Tag Archives: mayor

Florida City Commissioner Put On Blast After Posting Racist Facebook Message On His Page

What the hell was he thinking??? This story has us wondering when public officials will learn their lesson about spittin’ racially charged comments online and in the media?? According to The Huffington Post , John Sims publicly apologized after other lawmakers and residents complained: “To those of you who were genuinely offended, I offer my deepest apology,” said Sims at Tuesday’s workshop meeting. “Rest assured that I will continue to serve our city well and continue to work equally for all people in Cooper City regardless of religion, ethnicity or social status.” The comment Sims posted Nov. 30 read: “Just wanted to let you know … today I received my 2013 Social Security Stimulus Package. It contained two tomato seeds, cornbread mix, two discount coupons to KFC, an ‘Obama Hope & Change’ bumper sticker, a prayer rug, a machine to blow smoke up my ass and a ‘Blame it on Bush’ poster for the front yard. The directions were in Spanish. Yours should arrive soon.” Newly elected Mayor Greg Ross made a last-minute decision to add the item to the city’s workshop meeting after he received an outpouring of email from outraged residents. “The residents’ phone calls asked me to please ask him to resign or to fire him,” said Ross. “I don’t have the right to do that. It’s the citizens who vote him in and the citizens’ right to vote him out.” Ross added that Sims would benefit from “sensitivity training.” Resident Gabriel De Gedeon shared with the commission his family’s distaste with Sims’ comment. “Those comments are 100 percent bitter and ignorant,” he said. “I’m shocked that those offensive comments were written by a Cooper City commissioner.” Sims said he did not come up with the post on his own; rather, he reposted it from another site. “The post was done as a humorous commentary,” he said. “I deeply regret that I failed to consider that some might find it offensive.” Resident Jimmy Jones, who is the Hollywood assistant police chief, originally brought the comment to the city’s attention and requested Sims’ resignation last week. Jones said he was open to an apology from the commissioner Tuesday night. “As a resident in this community since 1999, I want my community served by people who care about everybody in the community,” said Jones, who is white. Another resident, Christine Timmons, defended Sims, saying he should not be humiliated for exercising his right to free speech. “Every time a white person opens his mouth, people say, ‘Oh, he’s a racist,’” said Timmons, who is black. “He can say what he wants to say. He’s got a right to free speech like anyone else.” The mayor and commissioners said they do not condone Sims’ comment and apologized to the city’s residents. “The comment was vile, offensive — it reminds me of a Neanderthal comment because it’s very backward. It was not in good taste,” said Commissioner Lisa Mallozzi. “But I accept his apology and we’re going to move forward.” This story’s got people talkin’ about the double-standard like this guy wasn’t out of line?!?! Images via facebook

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Florida City Commissioner Put On Blast After Posting Racist Facebook Message On His Page

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed Announces Support for Marriage Equality

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Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has announced his support for marriage equality. The mayor made the announcement on Twitter and through a press release. Mayor Kasim…

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed Announces Support for Marriage Equality

Kimmy Cakes And Her Bestie Jonathan Cheban Shoot ‘Em Up (Bang Bang!) At The Gun Range

Kimmy’s got a gun! The reality tv star took to Twitter to show she’s got a weapon and she knows how to use it. Looks like she’s a pretty decent shot. Hit the flip to see a few more.

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Kimmy Cakes And Her Bestie Jonathan Cheban Shoot ‘Em Up (Bang Bang!) At The Gun Range

Hate It Or Love It?!? New York City Marathon Cancelled Due To Hurricane Sandy Devastation

Do you think the NYC Marathon should be cancelled? NYC Marathon Cancelled After days of pressure from runners, politicians and the public to cancel the NYC Marathon in the wake of Hurricane Sandy , city officials and the event’s organizers decided Friday afternoon that the race would not be held Sunday. Via NY Times reports : Workers continued to construct the finish line of the New York City Marathon on Friday. The fallen crane from the One 57 building is seen in the background. Such a move would be historic — the marathon has been held every year since 1970, including the race in 2001 held two months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks — but seemed inevitable as opposition to the marathon swelled. Critics said that it was in poor taste to hold a foot race through the five boroughs while so many people in the area are still suffering from the storm’s damages, and that city services should focus on storm relief, not the marathon. Proponents of the marathon — notably Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Mary Wittenberg, director of the marathon — said the race would provide a needed morale boost, as well as an economic one. Among the many details that remain unclear are whether race would be postponed or canceled entirely and how popular the plan would be among the field of nearly 50,000 runners who were expected to compete in Sunday’s marathon, thousands of whom traveled to New York from other countries. Mayor Bloomberg and Wittenberg, who is chief executive of New York Road Runners, the organization that operates the marathon, repeatedly stood behind the plan, insisting it was best for the city. But many runners joined a chorus of politicians and area residents this week in speaking out against the plan to stage the marathon despite the widespread damage wrought by the storm Monday night. The public has spoken! Do you think it’s fair or foul that the NYC Marathon has been cancelled?

