No WhiteWash!

Kingsport, TN was once a peaceful area to live in, but this past 4th of July was the worst holiday I have ever experienced.  Kingsport sounded like a war zone prior to the 4th of July and many days after the 4th. 

The decision of Sullivan County and Kingsport to allow fireworks to be sold and discharged made living in the area almost unbearable with the fireworks going off all night long disrupting sleep.

The decision of the Kingsport BMA to allow the sale and discharge of fireworks within the city was a bad decision.  The BMA may want to hide the fact that they voted to allow the fireworks, but, their hands are all over it to allow fireworks in the city.

GREED and politics , in my opinion is why we had the fireworks.

My advice to folks planning to visit Kingsport…..stay away if you are looking for a peaceful visit.

Below is another view from a Kingsport resident.

Living in this 64 years, I must say this was and still is (noise still going on) worst fourth of July in YOUR, it’s not the peoples city anymore, I have lived thru. Who down at the city is going to get debris off my roof. I’m too old to be climbing around up there, lucky still have a house to live in! I could go on forever it’s all been able to think about over week now. The point I really want to get on record is spine chilling,maybe even to you people.

Posted on Facebook yesterday, and yes these people live in city limits were guy’s bragging about shooting their 44 magnum’s & 357 pistols. Talking about the "Big Boom" they make. I don’t think you folks have a clue as to the people you are dealing with & turned loose on general population. Bullets shot up in the air come down, who knows with enough speed to penetrate a skull, no problem. When our neighborhoods were quite any loud or unusual noise would be noticed right away. Now it all blends in with who can make the biggest boom and go unnoticed. No amount or kind of restriction will stop this. Oh, they are laws against discharging firearms in side the city. You can see what good that does now. This is serious stuff & you all are going have to live with it.

Minutes of the Regular Work Session of the
Board of Mayor and Aldermen – May 2 2011

FIREWORKS DISCUSSION Mayor Phillips clarified the interpretation of the
International Fire Code 2006 Edition adopted by the City in the Code of Ordinances He
recommended amending a portion of this code regarding the sale of fireworks so that
customers can handle the fireworks prior to purchasing them

NASHVILLE – Tennessee revenue collections for March continued to exceed the budgeted expectations. Finance and Administration Commissioner Mark Emkes today announced that overall March revenues were $815.5 million, which is $9.5 million more than the state budgeted.  It marks the eighth consecutive positive growth month for this fiscal year.

“The sales tax growth rate for March – almost eight percent – gives us the best indication of consumer optimism,” Emkes said. “That’s the largest monthly growth we’ve seen in the last 61 months, dating back to February 2006. Continue reading “March 2011 Revenues for Tennessee” »

Below are articles that deal with traffic enforcement cameras issues.  Many thanks to “theNewspaper.com”

Innocent Drivers Receive Photo Tickets in Florida, Australia, France, UK

Cameras wrongly accuse motorists of speeding, running red lights and illegally parking in Australia, Florida, France and the UK.

Washington City Files Lawsuit to Block Anti-Camera Referendum

Wenatchee, Washington lawsuit contends the public can do nothing to stop photo enforcement for the duration of its contract.

More California Cities Close to Dumping Red Light Cameras

Rocklin, California dumps red light cameras while Victorville searches for a way out.

North Carolina Considers Criminalizing, Expanding Traffic Camera Use

Competing bills in the North Carolina legislature would make photo enforcement a criminal offense, or expand its use.

Texas City Ignores Anti-Camera Voter Petition

Port Lavaca, Texas attempts to avoid voter referendum on red light camera program.

Tennessee lawmakers introduce legislation to limit, expand the use of traffic cameras.

The Tennessee General Assembly, which in past sessions has endorsed the use of speed cameras and red light cameras, is preparing once more to either expand or restrict their use. Bills introduced earlier this month provide the foundation for action that frequently takes a different turn after committee consideration.

Read more via Tennessee Tackles Traffic Cameras Again.

VICTORVILLE • Six of the city’s controversial red light cameras have come down.

Now, with courts across the state raising questions over their legality, a group of local residents and one council member are gunning for dismantling the other 10.

“This is just plundering the High Desert,” Clint Air, leader with a local Tea Party group, argued, citing the $446 fine. “Two tickets is a house payment. One ticket is food for a family for a month.”

Read more via California courts throwing out red light camera tickets | throwing, california, tickets – Victorville Daily Press.

"Public safety should never be about profit"

Aurora, Colorado wants more red light cameras despite lack of demonstrable safety benefit.

Local activists are upset that Aurora, Colorado is doubling the size of its red light camera program even though the existing devices have failed to produce a demonstrable safety benefit. According to the public statements of officials, however, the sole motivation for the change is accident reduction.

Read more via Colorado: Accident Data Ignored in Red Light Camera Expansion.

Washington, Missouri decides to end a red light camera program that failed to produce any safety benefit.

The city council in Washington, Missouri no longer believes that red light cameras have a positive impact on safety. Members voted 6 to 2 on Monday to allow the automated ticketing contract with American Traffic Solutions (ATS) to expire, and Mayor Sandy Lucy agreed to draft a letter to the for-profit company making it clear that the council has no interest in ever bringing the devices back.

Read more via Washington, Missouri Dumps Red Light Cameras.

Houston, Texas sues red light camera company while Baytown, Texas schedules shut down of program next week.

Red light cameras are no longer issuing tickets to motorists in America’s fourth-largest city. The Houston, Texas city council on Monday canvassed the results of the November 2 vote and ordered the cameras unplugged. In the nearby city of Baytown, red light cameras will be disabled at midnight on November 26.

"The voting public has spoken," Houston City Attorney David M. Feldman wrote Monday in a letter to Jim Tuton, CEO of the camera contractor American Traffic Solutions (ATS). "Houston must follow the mandate of the electorate. Houston hereby terminates its contract with ATS. This termination is effective immediately. ATS is required to turn off all red light cameras installed and/or monitored by reason of the contract and ATS is to do so immediately."

Read more via Texas Cities Shut Down Cameras After Public Vote.

In fifteen public votes, automated ticketing machines have never survived.Houston anti-camera protest

The public rejected the use of photo enforcement in five more municipal referendum elections Tuesday. America’s fourth-largest city, Houston, Texas, was home to the most hotly contested vote. The group Citizens Against Red Light Cameras run by brothers Paul and Randy Kubosh gathered enough signatures to force the issue onto the ballot against the wishes of the city council and after fending off a legal attack from camera operator American Traffic Solutions ATS.

Read more via Red Light Cameras Routed at Ballot Box.