SALISBURY, MD – Another questionable real estate deal is catching the eyes of Wicomico County taxpayers. Today the Wicomico County Council is scheduled to vote on the acquisition of 23 acres of land for a new transfer station near Allen.
The purchase price for the property is approximately $150,000. However, the price was originally $250,000 $220,000. The price came down only after the county government was offered nearby parcels at a much lower price. This calls into question the legitimacy of the original appraisal. In addition, there are questions regarding personal ties between the family of the landowners and County Executive Rick Pollitt.
This comes on the heels of the county’s approval of a lease / purchase agreement for new office space for the State’s Attorney’s office. Questions were raised when county purchasing director Rick Konrad informed two bidders that their proposals must meet certain requirements or their proposals would be automatically rejected. The winning bidder did not meet those same requirements.
As in the case of the State’s Attorney office deal, it is expected that the pro-Pollitt majority coalition of council members John Hall, Matt Holloway, Stevie Prettyman, and Sheree Sample-Hughes will approve the purchase.
WASHINGTON, DC – For those that believe only Republicans would engage in things such as illegal wire-tapping, fear not. It appears that the 
While Judd has announced that she will not run in 2014, her response to the illegal act sounded and awful lot like a candidate: “This is yet another example of the politics of personal destruction that embody Mitch McConnell and are pervasive in Washington, D.C.”
Elliott Roosevelt, grandson of Democrat icon Franklin Delano Roosevelt, is sitting on top of almost 2 BILLION barrels of oil. By injecting carbon dioxide into the ground he, and independent experts, 
In part one of a multi-part series on 
That seems to be the question being asked with dismay by our friends at the 
STEVENSVILLE – Today’s Star Democrat discusses the feasibility of placing concrete barriers between lanes on the William Preston Lane Jr. Bridge (Bay Bridge). There are obvious safety advantages in doing so. There are also numerous problems:
Never to lose an opportunity to spin negative about 
The nomination will now be decided by a convention; not a primary. Cuccinelli’s strong appeal among conservative GOP activists heavily favors a victory for the incumbent Attorney General. 
SALISBURY, MD – The Salisbury City Council is expected to vote tonight on the city’s plan to rearrange the intersection of S. Division Street, Bateman Street and Onley Road. Will they?
MADISON, WI – As more polls indicate that Democrats will fail in their attempt to recall Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, it seems that Democrats and their allies in the mainstream media are reinterpreting the tea leaves. Two months ago we were told that Walker’s recall was a harbinger of more Democrat victories to come. Now 
SALISBURY, MD – In a press release Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt has announced that he is withdrawing the county’s request for a maintenance of effort (MOE) waiver from the state Board of Education:
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Montgomery County boasts one of the most liberal legislative delegations in Maryland. That’s saying something given the the overall complexion of Maryland’s General Assembly. They have always been ready to vote in favor of spending other folk’s money; but when MoCo gets hit it’s time to vote like a conservative.
ANNAPOLIS, MD – After hiking tolls because of a need for “infrastructure improvements”, the Maryland Transportation Authority now seems poised to allow its employees to unionize. We are told that little children will suffer because the state had to cut spending (a lie, but one that seems to pop up in a dozen newspapers everyday). The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is licking its chops over a potential $4 million annual windfall from employees – whether they join the union or not. Of course, state employees are going to demand more money because now they’ll have to pay those pesky union dues.
Lake and the Daily Times have hyped Ireton’s “redistricting plan(s)”, the involvement of the ACLU, and council’s not having adopted a plan. These are based on several false premises. For starters, Ireton doesn’t get to have a redistricting plan. If Lake had ever bothered to check she would have realized that in Salisbury redistricting is done through a charter amendment. As Lake and Ireton well know, the mayor has no say over charter changes. Second, council got a late start on the redistricting process because Ireton refused them access to city staff and data. Instead he wasted months on developing his “plans” and then Lake and his other allies at the DT made much ado over Ireton’s plans – neglecting to mention that Ireton used his power as mayor to deny council access to the city’s planning staff. It reminds the casual observer of Ireton’s similar actions regarding the city attorney – an action which necessitated ending the mayor’s control over the city attorney.
As for councilwoman Laura Mitchell, whose blind ambition makes Ireton look like a meek civil servant, there is mounting evidence that she was involved in bringing the ACLU to town. It is undeniable that she promoted the ACLU’s involvement.
