.blogspot.com/2012/12/eyeonmuskegon -12-2-2012.html 

County Commissioner Alan Jager (the ONLY conservative the county board has seen in over 20 years!) and Mackinac Center's James Holman (http://www.mackinac.org/bio.aspx?ID=385 ) talking about the continuing "generic service credit" rip-off  (think "Quantitative Easing" on a local scale) and how the county's unbridled spending is killing any hope of companies making decisions to move to our county.

And what we can do to stop the carnage! 

Please forward to anyone you think might be interested and if they'd like to be added to my list, please E me back and I'll add them to the next blast.

(also respond if you want to be removed from this list)

My expectation is a once a week e-mail reminding us of events coming up in the near future.

But it is a work in process so each week ought to bring something new. 

I'll also try to recap what happened last week and give some idea of what to expect for the coming week.

If you have suggestions or info you'd like added, please sent it to me.

No promises that I'll add to the Weekly Reader but I'll try. 

Don't forget I'm at Carmen's Café from 2:00-3:15 every Tue. and Thu. when the county board meets (usually the first six Tue./Thu. of each month).

We talk about countywide politics and then  got to the county commission meetings.

Everyone is invited! 

Please help me get the truth out to those who care!

Thanks,

Jim

231-421-4409

EyeOnMuskegon 12-2-2012

To encourage public policy through education and activism that promotes personal responsibility, individual liberty, limited government,free markets, and sanctity of life with principals, ethics and transparency Therefore,we willserve as a support to all in the state of Michigan who wish to collaborate openly with others to meet our stated mission Michiganders, Just this week you witnessed the impact that citizen lobbing can have as the Health Care Exchange bill was defeated in Committee. We NOW need to turn our efforts to an historic, revolutionary piece of legislation for Michigan, the auto capitol, Right to Work. The back story is that the Governor has finally conceded and will sign the bill, waiting to be introduced by Rep Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake), IF it reaches his deck. Major donors to the GOP want it. House Speaker Jase Bolger on this issue is in the right column and favors no exceptions (certain occupations) in the bill. Senate majority leader Randy Richardville would like some exceptions so discussions continue to iron these out before the bill is introduced. However, this bill IS posed to move at any moment and things will move very quickly in a lame duck session. We need to also. Literally NO time to waste!< /span> Make no mistake despite the rhetoric, this is about power and money. As stated in our last Newsletter, "The major reason Michigan is a blue state is the lobbying efforts on behalf of Liberal/Democrat candidates on all levels and causes by Unions paid for with union members dues." An example from the past election Passage of Right to Work alone could help see Michigan in the "red" on future election maps. Of course Democrats and their Union allies realize this and have such declared World War 3 on any GOP who dares to vote for it. The Democrats have already threaten to initial recall efforts against those legislators who vote for a RTW bill. Additionally, they threaten to withhold their votes that will be needed to pass anything the governor wants such as bills for a regional transit authority, (red flags should always be rasied when you see the word "authorities) a health care exchange, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan reform and a Detroit lighting authority. Sen. Tory Rocca (R-Sterling Heights) was quoted as saying that members should brace for the "worst experience of their lives short of death if the Legislature pursues right-to-work." Yes the Democrats would even vote AGAINST the Health Care Exchange and in fact two Democrats passed voting in the House Policy Committee on SB 693 and two were AWOL as a signal I believe to Gov. Snyder. This is an example of how imperative killing any RTW is for them. So by helping to pass Right to Work we also help defeat the Health (Obama)Care Exchange by default. Ladies and gentleman THIS is called a win win and groundbreaking for limited government liberty loving Conservatives who want to take back our state from the tyranny of Liberalism. And your efforts to achieve this can part of your legacy! Liberty groups from around the state will be participating in a citizens lobby day hosted by Scott Hagerstrom (AFP). This coming TUESDAY, DEC. 4TH Our Capitol Building, Downtown Lansing Public Parking Map HERE You don't have to be an expert, just bring your passion, the basic facts and an offer to help support those Reps who will do the absolutely right thing for Michigan and vote for RTW. If for some reason you can not attend please call/e-mail fax your House Rep and your Senator ASAP! Basic Facts 1. RTW does NOT prevent anyone from joining or staying in a Union 2. Section 14(b) of the Taft-Hartley Act affirms the right of states to enact Right to Work laws. Section 14(b) of the Taft–Hartley Act goes further and authorizes individual states (but not local governments, such as cities or counties) to outlaw the union shop and agency shop for employees working in their jurisdictions. Under the open shop rule, an employee cannot be compelled to join or pay the equivalent of dues to a union, nor can the employee be fired if he joins the union. In other words, the employee has the right to work, regardless of whether or not he is a member or financial contributor to such a union. 3. Union often argue that because unions are weakened by RTW laws, there is more unemployment because wages may be lower. In research published in 2000, economist Thomas Holmes of the University of Minnesota compared "counties close to the border between states with and without right-to-work laws (thereby holding constant an array of factors related to geography and climate). He found that the cumulative growth of employment in manufacturing (the traditional area of union strength prior to the rise of public-employee unions) in the right-to-work states was 26 percentage points greater than that in the non-right-to-work states." 4. Unions have caused taxes to rise and weakens government responsiveness to citizens In his excellent article on the Unions,"The Trouble with Public Sector Unions" Daniel DiSalvo (an assistant professor of political science at the City College of New York-CUNY.) states,"Most economists agree that public-sector unions' political power leads to more government spending...'Public-sector unions thus distort the labor market,weaken public finances, and diminish the responsiveness of government and the quality of public services." 5. RTW states keep and attract business with the outcome of more jobs. I found a cited research paper by fellow Michigander, John W. Cooper, "Effects of Right to Work Laws on Employees, Unions and Businesses" "Just by looking at the raw aggregate numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics it is quite clear that more jobs have been created in Right to Work states than in non-RTW states over the past twenty years: “Between 1982 and 2002 the average right-to-work state increased its job rolls by 62 percent. By contrast, the average non-right-to-work states increased jobs by only 42 percent” (Kersey).Only looking at the most recent information, data from 1992 to 2002, the trend continues: Right to Work states’ job creation was 26% whereas non-RTW states’ job creation was only 18% (Kersey)." This is especially important to Michigan as her close Midwestern neighbor Indiana just signed a RTW bill this year making her a top contender to draw business away from Michigan and attract new business that might have considered Michigan if she were a RTW state. To quote Represenative Mike Shirkey who is poised to introduce RTW legislation, "making Michigan a leader of worker freedom and one of the most economically competitive states in the nation....maybe the world." 6. Liberty of Michiganders, the right to choose if they want to be a dues paying Union member. See YOU Tuesday! Thank you for all you do for Michigan, you are the heart and soul of Michigan Joan Fabiano To Visit our Site Grassroots in Michigan

