Sen. Goeff Hansen to hold 'coffee hours' in November

Sen. Goeff Hansen to hold 'coffee hours' in November MLive.com
The scheduled “coffee hours” are:

• 9-10:15 a.m. Nov. 7 at the Book Nook & Java Shop, 8726 Ferry, in Montague;

• 10:30-11:45 a.m. Nov. 7 at Gary's Restaurant, 906 E. Colby, in Whitehall;

• 8-9:15 a.m. Nov. 11 at Ravenna Roundtable, 12396 Stafford, in Ravenna; and,

• 10-11:15 a.m. Nov. 11 at Tanglewood Park, 560 Seminole, in Norton Shores.

Muskegon Summer Celebration ends

Muskegon Summer Celebration ends News Muskegon News
MUSKEGON, Mich. (WZZM) - The Muskegon Summer Celebration Board of Trustees has decided not to bring the annual festival back in 2012.
In a press release, the Board reports that the past few years have been "tough financially" and could not risk further set backs.
"This has been an extremely agonizing decision for the Board," said Bryon Mazade, Board Chair, in the press release.
"We looked at different plans and ideas to move forward, but didn't feel we could overcome past debt."

Muskegon County to consider wind-farm lease for wastewater site Tuesday

Muskegon County to consider wind-farm lease for wastewater site Tuesday MLive.com
The Public Works board meeting is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Hall of Justice, 990 Terrace, in Muskegon.
A regular county board meeting is set to follow the Public Works board meeting.

EyeOnMuskegon-show prep 10-30-2011 Muskegon's new jail

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/08/aclu_joins_muskegon_group_in_o.html

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/02/muskegon_county_jails_poor_con.html

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/03/muskegon_county_considers_fina.html

MSU this morning!

Wow! I just blew off most of the morning and watched the BigTen channel replay of the MSU/Wisc football game.
Wow!
So much more satisfying to see the game with a giddy smile on my face rather than the awful dread that accompanies my Spartan TV viewing over most of the last 44 years.
I did watch it on TV Sat. night but the heebie-jeebies only allowed for about 30 seconds of "happy" before the final call.
I am a season ticket holder but gave my tix away because the late start would have made it tough for me to be at my best for Sunday morning's EyeOnMuskegon radio show.
Since my guest didn't show up, it was a great call.......except I missed one of the greatest games in Spartan history....doh!
I guess the "show" rules.
If you get a chance to see it on BTC, do it.
They shortened it and it's all Spartan satisfaction.
Go Green!

EyeOnMuskegon 10-23-2011-Muskegon's bus system

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0mFoRIMJAc

Flu Vaccinations

Last year I asked Honeybunch (a health professional) if I should get a flu shot.
She said "you idiot, you've had the flu 3 times in the last 3 years. Get a freakin' flu shot.
I got the shot and......voila!
No flu for me.
Get a shot and save money!

Flu Vaccinations: Cost
Seasonal flu shot $27
Seasonal flu mist $37
Pneumonia shot $52

Anyone can receive a seasonal flu vaccination at the public health department, however, the public health department is unable to bill Medicare or health insurance programs other than Medicaid. If you have Medicare, we recommend either getting a seasonal flu shot at your doctor's office, at a pharmacy, or through Mercy Visiting Nurse Services (VNS).

Mercy VNS 2011 community flu shot clinic schedule. ($30)
Hours
Monday through Friday
Noon until 4:30 pm

Please call (231) 724-1220 to confirm vaccine availability.

Today!

Occupy Muskegon
Reminder: General Assembly Today At Noon, Hackley Park.

Sen. Goeff Hansen explains his vote against the Detroit-to-Windsor Bridge project

Sen. Goeff Hansen explains his vote against the Detroit-to-Windsor Bridge project MLive.com
A plan to build a bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, was defeated Thursday by the state Senate's Economic Development Committee.
Sen. Goeff Hansen, a member of the committee, was one of three Republicans who voted against the proposal.
In a statement, Hansen explained his vote.

Imagine an elected official explaining, in simple english, his reasons for his vote.
What a concept!
Keep it up Goeff!
Maybe Goeff's candor will start a fad among our other elected politicians?
Don't bet on it.
Stealth, in the shadows government suit most Muskegon electeds just fine.
And that's just WRONG!

Smart Meters-Dumb customers and intrusive government!

This is really big government at its worst.
Anyone remember the book "1984"?
Click the link to see a letter you can send to your electric company that will (I hope!) stop this intrusion into you home.

Path to 'Light Freedom' Bill Passage Still Unclear [Michigan Capitol Confidential]

Path to 'Light Freedom' Bill Passage Still Unclear [Michigan Capitol Confidential]: House Bill 4815 would allow Michigan residents to continue purchasing the federally banned light bulbs as long as they were produced in the state. The key to the measure is the argument that Congress has no authority to regulate commerce that takes place entirely within the boundaries of a single state. Currently no light bulbs are produced in Michigan, but Rep. McMillin says that could change if the bill were enacted.

