Franklin Alderman's clumsy attempt to intimidate bloggers
It used to be so much simpler to be an alderman in the days before bloggers started coming to meetings and proliferating to the masses just what was going on in municipal government.
Franklin Alderman Lyle Sohns (district 5) stepped in it this past Tuesday when he decided to put local bloggers on notice by distributing a document/spreadsheet showing property values and taxes for a cross-section of Franklin residents.
He thought it would be a keen idea to personalize the issue for those bloggers who complain incessently about high property taxes (I am not one of them) by having someone - at taxpayer expense? - look up the home values and property tax history of each blogger. I've posted a portion of the document to the right, omitting the detailed property value and tax information.
Get the message?
Granted, this is all publicly available information and no names were used, but Sohns attempts to make his point by none-too-subtly serving notice to local bloggers that he is willing to, at the very least, make them uncomfortable.
And there is the legitimate question of "what's next?" Photos of bloggers' homes showing improper lawn care when making a point about beautification efforts? Screen shots of Wisconsin Circuit Court Online to reveal the speeding ticket I got in Wausau 12 years ago? (Note to curious searchers: I share my name with a much older scofflow who was born in 1948.)
Welcome to the New Day, Alderman Sohns. And say goodbye to rubber stamp re-election, because now you've made Fred Keller angry.
UPDATE: Blogger Janet Evans transcribed the portion of the Council Meeting wherein Sohns presented his spreadsheets.
He thought it would be a keen idea to personalize the issue for those bloggers who complain incessently about high property taxes (I am not one of them) by having someone - at taxpayer expense? - look up the home values and property tax history of each blogger. I've posted a portion of the document to the right, omitting the detailed property value and tax information.
Get the message?
Granted, this is all publicly available information and no names were used, but Sohns attempts to make his point by none-too-subtly serving notice to local bloggers that he is willing to, at the very least, make them uncomfortable.
And there is the legitimate question of "what's next?" Photos of bloggers' homes showing improper lawn care when making a point about beautification efforts? Screen shots of Wisconsin Circuit Court Online to reveal the speeding ticket I got in Wausau 12 years ago? (Note to curious searchers: I share my name with a much older scofflow who was born in 1948.)
Welcome to the New Day, Alderman Sohns. And say goodbye to rubber stamp re-election, because now you've made Fred Keller angry.
UPDATE: Blogger Janet Evans transcribed the portion of the Council Meeting wherein Sohns presented his spreadsheets.
Hmpf....
I bet I know who one of Fred Keller's Dirty Half Dozen is!
Gee, it wasn't too hard to think of that one, now was it. Except dirty doesn't come to mind for me. It's more "slimy."
Oh, "with all due respect."
Oh yeah, I haven't said this for a couple days....Boomgaard. There, I feel better.
Posted by: Janet Evans | May 22, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Add me onto that angry list. If Sohns pulls anymore of those stunts it won't be tolerated.
Posted by: Greg Kowalski | May 22, 2008 at 01:15 PM
Gee
He just lost mine and my wifes vote. But that's OK, as he has said to me in the past, if you are not going to vote for me over one issue so be it.
Well so be it.
Posted by: Bryan Maersch | May 23, 2008 at 06:08 PM
The thing is, it's not just an issue (I pretty much agree with the POINT he was trying to make) - - it's an ATTITUDE (which I DON'T agree with).
Posted by: John Michlig | May 23, 2008 at 06:11 PM