Muskegon county meetings THIS WEEK!

Special Public Works Board
When: Monday, December 3rd - 1:30 PM
Location: Training Center, 133 E. Apple, Room #203
Click Here for Agenda

Courts/Public Safety Committee
Human Resources Committee
When: Tuesday, December 4th - 3:30 PM
Location: Hall of Justice - Board Room, 4th Floor, 990 Terrace, Muskegon, MI 49442
Click Here for Courts/Public Safety Agenda
Click Here for Human Resources Agenda

Jail/Juvenile Transition Center Citizens Review Committee
When: Tuesday, December 4th - 5:30 PM
Location: Hall of Justice - Board Room, 4th Floor, 990 Terrace, Muskegon, MI 49442

Ways & Means Committee
When: Thursday, December 6th - 3:30 PM
Location: Hall of Justice - Board Room, 4th Floor, 990 Terrace, Muskegon, MI 49442

Jail/Juvenile Transition Center Committee
When: Thursday, December 6th - 1:30 PM
Location: Hall of Justice - Board Room, 4th Floor, 990 Terrace, Muskegon, MI 49442

Muskegon county jail meeting part 1

Muskegon county jail meeting part 2

Jail meeting video-still coming...

....., but very slow uploading.
I do expect to post links this evening.

Time To Boycott The RNC

Irish Examiner USA: Time To Boycott The RNC
Instead of having focus groups to find out how the middle class feels about candidates and issues why not have town hall meetings organized by inner city community churches and social clubs?
How about spending some money in that community hiring help to cater and to secure these events?

Instead of depending on a tech voting program like Orca that can be easily sabotaged, why haven't they invested in human beings?
Democrats pay their 'volunteer' community organizers.
The RNC collects millions but they have no idea how to spend it.
How about spending it finding out from people like that phone woman why they hate the Republicans?
They hate us because they do not know who we are.
We have allowed others to tell our history and to distort it.

2012 11 27 Ways & means

2012-11-27 County-Full board

EyeOnMuskegon 11-25-2012

EyeOnMuskegon 11-18-2012

EyeOnMuskegon 11-11-2012

Muskegon County Commission Public Works 11-08-2012

Muskegon County Commission Full Board 11-08-2012

County to spend $1,751/laptop today

bumped-
Full board will vote today (11-8-2012) on these $1,751 laptops for "new employees". No commissioner has asked why the taxpayers must spend so much on computers when excellent laptops can be bought locally for $299-$450.
OPM (OtherPeople'sMoney).

