Estúpido Savannah

ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH - Saturday, December 26, 2009 3:13:50 PM

nobody@vox.com(ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:13:53 -0500

Seriously – let’s try to keep the printed lies to a minimum in 2010 – please.

"Why are gasoline prices higher in Savannah than anywhere in the state?"

That is patently untrue and should not be printed as fact. And really shouldn’t be printed as a headline to an article online or otherwise.

The fact is that Gas in Savannah is sold at a range of prices that are on a par with the rest of the state. According to the gas price reporting websites – Stockbridge Georgia comes in with the highest regular unleaded gas price in the state at $2.79 with the highest price listed in the City of Savannah ringing up at $2.59.

According to AAA - Athens average price is 2 cents higher – the Columbus average price is 1 cent cheaper

The Savannah price is on par with what drivers in most other parts of the state are paying so how exactly can someone say our gas prices are “higher than anywhere” without being called a liar?

It takes a village to make a village idiot

"Our principal had the nerve to tell teachers we had to read Accelerated Reader books over the Christmas break. Why not have parents read them? This is ridiculous. Give teachers a break sometime."

Really. You want that printed for everyone to see.

You are supposed to be a teacher and you are complaining that you are being forced to read books?

Books that you teach from and that you should be intimately familiar with?

Books that you probably should have already read since you will be teaching it and because… uh you went to college right?

You really want people to know that you are that stupid?

~sigh~

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ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH - Sunday, December 20, 2009 4:44:02 PM

nobody@vox.com(ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:44:12 -0500

Hi There! You may not remember me – my name is Estupido and I used to write a blog.

I’ve been uninspired of late. I will sit down all revved up over one thing or another and before I get more than a couple of lines down I’m suddenly wondering what time Antiques Roadshow is on BBC (2pm BTW) or where I left that book I was reading last week the one about the kid in the dystopian/utopian future world where everyone is quite literally colorblind.

Today I am determined to produce at least a few paragraphs because the current reality vs. reporting gap is so wide on this issue I fear someone might fall in and be lost forever like Tony Thomas’ measuring stick.

The great and powerful BARTOON has spoken

“Let's hope Savannah City Council's toughened oversight of revitalization efforts doesn't become a choke hold.”

This was a WTF moment for me today. Tom Bartoon and his merry miscreants have been all abuzz since someone began the completely unfounded rumor that the city was going to defund SDRA – that’s the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority for those of you who remain stubbornly unwashed and uninformed.

First they put aside all manner of journalistic ethics and standards to produce a rather large piece of excrement chock full of nothing but unsubstantiated rumor and carrying the noxious and not so subtle fist shaking threat that if Savannah’s City Council didn’t do as SMN and SDRA’s minions decreed then a pox would fall on all their houses, the heifers and goats would stop giving milk and the grapes would sour on the vines etc… etc… ad infinitum.

Catron and Broady GOSSIP GIRLs?

That was followed quickly by this noxious little gas bubble that basically rehashed the rumorfest and threw more insults toward city leaders while deifying a businessman who, as far as I can tell, only has one complaint – that the city won’t build him a parking deck, at taxpayer expense, for his planned private development.

All this rumor based reporting actually created a very real threat to SDRA funding where none had existed before – they made a golem of paper and ink and it came to life and set out to devour them.

Council demanded and, this past week, got a meeting with those that control the SDRA.

Savannah City Council Meeting according to SMN

Council had one simple question – Considering all the money we give y’all each year, what is the plan to encourage development along the MLK and Montgomery corridors?

The SDRA answer: There is no plan.

The Council response to the SDRA answer: Let’s make a plan. Tony Thomas and a member of staff will hang around to make sure it happens.

How does that even hint at “choke hold”?

I don’t mean to imply that City Council was happy with the meeting. They were understandably the opposite of happy to find out that we’ve been funneling hundreds of thousands in tax dollars toward what we thought was a plan to encourage redevelopment only to find out there is no actual plan.

