Comments on: Consolidation Commission Bill Passes Senate, Headed To Governor

By: ECAT?

ECAT? — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:40:03 +0000

What will consolidation do to ECAT? Would it be combined with some school buses, as was discussed in another article several months ago? What would happen to all of the UNION drivers?

By: Courtney

Courtney — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:52:44 +0000

Bob, didn’t Century just lose Carver/Century elementary school? That wasn’t a problem? The fact is every community in this county has problems. Unfortunately, I think your generalization that you can insulate yourself from any problems that a neighboring community is facing is oversimplified. There are just over 300,000 people in Escambia County and less than 20% of those people live in Pensacola. Using your philisophy, you believe that Pensacola would do just fine if it were to ignore the social and economic problems of the citizens not only in Northern Escambia, but also in and around it’s perimeter. Obviously, that’s not accurate. We’re only as strong as the community next door, just reference several of the other posts regarding economic development in Alabama. For individuals that want to live a modest life and not be bothered by more government, you won’t see a change one way or the other under a consolidated government. For those individuals that want to seek out opportunities (i.e., the recent graduates of UWF from North Escambia) to find a job, open a business, start a family, buy/rent a house, etc., the framework and guildeline within which our local government operates has to change. The reason referendums on consolidation have failed in the past is not because of actual flaws in what the consolidated government would have been, rather it failed on the perception of consolidation and improper communication by the proponents. I would encourage those of you that have already made up your mind on this issue to look at it again and consider the advantages instead of disregarding it because you don’t understand it just yet. Keep an open mind and be involved.

By: bob hudson

bob hudson — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:56:13 +0000

FIrst John let me say that I have not intenionally insulted any one nor have I made any of your so called ” accusation” Every word I have written is based on fact or do you not read the PNJ, inweekly, or proggressive Pensacola, of North Escambia .com. . Now I have no reason to sit down and talk to you or any of your group because I do not believe in consolidation, and I do believe it is a scam. If you keep your eye on the ball, you will see that the city is ever thing that I have said. Understand this , we do not wish to join a city that is broke, and spent happy. We do not wish to inherit the cities debt. Now none Of your group want want address the real issuse’s of your city. So quit wasting every one’s time and learn how to ANNEX. I do not care how hard it is. This is the city’s problem, not mine or the county’s.

By: John Peacock

John Peacock — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:58:02 +0000

Mr. Stanton, I deeply apologize but I do not recall getting an email from you or anyone else on this topic. I have never passed up the opportunity to discuss this issue. If you would be so kind to send me another email, I would be more than happy to answer your question(s). My email is johnpeacock@cox.net
Thanks and again I apologize!

By: Jim Stanton

Jim Stanton — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:37:52 +0000

Mr. Peacock,
You say you welcome the opportunity to discuss all issues, pro or con. If this is the case, when I emailed you several weeks ago with a question on one issue that is important to me, WHY DID YOU NEVER ANSWER ME???????????????

Jim Stanton

By: rc

rc — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:25:28 +0000

MR. Peacock there is nothing wrong with our community in the northend. We dont want the beaches or the city. You say that you have lived enough places to see the benifits. Do you live in the rural part of the county,or do you even live in the county at all. The rural part is the part North of Cantonment not nine mile road. My vote for this CONSOLIDATION is no as well as alot of people i know.

By: John Peacock

John Peacock — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:14:49 +0000

Mr. Hudson et al, I welcome the opportunity to discuss all issues, pros and cons of this effort. Some of the statements you make have significant merit and can be addressed in the plan, some of the statements you make are inaccurate. I do not live in the city but have lived in enough places to see the benefits of a unified government focus. Escambia county (including the city and the beaches) have an abundant amount of resources that are being significantly under utilized that would benefit ALL of us. If we do not unify our efforts in economic development and other areas under an accountable form of government then all of Escamia County will continue to lag the state. Who has the plan or the answer or is accountable if Solutia or IP closed, or the military pulled out? Who is accountable to ensure the schools in the north end of the county are viable? Those issues effect all of us in the wallet and our quality of life. I appreciate your scrutiny of this process and I welcome your comments however I do request that it be done in a constructive manner. Lobbing accusations and insults as some have done is not helpful. Again the offer is extended to meet to discuss this issues. As we have said before, please get involved and make our community better. The current system is ineffective

By: E.M.D.

E.M.D. — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:05:14 +0000

I concur. Vote NO!!! Please.

By: bob hudson

bob hudson — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:24:10 +0000

I also forgot to mention that the city is losing it’s population Less people . less money. They have to look else where for it and they think that we are stupid enough to beleive what they have to say. LET ME REPEAT !!!!! MOST FOLKS I KNOW DO NOT WISH TO JOIN THE CITY!!!!!! As you will notice that Crawford and any of the other EAFO do not wish to talk about the real issues, THEY wish only to focus on the oh so rosie side of how much better we will be . IF it is that great ,why is there a book called 35 years of failed consolidation efforts. In this book it tell’s the social elites to focus on what the new government will be like and distract the average voter away from the real issuse’s.It is not what they are saying , it’s about what they are NOT saying. VOTE NO ON CONSOLIDATION

By: bob hudson

bob hudson — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:04:28 +0000

Let me repeat. pensacola has a broke pension system, building a maritime park in a fema declared flood zone on the water front of a hurricane prone city, which we also did not get say in 38 million dollar loan debt , if they can get the money. Can not fund their ecat system, or fill their potholes, and a non working port. And a city council that is a joke. Example. Santa rosa man has shooting range in back yard, subdivision wants range shut down, COUNTY can not really do anything about it because it is UNINCORPORATED( Not a city) But if it was consolidated in to a city , The CIty could go out and shut it down. Now none of us in this county ever want to be under the city’s thumb.What EAFO does not understand is that we do not wish to join the city, or inherit their debt