A RESPONSE TO DAN GOULD
IN THE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR COLUMN YOU WILL FIND A LETTER FROM EX-COUNCILMAN DAN GOULD. WE SUGGEST YOU READ THAT LETTER FIRST BEFORE READING RAMBLING WHICH IS WRITTEN IN RESPONSE TO GOULD’S LETTER.
Editor’s Response
Dear Dan:
Thank you for continuing to read the First Capitol News. Despite what you and a few others would like people to believe I was never confined to a Federal Prison. Over 11 years ago I plead guilty to writing three checks for a total of $1,800 in exchange for money orders. The bank manager approved the transactions. The bank manager was audited and it was determined the transactions were illegal. Today that process is perfectly legal but you have to pay a fee for it. It is called ‘overdraft protection’.
I was contacted and admitted what had occurred. For my indiscretions I spent 28 days at a Federal Camp located in Marion, Illinois. The camp is located near the Marion Federal Prison. I never spent any time behind bars or locked up. I never had to wear an orange jump suit, shower with other men or be strip searched. There were no fences or walls and we slept in a dormitory with private spaces. My 28 days were spent reading and watching television. I was not there long enough to be given a work assignment. At the time this occurred I was a private citizen. I complied with the order of the court and paid my debt to society 11 years ago. You and others have chosen to make this information public in an attempt to put this newspaper out of business. From what I have learned the FOP illegally obtained the records regarding my actions and apparently those police officers responsible could soon be facing charges in a federal court.
You, on the other hand, were a public official who had taken an oath of office to uphold the laws of the city and state which you later admitted violating. You also placed other people at risk when you chose to drive under the influence. Were you locked behind bars and maybe even required to wear an orange jump suit? Unlike you, I was never abusive to any police officers, never threatened them or attempted to bribe them. Nor did I scream and yell and make a fool of myself as you were reported to have done.
You write that the basis of this newspaper is “The Mayor and City Staff versus the Taxpayer.” That is the only statement you make that I agree with. The First Capitol News was brought to life because of the actions of certain city staff members and elected officials and their treatment of the taxpayers along with their flagrant spending of the taxpayer’s money.
Sweetheart deals were being made and certain individuals and businesses were being enriched while the taxpayers were being ignored. Our masthead reads, “Making A Difference, One week at a time.” We have made a difference in St. Charles. A lot of changes have been brought about and a lot more are needed but we are making a difference. The difference is that special deals to special interests are now being reported. They can no longer be covered up or hidden because the First Capitol News is there to report them to the public. You make comment that you feel this publication is the worst thing that ever happened to our fine city and that I am not a good person. There are thousands of people in St. Charles who disagree with you. They can’t wait for the paper to hit the streets and when it does they read it from cover to cover. And they are being informed. They are being informed about the things you and others don’t want them to know. Like the sale of the old police headquarters for $115,000 less than the highest offer. A building that is now appraised for over $1 million. A sale you voted to approve. That is why you don’t like this publication Dan; we have shed light on your actions and actions of others that are detrimental to the taxpayers in St. Charles. Because of the efforts of the First Capitol News and others, people in St. Charles now stand up for good government. They want good government and they want fairness. Something you failed to offer them.
Tony Brockmeyer
Editor - First Capitol News
I sit and wonder when the recall efforts will begin on Governor Matt Blunt. In less than a week Blunt has made sweeping changes not surgical strikes; he has cut jobs and benefits. I am sure those who look to recall some on this council will take on the fight against Blunt. It is obvious Blunt is anti-employee, anti-worker, anti-union, so Gould, Meyer and Meyers are going to have their hands full with another petition.
My own thoughts on the issue are really quite simple. Most who elected Blunt knew he was going in to clean house and change the way the State is run. This is similar to what many on the council promised. The problem the Council has is they are doing it too slow. Jerry Reese said he would not be a rubber stamp; the jury is still out on this. Everybody knew what Bob Heopfner was like, Riddler has been criticized for not doing enough and doing too little. It is hard to figure if anyone is really that upset with him. Then comes Brown, Gieseke, Greer and Koester; all have been very critical of the way staff spends money. It isn’t like Gieseke all of a sudden changed to be this way. He has been outspoken about the lack of accountability from the time he was elected. Brown was critical of staff before he was on the Council.
The truth be told, the people of St. Charles are pretty educated when it comes to what they expect from their elected officials. This past election proved they don’t want rubber stamps. This Council is moving slower than Blunt and taking the heat because of it. Blunt is actually following Conventional Wisdom, do the unpopular things fast and furious and ride it out. The people will forget by the time re-election time hits. The Council took a different approach to insure that the changes made don’t adversely affect the service level to the City. The plain and simple fact is: this Council is not a rubber stamp for anyone or anything. They work to negotiate solutions and make sure the residents 5et their money’s worth.
Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. It is a holiday and city and county offices, along with the post office and banks, will be closed.
Since next week contains a holiday, the next issue of the First Capitol News will be on January 29, 2004. Check our Web Log for news updates. Check it out firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com.