To be voted on today at 3:30

(Best Buy ad for this week: $299.99 Lenovo - IdeaPad 15.6" Laptop - 4GB Memory - 320GB Hard Drive - Black)

REQUEST FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION-COUNTY OF MUSKEGON

Julia Rupp, Executive Director

SUMMARY OF REQUEST (GENERAL DESCRIPTION, FINANCING, OTHER OPERATIONAL IMPACT, POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES)

Authorization is requested for Community Mental Health Services to purchase 20 new computers from CDWG to be used by new employees. Bids were obtained, with CDWG having the lowest bid at $35,037.80

Req. Desoription HISC COMPUTER ITEMS

Qty, Description GL Number 1 Unit Price Amount
20 Microcomp Hand/Laptop/Noteb $1,479.00 $29,580
20 Peripheral Miscellaneous $201.69 $4,033,80
20 Support Services Computer $71.20 $424,00

Cost per computer $1,751.89

EyeOnMuskegon Nov. 2012 shows

2012-11-11 Kurt Troutman and Andy Fink back to analyze the results of te big election (to be posted Sunday early afternoon)

2012-11-4 Andy Fink and Kurt Troutman predict the upcoming election: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpgkGIlaKH4

Nov. 2012-Muskegon county board of commissioners-meeting videos

November 2012 schedule

2012-11-27 Full board

2012-11-27 Ways and means

2012-11-15 Community dev/Strategic planning

2012-11-15 Transportation

2012-11-8 Full board

2012-11-8 Public works

2012-11-6 Courts/Public safety http://tinyurl.com/a7ncu3o

2012-11-6 Human resources http://youtu.be/urnkrtuDqQg

2012-11-1 Ways & means http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2To9rvhuoyU
Citizens speak out about the $1,000,000 bonuses

http://muskegontaxpayers.blogspot.com/2012/11/county-board-responds-to-citizens.html
County board responds (lies about the bonuses)

The Cow and The Ice Cream (free cell phones)

(from the internet)
"The last Presidential election was heating up and some of the children showed an interest. I decided we would have an election for a class president. We would choose our nominees. They would make a campaign speech and the class would vote. To simplify the process, candidates were nominated by other class members. We discussed what kinds of characteristics these students should have.We got many nominations and from those, Jamie and Olivia were picked to run for the top spot.

The class had done a great job in their selections. Both candidates were good kids.
I thought Jamie might have an advantage because he got lots of parental support.
I had never seen Olivia’s mother.
The day arrived when they were to make their speeches.
Jamie went first.
He had specific ideas about how to make our class a better place. He ended by promising to do his very best.
Everyone applauded and he sat down.
Now is was Olivia’s turn to speak.
Her speech was concise. She said, “If you will vote for me, I will give you ice cream.” She sat down.
The class went wild. “Yes! Yes! We want ice cream.”
She surely would say more. She did not have to.
A discussion followed. How did she plan to pay for the ice cream? She wasn’t sure. But no one pursued that question. They took her at her word.
Would her parents buy it or would the class pay for it…She didn’t know.
The class really didn’t care. All they were thinking about was ice cream…
Jamie was forgotten. Olivia won by a landslide.
Every time Barack Obama opened his mouth he offered ice cream and 51.4 % of the people reacted like nine year olds.
They want ice cream.
The other 48.6% percent know they’re going to have to feed the cow and clean up the mess.”
This is the ice cream Obama promised us!"

Election 2012 results: Annette Smedley narrowly defeats Raymond J. Kostrzewa for 14th Circuit judge

Election 2012 results: Annette Smedley narrowly defeats Raymond J. Kostrzewa for 14th Circuit judge | MLive.com
Smedley won the race with 28,494 votes, just 252 more thanKostrzewa, who got 28,242, according to results from the Muskegon County Clerk.

SHOCKER!

Great news!

SUPERVISOR FRUITPORT
4 of 4 Precincts Reporting Total

Brian K. Werschem DEM 3674
Ron Cooper             NPA 2218
WRITE-IN              NON 14

EyeOnMuskegon 11-4-2012

County board "responds" to citizens requests for wild spending. 11-1-2012

Muskegon county board-citizens speak! 11-1-2012

EYE ON MUSKEGON - OCTOBER 28TH 2012

EyeOnMuskegon 10-21-12.

EYE ON MUSKEGON 10-14-2012

EyeOnMuskegon 10-7-2012

EyeOnMuskegon 9-30-2012

EyeOnMuskegon 9-23-2012

Muskegon vs Ottawa county

Proposal 6: The International Bridge/Tunnel Voting Requirement

Proposal 6: The International Bridge/Tunnel Voting Requirement [Michigan Capitol Confidential]: Proposal 6: The International Bridge/Tunnel Voting Requirement

Great links about this constitutional amendment-to be discussed on Sunday's EyeOnMuskegon

EYE ON MUSKEGON 9-16-12

EyeOnMuskegon 2012-9-9

Molitor Meet & Greet 9 6 2012

Clint Eastwood RNC Full Speech 2012, Talks To Invisible Obama

Ottawa County Patriots | West Michigan Patriots – Standing for individual rights

Ottawa County Patriots | West Michigan Patriots – Standing for individual rights
Video Aug 28 meeting, Perspectives on Islam
August 30, 2012
Here is a video of the meeting. Due to accents of foreign born speakers, some parts are difficult to understand.
Watch video at this link: Perspectives on Islam Previous posts

EYE ON MUSKEGON 8-26-12-Video!

