Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Some of you may not be aware of the fact that Joyce Bushman has in the past stated that the voters of Pickerington are ?“stupid?”. On Tuesday March 4th she continued her policy of treating the citizens of Pickerington like mushrooms and invited all of her builder friends into the council meeting in an attempt to bully and intimidate the citizens of Pickerington. The BIA made an impressive show. They also exposed their greed and total disregard for this community. I want to point out to every that listens to or reads the builders advertisements about their homes. Notice that many say ?“Pickerington Schools.?” I have heard in radio ads by more than one of these Pickerington builders, ?“good schools near by?” or they say, ?“That they build great communities?”. Isn?’t this a little over the line when it comes to advertising even from these builders? The schools are theirs. They didn?’t build the community, unless of course you consider building homes as all it takes to build a community.

Last Tuesday they came into our town like a motor cycle gang out of some 1950s movie ready to take over everything. The poor town?’s folks cowered in the corners of the village waiting for the evil ones to leave so they could resume their lives in peace. Everyone was trying to find a place to hide their money because these scoundrels were after it. After they left their mud on the floors of city hall they all stop by the corner carry out and picked up their twelve pack and headed back to where they lived, which wasn?’t Pickerington.

So do we continue to cower or do we stand up and fight them at their own game? I would say the BIA hasn?’t heard the last of the fine folks of Pickerington. First let?’s stop all of their building. Then let the visitors that they will be bringing into town know about or schools.

First their model homes are located on public streets. You are allowed to park your car on a public street. You can put bumpers stickers on your car which say things like: ?“PICKERINGTON SCHOOLS ARE OVERCROWDED?” ?“OUR SCHOOL BOARD HAD TO CUT THE PROGRAM FOR GIFTED STUDENTS?” ?“OUR SCHOOL TAXES ARE THE HIGHEST IN CENTRAL OHIO?”

If you want to ensure that they won?’t be torn off while parked on a public street the use one of those sun screen that you would use at the beach to protect your dash board from the sun. Certainly you could take that fold out piece of cardboard and tell those visiting this model homes the real condition of schools system here.

The Parade of Homes will open in June. Here is a way to kill two birds with one stone. First the Pickerington High School band members will be helping with parking the cars. The band will get a big cut in the Parking receipts if Joyce Bushman hasn?’t got her hand in the pocket yet. Drive into the parade of homes pay the band member the parking fee and just before you get out whip open your sun reflector with statements about our school and our taxes and our roads.

Do not make statements about the builders or their homes. That could get you in trouble.



By Patrick Henry

Protest continued

If they charged you to park then they can?’t through you out because you are making statements about OUR schools. If they do through out then demand your parking fees back and make a donation to the band the next day.

For those of you with two cars in the family maybe you could leave one on the street near a new sub-division and with eye sight of the model home. Make the lettering big so people driving by will see just how unfriendly we are. They are trying to portray us all as slamming the door on people wanting to move here well folks lets slam the door. Give them information they won?’t receive from the model hostess.


By Patrick Henry

These are great ideas

Pat,

Thanks for the great ideas. I really do think this type of action will work and you know it is exactly what they probably fear. They live in a world where big money attorneys and scripted presentations rule. Our world is now becoming quite different as you know. Communication between those who live here and those who are considering it can be just as simple as you suggest.

Maybe the band members can don signs stating that there is no band this year because of all the houses being built here and the fact that there are too many students to support with the revenue that is coming in from all these homes. They can say, ''Thanks for coming here but if you buy a home here and bring your kids, I won't be able to be in the band for several years because the money ran out in 2003 and more students to put in the schools is not going to help the situation.''


The band mamber continues:


''Oh I see you noticed the community authority taxing district that was ''creatively'' included with the Parade Homes to advertise how much these builders are ''helping'' our schools. I know that you realize the builders do not pay a dime for this that you will... but heck... they advertise the excellent schools here too and have exactly nothing to do with our excellence do they! I think this community authority is great too, but it only funds buildings and capital improvements. It will not pay the salaries for supplemental contracts to pay our band directors or Sports coaches this year. It will not provide staffing to keep class sizes reasonable or buy paper to print our tests on. They make me find my own way to school now because there is no bussing for high school students. Since I am only a freshman and not a driver and my parents leave for work before school starts, I catch a ride with a few neighbor friends, we get to school real fast because they can make that car seem like it flies down the roads!

band member is now on a roll:

''I just know that this sounds just like the place to raise your family doesn't it! Now take a look at these beautiful parade homes! You can buy that 400 thousand dollar home that sits right on top of the 400 thousand dollar home right next door, a real reach out and touch someone cozy feeling. Who needs to mow grass. Oh I forgot, all these homes will probably be purchased by city council members, the city manager and their friends so you will have very intelligent neighbors on the best things in this community and how to bring more of them home roof by home roof. Just in case you wanted to know, you can drive 2 or 3 miles into Violet Township and get a 400 thousand dollar home that has a yard! The nieghborhood has parks and ammenities like playgrounds and tennis courts and you still will have your kids in Pickerington Schools. You will pay lower taxes there, much lower. You will have your street plowed quickly in the winter and have excellent police protection from the Sheriff. A little comparasion shopping is probably a good idea don't you think.''


By Sign maker

Why?

Why protest in silence?
Did the BIA or the Realtors demonstrate their greed in silent protest?
No, they came into our town in force and told the elected officials they funded what they expect!

Why demonstrate your displeasure with the actions of the officials by allowing them to find the solutions?
Didn?’t these same officials create the mess?
Yes, so if they created it they are surely not the right people to correct it!

Why are petitions always scoffed at by those in office?
Can you remember a petition that didn?’t have a digging comment from those in control now?
No, these few people in control intend to stay in control. They will use the easy money of the developers and builders and maintain control while the local citizens refuse to speak up!

A protest is only good if it is heard and heeded.
An office holder is only good if he or she is responsive to the public.
The only way to break the cycle of control is to speak up long and loudly and speak up about the inadequate representation of the citizens?’ wishes by those making decisions today.
Tomorrow doesn?’t look any brighter with any other course of action.