Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Well, it?’s been what? 2 or 3 weeks since Mrs. Bushman hired the media relations company for 19,500 taxpayer dollars until they hire someone permanently for probably $80 or $90K a year? Just how much media coverage have you seen in the 3 local papers since then? That?’s right ?– little to none. Good job Mrs. B. , you?’re getting what you made us pay for. You got this administration?’s name out of the papers because?…why?? Oh, that?’s right, ELECTIONS ARE COMING UP!!

Now, unless someone attends all the meetings, visits City Hall daily or has a mole inside your regime (which we might), we stupid and misinformed citizens (I know, I just can?’t get over that one) won?’t be able to find out what you?’re up to until elections are over. So when you start your campaign blitzes, Mr. and Ms. Taxpayer will think ?“Hmmm, I haven?’t read anything bad about these fine folks in the papers in a long time. They must have really cleaned up their act. I think I?’ll vote for them.?” After all, out of sight, out of mind, right?

WRONG! You might have temporarily succeeded in stopping the airing of your dirty laundry in public for a while but there are still ways of keeping the taxpayers informed.

Mr. and Ms. Taxpayer ?– talk among yourselves. Ask around. Read this website. Read their newsletter. Join this discussion board. Don't just sit there reading all the drivel I post. Say something!

Attend the Council and committee meetings. Attend School Board meetings. Attend Township Trustee meetings. Ask questions. Demand answers.

Demand the truth.

After all

It?’s time for truth.

It?’s time for change.


By Soap Box Hero

An informed community.........

Well Soap Box - you know I don?’t respond to many of your postings. One of the reasons for this is ?“free?” time. You see - I DO attend a good deal of the meetings that you mentioned. However, I want you and other readers of this web's discussion page to get a truer feeling for some of the background toward media coverage.

Readers ?– ask yourselves if the members of the media that report ?“news?” of our community also live in our community? Most do not. Do the very issues that they are reporting on then effect these same reporters? Would their articles, columns or editorials be any different if they did?

A year ago, before we began our newsletter, PATA members shared a good deal of information we researched with the media in the form of ?“Press Releases?”. Issues such as the number of (then currently approved housing units), school transportation costs, annexation pressures and zoning concerns, sewer and water infrastructure, and who was making contributions to our elected official's campaigns - just to name a few. Because we lived here, knew first hand the issues, committed to the research needed, and knew we would be the ones that would have to endure the consequences. Very little of our works made it to readers (community members) eyes and minds.

That was the reason we began our newsletter and expanded the format of this web site. In so doing we don?’t have to answer to officials for what, when, or how we distribute information that has an impact on every community resident. We have no advertisers or officials to appease to get their ?“sound bits?” for what residents will or will not be informed (or misinformed) over. Don?’t kid yourselves into believing that the efforts we have to endure to get information to the public are easy. They are not! With the fact that decisions made now effect us all, we will persevere the slings of those that wish to continue the charade and silence the opinions, views, and concerns of the public. We understand that the day to day commitments of community residents?’ keep them busy. However, a less informed community member is someone that is much easier ?“controlled?” ?– to borrow from the words of a recent past local official.

You have made a very interesting point about how ?– during an election cycle, more promises are made that a normal persons New Year?’s resolutions. And they seem to be broken quicker than they are spoken. Since a good deal of this material is also in our research archives, relative to our current decision makers, it may be one of the more interesting portions of some upcoming newsletters.

We would encourage all to become more involved and informed. It does take time, but isn't your family's future worth it? Decisions made today will effect you and your family for as long as you live here.