All in all our leaders handled it as a corporate board might handle an underperforming subsidiary – sternly but professionally - exactly as they should.

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ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH - Friday, December 04, 2009 12:09:13 PM

nobody@vox.com(ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:09:21 -0500

My blog buddy Savannah Red kinda got onto me this morning for NOT doing what I do here very much lately. No excuses offered – I’m here, you’re here, let’s do this thing.

I have a couple of bones to pick about the coverage of the Project Derenne thistimeitbetterworkorelsewe’rejustgivingup big plan unveiling last night. I didn’t go for a couple of reasons, mainly because they held the meeting south of Derenne and I don’t like to travel that far out of town at night.

They must be giving these away

Who are you people?

From what I could gather from the coverage – there were a bunch of angry people there who somehow managed to go for the past two years and hear absolutely nothing about this thing called Project Derenne.

What’s more, these knownothings claim to be property owners in the area of Derenne. HOW in the world is it possible? Your livelihood is tied directly to the future of Derenne and yet you haven’t noticed the billboards, the ads in the paper, the full color mailings from the project to property owners…

Is any of this ringing a bell?

What's that? Is someone shouting? I distinctly heard someone shouting! What's that? Did you hear tha

I would, at this juncture, complain about the media seeking out these knownothings and only telling their story – but I know why that happened. They were the loudest people at the meeting and reporters are simple folk who respond to bright colors and loud noises much like the creatures on that Meerkat Manor show.

The people who have been paying attention and have taken part in the process didn’t have to yell last night because they pretty much got all their yelling done at meetings over the past TWO YEARS.

A few things that should have never made the air or print:

Under the heading “Recommendations” Ms. Conn included this:

“Transforming the commercial district south of DeRenne - where the landmark giant globe is - into one rimmed with businesses that are closer to the street. Two-story structures could have storefronts on the bottom, residences above. The buildings would create a buffer for parking, a linear plaza and a green space that would have the globe as a main attraction. It could become a new gathering spot for residents who wanted to attend jazz concerts, movies in the park or other events.”

I kinda think that wasn’t a “recommendation” because it is not something that can be done by the City Government. I think maybe Ms. Conn is confused between the developers “vision” for what Derenne can become and their “Recommendations” for what the city can do with Derenne. The latter is limited to intersection improvements or creating that loopy thing they want that would loop from 516 to Hunter to White Bluff. The city can build roads and not much else.

Ms. Hutchings from WTOC was the worst of the “find the loudest people and put them on TV” crowd.

"The businesses we're concerned about, the people we're concerned about, it's our neighborhood," said Kathryn Cook… "It's not going to happen. We don't have the money for that to happen. Saying we're going to plant trees and do this and that, where's the money coming from?" asked Cook.

Her question was never answered.”

Actually Ms. Hutchings and Ms. Cook – that question was answered like a decade ago – there are millions in sales tax dollars allocated specifically to work on Derenne. Both of you ladies should have known that, Ms. Hutchings because it is your job to understand the issues you are reporting about and Ms. Cook because you claim to be so interested in the future of your business.

WSAV coverage is a sin of omission. They too allowed Ms. Cook to prove her ignorance of the process and failed to provide answers that would educate and inform their audience but they also didn’t actual tell the audience anything about the plan.

“The latest concepts for expanding, developing, or changing traffic patterns and neighborhoods along derenne were unveiled Thursday night.

While the city sold the concepts for a less congested, more beautiful neighborhood, the reaction to the plans were mixed.”

I can only guess from the lack of coverage, spelling and grammar errors, that WSAV didn’t actually send a reporter to the meeting and some intern had to write it up.

Bottom line on Project Derenne for me is that the City has given the people who actually care about the issue ample time to comment and cajole and gripe – now they need to take care of business or get off the pot.

