Baldwin County really made a mistake when they elected Chris Elliott to replace Tripp Boom Boom Pittman as State Senator. Those that know the history, know Elliott was one of the three general partners involved with the political machine in Baldwin County. First known as Stacy Elliott and Haygood then Catalyst, until that name became toxic and now Scott Boone Consulting. A good ole boy club that has had a stranglehold on Baldwin politics and the judiciary.
I am reluctantly back from a three week vacation and trying to get back on the Ripp Report horse. Let’s review a few subjects that have been in the news in my absence. First the Fairhope Waterfront project has been getting progressively worse. What started out as a citizen driven grant has turned into a political hot potato. The project has been whittled down to a stub. The council and Mayor are on different pages and some concerned citizens are beginning to see the true colors of Council President Burrell.
The Alabama House of Representatives has passed SB 46 establishing a statewide medical marijuana program. The bill now heads back to Senate for final approval. The bill, if approved (one more time by the Senate and signed into law by Gov. Ivey), would let people with a qualifying medical condition purchase cannabis derived products after getting a recommendation from a doctor. More than a dozen conditions, including cancer, terminal illness, depression, epilepsy, panic disorder and chronic pain would allow a person to qualify.
Texas had a milestone this week with 50,000 deaths contributed to the SARS-COV-2 Pandemic. Mr. Ripp has been out of the Country and gives us the 411 on travel out of the Country during Covid-19 and the Immunization Passport. The Alabama Legislature is in session passing the largest General Fund Budget in history but you nor I can get into the State House to observe and interact with our Elected Officials. Meanwhile the pandemic is officially over in the minds of my fellow Alabamians (so I guess we are all playing along).
134,200,000 SARS-COV-2 cases confirmed worldwide with a total of 2,906,785 deaths; with 31,280,000 cases in the USA with 560,000 deaths. Alabama Secretary of State and Senate hopeful John Merrill blew his political wad this week when he announced that he “did in fact have an affair” with the raunchiest texting woman since Raines had that embarrassing incident with… The murder trial of the Police Officer charged with the death of George Floyd proceeds on live TV this week. President Biden this week has his hands full of Border Issues, 2nd Amendment Issues, criminal and untoward activities by his silver-spoon, self admitted, crackhead son.
One thing you can say about Fairhope City Council, is that they are consistent. Council President Jack Burrell, who has stained the seat as President of Fairhope Council for two terms, is now beginning his third term, as President. For 9 years Jack has monopolize a position that is normally shared by the whole council, but they do things different in Fairhope. Mr Burrell and Council was sued, in Federal court, for denying public speech:
Several years ago I met Attorney Harry Still, the first attorney I have met in Baldwin County with the guts to confront corruption and he has paid the price for his candor. Harry, unlike myself, has deep roots in Baldwin County and is sickened by the blatant judicial and municipal corruption that stains the legacy of this proud county. At one time there were real good ole boys that put the county first but they changed colors like chameleons. In 2010 the county government eroded into the good ole boys of today, who put special interests, like CSB, Catalyst Scott Boone Consulting, first and constituents last. Harry and I share a weekly podcast, where we speak candidly about consumer issues and judicial corruption. This podcast, over 75 episodes, has had a chilling effect on the status quo and that has resulted in further pressure on Mr. Still. The latest issue, The McSharry case prompted Mr. Still to reflect on his heritage and bare his soul, DAMN THE STATUS QUO and DAMN CSB.
Fairhope is seeing the results of a Council and Mayor more dedicated to special interests than the majority of their constitutes. It is an absolute shame the Fairhope Waterfront Project became such a divisive tool, used by elected officials, to distort the project and lie to the public. The vast majority of Fairhope citizens have no idea what the original plan was and the opportunity they have lost. REDNECK RENOVATIONS - Ripp Report Fairhope’s, 6.2 million dollar waterfront park has been so watered down that it has become a renovation project. For over 18 months the Waterfront …
The Ripp Report is a Non-Profit Consumer Organization. The Ripp Report handles consumer issues, offers consultation on specific issues, family court issues and exposes political corruption. We cannot give legal advice, as we are not attorneys. We can however assist in finding competent attorneys. The intent of our non-profit is to inform the public on numerous issues, political and non political. Lagniappe has covered the Fairhope, McSharry “Bar stool” incident from the onset, the below article best encapsulates events to date.