EyeOnMuskegon 8-26-2012

Eye on Muskegon 8-19-12.

2012 8 14 Muskegon county Full board part 1

2012 8 14 Muskegon county Full board part 2

EYE ON MUSKEGON 8-12-12

EYE ON MUSKEGON 8-5-12

2012-8-9 County board-Public works

Muskegon County Commission Ways & means Meeting 7 24 12

My concession e-mail to Bob Scolnik

Bob,

Congrats.

Good win for you.

But a reminder....... I ain't going away!

See you (most) every Tuesday/Thursday!

Jim

PS: Michigan's attorney general tells me the board's little pre-meeting room is open for public attendance.

Save me a donut!

Jim

2012 8 7 Courts

2012-8-7 Human resources

RileyForCommissioner: My response to The Muskegon Chronicle questionaire

(click link for full response)
RileyForCommissioner: My response to The Muskegon Chronicle questionaire
Why are you running?
Last year, Governor Snyder set out his revenue sharing program tied to requirements for accountability, transparency, service consolidation, employee compensation reforms and other standards.
Almost immediately, the Muskegon county board rushed to vote on all union contracts in order keep pension and benefits at levels that would violate the governor's recommendations.
And do it before the governor's deadline.
Our county leaders skipped their own rules for a required committee meeting to publicly review the contracts and presented the contract vote to the full board with most commissioners not even seeing or reading the contracts themselves.
In other words, county commissioners trashed transparency, changed their own rules and gave up future revenue sharing in order to push through Cadillac benefit packages for every union contract.
Shortly thereafter, they included all non-union members in the same package.
And now county leaders tell us further cutbacks or tax increases are going to be necessary in the near future.
Bob Scolnik voted for every step of this scheme to violate our governor's plan for prudent governance and rush the contract vote.
I would not have done that and I would have taken my message to the public.
(click title for full response)

2012 8 2 Ways & means

2012 7 31 Public works

2012 7 31 Full board- jail protest

Comments begin at 21:41

Toby at 24:06-BEST BLAST!

Riley at 34:48

2012-7-31 Jail protest

2012-7-31 Jail protest - jambork's Photos#!i=1998969686&k=xVmPbmB#!i=1998969686&k=xVmPbmB

Endorsement letters: David Wells will make an excellent circuit judge

Endorsement letters: David Wells will make an excellent circuit judge | MLive.com
He rides a Harley, is a Community Child Foster Care provider, active with the Boy Scouts and with his church, sits on or has been on the boards of 14 community organizations, and graduate school law instructor.
When it comes to our judicial system experience counts, wisdom counts, fairness counts.

Letters: David Wells best choice in Circuit judge race

Letters: David Wells best choice in Circuit judge race | MLive.com
His experience as a private judge, mediator and circuit court case evaluator combined with his decades of community service also includes his appointment as one of only three non-physicians in the country to the board that monitors and accredits all U.S. osteopathic medical schools.
It is clear that Wells has respect that is acknowledged on a national scale.
But I believe those who know him would say that it is his temperament that sets Wells apart from the other candidates.
Maybe it's because he's the father of an autistic son or the fact that David and Nancy have been foster parents.
Whatever the reason, Wells has an understanding and an empathy for those in need of justice.
Judicial temperament, experience and nationally recognized respect.

Endorsement letters: Jim Riley will challenge the 'big spenders'

Endorsement letters: Jim Riley will challenge the 'big spenders' | MLive.com
"Riley and Circuit Judge candidate David Wells successfully sued the county for FOIA and Open Meetings Act violations that uncovered $1.2 million that was secretly shifted from Muskegon taxpayers to the Brookhaven Care Facility.
That's in addition to the $2.35 million the county still calls a "loan".
No comment from Bob Scolnik."

EyeOnMuskegon 7-29-2012

Muskegon County-Meeting announcements

Good link for SOME county meetings!

