Let's Get More People on Public Assistance?

Anyone who is a citizen and has paid taxes deserves public assistance when they can, for whatever reason, no longer provide for themselves and their families. Most individuals realize when this time comes and take advantage of the state programs that offer electronic benefits, formerly called food stamps, as well as other opportunities to improve their lives.

Are there those out there who don't? We certainly believe there are some who are either too proud to ask for assistance or whose income is so borderline that they may not be aware they could receive a few extra dollars each month. We do not believe that there are many in this area who are oblivious to these state programs.

Yet according to today's TimesDaily, the Alabama Department of Human Resources is contracting with the Shoals Family Success Center to employ three workers to help get the word out to those who may not be aware of the state's largesse. For the next 14.5 months, the Shoals Family Success Center will be employing a full time worker and two part time individuals to, shall we say, beat the bushes for those whom the state is not already subsidizing.

What's even more perplexing is the 200K budget for this project. We're not sure if this figure includes any printing or related costs, but if not, that would mean the payroll for these three employees is almost $13,800.00 a month. We'll be sure to keep track of this project and report whom are hired for these "prestigious" positions.

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Cherokee Feedback:

ANOTHER MISTAKE TO GO ON BOB RILEY'S RECORD!! IN NO WAY IS PATRICIA MASON THE TYPE OF INDIVIDUAL TO BE PUT INTO A PUBLIC/POLITIC POSITION! I ONLY FEEL DEEP SYMPATHY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF CHEROKEE THAT WILL BE FORCED TO RY AND GET RID OF THIS 'VIRUS' THAT HAS BEEN PUT UPON THEM! MASON IS NO PERSON THAT ANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT THAT SHE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED NOR ANY OTHER IN CHEROKEE, WANTS TO BE ASSOCIATING WITH! MASON IS VERY LOUD AND ABNOXIOUS AND SHE CAN'T EVEN BE A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH SHE HAS BELONGED TO WITHOUT ARGUING AND DISRESPECTING THE CURRENT PASTOR! MASON, HAS ALREADY BEEN NICKNAMED, BY VARIOUS MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AS 'BLACK BETTY', IN REFERENCE TO BETTY MCKINNLEY, A WHITE WOMAN WITH LONG-STANDING PROBLEMS IN CHEROKEE AND THE AUTHORITIES. I AM CERTAIN, BEYOND ANY RESONABLE DOUBT, THAT MASON HAS WORRIED THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TO THE POINT OF NOMINATION, I AM SURE NOBODY DESIRES TO WORK ALONG SIDE SUCH A LOUD, UNKNOWING PERSON WHO CAN AND DEFINATELY WILL BRING NOTHING BUT MORE CHAOS AND CONFUSSION TO AN ALREADY SINKING CITY! RILEY SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE VOTERS TO CHOOSE THEIR NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS WAS A MINORITY SEAT! I AM AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND I KNOW PATRICIA MASON VERY, VERY WELL AND I WOULD NOT LET HER BE A PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR A DOG SHOW! THAT'S JUST HOW BAD SHE IS! I ADVISE ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT TO CONTACT RILEY'S OFFICE AND LET HIM KNOW HOW RIDICULOUS HE HAS TREATED THE PEOPLE OF CHEROKEE AND THERE IS ALREADY ENOUGH HORSE PLAYING GOING ON IN THE CITY CLERKS OFFICE WITH MELINDA MALONE! CHEROKEE RESIDENTS SHOULD NEVER EXPECT, NOR CAN THEY, THEIR CITY REVENUE OR ANYTHING ELSE TO IMPROVE WITHOUT UNITY! MASON DOESN'T EXEMPLIFY UNITY INSIDE HER OWN CHURCH, YET SHE CLAIMS SHE IS A CHRISTIAN! I FEEL SO SORRY FOR THEM!

Again, whoever is writing this, hit the nail on the head! We had hoped that Mason might be able to think for herself, but obviously she can't. It was very apparent that she had been talking to the others when she just sat back & didn't question paying the bills/payroll...why wouldn't a new council person question this? And she made a fool of herself accusing the Attorney of calling her stupid & telling the Attorney she couldn't tell the Mayor to pay the bills... I just wish there were some way to get that bunch out of office - Mayor Lansdell isn't perfect, but he tries & he could get a lot of stuff accomplished for the Town, if they would let him... keep writing these articles - the more all this comes out, the better!

I do not know who you are, but as a fellow conservative I would think you would want to know how the environment here in Cherokee is not anything like what is portrayed in your blog. While the most outburst in the meeting in the Town Hall meetings are in favor of the Mayor, they are not indicative of majority support. Outburst such is these are not allowed and the mayors supporters are just displaying the lack of respect, grace, and regard for rules that they witness in their leader. Many persons are not in favor of the mayors policies or the lack thereof, however these folks posses the decorum necessary to follow the rules of order for the meeting.

The only member of the Cherokee Board that has anything to do with Burger King is Councilperson Lambert leaving your description of the 4 of our councilpersons inaccurate. As far as voting in lock step, I have witnessed every councilperson vote against one another in the past with the exception of Councilperson Lambert and Mayor Lansdell.

Mayor Landsdell said that he hired Marsha Allen in a position created by the Town Council, however until his illegal dismissal of Ms Wadkins last night no such position was open, yet Marsha has been employed for a few weeks now. Again his disregard for following proper procedure and lack of sense of fair play was reflected in his followers illicit outbursts.

Now to the Alabama Sunshine Law, Ms Mason was only sworn in last night. This fact means that a illegal quorum meeting would have had to include either Mayor Landsdell or Councilperson Lambert. Reading your blog, I think you may be of the opinion the neither of these folks are capable of wrong doing. A fact I find strange since as far as I can see they rarely deviate from it.

Lastly, last nights meeting ended with a citizen calling for the mayors resignation. I think your source should probably save the cough medicine until after the meeting. Again I do not know you, but could probably name your untruthful source. I will forward this letter to as many people as I can. You can fact check the voting records and other content in this email easily. I challenge you to get your facts straight and reflect the truth in your blog. If not I am going to figure you as another Landsdell/Lambert crony whose attitude reflects their lack of sense of truth.

There you have it--something for everyone! (The above quotes are not necessarily endorsed by this blog, but published to present the varying viewpoints found in the town of Cherokee.)


Shoalanda