The Ripp Report recently changed it’s business status from a tax deductible non profit to a corporation. It is still a non profit, without any federal tax deductibility. This also allows the Ripp Report/Baldwin County Legal Eagle to become more engaged in the election process by sponsoring or contributing to specific candidates. One thing you can say about the Alabama Ethics Commission is that they are shamelessly predictable. To dismiss a complaint and not answer any questions nor offer any explanation as to the allegations, is a whitewash of facts.
The Ripp Report is no longer operating as a non profit. It will operate as a cooperation in the future. The change allows The Ripp Report more latitude when it comes to endorsing and supporting candidates for office. The Ethics Commission came through for the elected officials and the 1% who they represent. A one page form letter that dismisses a 10 month investigation and hundreds of pages of documents. This is standard operating procedure for the Ethics Commission. No explanation just a simple statement “That their was not probable cause to believe”, that Burrell and Hix,”committed a violation of the Alabama Ethics Act”.
Fairhope City Council is as dysfunctional as a square bowling ball. Led by Council President Jack Burrell who has been president for going on 7 years. The council has achieved little in the last year other than obstruct the Mayor’s office. It was more of the same at the last council meeting when it came to light that not one of the council has discussed any issues related to the budget in the last two weeks, with the Mayor, as they said they would. Now the supreme commander and self proclaimed “mediator” of the council has said he wishes the budget be sent to the new “APPOINTED” finance committee.
It seems as if the public has gotten the attention of elected officials and environmental groups about the sewer systems of Fairhope, Daphne and Spanish Fort. It is hard to believe in 2017 that we still have regular sewer spills and that we still dump sewage into the bay. Mobile Baykeeper Awarded $87,000 Grant to Expand Watershed Program into Fairhope — Mobile Baykeeper web.archive.org Funding will enable Baykeeper to expand watershed education and monitoring program into Baldwin County at Fairhope High School.
For years I have witnessed authorities and non-profit environmental groups ignore obvious environmental issues while publicly professing their concerns for the protection of the environment. For example: Mobile Baykeeper Awarded $87,000 Grant to Expand Watershed Program into Fairhope — Mobile Baykeeper web.archive.org Funding will enable Baykeeper to expand watershed education and monitoring program into Baldwin County at Fairhope High School.
WELCOME TO ALABAMA Don’t let anyone tell you Louisiana or Mississippi is more corrupt than Alabama. Alabama is first by a long shot. Corruption is a way of life and often involves “good people” that are considered leaders in the community and good Christians. Sometimes the corruption is so blatant it is hard to comprehend why no authorities step in. The local media is virtually non existent, the Ethics Commission lacks any credibility and other authorities seem to be asleep at the wheel.
Two area’s lacking in leadership in Fairhope are the City Council and Planning and Zoning. The City Council President for the last 5 years has been Jack Burrell. All the previous councils rotated the position of City Council President every 6 months or after a short term in order to give other council members a chance of leadership. In fact, and it is a fact, this council has accomplished absolutely nothing, except to obstruct the Mayor at every opportunity. Mr. Burrell has not shown any leadership skills, he claimed that the council was the mediator for issues involving the city. The council has not mediated any issues with the Mayor and continues it’s game of obstruction at taxpayers expense.
Here is the first post I saw this morning: “Voter turnout was a disgrace for the State of Alabama yesterday, granted it was a one party run-off which lowered the amount of voters participating. Alabama has 3,134,166 registered voters, 451,161 voted yesterday, 14.39%. Just to show you how the turnout was in several of the larger counties here are the percentage of voter turnout. Baldwin 18.83%, Jefferson 6.19%, Mobile 12.81% Montgomery 11.02%, Shelby, 20.30%, so sad!!!“
Many thought that the Trump/Clinton campaign left little choice as two polarizing candidates split the political parties and beliefs. The Independents eroded the voting pool even further. Well hold your nose, cover your eyes and close your mouth because Alabama Republicans have to make a decision as who to vote for in the Alabama’s Senate race. You want to know why Alabama is last in almost every category, except football and political corruption? It is our elected officials that WE elect. This election is going to impact the Republicans negatively in the mid-term 2018 elections.
Just when you thought there was no hope for the Baldwin County Family Court, Judge Thomason announces she is running for Court of Appeals position vacated by Craig Pittman who is retiring. Of course another court will inherit her incompetence but at least she won’t be making decisions about the welfare of children. It should be expected if she looses the election Nov. 2018, she probably will re run for her present position again. Judge Thomason will use the republican party to retaliate against any opponent or have them eliminated all together from running, she has a track record of dirty politics, and is loved by the good ole boys.