Bottom Line on Derenne Avenue for me is that you freaky southside people can have it. I’m staying downtown.

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ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH - Wednesday, November 25, 2009 10:52:04 AM

nobody@vox.com(ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:52:16 -0500

LIARS!

It has been a while since the Savannah Morning News has printed a blatant lie – they have been wrong plenty but obvious blatant lies have been thin on the ground until this week.

Boobs

From the Vox:

"So an insurance company-backed study recommends to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that mammograms are not necessary until you are 50 and self exams are not beneficial? I was not aware a woman between the ages of 40 and 49 could not be stricken by this deadly disease. Blatant greed."

For those of you new to my amber waves of brain – You have a right to your opinion but you do not have the right to pollute the public discourse with false statements of fact. The above is a false statement of fact printed as opinion by an editorial staff that is apparently too lazy to check the details before they print something.

The “study” in question does not exist.

There was no study. There was a recommendation by a panel of doctors and other healthcare workers. They based that recommendation on other people’s research.

“We used 6 established models to estimate the outcomes across 20 mammography screening strategies that vary by age of initiation and cessation and by screening interval among a cohort of U.S. women. The results are intended to contribute to practice and guideline policy debates.”

Yeah, that yellow color... that is not healthy.

The sources for the models they created were from scientific studies done primarily in socialist countries or the National Cancer Institute – not from any insurance company.

2. Nyström L, Andersson I, Bjurstam N, Frisell J, Nordenskjöld B, Rutqvist LE. Long-term effects of mammography screening: updated overview of the Swedish randomised trials. Lancet 2002;359:909-19. [PMID: 11918907]

3. Tabár L, Vitak B, Chen HH, Duffy SW, Yen MF, Chiang CF, et al. The Swedish Two-County Trial twenty years later. Updated mortality results and new insights from long-term follow-up. Radiol Clin North Am 2000;38:625-51. [PMID: 10943268]

4. Vainio H, Bianchini F, eds. Breast Cancer Screening. International Agency for Research on Cancer Handbook on Cancer Prevention, Report No. 7. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2002.

5. Moss SM, Cuckle H, Evans A, Johns L, Waller M, Bobrow L; Trial Management Group. Effect of mammographic screening from age 40 years on breast cancer mortality at 10 years' follow-up: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2006;368:2053-60. [PMID: 17161727]

The group making the recommendations is a pseudo governmental entity established by FEDERAL lawmakers and has no direct links to insurance companies. They also claim that cost-cutting was not their primary concern when writing their report.

The Savannah Morning News should be ashamed - printing this type of lie in the paper adds to the confusion and distrust many people already suffer when it comes to the healthcare debate. Printing lies on the topic at this pivotal time in our country is shameful.

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ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH - Tuesday, November 24, 2009 6:51:20 PM

nobody@vox.com(ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:51:31 -0500

Observe how the drones will swarm when they sense a threat to the hive….

Catron and Broady GOSSIP GIRLs?

Really y’all? Basing an entire business section on an unconfirmed comment that no one will admit to actually hearing?

This is journalism?

Printing testimonials praising a quasigovernmental authority without any examination of the underlying facts or an accounting of that authority’s performance?

This is journalism?

Despite what I was taught on the debate team, I have recently been informed that using rhetorical questions is the sign of a smarta$$ and not the modern polite way to make a point.

SMN's fact free journalism in action

I am a smarta$$?

For some reason the Savannah Morning News Editorial folk is circling the wagons around the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority.

“It is believed in some quarters that Mayor Otis Johnson then suggested the City Council look into "defunding" the quasi-government entity at the council retreat next week at St. Simons Island.”

Seriously – that all they got. Somebody says the Mayor said something that they can’t confirm.

Oh and while we're at it... City Council isn't going to St. Simons Island on retreat this year they are staying in Chatham County. At least that is what they talked about at earlier meetings. You know meetings?... where the Savannah Morning News should have reporters in the room but often don't?

