What's in a word?

There is a lot of debate on what no means relative to the vote on the Community Safety Initiative. As you may remember Green County voters turned back this tax imitative which would have provided funds for the County Prosecutor and Sheriff as well as providing funds for Springfield Police a Crime Lab and the infamous Child Development Center.

Despite the overwhelming majority of those who voted saying no there is a growing effort to secure all the funds necessary to go forward with one part of the initiative, namely The Crime Lab. Both Papa and Baby Blunt have promised millions but the City/County need to raise about a million bucks to secure the promised Government dollars. By the way those “Government” dollars are your dollars paid faithfully each April.

At first there were those at the city who resisted the effort, not on principal but rather hurt feelings and bitterness at the rejection of their pet project – The Child Development Center. But when a group of Bankers approached Tom Finnie with a too good to be true loan deal, The City Manager quickly brought certain elected officials back in line, So now the public relations battle begins trying to convince the people and each other that no does not mean no in the case of the Crime Lab.

I find myself in strange territory on this in that I agree with Finnie and want to see the Crime Lab built. What is sad even pathetic is The City of Springfield while celebrating No not being No is also celebrating their own ineptitude. As much as I respect Paul Summers, one of the more outspoken opponents to the Child Development Center, I do not agree with his contention that this component of the CSI that led to the iniatives defeat. Rather after talking to hundreds of listeners I have no doubt whatsoever that what voters were rejecting was the politicians themselves. In the majority of people’s minds Finnie, Carlson and others at the city of Springfield have zero credibility. There somewhat dubious track record in handling and spending the people’s money and the subterfuge in explaining how money would vs. was spent has left most voters with a very bad case of halitosis and a deep reluctance to give another penny to Finnie, Carlson et al.