Is there any difference? Has anything really changed?
Why not?
It’s election time again in Gardendale, Alabama! Gardendales elections are hot political events with all the heated debate of a national election. Many have said that Gardendendale”s political environment is due to the so called “Gardendale Mafia”, an inner circle of connected individuals that must be rewarded if business is going to be conducted inside the city limits. This environment has caused honest business owners to make a choice between lowering their integrity a notch or two and just play the game or go somewhere else. Many have chosen to go somewhere else! Many were hoping that Othell would be the game changer,but no, last election left Gardendale with the same old, same old! With exception to the names of the elected officials we do not believe anything has changed.Has anything changed?
Kenny Clemons left Gardendale with a slimy residue of political favors for local special interest, ethics issues from Department Heads, and the stench of hiring unqualified persons with felonious backgrounds to fill crucial official positions within the city. Kenny Clemons was a “Good Ol’ Boys’ BOY! Everything Kenny did resembled the finesse of a Washington D.C. politician with the intelligence of a backwoods hick! However, he did have enough intelligence to know when he had worn out his welcome, but even then, he blamed the political atmosphere around him at the time of his decision not to run again, on the new citizens. In his own words he said,'' I guess one disappointment is that many of our newer residents don't realize how far we have come in really a relatively few years in making the city what it is today”, At least he took credit for WHAT HE HAD DONE!! to the City!
Othell Phillips came into office with an absolute mess on his hands, but with a real opportunity to change the status quo, but for reasons he will not answer, he has refused to do it! Is it lack of leadership, is he timid, or is he a Good Ol’ boys’ BOY?
Within weeks of Othell taking office he was made aware of the ethics violations against Robert Ryant, the Department Head over Building Inspections. City Dept. Heads should be people of integrity and when they are not, it is up to the leadership of Mayors to make the necessary changes, but Othell refused. No one would expect Kenny Clemons to make a change, but surely the new Mayor would, but no, Othell made no such change. Maybe, the next questionable behavior by Robert Ryant and Kenny Clemons, before he left office would cause Othell to act. Surely the hiring of a City Official with allegations of an incarceration on his record in the mid 1980’s for what has been rumored as a sentence for selling heroin would cause Othell to take another look at Robert Ryant, but no, Othell decides to take no action. Othell doesn’t deny the allegations, he just acts like they don’t exist, but it is not just Othell, both Council members Faith Harper and Alvin Courington was informed of these problems not long after the last election, but to no avail! We simply ask WHY? Is it because integrity is not important? Is it because long term appointed officials know too much on elected officials? Does appointed City Dept. Heads have more power than the elected officials? Another question, must be asked, why would elected City officials put people, they know their citizens would never elect to govern them in their day to day lives, in high positions in Govt.? Why?
Another action Othell willingly took was to pursuit a lawsuit against a citizen that involved a zoning issue with a garage. The city had already lost twice in court when the city under Othell’s leadership continued to pursuit it to the Alabama Supreme Court. Where they lost again! This suit had been continued from the Kenny Clemons administration and no doubt included the advice from the known ethics violator, Robert Ryant in the Building Inspections Dept! What! You are going to court with this clown’s interpretation of building codes? What were you thinking? This clown had already lost twice! Othell, What were you thinking? It was reported that Gardendale’s legal fees for this, lost cause, was $74,000.00. How many of us could cost our employer $74,000.00 after already committing ethics violations and keep our job? We have to ask WHY? It was reported that the “WHY” was because the city had previously said they had every right to defend their zoning ordinance in court. Well, O.K. Othell. I guess you had the right to waste $74,000.00 of the tax payer’s money on 2 previously lost lawsuits and to finish it up with the Grand Finale of losses at the Alabama Supreme Court. You really showed your citizens!!!! Good Job, Othell!!
The most recent questionable action by Othell Phillips has been a 2.85 million dollar loan to developers to complete a development at the failed Caufield Square development. Mayor Othell Phillips is reported to have said Aliant Bank is loaning the developer $12 million, so the city's loan is simply filling a gap needed to get the long-anticipated project underway. The city is borrowing up to $2.85 million from Regions Bank. Why? Why would a city loan a private developer money to bring in competition to existing local business owners, that has been paying taxes for years? Cities should not get into the business of picking which businesses they support and they certainly shouldn’t risk tax payer money for private ventures. Picking favored, businesses is exactly what Gardendale is known for. If you know the right people, you can get anything done. If you are doing all the right things but don’t go through the right people, you will be hindered in Gardendale! Othell, by you helping to loan money to a private business you by right, should make loans available to all Gardendale businesses or you are picking winners and losers! Othell, this loan is out of line and it stinks of special favors. Are you receiving a behind the scene, ORIGINATION fee for making the loan?
It seems that we have been wrong about Gardendale politics. Politics in Gardendale is not like Washington D.C. politics. It is Washington D.C. politics!! These loans resembles President Barack Obama loaning private companies money! I just wonder how the other businesses in the area that haven’t received loans from the city feels about this. Of Course, if the project fails the Gardendale tax payers can pick up the tab! Othell Phillips has turned into a typical Gardendale Mayor! Some say crime doesn’t pay and we don’t know if it does or doesn’t, but Good Ol’ Boy Cronyism pays BIG! in GARDENDALE, Alabama!! One more thing; do you think Robert Ryant will have privileged information about this development and the major players? Robert Ryant, a person with questionable integrity, may be just the person for the job! Maybe, we do know Why!