Muskegon County, Michigan

Meeting Announcements

Port Authority Committee
When: Monday July 23 – 1:30 PM
Location: Administration Conference Room- 4th floor, Hall of Justice, 990 Terrace , Muskegon, MI 49442

Ways & Means Committee
When: Tuesday July 24 – 3:30 PM
Location: Board Room - 4th floor, Hall of Justice, 990 Terrace, Muskegon, MI 49442

Jail & Juvenile Transition Center Committee
When: Thursday July 26 – 1:30 PM
Location: Board Room - 4th floor, Hall of Justice, 990 Terrace, Muskegon, MI 49442

Community Development/Strategic Planning Committee
When: Thursday July 26 – 3:30 PM
Location: Board Room - 4th floor, Hall of Justice, 990 Terrace, Muskegon, MI 49442

Transportation Committee
When: Thursday July 26 – 3:30 PM
Location: Board Room - 4th floor, Hall of Justice, 990 Terrace, Muskegon, MI 49442

2012-7-19 Public works Dave Kieft comments about water board secret meeting

2012 7 19 Public works

2012-7-18 MCC Sheriff's debate

EyeOnMuskegon 7-15-12-video with Jim Riley and Tracy Lorenz

Prosecutor's debate-MCC-7/17/2012

Debate 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFk3KB84OjI
Debate 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zROzVJxZOyA
Debate 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDwvHW2jtY0
Debate 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3AeuMHIfD8

2012-7-17 Full Board

EyeOnMuskegon 7-15-2012

2012-7-12 Public works-FRACKING!

2012-7-12 Ways & means-FRACKING!

Candidate debates for Muskegon County prosecutor, sheriff set July 17-18

Candidate debates for Muskegon County prosecutor, sheriff set July 17-18 | MLive.com
Muskegon County voters will have a chance to hear the candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for prosecutor and sheriff debate the issues next week.
The Muskegon Chronicle and MLive are partnering with Muskegon Community College to present candidate debates at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, at the college.
The debates also will be broadcast several times on MCC TV later in the week.

EYE ON MUSKEGON - 7-8-12 Video!

EyeOnMuskegon 7-8-2012

EyeOnMuskegon today 8:30-10:00am!

MuskegonPundit
EyeOnMuskegon Sunday morning 8:30!
Learn or burn!
The Aug 7 primary election is already under way with absentee ballots being submitted every day.
If you want your vote to count for county sheriff, prosecutor or 3 of the 9 county commissioners, Aug 7 is it baby cuz the primary victors have no Nov. challengers.
Winner takes all in August!
And 6 fine folks want to become our next circuit court judge with only 2 going on after Aug. 7.
We'll have a round table discussion about these big elections with democrat up and comer Sean Mullally and Muskegon GOP vice-chairman Andy Fink.
And me Jim Riley.
So learn about which candidate deserves your important vote Sunday morning 8:30-10 at EyeOnMuskegon.
Listen on WKBZ 1090AM or check us out online at http://www.newstalk1090.com/main.html
Or catch us later in the day on the internet at EyeOnMuskegon.com

Letter: Candidate submits 'job application' to voters

Letter: Candidate submits 'job application' to voters | MLive.com
Consider this a “job application” for Muskegon County 14th Circuit judge. My complete resume – with references and endorsements – is available upon request and online (www.mikewalshforjudge.org). I’m also on Facebook – Mike Walsh for 14th Circuit Court Judge.

Six candidates file for Muskegon County Circuit Court judgeship held by James M. Graves Jr.

Six candidates file for Muskegon County Circuit Court judgeship held by James M. Graves Jr. | MLive.com

Six Muskegon County attorneys have filed as candidates for the 14th Circuit Court judgeship being vacated by Judge James M. Graves Jr., who retires at the end of this year.
Tuesday at 5 p.m. was the filing deadline for non-incumbent judicial candidates to get on the Aug. 7 primary ballot. Besides the Graves seat, only incumbent judges are on the ballot this year in Muskegon County.
These are the declared candidates for the open Muskegon County Circuit Court seat for a six-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2013, according to the Michigan Secretary of State website:
-- Joe Bush specializes in probate law and estate planning. He also does civil and criminal litigation, family, business and real-estate law.
-- Karen Groenhout specializes in family law and Social Security Disability claims and has experience in criminal and civil law. She has worked as a Circuit Court referee for Muskegon and Ottawa counties.
-- Raymond J. Kostrzewa is a senior Muskegon County assistant prosecutor. He ran in 2010 for the 60th District Judge seat held by Andrew Wierengo III, losing to the incumbent.
-- Annette Smedley practices criminal-defense law, working as a public defender primarily in circuit courts in Muskegon and Mason counties. She ran in 2008 for Muskegon County prosecutor as a Republican, losing to incumbent Prosecutor Tony Tague.
-- Michael G. Walsh practices elder law, family law, criminal defense, personal-injury law, civil litigation and other areas. He was a longtime Muskegon Chronicle reporter before entering full-time legal practice in 2001.
-- David Wells has a general practice and has specialized training in probate administration, estate planning, real estate transactions, facilitative mediation and advanced arbitration case management.
In other Muskegon County judicial elections, 60th District Judge Michael J. Nolan and Muskegon County Probate Judge Gregory C. Pittman seek re-election and face no opposition on the ballot. District and probate judges also serve six-year terms.

