Does Andy Have Dementia? Cataracts?

 

There's a new sculpture on Florence's River Heritage Trail. Mayor Andy Betterton was so enamored of it that he made a special post on the artwork that was designed in collaboration with Tuscaloosa artist Craig Wedderspoon - look, see his name on line six of the identifying sign. 

Then two posts from the top of his entry, Andy says:

That's right, the good mayor ever so formally calls Mr. Wedderspoon "The Singing River Sculpture guy." After all, it's not like he could simply consult the top of his own post to retrieve the name if it slipped his mind.

That's our Andy...leaving the building soon.

Andy Throws Another Tantrum

 

(Not so) Handy Dandy Andy has declared there's too much personal phone use at the animal shelter:

Recently, Animal Service is in the process of setting up a universal access account for Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services. This means that staff will be able to post and share directly from City devices without having to use their personal accounts or personal devices.

All City employees at the shelter will still have full access to post on the official Facebook page through this new universal account. The goal is to continue posting promotion of adoptable animals, urgent needs, or events.

Our commitment to getting animals seen, supported, and adopted has not changed, and the Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services Facebook page will continue to be an active resource for our community.

Volunteers have responded:

We knew the spin was coming. But let’s call it like it is,

Andy Betterton is one of the dirtiest political figures around.

And what’s most infuriating is the sheer amount of time he wastes.

Like he did with stopping transports.

Like he did with suspending the director.

And now again, scrambling everyone to rebuild Facebook access and communications.

All of it is wasted time. Time the animals can’t afford.

It’s always politics with him and never what’s best for the shelter or the animals who rely on it.

Is this Andy's last stand as Mayor? Is he attempting one last knife in the back of the Animal Army?

Will anyone vote for Andy in District 3 on August 26th?

We're So Proud of All of You!

Today's Florence City Council Meeting was not for the faint of heart, but many advocates took to the podium and let several individuals, mainly Andy Betterton, have it. We will probably leave much out, but the highlights were:

* DC mentioned the mayor needed to take a polygraph and that not only would he lose the August election, no one would want to be seen with him in future. (We don't always agree with DC, but he was magnificent here.)

* MW indicated he didn't know the mayor and didn't want to know him - Andy had no heart (and he wasn't the only one to say this).

* CK spoke for everyone and made the audience cry.

* DR told Andy he not only had no heart, he had no soul.

* PC let the council and everyone viewing know that the mayor's stepdaughter Alison Overall Koesters was a liar and that Andy was guilty of discussing private personnel matters with outsiders. (Quite true - dear Alison tried on Facebook to present herself as a city employee.)

Then there was Andy's second wife Sandra Overall who had to be censured by the council president for her filthy language. Thank you, Kaytrina Simmons! Sandra also called out a Sheffield animal activist who had misnamed a dog Andy was alleged to have been less than nice to. Sure, let's abuse the dog as long as we get its name right.

Citizens of Florence, August is coming. Let's do the right thing for our city, our animals, and ourselves.

Rated PG-13 for language and verbal sparring: 

https://www.facebook.com/CityofFlorenceAlabama/videos/523796086917705/

Andy Betterton/Anti-Euthanasia Protest Tuesday

 

Sorry, Fred! Sorry, Sissy! Andy thinks you're a drain on the City's finances. It's cheaper to euthanize you than to transport you to a rescue organization in another state. Bummer!

Try to hide in the back of your kennel until next Fall when we have a new mayor. If you don't make it, try to come back to haunt him. We'll always remember you.

-()-

What: "Silent" Protest Against Betterton/Euthenasia

Where: City Hall - Side Entrance on Pine Street

When: Tuesday, February 18th, 5:00 p.m.

Anyone who wishes to speak at the council meeting will have five minutes. Use strong, but civil language.

Remember, the council members themselves have nothing to do with this; it's all on the head of Andy Betterton, so choose your words to reflect that. Some will be asking for the mayor's resignation. Feel free to applaud, but please wait until each speaker is done.

Finally, right is on the side of our "Animal Army," as Betterton likes to call us. We will win!

Why Is Andy Betterton's Stepdaughter Lying for Him?

Yesterday in Florence, it pretty well hit the fan when news began to spread that mayor Andy Betterton had placed animal shelter director Cheryl Jones on administrative leave. Comments to our blog either asked the circumstances or generally condemned the croaker.

