City Council Nixes plan to ease police residency rules

Last night a majority of the city council in my hometown decided all policemen who work for the city must live within the city limits. The proposal to allow policemen to live outside city limits had the endorsement of the city mayor, the county mayor, the police chief, the police association, Fedex and other powerful corporations, the six white city council men and practically every citizen in the city including yours truly.

But not the seven black city councilmen. Their reason: the city is not doing enough to hire black policemen. Hell are they blind? All they got to do is look in a patrol car, go visit a precinct or read the newspaper. The Commercial  Appeal reported between 2006 and 2008, black applicants accounted for 57 to 65 percent of new officers hired, mirroring the demographic makeup of my hometown this according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics.

Also during the same period 2,644 black men and women applied to be police officers 332 were hired. Over the same period, 1,024 white men and women applied and 222 were hired.

One reason for denying this proposal was one councilmen had received information from unidentified individuals who said they were unfairly turned away. Councilman Harbert, they weren't turned away. They just didn't show up. According to police records most applicants are rejected because they simply don't show up.

In 2006, 25 percent of applicants were disqualified as "no shows." The number was 23 percent in 2007 and 25 percent through June 1 of this year.

The next biggest reason for disqualification is failure of physical or written tests. which also mirrors the population of the city. Most of us are fat and stupid and don't show up to work

The third major reason is the psychological exam. Between 2006 and June 1 of this year, 12 to 20 percent of the applicants were rejected because of the psychological test. I've often said there are some scary people running loose in my city now I got statistics to back me up.

I wonder if our esteemed council people even bother to read such things or know a statistic when they see it. My opinion is they just like to stir things up. I really believe there is something going on below the surface. The folks want something from the present administration. The police chief has asked madam council women Harbert for a list of names of the unidentified people so he can review their application and provide help. The chief is dying to hire people. 

As of today Harbert has provided no list.

Why did these councilmen really vote against this proposal? Why do they give flimsy excuses for their vote? Another councilman, Harold Collins, said he wants policemen who are loyal to the city and living within its limits is such proof. Maybe to this particular councilman, but I could be just as loyal and live somewhere else. If the councilman was laying in a pool of his own blood a victim of a armed robbery would he ask the cop his mailing address? In fact in the proposal a recruit would have six months to move to the city and then the loyalty could start. Mr Collins failed to see this part of the proposal, I guess.

If you ask me these guys are crime lords, members of a crime syndicate and more cops mean less graft in their pockets because in this town money talks. Give these folks a satchel full of Franklins and watch the vote change.

That's the way I see it,

Brando Pines

I Want This.

I want this guitar. Wanna help me get it? For more information leave a comment.

NRA and Obama

"Americans have the will to resist because you have weapons. If you don't have a gun, freedom of speech has no power "

-Yoshimi Ishikawa

There are some of us out there who fear they that our new President can't wait to get his hands on the second amendment.

Relax.

First thing the National Rife Association is the biggest lobbyist group in the world and they ain't gonna let anything happen to the second amendment. I myself am a member and believe me with all the literature I get almost daily they have to have a huge war chest from all the paper from them that comes in the mail. Please, the NRA's membership is large enough to called itself a nation. And we're armed.

Even if Obama trys to pry your weapon from your hand don't worry we got the Supreme Court on our side. Until last year there has not been a challenge to the second admendment put before the Supreme Court since like something around 1938.

Okay, Obama may take away an assault weapon or two and  a stray fifteen round clip but you got to compromise somewhere. Bill Clinton knew this. And Bush probably had a revolver in the oval office

My point is unless you're in the military or live in a really bad neighborhood why would you need to carry so much firepower. Most shootouts between civilians only last seconds and in such close quarters only a few rounds are fired.

Besides our new President has got a lot more on his plate with the economy going to the crapper, runaway health care cost and a war he didn't want to be worried about an armed population. Right now we are on his side with the exceptions of a few Republicans and the KKK.

 I have a friend who has a weapon cache that would make Wayne La Pierre jealous. My cardiologist has to warn the police department whenever he goes out of town so they can send the swat team if the alarm sounds. Even his wife comes armed. In my state you can carry a weapon into a restaurant or bar without impunity. As long as you don't drink. You can even carry a weapon into a city park if the city says it's alright.

This makes me believe a lot of folks are walking around with guns since only two states deny its citizens the right to carry in one form or another.  Since Obama has been elected guns  sales have gone  through the roof.Even Grandma Pines is packing.

America will not give up its guns.

Brando Pines

Rich Folks Next Door

The"hood" next to mine is full of people who can afford anything they want. These folks got his and hers fifty thousand dollar cars parked out front of their outrageous cribs. Damn place looks like a castle with ivy growing off the stone walls and a twelve foot front door These cats got everything they want.

So if they want to own big damn rocks, okay. I can't imagine why a rich guy would want one, unless it was the diamond variety, but it must be the thing to do. Around this place they display them proudly in the front yard...up by the curb where everybody can see it. 

I'm not pulling your leg it's just some big ass lonesome rock out there in yard. Some considerate rich folks have two or three just to keep the others company, but you'd  think they'd plant a flower or something. Everyday I walk pass these sad lonely rocks some out in the sun, luckier ones under a shade tree and wish I could do something. They didn't ask to be here. They shouldn't be here.

The reason I say anything is we ain't got no rocks that size around here. So I got suspicious. Around here we got pebbles and there's cobblestones down by the river. But look around, my friend, the Mississippi Delta is flat and made of dirt. Rocks don't grow on flat. They don't grow on dirt.  If you want a boulder of a rock you gotta import.

So it makes me wonder...did these fatcats kidnap these rocks? Bring 'em back as souvenirs from trips out west? Did they think the west had a surplus of rock and wouldn't ever run out? Or did they hire a rock poacher have them smuggled in.

If you ask me I think the rocks need to be returned to their natural habitat. If this is allowed to go on soon rock will go the way of the dodo. No longer will we have rock.

We can't let them get away with this. Bring my rock home.

That's the way I see it,

Brando Pines

Grayman