MuskegonPundit: Summit set to address “Politics of Race”

MuskegonPundit: Summit set to address “Politics of Race”
Summit set to address “Politics of Race” - Holland, MI - The Holland Sentinel
Is the tea party racist?
That’s one of the questions a panel will explore at next week’s “Politics of Race” summit — hosted by the Ottawa County Patriots themselves.
The group’s founder, Jim Chiodo, was inspired to organize the event, in part, because of the “racial divide” caused by the Trayvon Martin case and its subsequent media coverage, he said.
“I’ve noticed when somebody’s political opinion is different than yours, and they don’t have a logical argument, they fall back on name-calling,” including using terms such as “racist,” Chiodo said.
The panel discussion will be 7-9 p.m. Wednesday (July 11) at the Howard Miller Library, 14 S. Church St., in Zeeland. Doors open at 6:15.

Candidate warns absentee voters need information about primary now

Please contact MCC, the Muskegon C of C and The Chronicle and ask (beg?) for help so we can get the tools for a better Muskegon!
MuskegonPundit: Candidate warns absentee voters need information about primary now
One of the main reasons Muskegon is "muskegon" is we have voted for "leaders" who have made bad policy and spending decisions.
We citizens need more information about candidates if we are to make informed, intelligent voteing decisions.

Ottawa County Patriots-Politics of Racism

MuskegonPundit: Ottawa County Patriots-Politics of Racism: Meetings | Ottawa County Patriots
!!!!!! POLITICS OF RACISM !!!!!
Normal schedule: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month
Place: Howard Miller Community Center / Library
14 S. Church St. Zeeland, MI 49464
Time: 7:00PM – 8:30PM Networking / refreshments follow meetings
All meetings are free and open to the public
Questions? Call 616-805-7270
Date Change !!! Tues, July 10 changed to Wed, July 11
Longer meeting 7:00 to 9:00 Be sure to arrive early
Town hall style meeting sure to be lively featuring:

EyeOnMuskegon 7-1-2012 Randy Hekman

The Leadership Institute | Campaign Management Workshop

The Leadership Institute | Campaign Management Workshop
Date
Saturday, July 7 9:00 AM
Location
AMG Business Center
800 Ellis Road
Norton Shores, MI 49441 Map
Cost
$25.00

What I Believe | Randy Hekman for Senate 2012

What I Believe | Randy Hekman for Senate 2012
3. Welfare:
America was built on the belief that government’s role is to create an environment in which a free people can use their God-given creativity and initiative to create wealth and to expand the economy, allowing a growing standard of living for all.
But government has become the ultimate nanny, boasting that it has resources sufficient to spare our citizens from all the ills of modern life. Government now is the source of food, clothing, shelter, and medical care.
The American Welfare State is now trapping a growing segment of citizens into a cycle of poverty and dependency, relegating real people to a substandard living that is far less than what they could achieve if the welfare state was properly reformed.
This tragedy is immense.
I propose a deliberate and gradual replacement of government welfare with assistance provided by non-profits, churches, and extended families.

Read it all!

Wayne County taxpayers on hook for $600M as generous pensions drain fund

Wayne County taxpayers on hook for $600M as generous pensions drain fund | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
Pension experts say plans should be close to 100% funded or on a path to reach that level.

"One of the common things that we look at are the trends and the real sustainability," said Don Fuerst, senior pension fellow at t
he American Academy of Actuaries in Washington.
"The decline from 99% down to 60% is not good. That's pretty low.

"In the private sector, if you fall below 80%, they start applying restrictions."

2012 6 26 Full board

EyeOnMuskegon 6-24-2012

Historical S.S. Keewatin returns home to Ontario today after leaky trip from West Michigan

Historical S.S. Keewatin returns home to Ontario today after leaky trip from West Michigan | MLive.com

eye on muskegon 6-17-12 Video!

EyeOnMuskegon 6-17-2012 David Wells-Judge Wierengo-Sobriety court

2012-6-12 Full board-Truth in taxation hearing

Eye on Muskegon 6 10 12-Video

Important meetings Today, Tue. Jun 12!

This is an important meeting!
Muskegon County Commissioners will meet in a "Planning Session" 1:30 Tuesday Jun 12.

The meeting will be held at the old Baker College campus on Apple Ave. (near the corner of Apple and Pine St.) in the Training Center room 202. It's the building kitty corner to the county clerk's "new" temporary offices.

It would be easiest to park in the lot behind the complex, just off Pine St.
Call me at 231-421-4409 if you need directions or any other info.
This is very important because they may be talking 'bout the taxes for the jail or any other spending/hiring they don't want you to know about.
So this is a BIG TIME number crunch meeting that every Muskegon resident needs to attend.

Remember, when they operate without any citizen input, they operate for those who already have input and that's why we're broke.