Maryland’s constitution requires that its annual budget be balanced. In principle it’s pretty simple. Budgeted revenues from taxes, fees, etc. must not be less than budgeted expenses.
WILMINGTON, DE – It’s never a bad thing to plan for probable contingencies, but it appears that the state of Delaware and the Port of Wilmington are worrying about fantasy. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is working on scenarios where the sea level rises by 0.5 meters, 1.0 meters, and 1.5 meters.
SALISBURY, MD – Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt will hold a “Public Hearing” on his proposed FY 2013 operating budget.
GEORGETOWN, DE – Let’s try this one more time – the Sheriff’s Office of Sussex County is not empowered to make arrests. This ruling recently came down from the office of Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden.
NEW YORK – Former conservative turned arch-lefty Arianna Huffington is being called on an article published on her Huffington Post which has Roman Catholics and other Christians outraged. Last Friday Huffington published a 
WASHINGTON – As Americans approach April 15th, they should ask if everyone is paying their “fair share” of income taxes. In fact, almost 50% of return filers pay no income tax at all. The “rich”, those in the top 10%, pay approximately 70% of all income taxes.
SALISBURY, MD – The Daily Times’ Callum 
We should also remember that Supt. John Fredericksen and the WCBOE has just spent months promoting the notion that MILLIONS would be cut from the FY 2013 budget. After Pollitt committed to MOE funding, Fredericksen now wants MORE. If there was ever any doubt that the WCBOE has ZERO regard for the county’s taxpayers and that their approach to budgeting is akin to the average citizen buying a car, there shouldn’t be now.
SALISBURY, MD – A call to Maryland’s Board of Public Works confirms what neither the Wicomico County Board of Education (WCBOE) or County Executive Rick Pollitt are willing to admit – funding for a new Bennett Middle School is dead for the time being. As the 
Perhaps Supt. John Fredericksen doesn’t want to admit that his rare political victory isn’t much of a victory. Perhaps Pollitt can’t figure out how to spin this after lauding members of the county council (including councilwoman Stevie Prettyman, whose flipped vote made this all possible) for their “leadership”. Perhaps, as many are speculating, Del. Norm Conway will ride in on his white horse and save the day. Who knows. More than likely, it is because it is these very people who have been arguing that a failure to get funding IN THIS ROUND would effectively kill the project.
SALISBURY, MD – In one of the more outrageously ironic actions to come from Salisbury City Council’s recent action to replace longtime city attorney Paul Wilber, former council president Mike Dunn has filed an ethics complaint against current council president Terry Cohen and council members Debbie Campbell and Tim Spies. Dunn’s complaint is based on a claimed conflict of interest in the council’s hiring of local attorney Mark Tilghman to replace Wilber.
COLUMBIA, SC – Texas governor Rick Perry has 
A win in South Carolina, along with Perry’s dropping out, could signal a conservative resurgence rallying around Gingrich. To date, the success of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has been largely a function of having no clear, conservative consensus candidate. While it is possible that conservatives will coalesce around Gingrich, it may require former Sen. Rick Santorum dropping out for Romney to be toppled as the frontrunner.
SALISBURY, MD – Joe Albero and SbyNEWS are forever being accused of bad reporting. Yet, in the current saga over Salisbury City Attorney Paul Wilber and the Salisbury City Council (and a few other things), 
About the only accurate statement which Ireton put in his press release, and which made it into the DT, is that he ACCUSED the council of wanting to fire Wilber when the council discussed the charter change which ended up giving council authority over the city attorney’s office. He did accuse them. HOWEVER, the council has yet to fire Wilber. Contrary to Ireton’s assertion, they are merely doing what is required of them, REVIEWING his contract. Ireton claims that the council voted 3-1 to fire Wilber. It was a work session. There was no vote to fire Wilber. Ireton knows better. Yet, Ireton chose to deliberately make a false statement. Even more disturbing, Lake and the Daily Times chose to publish it.
It’s ironic that the very people who are Albero’s biggest critics, add to SbyNEWS’s cache as a “go to” source for local news by choosing to print highly suspect press releases as if they were news rather than political gamesmanship. Some local blogs can be excused. If any reader actually believes what is printed, shame on them for not being critical readers demanding evidence. But the Daily Times? General Manager Greg Bassett and Gannett should be ashamed.