Then a name appeared that we had never seen before; this new poster had quite a bit to say for unknown (at least at first) reasons. Not exactly demure, this Harvest resident proceeded to use a vulgarity that was sure to get her banned, but that wasn't her biggest sin.

This woman, whom we soon learned is Betterton's stepdaughter, accused Ms. Jones of an illegal act. Not even Betterton himself accused Cheryl of anything illegal - just an infraction of city rules. At this point, this woman from two counties over had either lied or had no idea what the word illegal meant.

When asked in a private message how she "knew" so much about the situation, she replied that she was a city employee. To be clear, this woman has never worked for the City of Florence and obviously obtained her information from Andy. Why did she choose to lie? She didn't have to answer anyone's questions, but nevertheless chose to lie. 

We'll be discussing this so-called infraction that Ms. Jones is accused of later, but if any reader doesn't understand that infractions don't equal illegal acts, we present this story. We once worked for a company whose employee handbook instructed workers not to chew gum at their desks. If anyone did chew gum, were they committing an illegal act? Surely you don't have to think twice about your answer to that. 

We sincerely hope Cheryl Jones already has her attorney in place. We fervently hope all puppy mills are shut down. We adamantly pray that Florence is rid of all things Betterton in August.

Handy Dandy Andy Officially in Mayor's Race

 

What illustration says "Andy's in the race" better than a poster for a turkey drop? Yes, citizens of Florence, from filings with the Secretary of State, it appears that bumbling ol' Andy will again grace ballots next August.

Betterton will see opposition from former police chief Ron Tyler and current council member Bill Griffin. Will there be more to join the fray? We await...

*****

Andy's latest bumbling pronouncement? From a recent TimesDaily article: Visitors to the city judge us by the city hall.

The city hall? The city hall!!! What about the mayor? Don't corporate scouts take a look at Andy while they're here?

Former Dept. Head Critiques Betterton

 

If you've followed the checkered saga of Andrew Betterton's tenure as mayor, you'll recall that he's been out of town when any major player in city government was terminated and has been accused of hiding from those he suspected of bringing bad news. Now a former department head has offered a similar critique of our hapless mayor:

Mayor Betterton considered me difficult to deal with, because he wanted to provide feel-good information to the media and the citizens. My responsibility was not only to the Mayor and the City of Florence, but to the ratepayers. They pay for it and deserve to know not just the feel-good information, but also the pitfalls.

Yes, Handy Dandy Andy seems to be there for the ceremonies, parades, and photo ops, but how about those less than thrilling chores that come with the job? Former mayor Steve Holt was always there. We believe Bill Griffin will similarly step up when there's actual work to be done.

Will there be others who can put ego aside and govern fairly? Forty-nine weeks to go...

Q&A About Andy's 127K Salary

 

Yesterday we published a list of salaries for Alabama mayors. Questions...did we get questions:

1. Why wasn't Sheffield mentioned? The chart covered only the 30 largest Alabama cities.

2. Did Andy's $126,894.00 include perks? We don't have a rundown on all that was covered, but am sure the Florence mayor was also treated to many free meals and drinks along the way that don't need to be reported.

3. Would any of the currently announced candidates agree to a pay cut? How about it, Bill, Ron, Andy, would you?

*****

And which of the current three candidates has been actively helping the Florence animal shelter? Certainly not Andy who can't be bothered with the traditional monthly visit/photo op. How about Ron? No, haven't seen him assisting either.

That leaves Bill Griffin. Guess what...Bill has been actively supporting the shelter for some time. That makes you think, doesn't it?

Andy Says: S***w the Citizens

 

Ask me how I got rid of my wrinkles! I'll tell you my secret - the wrinkles are still there, but I just don't let anyone see them with my favorite UNA Covid mask on!

1. Andrew (Andy) Betterton was elected by only a handful of votes after promising to move the Confederate monument to the Florence Cemetery. Four years later, where is it?

2. Andy is often heard to use vile language when unhappy.

3. Andy takes a vacation when a long time employee needs to be fired.

4. Andy refuses to take part in Animal Services programs since "those people never liked him."

5. Andy has been accused of frequently napping on the clock.

6. Andy made no statement when his grandson faced charges in two jurisdictions.

7. Andy made no statement when his grandson's mother was murdered.

8. Andy has now cut off citizen comments on the live stream of council meetings.

9. Andy has...wait for it...even cut off comments on Independence Day fireworks. Say what?!!!

So what's up with Andy's new program of total censorship? Is he just waiting for his good pal Jackie Hendrix to be sworn in to replace Dick Jordan?