Why are these "planning sessions" important?
Simply because the commissioners have chosen not to publicize these quarterly meetings.
And things get done in the dark.
They want to converse among themselves without us citizens intruding.
Well, I think we citizens ought to intrude because our leaders have driven our county to the brink of bankruptcy on their own.
Maybe we could help our commissioners avoid us all falling off this fiscal cliff?
So if you care about the direction of our county, please plan on attending.
All citizens are welcome!
I'll be at Carmen's Cafe (Jefferson & Clay) from Noon  to about 1:15 if you want to meet and discuss before the meeting.
Then we'll go to the planning meeting.
There is also a full board meeting and a public hearing on the new tax increase the commissioners want you to pay at 3:30 at the county building.
See you there!
Jim Riley

EyeOnMuskegon 6-10-2012 Gary Glenn

2012 6 7 Ways & means

Eye on Muskegon Show 6-3-2012

2012 6 5 HR

2012-6-5 Courts Public safety

EyeOnMuskegon 6-3-2012

EyeOnMuskegon 5-27-12. Video!

EyeOnMuskegon 5-20-2012 show video

http://youtu.be/oAsw3M2cAGY

Double "O" Audio & Video

Oscar Osbo

3315 West White Lake Drive

Whitehall, MI 49461

Phone 616-805-2862

Cell 231-288-3580

http://oo-video.com

Politico Publishes False Headline About Rush Ratings

Politico Publishes False Headline About Rush Ratings
Monday, Politico's "media analyst" Dylan Byers's posted what at first glance looked like bad news for radio talk show giant Rush Limbaugh, who has been the target of a boycott after apologizing for comments he made about about pay-for-my-birth-control crusader Sandra Fluke.
Byer's headline reads: "Limbaugh takes post-Fluke ratings hit."
According to Paul Bond's reporting at the Hollywood Reporter, there's only one problem with Byers' headline: it isn't true.

2012-5-22 planning session

2012 5 22 Full board

Can We Avoid “Taxmageddon” in 2013?

Can We Avoid “Taxmageddon” in 2013?
In 1959, during an interview with the late Mike Wallace, Ayn Rand, the author of “Atlas Shrugged”, said “A free market will not break down.
All depressions are caused by government interference and the cure that is always offered is more of the same poisons that caused the disaster.”
After the stock market crashed on October 29, 1929, the government’s solution to the crisis was to raise the top tax rate from 25% to 63%. Successively this was increased to 79% and then to 94%, effectively choking off capital formation, investment, and the incentive to start new businesses.

EyeOnMuskegon 5-20-2012

2012-5-15 Ways&means

EyeOnMuskegon 5-13-2012 Video!

http://youtu.be/y-08PhOHkyE

EyeOnMuskegon 5-13-2012

International Conference on Climate Change

International Conference on Climate Change
Join Us
The Heartland Institute’s Seventh International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC-7) will take place in Chicago, Illinois from Monday, May 21 to Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at the Hilton Chicago Hotel, 720 South Michigan Avenue.
The event will follow the NATO Summit taking place in Chicago on May 19–21.

Great Speeches Collection: Winston Churchill Speech - Blood, Sweat and Tears

The History Place - Great Speeches Collection: Winston Churchill Speech - Blood, Sweat and Tears: Upon his very first entrance into the House of Commons as Britain's new Prime Minister on Monday, May 13, 1940, Winston Churchill only received a lukewarm reception from the assembly, while at his side, outgoing Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain was heartily cheered.
Churchill then made this brief statement, which has become one of the finest call-to-arms yet uttered.
It came at the beginning of World War II when the armies of Adolf Hitler were roaring across Europe, seemingly unstoppable, conquering country after country for Nazi Germany, and when the survival of Great Britain itself appeared rather uncertain.

2012 5 10 Full board special meeting

2012 5 10 Ways & means

EyeOnMuskegon video 5-6-2012

http://youtu.be/RvdpSPUvAYI

http://youtu.be/4h359B3TxvA

http://youtu.be/kl5jme3zZGk

http://youtu.be/nwCn2LNZ8p0

http://youtu.be/3q7MABoq9lg

http://youtu.be/FH2Cb5tuKTM

Double "O" Audio & Video

Oscar Osbo

3315 West White Lake Drive

Whitehall, MI 49461

Phone 616-805-2862

Cell 231-288-3580

http://oo-video.com

2012 5 8 full board

EyeOnMuskegon 5-6-2012

Muskegon County officials tour potential sites for new jail

Muskegon County officials tour potential sites for new jail | MLive.com
County officials plan to have a jail consultant review potential building retrofits to determine if it is workable.

Tomorrow's EyeOnMuskegon!

Big show tomorrow as "professor" Any Fink joins us a co-host with special guest Scott Hagerstrom, state director of Americans For Prosperity.

Scott's group, Americans For Prosperity-Michigan, "is a statewide organization of 65,000 activists committed to strengthening our constitutional government, establishing fiscal restraint, and giving taxpayers greater control over government".

