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Post by TBEAR on Apr 15, 2006 16:32:05 GMT -6
CONTINUED FROM "FUEL ADJUSTMENTS" THREAD
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Post by abbd on Apr 15, 2006 18:17:17 GMT -6
So many rebuttals so little time. The city parish charter(look it up it's online) precludes and forbids LUS from serving anyone or anything outside of the City limits of Lafayette and also forbids "in lieu of tax" money to be spent outside the city limits of lafayette(I know that amending the "charter" is easily accomplished especially with this money hungry government we have but never the less when they served the first customer or spent the first dollar outside the city limits(actually LUS has already been serving outside the city limits in violation of the charter)) the government has violated it's own laws. Another point, St. Landry Parish schools have had fiber in their schools(provided by a private company at basically no cost (see erate) for almost a year now, not 2007 like LUS promises. Furthermore I am not sure that LPSB will be re-imbursed like St Landry was by erate because of the method they used in signing an agreement with LUS.
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Post by TBEAR on Apr 15, 2006 19:00:48 GMT -6
Thats very interesting.
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Post by zoe10850 on May 17, 2006 0:54:17 GMT -6
So ABBD, you say a private corporation actually provided fiber without competition from LUS ? How can that be so, Huval implied it could not be possible without us taxpayers footing the bill and forcing the issue.
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Post by abbd on Jun 30, 2006 13:33:15 GMT -6
I see that our administration, the guys who said that even though violent crimes were way up and arrests were way down, that the new police procedures were working(hehehehehe), is now calling on the taxpayers to stop asking why their electric bills are too high, and let's move on to the governments infamous fiber project. Now if this administration is unable to keep it's citizens safe, why in the hell would we expect them to be any better at telecommunications than they are at fighting crime. Get a clue admin, do what you were hired to do, keep us safe in our community. Forget fiber, fight crime.
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Post by zoe10850 on Jun 30, 2006 22:26:41 GMT -6
I must admit, I was never in favor of the fiber project because I felt that a group who could not keep grass cut on medians, or litter picked up was certainly not competent to oversee a project of this magnitude. It would seem that Mr Durel is intent on proving me right.
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percy
Full Member
Posts: 101
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Post by percy on Jul 1, 2006 9:33:23 GMT -6
Have you seen the papers today, the Advocate and Advertiser?
Such unmitigated gall and arrogance of Mr. Stanley, Mr. Huval, Joey Dural and his administration for Dee and Terry do not speak so loudly and so publically with out Joey’s express approval. Need these people be reminded that we live in a republic and not a democracy, that our governments are based on the rule of law and not man?
The people who pursue their day in court concerning all aspects of the fiber project are entitle to do just that, Misters Stanley and Huval, regardless if you like it or not. Regardless if I like it or not.
Mr. Huval, you have said on many occasions that the cost of the project continues to drop due to advances in technology. Yes, the cost of borrowing money has slightly increased, but you, er, we are going to borrow less and less as each day passes by, right?
Mr. Stanley, you owe the people who filed the action, and each and every citizen of this parish an apology for your words and your attitude. Suck it up, Mr. Stanley. That is the profession you have chosen to be in. If you do not understand of what is expected of government leaders ( and it is certainly not to chastize and berate those who question their government or its elected and appointed leaders, by words or by litigation ), quit.
Each and every citizen has a right, even a duty, to question their elected and appointed representatives on whatever issue they choose to, be it at the council meeting, or on Joey’s radio show and, yes even in court. That is the city, parish, state and country in which we live.
And I would rather live here with all of its faults, obstacles and delays than any where else.
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percy
Full Member
Posts: 101
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Post by percy on Jul 1, 2006 10:06:12 GMT -6
For every body: factual information for both pro and con, litigants and non-litigants alike:
Lafayette City Parish Charter 4-07 Utilities Department C. The director of utilities shall direct and be responsible for: (1) Production and distribution of electricity. (2) Water production, treatment and distribution. (3) Sewerage collection, treatment and disposal. (4) Utility engineering services. (5) Supervising contract construction work for the utility system. (6) Maintaining utility equipment in cooperation with the central garage. (7) Reading of utility meters. (8) Other such activities as may be directed by the president and the authority which are necessary or incidental (emphasis added) to the operation of the utility system.
Necessary is defined as >adjective 1 required to be done, achieved, or present; needed. 2 that must be; inevitable: a necessary result. >noun 1 (necessaries) the basic requirements of life, such as food and warmth. 2 (the necessary) informal the action, item, or money required. -ORIGIN Latin necessarius, from necesse 'be needful'.
