Thursday, September 09, 2010
   
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“Construction Gate” Problem At The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Fans Out In All Directions

Writers at the Tribune are old enough to remember stories like that of Richard Nixon and Watergate. Some stories begin as a single item that merits reporting and then branches out in all directions and into dozens of stories. In light of the phone ringing off the hook with Housing Authority residents, contractors, subcontractors and everybody and his mother, son and daughter calling us to complain, we have decided to follow the article of last week with this followup and more in the future. We also got plenty of calls from Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority (SNRHA); current and former residents and employees alleging just about anything that you can imagine. Most of it was unprovable and without evidence. We told most of the callers that we need physical evidence or multiple witnesses to report something. You have our address. Here is some idea of what credible evidence supports.

 Last week we reported some very out of the ordinary activities at an SNRHA public board meeting associated with the award of a $400,000 construction contract to Yvonne Atkinson Gates' construction company. Gates is a former Clark County Commissioner and school board member who left her County Commission seat in mid-year after multiple Nevada Ethics Commission reprimands and complaints of top casino executive Sheldon Adleson that she used her office to advocate for a business that she wanted to put in casinos. At the board meeting local construction company owner Charles Partington alleged that SHRHA staff violated multiple state laws in the bidding procedures. We were able to reach top level SNRHA staff member Amparo Gamazo to ask for public records and got the runaround. Fortunately, someone came through with the documents and we are publishing three letters here today. The first is a bid protest from Partington. The second was SNRHA Executive director Carl Rowe's reply, and the third a letter back from Partington. Combined, the letters lead to the conclusion of SNRHA staff bid-rigging the contract. The second conclusion is that these letters were addressed to the board and not Rowe, who wrote the reply. Did Rowe and SNRHA staff hide the mail from the board, to whom it was addressed? Did the board know?

In the last article we told you that Commissioner Richard Sadler attempted to resort to personal attacks on Mojave but was mostly cut off by leadership procedures by board president Dora LaGrande. This week we learned that on the morning of that board meeting Sadler arrived at Partington's job sites for the first time ever. He brought a camera with him and accused workers at the job sites of working for a bad contractor and having the messiest job site. At that board meeting, Father Dave Casaleggio and other board members praised Partington's company's work. We still have no idea why Partington said “No” and almost literally ran out of the room when Father Dave asked him if he had filed a complaint. If you can't figure out why, then read this paragraph again.

Read more: “Construction Gate” Problem At The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Fans Out In All Directions

 

Queens Janison, Edwards: A letter from Jim Rogers

A reoccurring question at Clark County School Board Meetings is, Why are parents not involved in their child's education? To answer that question, all one has to do is attend those meetings and attempt to participate and speak about the topic of one's choice. Your first mistake will likely be that you did not request to speak prior to the school board meeting that you are attending. Your next mistake will be when you think you can actually address a school board member; you must never forget to bow before Mt. Olympus prior to reaching the public podium. And your last mistake will likely be that you spoke longer than the two-minute allowance given to you by the gods.

Many parents, teachers, taxpayers, and other Clark County residents, leave a Clark County School Board Meeting feeling like they just don't measure up to those they elected to serve them on the school board. Very few people have anything positive to say about their experience speaking in front of the Clark County School Board. Some have likened it to the medieval practice of speaking before the King; they are not that far off seeing as how Trustees Janison and Edwards do feel entitled to their positions and forget they are supposed to answer to the people. We can hardly blame them because we reelect them over and over; and then when they are prevented from running again due to term limits, we award them a throne in a new position like city council or county commission. Folks, Nevada is last in education because of these people, not because there is not enough money given to the district.