Needless to say, they share the values all right thinking Americans.

Scott and Andy will help Sunday's EyeOnMuskegon focus on AFP's ads criticizing Gov. Snyder's attempts to get his new bridge to Canada, take a look at the record of democrat Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow as she tries for a third term and AFP's new national ad (http://muskegonpundit.blogspot.com/2012/05/afp-wasteful-spending-ad.html) on wasteful government spending!

And, of course, we'll continue our community conversation highlighting how the power brokers in Lansing and Muskegon will affect us all here in the only REAL West Michigan.

Talk to you tomorrow morning at 8:30!

Jim

EyeOnMuskegon
With your host
Jim Riley
Every Sunday morning 8:30-10NewsTalk1090.com
WKBZ
The Talk of MuskegonCall-in 231-830-3109
EyeOnMuskegon.comMuskegonPundit.com

AFP- Wasteful Spending Ad

2012-5-3 Ways & means-the phoney"re-enactment"

EyeOnMuskegon 4-29-2012

2012 4 24 Full board pt 1

2012 4 24 Full board pt 2

EyeOnMuskegon 4-22-2012

A request to my county commissioner-Bob Scolnik

Dear commissioner Scolnik,

About a month ago, I hand delivered my application to Heath Kaplan, director of Finance and Management Services in hopes of being appointed to the "Citizens Review Committee/Jail and Juvenile Transition Center - 11 slots, public".

Heath assured me he would pass my application on to you.

Since that time, other citizens have told me they have been contacted by their county commissioners either by phone or by mailed questionnaires.

I have yet to hear from you and, as the final appointment date is approaching, I wanted to make sure you had received my application and ask if you need any more information from me about my qualifications for appointment.

As you are well aware, I attend (and video) most county commission meetings and most special meetings focusing on the "jail" issue.

I have studied how other counties have addressed jail and finance issues in great detail and my multiple decades of experience in municipal finance as a financial advisor and branch manager should add a solid financial element to the citizens committee.

I also believe that complete transparency and the interests of the citizenry should be paramount.

As I was not notified by you nor invited to last week's meeting that discussed the new jail location and am aware the date for final appointment to the committee is next week, I am disheartened not to have heard from you.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Jim Riley

Muskegon County sued by talk-radio host alleging Open Meetings Act violation

Muskegon County sued by talk-radio host alleging Open Meetings Act violation | MLive.com: Muskegon County government is being sued by one of its most ardent critics based on allegations that the County Board of Commissioners illegally had a closed session meeting to keep discussions about a controversial loan secret.
James Riley, a local talk-radio host who has criticized the Muskegon County Board of Commissioners on many occasions involving financial matters, filed a lawsuit against the board alleging violations of the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act.

Muskegon county board-Ways&means 4-17-2012VIDEO0009.3gp

Radio promo for next week's show

Hi, This is Jim Riley, your host of Eye On Muskegon every Sunday morning from 8:30 to 10:00 and on the internet at eyeonmuskegon.com

Next Sunday is Earth Day.

We all love Mother Earth but some of us want others of us to love Mother Earth with more than just a big hug.

They want our money.

And they want government to collect it.

And spend it.

How's that working out?

This Sunday, Earth Day, EyeOnMuskegon will look at how your enviro dollars are being spent right here in Muskegon on NewsTalk 1090 WKBZ, the Talk of Muskegon.

EyeOnMuskegon 4-15-2012 Video!

http://youtu.be/gZc0VYl5NvA

http://youtu.be/BWH1yUjbhrI

http://youtu.be/UHqoQ9a9J8Y

http://youtu.be/VmzrnXG73as

http://youtu.be/zWbuJrXTs4w

http://youtu.be/LVavf9idg78

Double "O" Audio & Video

Oscar Osbo

3315 West White Lake Drive

Whitehall, MI 49461

Phone 616-805-2862

Cell 231-288-3580

http://oo-video.com

EyeOnMuskegon 4-15-2012

EyeOnMuskegon 4-11-2012-Video!

http://youtu.be/yAw1qQRjPo4

http://youtu.be/yF4psvZDirU

http://youtu.be/Mwnp3NVWRRE

http://youtu.be/qKLRk8I7h_0

http://youtu.be/XdLiOCE5pks

http://youtu.be/jbtF2SmoG1o

Double "O" Audio & Video

Oscar Osbo

3315 West White Lake Drive

Whitehall, MI 49461

Phone 616-805-2862

Cell 231-288-3580

http://oo-video.com

2012-4-10 Muskegon county commission board-Full board.MP4

EyeOnMuskegon 4-8-2012

Muskegon county board of commissioners-meetings-April 2012 videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9J_L-A3bGA Human resources committee 4-3-12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABJKpjOREm0 Courts/Public safety 4-3-12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQmeRVDHHcs&feature=youtu.be Ways& means 4-5-12