Incidental is defined as >adjective 1 occurring as a minor accompaniment or by chance in connection with something else. 2 (incidental to) liable to happen as a consequence of. >noun an incidental detail, expense, etc. definitions the Oxford University press
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Post by abbd on Jul 1, 2006 14:05:17 GMT -6
Oh yes it's the arrogance. From the day durel was sworn in he assumed that posture, don't question me, don't even dare to second guess anything I do, I am joey durel and I am omnipotent. Go back and look at all the miss steps durel has made, you would be amazed. As far as stanley is concerned, what do you expect from an ex-newsreader? These two plus huval need to realize that they work for us, and we will and should question what they do with our money. Forget fiber, fight crime.
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Post by abbd on Aug 6, 2006 7:01:10 GMT -6
Anyone read that absurd letter to the editor about The Weather Channel? Where in the Constitution or the useless outdated City Charter does it state that citizens must be given constant coverage of the weather by the government? What a bunch of hog wash. What a bunch of whiners and collectivists. We are truly becoming more and more dependent on the government on a daily basis.
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Post by SeleR on Aug 7, 2006 16:19:26 GMT -6
I was taught that socialism would cure all evils of a capitalist society, like poverty, inequality, social injustice, and last, but not least, high cable rates and telephone rates. We know that is still true because our republican administration says so. It also says that we can trust them with more sales tax money while at the same time, our sales tax collections are at record levels.
I suppose the fact that the last taxes did nothing as promised (let's blame Comeaux, he's gone now) as far as road construction, the courthouse and jail maintenance tax was not used to actually maintain the courthouse or jail, but other public buildings instead, the consolidation of municipal and parish would save money, but actually cost more, but of course we trust you with a lot more money because you say we can. We have a lot of benefits to pay for that you folks that actually work do not get.
The truth of the matter, is that the Durel administration has not shown an ounce of credibility. If anything, the truth is the people who actually run the city have nothing but contempt for the taxpayers. People like Mr Dee Stanley, Mr Terry Huval, Mr Gary Haynes, Judge Saloom, Chief Hundley, Chief Craft, Mr Williams,Mr Benjamin, Mr Mouton etc. do not even try and hide their contempt of the public, and our opinions, or our pocketbooks.
If we allow these people to continue to "serve" us, I simply do not know what to say.
As for the people who do not want to pay for the weather channel, it is no different than buying a car with "packages" ie. things you really do not want coupled with those that you do want. Cox must pay for HBO, Movie Channel, Weather channel just like us. Does anyone out there seriously believe that Cox wants to raise rates when satellite is readily available, when Ma Bell is entering the cable tv business, when our socialists are entering the business with our capital ? They do it because they must make money, a profit, just like everyone else in the business community except LUS. Cost means nothing to government, that is obvious.
I have not spoken out about this, nor joined this talk board yet, but I wonder how it is legal for a consolidated government to separate municipal business from parish business ? Why couldn't all people in the parish vote on the fiber issue? How does LUS say it is a municipal operation when there is no more municipal government as voted for by the people ? Why does the parish collect parish/police jury tax, as well as a municipal property tax ? Is this not a double taxation ? Why do we have a city anything ?
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Post by zoe10850 on Aug 7, 2006 22:49:49 GMT -6
I like the legal point raised, and am curious; If we voted to replace the city government with a parish government, is there a city anymore? It does not seem logical. As a legal matter, if there is no longer a city of Lafayette per se, doesn't the parish own LUS ? I kinda thought that was what we voted oneven though I voted against the consolidation because I did not think the issue was carried far enough. I say if there is to be a consolidation, it should be a consolidation. How can a councilman from Carencro vote on Lafayette city matters if we are not really consolidated? Who does he represent ? Shouldn't the parish have voted on fiber? After all, the "payment in lieu" illegal tax is spent outside the city limits, and the fact is the various cities in the parish have stripped the revenue sources from the parish through corporation of the businesses. St Tammany Parish filed suit against the city of Slidell over that very topic and prevailed.
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quest
New Member
Posts: 49
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Post by quest on Aug 12, 2006 9:06:12 GMT -6
Does not LUS and our City fathers get it?
Their own business plan states that ftth will lose money during the first several years of operation. Just where do they think or who do they think will cover those loses? The tooth fairy?
It is their intent to use revenues generated from other divisions to shore up those loses. Read the bond ordinance that the third circuit just struck down ( and good for them too, at least they can read state law).