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Hate It Or Love It?!? New York City Marathon Cancelled Due To Hurricane Sandy Devastation

Take That Mittens: NYC Mayor Bloomberg Gives His Vote To Barack!

And you know Mittens’ camp is trying to act like this isht ain’t no thang. We can only assume that Bloomberg made up his mind today after the disgusting comments some Republicans have been making about Governor Christie hugging the Black President. That plus their claims that Sandy is ‘convenient’ for the Obama campaign probably pushed Bloomie over the edge! SMH. According to The New York Times , Bloomberg wasn’t planning to endorse either candidate: In a surprise announcement, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said Thursday that Hurricane Sandy had reshaped his thinking about the presidential campaign and that as a result, he was endorsing President Obama. Mr. Bloomberg, a political independent in his third term leading New York City, has been sharply critical of Mr. Obama, a Democrat, and Mitt Romney, the president’s Republican rival, saying that both men had failed to candidly confront the problems afflicting the nation. But he said he had decided over the past several days that Mr. Obama was the better candidate to tackle the global climate change that he believes might have contributed to the violent storm, which took the lives of at least 38 New Yorkers and caused billions of dollars in damage. “The devastation that Hurricane Sandy brought to New York City and much of the Northeast — in lost lives, lost homes and lost business — brought the stakes of next Tuesday’s presidential election into sharp relief,” Mr. Bloomberg wrote in an editorial for Bloomberg View. “Our climate is changing,” he wrote. “And while the increase in extreme weather we have experienced in New York City and around the world may or may not be the result of it, the risk that it may be — given the devastation it is wreaking — should be enough to compel all elected leaders to take immediate action.” Mr. Bloomberg’s endorsement is another indication that Hurricane Sandy has influenced the presidential campaign. The storm and the destruction it left in its wake have dominated news coverage, transfixing the nation and prompting the candidates to halt their campaigning briefly.Both the Obama and Romney campaigns had aggressively sought the mayor’s endorsement, in large part because they believed he could influence independent voters around the country. Mr. Bloomberg had recently signaled he would not make an endorsement, telling reporters several weeks ago that he had decided whom he would vote for, but that he was not sure he would share that decision with the public. Mr. Bloomberg did not endorse a presidential candidate in 2008, when Mr. Obama ran against Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, and until Thursday, he had steadfastly withheld his support from both presidential candidates this year, largely because he had grown frustrated with the tone and substance of the presidential campaign. He recently derided as “gibberish” the answers that Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney gave during a debate to a question about an assault-weapons ban. He has expressed disappointment with Mr. Obama’s performance over the past few years and concern about what he has described as the shifts in Mr. Romney’s views over time.In making his endorsement, Mr. Bloomberg listed the various steps that Mr. Obama had taken over the last four years to confront the issue of climate change, including pushing regulations that seek to curtail emissions from cars and power plants. But the mayor cited other reasons for endorsing Mr. Obama, including the president’s support for abortion rights and for same-sex marriage, two high-priority issues for the mayor. At the same time, Mr. Bloomberg said he might have endorsed Mr. Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, except for the fact that the Republican had abandoned positions that he once publicly held. “In the past he has taken sensible positions on immigration, illegal guns, abortion rights and health care — but he has reversed course on all of them, and is even running against the very health care model he signed into law in Massachusetts,” the mayor said of Mr. Romney. In a statement, Mr. Obama said he was “honored to have Mayor Bloomberg’s endorsement.” The president acknowledged Mr. Bloomberg’s chief concern, saying climate change was “a threat to our children’s future, and we owe it to them to do something about it.” Coming on the heels of Gov. Chris Christie’s public embrace of Mr. Obama, the endorsement by Mr. Bloomberg left aides to Mr. Romney a bit flustered, and they privately dismissed its importance. With only five days left, we’re sure a whole lot of shady isht is going to come out swingin’. Images via WENN

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Take That Mittens: NYC Mayor Bloomberg Gives His Vote To Barack!

Big Tex: On Fire!

Poor Big Tex. The affable, famous 52-foot State Fair of Texas mascot caught on fire at Fair Park in Dallas this morning. Take a look at the big fella before and after … Wearing size 70 boots and a 75-gallon hat, Big Tex had been an institution since 1952. Alas, he will not make it to see 61. But Tex will rise again! The Mayor of Dallas has apparently promised to resurrect the mascot for 2013: “We’ll rebuild him and make him better than ever for the 21st Century.”

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Big Tex: On Fire!

Happy Birthday To Coco Chanel’s Little Black Dress! (A Few Of Our Faves For You)

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Happy Birthday To Coco Chanel’s Little Black Dress! (A Few Of Our Faves For You)

Phoenix Mayor Steps Up And Lives Off Of Foodstamps For A Week!