This is journalism?

Not only are the origins of this article suspect, the newspaper’s reaction is something akin to killing a fly with a laser guided thermonuclear fission-assisted sledgehammer.

They only quote one person who was actually in the room when the supposed conversation took place – apparently more than 15 people were present – but Ms. Smith-Broady decided to devote most of the article to people who had simply heard the rumor, believed it and were really really angry about it.

MLK JR Blvd

Oh yeah the one person who was actually in the room and quoted in the article denies hearing anything like what the paper is claiming.

The only indication that the so-called journalists at the SMN tried to look into the situation at all is this limp excuse:

“The Savannah Government Television broadcast of the work session doesn't include that part of the meeting.”

Didn’t you have a reporter there?

BTW the reason they are having so much trouble finding the details of this supposed situation is because it may have actually happened the week before.

At least part of the conversation Alderman Jackson references in her interview took place during the discussion of capital projects on November 5^th.

The Mayor at that time did say he wanted an accounting of activities along the MLK corridor and was displeased with what he sees as at the lack of progress.

I don’t know for sure if he revisited that topic at the last meeting, neither does the paper so they really shouldn't be writing an article about it.

This is NOT JOURNALISM.

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ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH - Saturday, November 21, 2009 11:47:58 AM

nobody@vox.com(ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:48:06 -0500

Still not feeling bloggy but I feel I simply must call BS on this capper from the story on Georgia Power’s move to a new building downtown:

“Commercial Realtor John Neely, of Colliers Neely Dales in Savannah, called Georgia Power's Abercorn purchase "a vote of confidence in downtown and the future,”…”

Not even close – If this were a commercial entity spending money and moving into swank new digs I might agree. Unfortunately there is no sooth to say here when it is a government sanctioned monopoly immune to market forces so far as its revenue stream is concerned.

Georgia power regularly counts its money in billions – quite literally it makes enough in a month to buy and refurbish that building downtown twice. This does not reflect at all on the market or the downtown economy at all.

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ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH - Monday, November 16, 2009 2:37:56 PM

nobody@vox.com(ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:38:05 -0500

Gentle, Genteel and Gentile readers please forgive my slackness – I have been distracted by a family matter that I may or may not share in this forum.

The result of my distraction is that not much can get my ire up right now however there were a couple of things that struck me.

All you have to do is show up... uh... and pay attention! Show up and Pay attention. That's it.

See what you get when you just show up?

Recently I have had many occasions to lament the absence of the media from important meetings at which important things happened that ultimately will impact every single citizen of Savannah.

That was not the case at the most recent City Council Meeting and from that single event the Savannah Morning News has managed to milk three headline-worthy stories and gathered intel to assist them with many more stories.

So far from that single event we had actual news on

Friday 11/6 – Enmark, city to try for compromise for Hampstead station and City suspends D.I. Grill's liquor license

Thursday 11/12 - D.I. Grille can serve liquor until hearing

Sunday 11/15 – Sales tax revenue coming in short

Monday 11/16 - West Savannah neighborhood to see more improvement in 2010

While not all of these saw action at the meeting - the lagging sales tax and the West Savannah renewal plan were discussed by leaders and provided reporters with a starting point for the larger story proving once again that there is tremendous value in just showing up.

Now a couple from the Vox -

"The actors and actresses on the set of 'The Conspirator' could smile, talk to, or acknowledge the fans that are there to admire and flatter them. They should stop being snobs."

Yeah cause if a bunch of people came to the office, restaurant, beauty salon or Wal Mart where you work and just stood there and stared at you – you would totally be all “Hey y’all thanks for coming down here and just standing around while I work.” Ignoramus!

"The difference between liberals and conservatives is that liberals recognize the distinct strata of society and desire to address their problems. Conservatives recognize the distinct strata of society and desire to preserve them."

No – the difference between liberals and conservatives is that liberals want total control so they can tell you what you can do and conservatives want total control so they can tell you what you can’t do.