Borrow money from the other divisions to pay bond holders then charge us interest too? Who does Huval and Dural think will pay for this; rob peter to pay paul and rob peter again?
It is all of the citizens in the city of Lafayette that will pay whether they intend to utilize ftth or not.
If a private company went to a bank with that business plan, gee mr banker it is really really good and all nice for the community but I will not make money for several years or even break even for several years, do you think that banker would loan Misters Huval or Durel the money, of course not. Nor should we, the citizens of Lafayette.
But Durel and Huval want us, the owners of the utility system to finance it through our electric, water, sewerage and garbage bill.
They want the citizens of Lafayette to absorb the loses.
My sewerage rate keeps going up because they do not think it right for the other divisions to subsidize the sewerage side of the service. Why is it ok for the other divisions do do the same (via a "loan") for ftth?
It is time for them to fess up, fire all of the lawyers and drop this ftth plan and wholesale the fiber to Cox, maw bell and others.
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Post by zoe10850 on Aug 12, 2006 22:49:07 GMT -6
I told you so ! Durel, Huval, and I suppose the other officials are not to be trusted; time to elect a few outspoken, honest people.
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Post by Johnny on Aug 13, 2006 12:25:42 GMT -6
Did anyone see the article in the paper this week where the CEO of NuComm stated one of his reasons for choosing Lafayette over some 200 other communities for his new center was the technology infrastructure we are putting into place - namely the LITE center, LONI, and the fiber plan?
Every community has a BellSouth. Not many communities can control their own destiny.
Johnny
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quest
New Member
Posts: 49
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Post by quest on Aug 13, 2006 13:18:01 GMT -6
We all read the Nucomm came to Lafayette because of fiber-to-the-home plan, the LITE center and LONI.
Businesses move, expand, re-locate, or even close because of economic realities.
How many other cities was Nucomm looking at? What was the employment market in those cities? How much per hour would they have to pay? Would they have to build a new facility or renovate an existing one? What were the economic incentives for Nucom to set up shop in those cities?
When those questions are fully and completely answered and the only difference was ftth, Lite and LONI, then and only then will I believe that those hi tech ventures made such a difference. Other than that, I believe the owners of Nucomm had a little help in their press releases.
I think that the call center will be an economic engine for the Northside, but please spare me the ftth rhetoric.
Their decision was made on the economics involved, pure and simple.
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Post by TBEAR on Aug 13, 2006 17:10:35 GMT -6
Did anyone see the article in the paper this week where the CEO of NuComm stated one of his reasons for choosing Lafayette over some 200 other communities for his new center was the technology infrastructure we are putting into place - namely the LITE center, LONI, and the fiber plan? Every community has a BellSouth. Not many communities can control their own destiny. Johnny Johnny, you work for durel dont you?
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Post by abbd on Aug 13, 2006 17:23:50 GMT -6
Oh yeah johnny, you keep drinking that "kool-aid". I wonder why Whitchita Kansas was chosen for a call center a month before lafayette? Do they have a joey or terry there also? What a joke. Ya know that old sayin....... "money talks and BS walks"? That's what $2,000,000.00 of our tax dollars will buy ya. Sorry, now this ain't a slam against anyone who works there but if the only jobs a taxpayer funded $250,000,000.00(that's a quarter of a billion dollars(which is what the fiber folly will ultimately cost us) government project can create are for nine bucks an hour, we sure get gyped. Man oh man what a joke. Where's the high paying techie jobs those bozos predicted?
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Post by coolboy on Aug 15, 2006 9:56:56 GMT -6
While I do share everyone's skepticism, I am keeping my fingers crossed on ftth. If we can ever get out of court and start the doggone project, maybe NuComm is just the beginning.
Come to think of it, maybe NuComm chose Lafayette because $9/hour is pretty good for a lot of people here. That pay certainly wouldn't fly in some of the larger cities across the U.S. It's good to see foreign companies investing in the city.
Perhaps we shoud've made NuComm take Chris Williams along with the $2 million?
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Post by abbd on Aug 15, 2006 12:31:11 GMT -6
Actually, there is nothing in joey's grand plan to get more government control of our lives with his fiber folly that isn't available now. Anything you want is already provided by free enterprise(something that lafayette's collectivists hate). The only advantage to joey and the "central planners" is the ability to unfairly compete with the private sector to raise more money for his use. I am totally opposed to government becoming more involved with my life and my money. What joey proposes is already here, sorry but no cigar. It isn't possible to "tax yourself into prosperity", but joey is determined to try.
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