Can a politician really relate in just one week? Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton tried to step out of his comfort zone and see what it’s like to live off of $29 a week through the states SNAP Program …and the man didn’t cheat once! Claiming to have lost a few lbs due to lack of food, he’s passionate about fixing the low level of poverty in his state. Arizona has more than 1.1 million folks on food assistance and the US has more than 46 million that are accounted for. This week I joined staff and board members from the Arizona Community Action Association (ACAA), the Valley of the Sun United Way and others in the community in the week-long SNAP Experience when we’ll limit total food purchases to the weekly budget of a typical SNAP participant: $4.16 a day. That’s about $29 a week for one person and $97 a week for a family of four. The SNAP Experience, through which participants also will be asked to blog about its impact, is scheduled Sept. 15-21. September is Hunger Awareness Month. With American poverty levels approaching the highest levels since 1965, 1.1 million Arizonans rely on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps) to feed their families. Identifying, in a concrete way, with struggling families is an important exercise for any leader. By walking in the shoes of those who depend on the SNAP program, I certainly feel like I’ve gained critical perspective as a policymaker. From a broader perspective, I’m starting to think about all the other challenges families on food stamps (SNAP) must face at the same time they are stretching their food benefit. Census data in 2010 showed Arizona had the second highest poverty rate in the nation with 21.2% of its citizens living in poverty. The national figure was 14.3 percent. We’ve improved since then, but we’re still in the 10-poorest states category. Worse, women raising children alone here aren’t doing well. More than 45% of mothers raising children by themselves are in poverty. That’s why turning this economy around is so important. The best “program” for any struggling family is a job that pays a living wage. That’s what I’m focusing on for every Phoenix family. We’re going to give the Mayor credit for making the effort and spreading awareness on the issue. If every politician was required to do this, do you think we’d see more efforts and less b*tching about the needy, struggling, low-to middle-income classes? Images via facebook/shutterstock

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Phoenix Mayor Steps Up And Lives Off Of Foodstamps For A Week!

Theaters To Challenge New York Ban On Super-Sized Sugary Drinks

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is going to do for sugary drinks what he did for smoking early on in his tenure, though movie theaters in the city are ready to take on his honor’s plans to keep audiences from slurping too much sugary fizz while sitting in front of a screen. The new regulation, which won the support of NYC’s board of health, will ban calorie-soaked sugary drinks such as sodas from being sold in theaters, concession stands, cafeterias and restaurants larger than 16 ounces. The ban comes in the wake of the city’s past public health initiatives which outlawed smoking in bars, offices and some public areas. It has also banned trans fats and has forced fast-food restaurants to list calorie counts on their menus. The new regulation, if it stands, will take effect on March 12th next year. Supermarkets and convenience stores will still be able to sell super-sized drinks. Diet drinks, alcohol and fruit juices are not affected by the new policy. But theaters and other groups are going to challenge the new regulation. Cinemas reap about 25% of their revenues from sweets and drinks in the U.S. Robert Sunshine, a spokesperson for the National Association of Theater Owners said his organization is “opposed to anyone telling us what we can eat and what we can drink,” he said according to The Guardian via Deadline. “Somewhere along the line, the profit will have to be made up. It’s going to have a tremendous impact.” Bloomberg, however, counters that the measure is necessary to stem the obesity plague and said that the ban will even help beyond the city limits. “This is the biggest step a city has taken to curb obesity,” he said. “Simply by proposing limits on sugary drinks, New York City has pushed the issue of obesity – and the impact of sugary beverages – onto the national stage.” New York was one of the first states to ban smoking in public places indoors in 2003, after California. It has since extended the ban to some public places outdoors including beaches and parks. [ Source: The Guardian ]

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Theaters To Challenge New York Ban On Super-Sized Sugary Drinks

Ben Flajnik, Courtney Robertson Tweet Wedding Hints

Ben Flajnik and Courtney Robertson haven’t been heard from for awhile, which is probably a good thing, considering the negative press they got earlier this year. Even before The Bachelor star proposed to the brunette model during the show’s March finale, they were inundated with an avalanche of bad publicity. Now that it’s been five months, it appears the embattled couple is going as strong as ever, and may be finally thinking about their nuptials to boot. Via Twitter on Friday, Courtney Robertson and Ben Flajnik shared pics of their visit to Baker Beach in San Francisco, Calif., where the couple resides. Both of them suggested that it’d make a perfect wedding venue. “Should we get married here? 😉 a picture of Courtney and I observing a wedding,” Ben posted with a pic of himself, Courtney and his dog Scotch. Added his model fiancee: “I love this candid photo of my boys playing at Baker Beach this morning! I am in love with this place, first time here.” “I think this would be a fun place for a wedding @BenFlajnik ;)” Almost as soon as Robertson accepted Flajnik’s proposal, the couple said there was no date set and they were taking it slow for the foreseeable future. That seems to have been a good plan for them, if they’re still happy and talking about weddings. What do you think, Bachelor fans? Will it last?

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Ben Flajnik, Courtney Robertson Tweet Wedding Hints