There's two things wrong with the attached press release. The first is that I am not incorporated, nor am I a protected political action group. I don't want to get sued.
The second is that noone cares what ''Gary Johnson'' thinks. But, I was hoping that some of you more ''politically recognized'' and ''legally protected'' folks would consider replacing my quotes with your own, and sending something like this to every single news organization you can get the e-mail address of...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
?“BUILDER THREATENS TO WITHDRAW GIFT TO SCHOOLS IF CITIZENS VOTE?”
(October 21, 2002 ?– Pickerington, Ohio) ?– In a letter to Pickerington Mayor Randall Hughes dated October 15th, the Homewood Corporation threatened to withdraw a proposed monetary gift to the financially troubled Pickerington Local School District if citizens are given an opportunity to vote on a refurendum challenging the final platting of their proposed ?“Reserve At Pickerington Ponds?” subdivision. The builder also suggested that, if citizens force the issue to ballot, they would not honor an agreement to set aside key acreage as parkland, a move originally intended to protect the fragile wetland area.
The move comes at a particularly bad time for the school district, which is currently fighting for the passage of a combined construction and operating levy. Ironically, school and some community officials agree that the intense pace of residential development, including development by Homewood, is the primary cause of the current funding dilema the schools are facing.
Local citizens groups have been fighting for months to get initiatives on the ballot that would slow development until schools and infastructure can catch up. ?“Our kids are going to school in trailers. We can?’t get out of our neighboorhoods because of the traffic, our taxes are going up nearly every year, and neither the developers or Council are willing to slow down?”, said Pickerington resident Gary Johnson.
Citizens groups in this middle class suburb have complained that City Council has sided with developers in this fight. Petitions submitted in early 2002 were tabled by Council despite commitments to move them to the ballot. Later petition drives were successful despite Council?’s lack of support. ?“Even with the nearly 500 signatures collected to get the Pickerington Ponds initiative to the voters, Council has threatened to withdraw their approval of the final platting, and then pass the plats as an ?“emergency?”, precluding the citizens ability to vote?”, said Johnson. ?“Frankly, that?’s what I expect them to do since most Council members received considerably campaign funding from developers or their representatives, it?’s just hard to believe this kind of thing goes on in American today.?”
Just an idea...shouldn't cost much, and maybe someone will print it. (or show it on TV)
Gary
The second is that noone cares what ''Gary Johnson'' thinks. But, I was hoping that some of you more ''politically recognized'' and ''legally protected'' folks would consider replacing my quotes with your own, and sending something like this to every single news organization you can get the e-mail address of...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
?“BUILDER THREATENS TO WITHDRAW GIFT TO SCHOOLS IF CITIZENS VOTE?”
(October 21, 2002 ?– Pickerington, Ohio) ?– In a letter to Pickerington Mayor Randall Hughes dated October 15th, the Homewood Corporation threatened to withdraw a proposed monetary gift to the financially troubled Pickerington Local School District if citizens are given an opportunity to vote on a refurendum challenging the final platting of their proposed ?“Reserve At Pickerington Ponds?” subdivision. The builder also suggested that, if citizens force the issue to ballot, they would not honor an agreement to set aside key acreage as parkland, a move originally intended to protect the fragile wetland area.
The move comes at a particularly bad time for the school district, which is currently fighting for the passage of a combined construction and operating levy. Ironically, school and some community officials agree that the intense pace of residential development, including development by Homewood, is the primary cause of the current funding dilema the schools are facing.
Local citizens groups have been fighting for months to get initiatives on the ballot that would slow development until schools and infastructure can catch up. ?“Our kids are going to school in trailers. We can?’t get out of our neighboorhoods because of the traffic, our taxes are going up nearly every year, and neither the developers or Council are willing to slow down?”, said Pickerington resident Gary Johnson.
Citizens groups in this middle class suburb have complained that City Council has sided with developers in this fight. Petitions submitted in early 2002 were tabled by Council despite commitments to move them to the ballot. Later petition drives were successful despite Council?’s lack of support. ?“Even with the nearly 500 signatures collected to get the Pickerington Ponds initiative to the voters, Council has threatened to withdraw their approval of the final platting, and then pass the plats as an ?“emergency?”, precluding the citizens ability to vote?”, said Johnson. ?“Frankly, that?’s what I expect them to do since most Council members received considerably campaign funding from developers or their representatives, it?’s just hard to believe this kind of thing goes on in American today.?”
Just an idea...shouldn't cost much, and maybe someone will print it. (or show it on TV)
Gary