The Las Vegas Tribune recently obtained a letter sent to Trustee Carolyn Edwards from Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education Jim Rogers, in which he expresses his disgust with the school board, specifically Trustees Janison and Edwards. Mr. Rogers states in his letter to Trustee Edwards dated August 23, 2010, “I believe your recent conduct in carrying out your duties as a member of the Clark County School Board of Trustees is so egregious that the conduct requires more than a verbal comment from me.” Rogers is referring to a school board meeting on April 22, 2010, in which Trustee Edwards repeatedly refers to “Our (meaning the Trustees) School Board Meeting and not yours.” Last time I checked those trustees represented us and it was our, the citizens, meeting; not theirs.

Read more: Queens Janison, Edwards: A letter from Jim Rogers

   

Another Inquest Is Whitewashed

As predicted by the Las Vegas Tribune and as the people of Las Vegas expected, the coroner's inquest into the murder of 21-year-old Trevon Cole - at the hands of Las Vegas police officer Bryan Yant - was declared justifiable by a jury that is obviously controlled by the District Attorney's Office and the Las Vegas Police Department.

Last Friday's inquest was nothing but a dress rehearsal for the family of Eric Scott, in case they expect anything different from the inquest into the murder of their family member. Scott was killed by three Las Vegas police officers during a confrontation outside a Summerlin Costco store.

The unusual chain of events in last Friday's inquest seemed like a paid commercial on behalf of District Attorney David Roger, who - considering that he is in the middle of a campaign re-election - had two of his deputies pretend to do the right thing by publicly questioning the veracity of the testimony by two of the officers present during the killing of Trevon Cole.

Read more: Another Inquest Is Whitewashed

   

Know This Man Before You Vote for Governor

In the race for Nevada Governor, there are the two candidates you've heard about - Republican Brian Sandoval, and Democrat Rory Reid - and then there's the candidate you probably haven't heard of, but really ought to get to know.

Eugene “Gino” DiSimone, a United States Navy veteran, is one of seven gubernatorial candidates vying for the chance to become the Commander-in-Chief and Chief Executive Officer of Nevada. He is a devoted husband of 28 years, a father and a grandfather, an engineer and inventor. DiSimone has received a Meritorious Service Award for setting himself apart from his comrades by outstanding non-combat meritorious service to the United States. He holds various patents for his inventions, and has been published for his writings on technology. DiSimone holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a Graduate Certificate in Executive Development; but these are not the things that set him aside as a “must know” conservative candidate.

 

 

 

 

What sets DiSimone apart is his belief: “The purpose of Government is to guarantee the security of its citizens and to facilitate their prosperity. Indeed, let's be clear; Government must 'facilitate' prosperity, not 'legislate' it or 'tax' it.”

DiSimone states clearly that the role of a Governor is to provide for the security, safety, liberty, freedom, and protection of wealth and property of Nevadans as the Commander-in-Chief.

As the Executive Officer, DiSimone states the Governor's role is economic growth, fiscal responsibility and acumen, and expansion of state cash reserves.

Read more: Know This Man Before You Vote for Governor

   

Famous Contractor Yvonne Atkinson Gates First Recipient Of The New Illegal Bid Award Process

Last year the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ordered the three local housing authorities to combine into one. Since that time the Tribune has heard rumors of a painful shotgun marriage of the three government bureaucracies that was caused by HUD's recognition that the individual messes of each were just too much to clean up. Last night the SNRHA board made the final selection of a new Executive Director amidst the selected interviewee's plans to grow the organization so that working Nevadans can pay more taxes to support those who don't.

You may not know that a big part of why Southern Nevada was passed over for the last Obama Stimulus money was because money allocated to the housing authorities from the prior stimulus was never used. A few months ago the County Commission administered a public interrogation of County staffer Mike Pawlak for the delay and things began to move forward. The main pieces to the construction puzzle were about 80 houses and a $10 million multifamily project.

We came to the board meeting to hear the award of the $10 million budgeted Perry Plaza 80-unit multifamily project because minutes of a recent board agenda showed that the architect estimated the cost at $12 million. Happily it bid at about $8 million. This is one time that the interminable slowness of the former city housing authority fell to taxpayers' advantage. Construction costs continued to plummet during the year that the old city housing authority delayed the job. Let's hope that the job is not subject to the kind of boondoggle that we heard reported on all of SNRHA's other jobs while at the hearing.