Show prep for Sunday's show-Muskegon MATS-Buses-Tom Gantert

MATS website: http://www.matsbus.com/

County union contracts http://co.muskegon.mi.us/humanresources/laborcontracts.htm

Transportation committee minutes:
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/committee_agendas.cfm

County budget-Transportation-MATS (pg 500-516):
http://co.muskegon.mi.us/budget/line_item_a2012.pdf

Muskegon Chronicle links:
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/08/muskegon_county_buses_may_driv.html

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/03/students_night_workers_could_b.html

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/09/muskegon_county_picks_site_see.html

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/05/riders_excited_about_new_night.html

Mackinac links:
http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/article.aspx?ID=15879&print=yes

http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/15636

http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/8190

http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/article.aspx?ID=15873&print=yes

Sen. Goeff Hansen explains his vote against the Detroit-to-Windsor Bridge project

Sen. Goeff Hansen explains his vote against the Detroit-to-Windsor Bridge project MLive.com
A plan to build a bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, was defeated Thursday by the state Senate's Economic Development Committee.
Sen. Goeff Hansen, a member of the committee, was one of three Republicans who voted against the proposal.
In a statement, Hansen explained his vote.

No politician can please everyone every time but Sen. Goeff Hansen seems to believe that doing your homework, researching and asking questions about big spending, communicating with your constituents and publicly fielding questions from your detractors is a way to do the job with honor.

What a concept!

I'm still confused on the "Bridge" but I am very confident that Sen. Hansen will make an honest analysis and vote for the interests of our entire state and his constituents in West Michigan.

Don't let up Goeff, we're watching!

Today's Muskegon County board-Transportation

http://co.muskegon.mi.us/boardofcommissioners/committee_agendas.cfm

http://www.matsbus.com/

New jail?!!! Communication "Muskegon County Board of Commissioners" style.

New jail-New Taxes?

These "planning sessions" are important discussions about our county's future and by law must be open to the public.

The only notification of this next meeting is posted outside of the 4th floor board room in the county building.

No mention on the website.

They really don't want you to attend.

They'll be talking about the need for a new jail. And they'd just as soon you sleep in!

Next time a county commissioner tells you they value citizen input, you should know they don't really mean it.

We at EyeOnMuskegon do want you to attend and here's how.
If you have time, I'll be at Carmen's Cafe (downtown Muskegon Clay/Terrace) from 12:30-1:15 and we can chat about the upcoming planning session.

Otherwise we'll meet at the South campus training room 202, 133 E Apple at 1:30.
Call me at 231-421-4409 if you have any questions or e-mail me at EyeOnMuskegon@gmail.com.

EyeOnMuskegon this Sunday-City bus service-Good deal or more money down the drain?

This Sunday, Oct. 23 we will talk about Muskegon's "MATS".

That's "Muskegon Area Transportation System".

The buses and trolleys we all see zipping around town.

The federal government spends millions on our system.

The state spends hundreds of thousands.

And Muskegon county taxpayers subsidize more hundreds of thousands to keep the system going.

Good deal or not?

My guest will be senior capitol correspondent Tom Gantert of the Mackinac Center. (http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/bio.aspx?ID=597)
Tune in to WKBZ 1090AM this Sunday morning at 9:00 and join in our community conversation. 
Or listen on line at http://www.newstalk1090.com/main.html.
Give us a call at 231-830-3109 or just sit back and listen...and learn how your taxdollars are really spent!
See you Sunday!

Gordo's Musings

I always tip waaay more (%) for breakfast and lunch than I do at dinner. The servers work just about the same (or more!) but the total check is much less. Plus the servers seem to be more friendly. Who'd of guessed?

Do the leaders of Muskegon (city) really want folks to visit? The stop lights never seem to synchronized.
Plus all the stopping/starting because of the non-syncd lights uses more gas and pollution. I guess living "green" is for others if it involves effort on behalf of the city. Bummer!

It seems to me that the ads the USPS has run on TV and radio bleating about how tough it is to run their monopoly sort of lose credibility when they close on Columbus day.

Why do we even allow elections to happen in months other than November? Everyone knows they only have them in order to keep the vote down so the special interests can win an election they would otherwise lose.

Wow! 6000 hits!

Today's County commission-THE PROBLEM!

This "item for consideration" from today's county Ways and Means committee agenda is classic "Muskegon" politics.

1. "In an effort to be efficient with current resources...". What the heck does that mean?
2. What do these "reclassifications" mean to the county and to the taxpayer? More spending?
3. "General fund is a net zero adjustment..". OK...what does that mean?

The county's biggest problem is not "general fund" spending it is the unfunded "Cadillac" benefits given to employees and retirees that is tied to every raise that every employee receives. How does "reclassification" affect our biggest problem which is we are making promises we can't afford to deliver?????

Not one commissioner knows what the answer is to any of these questions.
I doubt that any will even ask and/or receive a clear answer from administrator Hammersley.
And the pay increase shifting will continue in stealth mode as the union insiders continue their stranglehold on our county.

Don't we expect our county leaders to know what they are voting for BEFORE they vote?

Is Nancy (But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.) Pelosi the role model for our elected county leaders?

Don't they know we trusted them to do their job with honesty, hard work and integrity? 

Don't they know we're broke?

This is going on in municipalities across the country.

And it is wrong!

Amtrak Subsidies vs. Megabus Private Enterprise

Amtrak Subsidies vs. Megabus Private Enterprise [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
If someone were to purchase an Amtrak ticket for a Nov. 7 trip from Detroit to Chicago and then return the same day, the cost would be $32 each way, or $64 round trip.
But Cox cites a 2008 study by the Pew Charitable Trusts that reports Amtrak lost $55 per rider on each leg of the Detroit-Chicago route.
.....By comparison, the same roundtrip from Detroit to Chicago and back again on Megabus would take two extra minutes each way, but the Megabus roundtrip ticket costs $25.

So we take taxpayer dollars to subsidize at choo choo train that puts a taxpaying business out of business.
And the same is true in cities like Muskegon with their bus system.
Take tax dollars from tax payers to put a tax paying business out of business.......it's the democrat way!