Herb Riede's Blog

THIS BLOG ENTRY WAS PHOTOGRAPHED BY JAMES ROBINSON OF THE EVENING SUN :)

E-Cycle Your Electronics!
Council has approved Leftovers Recycling Services to collect computers, printers, monitors, cabling, modems, keyboards, scanners, copiers and other office machines. The service also accepts DVD, CD, and VCR machines as well as cordless power tools, battery packs and other rechargeable batteries (but NOT TVs).

The electronic recycling service will be available during the borough's regular recycling hours as soon as the container can be placed.

The McSherrystown recycling operation is at the borough public works building on Oak Lane just off of North Second Street. The center is open Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and every third Saturday of the month from 8 a.m . until noon.

(Based in part on http://www.eveningsun.com/Stories/0,1413,140~9956~2966842,00.html )

Ban on dogs in public parks now in effect where posted
Because of a few irresponsible residents causing a potential health hazard and unsightly mess by not cleaning up after their dogs, and the inability to enforce such laws unless these people are "caught in the act," a ban on dogs in the parks has been implemented. This only applies to posted grounds. All other grounds still require the owner to pick up after their pet.

Traffic/sidewalk/street concerns? Now's the time to voice your opinion.
There will be a special meeting of Borough Council on August 10, 2005 at 7:00PM to discuss concerns about the 2nd Street Sidewalk project.

Anyone with concerns about McSherrystown streets and intersections, such as input into future plans for traffic concerns, can speak and be heard.

Can't make it? Mail your comments to:
McSherrystown Borough Council
Re: Comments for Aug. 10 Meeting
350 South Street
McSherrystown, PA 17344

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Karl Rove: Repeat Leaker
Ron Suskind: Articles: "Sources close to the former president say Rove was fired from the 1992 Bush presidential campaign after he planted a negative story with columnist Robert Novak about dissatisfaction with campaign fundraising chief and Bush loyalist Robert Mosbacher Jr. It was smoked out, and he was summarily ousted. "

This was in January 93 in Esquire... Before the other source said it was uncovered.

Karl Rove: I didn't do it
Apparently, Rove testified to the Grand Jury that he heard from Robert Novak and another reporter that Valarie Plame was a CIA Operative, and that his telling yet another reporter this secret information that these other reporters shouldn't have had wasn't his fault because he's just an innocent gossip monger, I guess is his defense. God forbid he have any kind of national security clearance.

The Local Blogosphere: about to get a land rush?
Had a call from the Evening Sun yesterday from Seth Goldstein [blog] who is doing a story on local bloggers. They (to my knowledge) are few and far between, in relation to the about 125K population of the Hanover/Adams area (Adams County 100K, Hanover area of York 25K?)

Or at least it's hard to find anyone who identifies themself as FROM this area, as 2/3 of Adams County are not from Adams County. In fact, half of elected officials aren't natives (including yours truly - but I am a native tenth generation Pennsylvanian with ancestry in 18th Century Adams Co.).

But I digress. Hopefully, we'll see more people get online for more than reading other people and maybe doing a little "acting locally" while they're thinking globally.

Fun to be had, meetings to attend
Monday night is the next Democratic Party meeting at the VFW/Home Association on E Middle Street in Gettysburg at 7:00. Many of us are now members (again, yours truly included) so we could go early.

Bob Casey is coming to Adams County
Bob Casey's coming to the area on the third at General Sajer's house. See http://www.adamsdemocrats.com for details. ($100 a person)

Young Democrats of America
That said, I can't go because I am shelling out all my cash (more than I can afford in fact, I could use a little fundraiser myself right now) to get to San Francisco that same day for the Young Democrats of America National Convention. We could use about $1000 to send our people without going into hard personal debt to do it. We've raised about $750 of which $400 has been collected so far of the $1800 it takes to send three people.

Annual Picnic (Party Time)
The Democratic Club is holding it's annual picnic in Bonneauville soon and is also on http://www.adamsdemocrats.com - This one's only $10, and is worth it and FUN.