Read more: Famous Contractor Yvonne Atkinson Gates First Recipient Of The New Illegal Bid Award Process

   
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Local Headlines

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Unions Are Un-American

Have you heard of the GEP? Were you aware we have a three-party system? Are you familiar with which one has the most money? We have the Republicans, affectionately called the GOP (Grand Old Party); the Democrats, with no affectionate nickname; and the GEP, the Government Employees Party. The GEP is the union's party. GEP membership is made up of voters who aren't allowed to either think for themselves or support the candidates of their choice. The GEP Party is wrecking America. Take for instance state employees. How do you think PERS (Public Employees Retirement System) is going to pay back the money they robbed from their own union members' pensions in order to give hundreds of millions of dollars to the campaigns of the elected officials and the potentially elected officials they bought to put in their pocket in order to secure their union contracts? Let's look at the history of unions. Back in time unions had great intentions. A lot of our industrial workers labored under...

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Queens Janison, Edwards: A letter from Jim Rogers

A reoccurring question at Clark County School Board Meetings is, Why are parents not involved in their child's education? To answer that question, all one has to do is attend those meetings and attempt to participate and speak about the topic of one's choice. Your first mistake will likely be that you did not request to speak prior to the school board meeting that you are attending. Your next mistake will be when you think you can actually address a school board member; you must never forget to bow before Mt. Olympus prior to reaching the public podium. And your last mistake will likely be that you spoke longer than the two-minute allowance given to you by the gods. Many parents, teachers, taxpayers, and other Clark County residents, leave a Clark County School Board Meeting feeling like they just don't measure up to those they elected to serve them on the school board. Very few people have anything positive to say about their experience speaking in front of the Clark County School Board....

Read More...

“Construction Gate” Problem At The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Fans Out In All Directions

Writers at the Tribune are old enough to remember stories like that of Richard Nixon and Watergate. Some stories begin as a single item that merits reporting and then branches out in all directions and into dozens of stories. In light of the phone ringing off the hook with Housing Authority residents, contractors, subcontractors and everybody and his mother, son and daughter calling us to complain, we have decided to follow the article of last week with this followup and more in the future. We also got plenty of calls from Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority (SNRHA); current and former residents and employees alleging just about anything that you can imagine. Most of it was unprovable and without evidence. We told most of the callers that we need physical evidence or multiple witnesses to report something. You have our address. Here is some idea of what credible evidence supports.  Last week we reported some very out of the ordinary activities at an SNRHA public board meeting associated...

Read More...

Another Inquest Is Whitewashed

As predicted by the Las Vegas Tribune and as the people of Las Vegas expected, the coroner's inquest into the murder of 21-year-old Trevon Cole - at the hands of Las Vegas police officer Bryan Yant - was declared justifiable by a jury that is obviously controlled by the District Attorney's Office and the Las Vegas Police Department. Last Friday's inquest was nothing but a dress rehearsal for the family of Eric Scott, in case they expect anything different from the inquest into the murder of their family member. Scott was killed by three Las Vegas police officers during a confrontation outside a Summerlin Costco store. The unusual chain of events in last Friday's inquest seemed like a paid commercial on behalf of District Attorney David Roger, who - considering that he is in the middle of a campaign re-election - had two of his deputies pretend to do the right thing by publicly questioning the veracity of the testimony by two of the officers present during the killing of Trevon Cole. ...