One of our regular bloggers totally disagrees with us, but if Jimmy Oliver or Kaytrina Simmons fails to run, Bill Griffin looks pretty good!

Or maybe Chester here...

Once Again, Andy is Wrong

 

The owner of Florence Mall is tearing down the end anchor slots, the former Sears and J.C. Penney stores. While this is an interesting story in itself, a comment by Mayor Andy Betterton is newsworthy for other reasons.

Betterton told the TimesDaily: The mall opened in the early 1970s.

While most people may not remember when every major local event happened, they can at least place most fairly accurately by associating them with other events in their lives. According to his LinkedIn bio, Betterton attended UNA from 1971 until 1976. What year did the mall open?

It opened its doors in August 1978, two years after Andy says he left UNA. Most of us would have remembered not having a mall during our college years if that had been the case, but not our mayor. Still others would have invested the five or so minutes to have looked up the date if unsure. Not Andy.

Betterton doesn't seem too concerned with the handwriting on the retail wall at Florence Square. Now there's less revenue for city, county, and state as far as property taxes, and no hope for new tenants in stores that no longer exist.

How are those surprise liquor taxes going, Andy?

Get up to Date, Andy!

 

We had several readers tell us that Andy Betterton regularly popped in and out of the Florence-Lauderdale Government Building because that's where his office has moved. Interesting.

First, that would simply reverse our question. If his office is in the Government Building, why is he frequently prancing over to the Municipal Building? Doesn't he have a phone in his current office?

Second, why do most Google listings still indicate his office is in the City Hall Building on East Tennessee Street? Or better yet, in the "Board of Education?" If a jeweler or pharmacist or any other businessman moved one block to the east, we're pretty sure he would make certain all listings referenced his exact new address.

Remember that City employee who said Andy was incapable of leading: The Truth About Andy Betterton? We agree; we're pretty sure his main talent is hiding.

What to Get Andy (or Mike or Steve) for his Birthday

Let's All Play "Where's Andy?"

 

Readers regularly ask us why Handy Dandy Andy spends so much time at the Florence-Lauderdale Government Building. We imagine that at least part of it is business. Three floors of the building are dedicated to City of Florence offices.

Yet that begs the question: Why doesn't Andy just use the phone? Several who work for the City say that Andy likes to escape whenever he can. Surely that couldn't be the main reason for the trips across the street...could it?

If you see our mayor out of his pew during work hours, feel free to report it to us. In the interim, we'll be designing a countdown clock until the next municipal election.

*****

Hi ya, mates! I'm Sally, a 13 week-old mixed hound. I'm available for dates or adoption, so come up and see me sometime at the Florence shelter in the industrial park:

The Truth about Andy Betterton

The following inside complaints against Andy Betterton have been edited to preserve anonymity:

1. Many, if not all, were very surprised at the lack of the Mayor’s understanding how the City operates, including the rules and policies. For someone new coming in, it is common, but not someone who has served as a Councilman for over a decade. The problem is, he doesn’t seem to want to learn, or is not capable of learning.

2. The Mayor has a difficult time making tough decisions, and many times simply hopes the problems will solve themselves, or go away.

 
3. All politicians want, consciously or unconsciously, to please their donors, constituents, and prominent citizens, but Mayor Betterton seems to have a tendency to give these wants a higher priority than most, even after being advised that such actions are not advisable due to a negative appearance of being inappropriate, whether true or not. Mayor Betterton on more than one occasion has openly made in clear that his decisions are made based on the fact that the decision made would affect someone that was a campaign donor. Decisions should not be based in this way, especially openly.

 
4. You can’t be everyone’s friend 100% of the time. You have to make hard decisions and stick to them. Even when Mayor Betterton makes a decision, there is no confidence that he won’t change his decision due to pressures from someone else that has other motives.

*****

It's sad when a Dollar Tree can't make it. From a press release:

Dollar Tree plans to close about 600 Family Dollar stores in the first half of this year and 370 Family Dollar and 30 Dollar Tree stores over the next several years.

Here's a Quarter, Call Someone Who Cares

 

Santa Looks for a Meter with Time on It

A classic country music song by Travis Tritt. Also, a quarter for the pay phone is a thing of the past. But, thanks to Mayor Andy Betterton, a quarter for the parking meters in downtown Florence is alive and well. At the December 5th meeting of the Florence city council, Andy put on his Grinch outfit and proposed raising the rates at the meters in downtown Florence. Well, he actually had on his trademark sweater vest, but you get the point.