James Muller is the Democratic Nominee for Sherriff
http://www.electmuller.com/

McSherrystown Stuff
I know this stuff don't have nothing to with McSherrystown. I'll be blogging about that stuff soon. I'm going to get my rear in gear since people might actually visit soon. (LOL)

Alternet

An interesting historical footnote on Rove and his sleazy tactics. Not only does Rove know this dance, but he and his partner have danced it before. A Nov. 9, 2003 Houston Chronicle article by Rick Casey reveals that Rove was fired from Pappy Bush's '92 re-election campaign. The reason: he leaked information intended to smear a political opponent (a fellow Republican) to a national columnist.

That columnist's name was Robert Novak.

/snip

My Comments:

I know emails are dangerous. I've used them for over over a dozen years since before the web (ala FidoNet). You can re-read what you've sent and realize "do I really sound that way"?

Blogs are even worse. With archive.org and the permanence of the web, every word is forever. Have I gone on double super secret background with a reporter? No comment. Will I in the future? No comment.

But never, ever in an email or on paper. I'm not that stupid.

Technically anything a public official posts can become public record. So this website is a public record, or could be subpoenaed..

But does that mean I post less than I used to? no.. Does that mean I hide? no.. I am who I am. I am and I try to be careful.

I'm NOT perfect, and I make mistakes. But I'm not going to talk to reporters about ongoing investigations I know about or things our PD is involved in. Our PD is not the CIA, but isn't that exactly the point? If you're trusted with secret information, shouldn't you have the sense not to talk to reporters about it?

How many of Valerie Plame's contacts were put in personal danger because of their connection to her when her identity was broadcast?

"The public has a right to know" is one thing, but "double super secret background" about a matter of national security is NOT informing THE PUBLIC.

Riede taking on a new cause?

I am sure every elected official is hurt when a constituent doesn't like them. Or at least I'd like to think so.

It's because of this that I'm holding back until I talk to Mr. Colgan to respond to most of the letter. If he wasn't my constitiuent, then it's gloves off!

But one point must be made crystal clear, because it's a glaring error on Mr. Colgan's part.

Where he says:

I'd also like to point out that Mr. Riede has no such apprehension in levying a one percent tax on the people of McSherrystown to pay for increased police protection.

I'd like to simply print what he is quoting me from: EMPHASIS ADDED

We need to move to 24-hour police coverage.

To establish our own 24-hour police force, we would have to invest in, at minimum, two new officers. One innovative way to fund this includes establishing a 1 percent Nonresident Earned Income Tax, thereby spreading the costs equitably to those who also use the borough's services.

The key word here being NON-RESIDENT. This means NOT "on the people of McSherrystown".

Between this revenue stream and the merger process, it is obvious the LAST thing I look to do is raise taxes on the people of McSherrystown.

That said, it is apparent with the population of Conewago doubling over the last 20 years, the traffic tripling over that period, and the crime rate going up and the calls from Fire Police and EMS for 24 hour coverage, this is something we NEED, and simply shuffling the schedule will not work.

We've already shuffled as much as possible and my proposal for revenue streams was to AVOID going straight to a raise in our millage!

Regarding my participation in politics, I engage in politics without pay - at least so far because I want to participate. I have the energy to keep up with my Mayoral duties and the staff knows that if they call me I will drop whatever whenever and be there.

I encourage anyone to call me and have done so in the past.

I have a plethora of positions - some I need to scale back on soon, listed on my website and they are all organizations I am actively involved in. I am up until 2AM most nights - just ask people who get my emails.

I've also joined a couple more and hope to become active physically (instead of organizationally for a change), as soon as I'm given the chance.

Want to talk more about 24 Hour Police? Henry v Maitland? Traffic in Mcsherrystown? The Democratic Party in Adams County, PA, USA? Junior Council Person? Potholes?

Call me 717-634-6411

I try to sleep between 2 and 8 ET...