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CCSD Trustee Edwards Wants To Give Away More Taxpayer Dollars

The search has begun to replace Clark County School District Superintendent Walt Rulffes, and it doesn't look to be cheap. It appears that certain members of the school board don't mind that one bit. Trustee Edwards, who is struggling to keep her seat, believes that now is the time to give a large pay increase to the incoming superintendent. Many city and county agencies are facing record deficits and are being forced to lay off much needed help in this economic downturn, and while other agencies are handing out record pay cuts, Trustee Edwards feels that an annual salary of $270,000 is just not enough for the incoming superintendent. Edwards believes that the current salary is not enough to attract top-tier candidates, thereby preventing the district from hiring the best most qualified individual. There are many candidates for the position that have higher salaries than Rulffes, but that does not make them any more qualified for the position than those who make less. The School District...

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My Point Of View

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My Point of View

It has been a very hectic week and I could go on and on about that coroner's inquest; I could even go on more by telling everyone that “I told you so” because I knew what the results were going to be beforehand, but I would not do that. I will leave the results of this coroner's inquest to the consciences of those who manipulate the system and abuse the trust of the honest citizens in the community. I could even write about my disappointment with the Black community for the lack of reaction on their part with the inquest results, but I could also express my disappointment with the rest of the community for generally accepting that outcome with nothing stronger than indifference.

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My Point of View

My Point of View 070710 (Word Count 1240) “As Chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, Reid waged a legendary and unrelenting fight against the mob to clean up the gaming industry and make Las Vegas what it is today.” I read the above quote somewhere in a Harry Reid book or on a Web site – I don't quite remember where – but it grabbed my attention because, as any other person who has lived in Las Vegas for as long as I have and knows a little about Harry Reid would agree, those words are a laughing matter. We all know that Harry Reid never had a problem with the so-called mob, or with "organized crime." or with any organization of that type that goesby any other name anyone wants to give to the founders of our city. That is why so many people were so surprised when they heard a...

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My Point of View

I am going to make it a habit not to listen to talk radio after I write my weekly column because every time I write my column early, I have to change it because something new or better happens between the time I write it and the time the paper comes out. On Monday morning, as usual, while driving from point A to point B, I tune in to the Heidi Harris Show to keep myself informed, but this time Heidi was not there. Some guy that I have never heard of before in all the decades I have been in Las Vegas, thinks I am a nut case because I don’t agree with him and because I uncovered his master political game. This guy — who may have a policeman complex or may be a puppet of Sheriff Gillespie — doesn’t realize that most likely I have been in Las Vegas longer than he has been alive,...

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My Point of View

Very seldom do I write this column on a Monday because I don’t want to get in trouble with the managing editor. Usually I write this column over the weekend, but this time I am so glad I did not and I am glad I took a chance on upsetting the managing editor once again. Why am I glad that I was late turning my column in? you may ask. Because on Monday morning, just as I arrived at work, I had the pleasure of getting a visit from U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle, who stopped by again to say hello and to keep us up to date on how the campaign is going. We exchanged a few ideas and talked about the latest attack on her by Harry Reid and his band of frustrated leeches that refuse to let their goose who lays the golden eggs go.

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MY POINT OF VIEW

Before I start commenting on the election results, I would like to take a moment to show my respect to my friend Josh Kunis, who is mourning the death of his mother who died two weeks ago. I just found out today and want to express my condolences to Josh and members of his family for their loss.                                                ***** I also want to send my condolences to the Greenspun family for the death of the matriarch of the Greenspun family, Barbara Greenspun, who died on June 1st at age 88. Anything I can say about Barbara Greenspun I am sure has already been said by all others who knew her and by those who had the opportunity to write in the daily paper or appear on a daily radio talk show.                            ...

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Editorials

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Hidden Candidates, Hidden Treasure

Hidden Candidates, Hidden Treasure There are seven people running for the open position as Nevada Governor; but if anyone asks the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Channel 8 or now the PBS station, the information they receive will be slanted to have it appear as though there are only two. They do that because they don't want the other five candidates to be recognized for their ideas to better the economy of our state, and for their superior educational plans, which are better than those of the two anointed candidates. In our humble opinion, we believe that the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Channel 8 and now the PBS station only want the public to know and recognize those candidates that they can control. That's right: they want to be able to tell the candidates what, when, and how to do whatever it is they want done; to show that they are in complete control of our city; they want to be able to sway the most important group of voters in our city, county and state - they want to control YOU.