Yes folks, the meters will be redesigned to only accept quarters beginning February 1, 2024. It does not seem like a lot of money, but no longer will a person be able to “pick something up” from a downtown store when they park for 12 minutes for a nickel. If you park in front of a meter downtown, you cannot “check something out” in 24 minutes for a dime. And instead of a quarter getting you an hour on the meter to “window shop” or “try something on”, it will cost you $.50.

I know, it is just a quarter. But those quarters do add up. Especially at those times when you are waiting in line at, oh let us say, the Lauderdale County Courthouse to get your tag renewed. Better have a roll of quarters! And it seems especially “Grinchy” for Andy and his merry band of “Grinchettes”, the city council members, to pass this during the holidays. At least people have time to save up their quarters for the trips downtown after the New Year. You do not have to use them to call someone who cares anymore. Just dump them into a parking meter! AND, still pay the highest retail sales tax in North Alabama.

Betterton Can't...But He Can...

 

For many years, Florence mayor Steve Holt visited the Florence-Lauderdale animal shelter regularly to be photographed with a dog and cat of the month, encouraging others to adopt. Sadly, our former mayor lost the last election by six votes, or four depending on which way one counts.

How often does Betterton visit the shelter? We've counted two times in his entire term - we're open to corrections. Don't forget, he's the same mayor who refused to have .2 of a mile on Roberson Road cleared during the last ice storm, causing a short period of unavoidable neglect of the animals. Why? You would have to ask Betterton, but most have surmised it's due to the majority of animal welfare advocates supporting Mr. Holt.

Yet, Betterton does seem to take an avid interest in some photo ops - just not in Florence. Pictured above is Andy in Muscle Shoals at the opening of the new Glice skating rink. Yes, we spelled that correctly; it's not ice, but a patented ice-like surface manufactured in Switzerland.

Do we know why Betterton chose to visit the opening day ceremonies of the Glice rink? Perhaps he sang? He does fancy himself quite the crooner. Perhaps he skated? If he did, we hope someone has a video that they'll share. 

Meanwhile, the animals at Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services are being tended by the real heroes of the City.

What Andy Betterton Tells Us about Bullying

 

What's the definition of bully? One who is habitually cruel, insulting, or threatening to others who are weaker, smaller, or in some way vulnerable. 

Why would Florence mayor Andy Betterton support anyone who was a bully? That's a good question, and every citizen of Florence should be concerned about the mayor's behavior.

In the past, Betterton has shied away from controversy. If there's an unpleasant task on the calendar, the Florence mayor has been known to schedule a vacation. Why would Betterton now support a bully, bringing the abuser closer to the heart of city government?

Anyone who keeps up with Florence politics knows that Brian Murphy and David Carson are polar opposites. We don't agree with either of them in their attempts to influence municipal government. At one time, we had both men banned from our Facebook page. 

Yet there is a marked difference between the two activists - Brian W. Murphy is a city employee, one whose salary is paid by the citizens of Florence. For that reason, Murphy should be careful of his actions. Is he? 

No. Murphy has chosen to ridicule and insult Carson. Does Andy Betterton care? It would seem he doesn't. It appears that Betterton supports Murphy's bullying behavior...even rewards it by choosing Murphy to become a department head in the city.

Lest you think David Carson is Murphy's only victim in the bullying department, let's consider his actions concerning former Pope's Tavern director Wayne Higgins. While Murphy was employed at the Rosenbaum Home, he wrote a scathing review of activities at Pope's Tavern under Mr. Higgins' directorship. ("Educating Allies," first published in Garden Spices.)

In an era where young people kill themselves over bullying, is Andy Betterton the example you wish to see run your city?

*****

This is Belinda. She's four months-old and waiting patiently for her new home. Breed isn't specified, but you have to admit she's super cute. You can meet Belinda at the Florence shelter just off Chisholm Road:

Things That Grow Stale: Bread, Wives, City Seals

 

Yesterday we mentioned some controversy over the Florence city seal which pictures a lily more along the lines of the fleur de lis than the giglio. First we want to thank Councilman Jimmy Oliver for clearing up that the current seal will be replaced not immediately, but only as new artwork is needed due to wear and tear. 

Then we have Andy Betterton's statement to Bernie Delinski of the TimesDaily: the old seal had grown stale. Dick Jordan has mentioned that the current seal was established 19 years ago in 2004. That's certainly a long time for many aspects of day to day living.