Oh… wait that really isn’t a difference is it?

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ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH - Thursday, November 12, 2009 11:16:40 AM

nobody@vox.com(ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:17:04 -0500

Mother may I break the rules – just a little - just this once – please?

People seem to have a difficult time figuring out my politics when, in my mind at least, it is very simple and clear.

There are Rules. Live by those Rules.

That’s it. Call it playground logic if you will.

SMN's fact free journalism in action

Armed with that little insight you can see why this little piece of propaganda from the Savannah Morning News had me boiling:

“SAVANNAH CITY Council should either approve a rezoning at White Bluff and Hampstead, or buy the land from the developer.”

Partly I am mad cause they are wrong – partly because the editorial staff presented a whole page of wrong under a bigas animated banner ad for Enmark- the owner of the land.

This goes back to that whole Enmark thing from last week’s city council meeting.

Enmark is asking for permission to break the zoning law on a piece of land in a neighborhood. The paper would have you believe that is not only okay but their GAWD given right.

City leaders can't preclude property owners from the rightful use of their land indefinitely.

Why exactly did we come up with the plan in the first place

Rightful use? So, according to the paper, City Council has lost the power to enforce zoning laws? When did this happen?

Does this mean I can pursue my lifelong dream of operating a deer processing/taxidermy shop in the heart of Ardsley Park. I can put in the Helicopter landing pad I’ve always wanted?

Oh but no… Enmark is going to enhance the neighborhood by breaking the zoning laws.

“That Enmark is moving to get the rezoning anyway is a testament to its corporate stewardship.

The company has also pledged to build a store with a more residential-looking design, muted colors, and a single low sign on the White Bluff side of the property.”

Spot zoning kills neighborhoods

Okay… see Enmark knew the zoning when they bought the land.

Everyone involved including Enmark says they can build the station they want without breaking the zoning laws but we are supposed to applaud because they want to break the zoning laws?

The paper tries to do a little MPC dance pointing out the “transitional” nature of the area as an excuse to allow further commercial encroachment into the neighborhood.

Doesn’t that just push the transitional part into the residential part?

Where do we stop the transitioning part?

Will there be any houses left?

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ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH - Monday, November 09, 2009 1:35:59 PM

nobody@vox.com(ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:36:09 -0500

UPDATE:

This past Thursday’s City Council meeting is up on the web for all to see now.

The file claims it was created on Friday – but was not posted until this morning.

Skip ahead to a about 1:24:00 to see Alderman Clifton Jones peel back the curtain on what’s been going on over at the Metropolitan Planning Commission.

Ain't Skeered

“In meeting with the neighbors I found that the MPC was responsible for encouraging Enmark to move into this area and intrude in that block. In my opinion I find that awful unusual. I did not know they made that type of recommendations but in this particular instance they made a recommendation. The MPC did - the staff I imagine because that is the way it is in this report.”

“…they told me there was a sign posted on the property - “Ben Farmer Realty”. So I checked it out and then we’re talking about a grand conflict of interest because I think Mr. Farmer had something to do with the very motion that got this where it is today.

I found that through his company there was an agent by the name of Carl Francis that actually sold this property to Enmark.

If I am wrong I got the wrong information but if I’m right then this is the information that I’ve been given. Mr. Mayor I’m saying all this because I don’t want to see this property affect a whole lot of other properties in the City of Savannah. If Enmark is able to further encroach into this area then what about the rest of Savannah?”

So the only thing Alderman Jones said that is in dispute is the part about a specific agent from Ben Farmer Realty that “sold this property to Enmark”

Mr. Farmer says that never happened. Okay – but what about the rest of it?