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ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

I always find it very nice when a man acknowledges his wife in public; but when it happens in a political debate, it tends to confuse people. During the governor's debate last Sunday regarding issues of education in Nevada , I believe Rory Reid was confusing people every time he said: “When Cindy and I implemented our plan...” Excuse me, but who is running for governor, Rory or Cindy? Can you imagine the amount of people who became American citizens by the grace of God, because they have no knowledge of history or government of the United States and speak no English at all? Not only that, many of them don't even know how to read or write in their own language and still they became American citizens and I wonder how. If they plan to vote for Rory Reid, not because they have any knowledge of the issues involved, but because their union representatives write his name for them to copy, or friends use them for their own benefits - imagine the problem they will have looking for Cindy's name...

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Chicken Feed vs. Greed: The Real Bottom Line

Some problems may seem insignificant compared to others, at least in terms of their financial impact on this country, yet if you bother to look just a little more closely at them, you may discover that what some people would call a “chicken feed” problem has really become an 8-foot pile of manure! My first comment about this horrible and horrendous egg situation is that I am so glad I gave up eggs before that story hit. It is not my intention to comment on the pros or cons of eating eggs, or on the nutritional content thereof, but if either one of those topics seems to get touched on, then so be it. It is my belief that if one is going to present something called “food” to the public, then it should - at the very least - be safe enough to eat without the consumers having to worry about how it was produced. Unfortunately, I know without any doubt that that is not the way “food” is presented to the public. Haven't we - the American public, without even taking into account how...

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Secure The Border(s) First! Then What?

One of the questions most commonly asked regarding the illegal immigration issue and which most Americans cannot answer is: “What would you do with the '12,000,000' illegal aliens in the U.S. after securing the Border(s)?” First of all, we MUST remove the incentives that draw these illegal masses here in the first place. If we enforce our immigration laws and remove their access to jobs and social benefits, we will see a tremendous drop in the number of illegal aliens crossing our border(s). There will be no reason for them to come! Now, as to what to do with the “12,000,000” illegal aliens already here? (I, myself, would put the number of illegals here at well over 25 million). I believe the answer is ATTRITION THROUGH ENFORCEMENT! By ENFORCING our laws which are already “on the books,” such as E-Verify (E-Verify is an Internet-based system that allows businesses to determine the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States) and Employer Sanctions (signed into...

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Put Away Those Cell Phones and Read Those Signs!

I recently wrote several editorials about life in Busland. As a bus-rider, it's something I'm very familiar with. Perhaps many readers out there have joined those of us in Busland during this economic downturn and are very surprised to see firsthand how things really are - from the mild inconveniences; to the overwhelming amounts of time one must allot for travel, taking all the possible delays and missed connections into account; to the insensitivity of some of the passengers. We'll save all the wonderful aspects of riding the bus for another time. Today's buses are much different from the buses of the past. Most have long rows of seats facing the aisle - making the aisle wider for those with walkers, baby strollers, grocery carts or wheelchairs - and signs clearly stating that those seats are intended for the elderly and the disabled. It doesn't prohibit anyone from sitting there, it just tells passengers to YIELD those seats to those who need them. I don't consider myself either elderly...

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Commentary

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Trusted Leaders in Troubled Times

Difficulties exist to be surmounted. - Ralph Waldo Emerson Last week Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke delivered a major speech in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on the state of the economy. In the speech he sought to reassure financial markets that the Federal Reserve did foresee a slow recovery, and that the Fed was prepared to offer more support if necessary. The speech came as the Commerce Department released revised downward second quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) numbers showing growth at just 1.6 percent. The current state of the economy by any standard has people worried. The housing market remains sluggish, the stock market is vulnerable, and unemployment numbers are still troublesome. Add to the mix the partisan divide as the mid-term elections approach and we have a picture of a nation in turmoil. Trusted leaders are not made in difficult times, they are revealed. Beethoven said, “This is the mark of a really admirable man; steadfastness in the face of trouble.”...