While fine wine may be better with age, some things fail the test of time: bread and wives are the two which immediately come to mind, at least for some. We find it extremely interesting that Betterton needed to add that comment. Interesting and, for many, possibly disturbing...

*****

This is Louis. He's a one year-old Jack Russell mix. We're a little prejudiced about this breed, but we predict Louis will make one of the best companions that anyone could ever ask for. You can make him part of your family at the Florence shelter in the industrial park on Roberson Road:

Questions for Andy Betterton

 

After our friend Rivermont Ron offered up his five questions for the Sheffield mayor, we decided to ask Florence mayor Andy Betterton five of our own:

1. One of your campaign promises was to protect the city from hackers. What headway have you made in that department?

2. Similarly, what attempts have you made to compromise with Lauderdale County leaders in moving the Confederate monument to Soldiers Rest?

3. Is there any way possible that you can condone your lack of support for Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services? In other words, how can you justify failing to plow snow-covered roads for basic entrance or how can you excuse not offering up emergency funds when confiscations bring in scores of unexpected animals or failing to continue monthly adoption promos as mayor?

4. How can you justify your continued support of the Salvationist Church when it continues to discriminate against women, homosexuals, and others? Read: Most citizens of Florence do not want their tax dollars given to this cult.

5. We realize that illnesses and family deaths are never planned or welcome, but considering the time you've spent away from office since being elected, do you think you've earned your salary?

We constantly hear that Betterton won by only six votes. A better description of his narrow victory is that if only four voters had decided not to support Betterton, Steve Holt would still be the mayor. Remember, your vote often counts more than you realize.

*****

This is Mandie. She's a 16 month-old Lab/Australian Cattle Dog just yearning for her own back yard with a flock of squirrels to corral. Please make a date to see Mandie at the Florence shelter in the industrial park:

Is Andy Betterton a Yamn Dankee?

 

Andy Betterton has never, to our knowledge, claimed to be a Shoals native, but he has reportedly lived in this area for around five decades. That's a long time not to know place names in an area, especially a location that one serves politically.

Yet, when discussing the boondoggle that is the Ag Center, he has reportedly said:

”When it’s built [successfully], I think [it’ll] bring people into our community obviously. As I look at the components of this, widening the Highway 72 to the Shoals Creek Bridge is a wonderful opportunity to move our city forward,” 

Shoals Creek? Really, Andy?! We know our less than illustrious mayor attended UNA, but he must have never had the privilege of a class with the late Maureen Maness. Mrs. Maness often commented: Only damn yankees call it Shoals Creek.

In case anyone doesn't know (as in Smokin' Jalapeno), it's Shoal Creek. So why would Andy make such a mistake? He obviously doesn't care - rather like the promises he made during his campaign. Of course, remarks have been made about his physical health (Napping Nancy), so perhaps his decline is also mental?

*****

On a similar note, some fly-by reader criticized us as racist because we used the term swarthy. We immediately identified him as male. Why?

Anyone who has ever read a few romance novels knows about all those swarthy men out there, most of them apparently pirates just waiting to be tamed...or taught vocabulary and geography.

Time for Andy Betterton to Step Up in this Crisis

 

If you visit YouTube at all, by now you've seen Florence Mayor Andy Betterton in a public service announcement to promote COVID-19 vaccinations. This is a good thing, and we commend our mayor for taking the time to do this.

Now we have a crisis at Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services on which Betterton has so far refused to act. Let's look back to the administration of Mayor Steve Holt.

While Mayor Holt supported the shelter in many ways, one of his most valued programs was the monthly visit in which he posed for photos to promote animal adoption. Mayor Betterton? By our count, he's visited the shelter a total of two times since his election. We have to believe the support Holt received from shelter workers and animal welfare workers plays a large part in Betterton's disdain for the animal haven.

There are currently two shelter issues which Betterton is now avoiding; however, the current census of confiscated animals is the most pressing. These dogs cannot be adopted out due to the court case. This may take years. No, the shelter needs immediately to place unencumbered animals in public foster care.

Many of us have put this issue before the public, but both animal welfare work and political blogging can be an insular world. We need a public announcement on YouTube and Facebook in order to reach more potential saviors for these dogs.

We would like to see local celebrities volunteer to make a short public service announcement. Note the word "volunteer" in the previous sentence. As for Mayor Andy Betterton, this should be a duty...a duty as yet unfulfilled.