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ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH - Monday, November 09, 2009 2:01:52 AM

nobody@vox.com(ESTÚPIDO SAVANNAH) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:02:01 -0500

ADDENDUM: I have the direct quotes now posted at: http://stupidsavannah.vox.com/library/post/est%C3%BApido-savannah---monday-november-09-2009-13559-pm.html

A whiff of scandal

We Interrupt this Program

I am just going off of what I have read. I don’t like to do that because much of what I read is wrong. In this instance I have no choice as the City of Savannah is not following its policy of re-broadcasting and posting the regularly scheduled City Council meetings to the web within days of the original broadcast.

I don’t want to belabor that sudden change in public information policy because I don’t want to get distracted by minutia but I missed the meeting and haven’t been able to see it yet and am not as well armed with the facts as I would like to be going into this. That being said I sally forth.

Go Clifton – Go Clifton It’s Your Birthday! We gon' party like it's your birthday. We gon' sip on Bacardi like it's your birthday.

Ain't Skeered

Clifton Jones called THE MAN out -- right up in the middle of City Council!!! He put it right out on Front Street for everybody to see (unless they were counting on seeing it on the rebroadcast or the web).

“As council members debated the rezoning, Alderman Clifton Jones repeated and expanded on an allegation from one of the residents.

He stated that Ben Farmer, a local real estate agent and member of the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission, had an agent who had sold the property to Enmark.”

This is the Boring Background Part: Enmark says it wants to throw up another quality gas station at the corner of Hampstead and White Bluff. They want to take a bite out of the residential property in the neighborhood to do it.

MPC staff and of course the industry-heavy MPC signed off on the plan.

This despite objections from 99.999% of the people in the neighborhood and pleas for patience from the city. It seems the parcels in question are in the Project Derenne study area and if Enmark would just wait they would have a better idea of how the changes in the area might change the landscape and the property they own there.

Why exactly did we come up with the plan in the first place

Thus the request to violate the zoning laws came before council with great big green checkmarks from both MPC Staff and the MPC but with a great big red X from City Manager Michael Brown because the whole thing may become moot if the city takes out the land in question to build a new road for Project Derenne.

Enmark is simply being asked to wait which they seem unwilling to do.

The More Interesting Bits Resume Here: The reason I’ve waited days to report this is because the two emails I got from people in the room suggest that the paper overstated Clifton’s accusations. My sources say he simply pointed out that Ben Farmer had a sign on the lot in question and that an agent of his company had represented the property and that the property next door is owned by Enmark.

“Farmer, reached after the meeting, said the claim was untrue. He once had a listing on the property, but it expired with no sale.

"We had nothing to do with that transaction. If I had I would have disclosed it."

So he DID represent the land at some point but he wasn’t the one who actually did the deal.

Interesting split of the hair there.

I would like to ask Mr. Farmer how many parcels of land either owned by or purchased by Enmark has his company represented and profited from?

Impressive reach you have there

My Take –

Metropolitan Planning Commissioner Ben Farmer has a conflict of interest.

That is a broad statement of fact. Let’s drill down a bit.

As a real estate mogul Ben Farmer has a vested interest in making sure parcels of land have as many potential uses as possible so as to more easily sell said parcels. This is in direct conflict with his role on the Metropolitan Planning Commission which is a pseudo regulatory body partially responsible for enforcing zoning limitations on the potential uses of parcels of land.

I have pointed out this conflict in the past. Mr. Farmer is not the only one on the board with such conflicted interests but he is by far the most outspoken and I would argue the most successful in both his business and in voting in favor of variances that allow property owners to violate zoning regulations.

Enmark owns lots and lots of land; Farmer represents lots and lots of land owners. It would be odd if there was no interaction between the two.

Mr. Farmer should never place himself in a position to make any decisions that would profit any of his business associates past or present, directly or indirectly.

As the apostle pointed out to the good people of Thessaloniki so long ago – “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” In other words if it even looks like you might have a conflict of interest you should probably step away.

Ben Farmer needs to step away and somebody needs to buy Clifton Jones a drink for having the brass eggs to point it out.

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