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Las Vegas: One, Paris: Zero

There was smoke wafting from a Cadillac Escalade on the Las Vegas Strip, ignited (we know she is hot!) by Paris Hilton's latest legal troubles late Friday, August 27, 2010, when a motorcycle officer who suspected the smell was marijuana stopped the vehicle and police say a bag of cocaine fell out of the 29-year-old socialite's purse. It's the second time this year Hilton has been arrested on drug possession allegations, although authorities in South Africa dropped the marijuana charge earlier this summer. In 2007, Hilton pleaded no contest to alcohol-related reckless driving and was sentenced to 45 days in jail. This time, the hotel heiress was with her boyfriend, Cy Waits, who manages a club inside the Wynn Las Vegas and was driving the black SUV that the officer stopped nearby at 11:22 p.m. Friday. The officer “followed the vapor trail and the odor of marijuana to the Escalade,” police Sgt. John Sheahan said. As other police arrived and a crowd gathered on the busy neon-lit...

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Know Your Rights

Freedom of Speech? What Freedom of Speech? Nancy Pelosi can threaten those of us who don't want a Mosque built on or near the site of the destruction caused, reportedly, by Muslims, on September 11, 2001; and our fearless golfer can promote a religion that, according to its bible - the Koran - is bent on killing any non-Muslims; and they are each hailed as a great “something,” but no one is sure what that something might be. Pelosi is great at spending taxpayers' dollars on transportation, what with her new jet and all. The fearless golfer is great at the same thing. He managed to take an entourage of 500 with him to Eng-land, and among them were six doctors. Should we have some concerns about the health of our fearless golfer? I would venture to guess that there is one doctor for every 500 troops in Afghanistan, and they are getting shot at! But our fearless golfer is impo'tant. If we decide to take the power to exercise one of our natural rights and speak out...

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BEHIND THE MIKE

I belong to a group called the Veteran Speakers Retreat, about 50 of us old geezers who get together once a year and tell lies about how great the speaking business is. Of late, we've been meeting at Allenberry Resort Inn and Playhouse in Boiling Springs located in central Pennsylvania. Allenberry Resort and Inn is world famous. It sits in a “Dirty Dancing” style setting along the Yellow Breeches Creek in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. In America the unusual often becomes ordinary, but every now and then one finds an enterprise so rare that it stands out from the crowd. Allenberry is such a place. Allenberry is located in the Cumberland Valley near the quaint village of Boiling Springs - named from the underground springs that feed the lake and “boil” in the winter months. Allenberry was transformed from a private estate into a year round resort and playhouse by its founder, the late Charles A. B. Heinze. Allenberry Playhouse, which is the feature attraction for the...

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Secure The Border(s) First! Then What?

One of the questions most commonly asked regarding the illegal immigration issue and which most Americans cannot answer is: “What would you do with the '12,000,000' illegal aliens in the U.S. after securing the Border(s)?” First of all, we MUST remove the incentives that draw these illegal masses here in the first place. If we enforce our immigration laws and remove their access to jobs and social benefits, we will see a tremendous drop in the number of illegal aliens crossing our border(s). There will be no reason for them to come! Now, as to what to do with the “12,000,000” illegal aliens already here? (I, myself, would put the number of illegals here at well over 25 million). I believe the answer is ATTRITION THROUGH ENFORCEMENT! By ENFORCING our laws which are already “on the books,” such as E-Verify (E-Verify is an Internet-based system that allows businesses to determine the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States) and Employer Sanctions...

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MISSION STATEMENT

We search for the truth, embrace the truth, and print the truth. If we inadvertently print something that is not true, we will let our readers know. We are open to documented information to shed light on any issue of concern to our readers. We are of service to our community, and it is our intention to serve our community the best way we can.

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