Originally Posted By Darkbeer <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-dixon0109,0,3147190.story" target="_blank">http://www.baltimoresun.com/ne...90.story</a> (Selected Paragraphs only) >>Baltimore Mayor Sheila A. Dixon was charged today with 12 counts of felony theft, perjury, fraud and misconduct in office, becoming the city's first sitting mayor to be criminally indicted. The case stems in part from at least $15,348 in gifts Dixon allegedly received from her former boyfriend, prominent city developer Ronald H. Lipscomb, while she was City Council president. She also is accused of using as much as $3,400 in gift cards, some donated to her office for distribution to "needy families," to purchase Best Buy electronics and other items for herself and her staff. Lipscomb was not indicted in the Dixon case, but he and City Councilwoman Helen L. Holton were charged this week in a separate $12,500 bribery scheme. Both cases grew out of a nearly three-year probe by the state prosecutor into City Hall corruption.... One theft charge involves misconduct in December 2007, when Dixon was mayor. According to the indictment, a Baltimore housing employee purchased Toys R Us gift cards to be distributed to underprivileged children during a holiday event. Dixon allegedly gave one of those gift cards to a member of her staff, and five others were discovered at her West Baltimore house when investigators raided it in June. Among other accusations: In 2004, 2005 and 2006, Dixon solicited gift cards - to Target, Best Buy, Old Navy and Circuit City -- from two developers. She then used some of the cards to purchase a PlayStation2 controller, a PlayStation Portable, a Samsung digital camcorder and other items she either kept or gave to staff members as Christmas presents, the indictment said.... The indictment also alleges that Lipscomb passed Dixon thousands of dollars of cash - some of which she handed off to a staff member in a wad of 40 $100 bills while being driven around the city. The staff member, who is not named in the indictment, deposited the cash into his personal checking account and paid part of Dixon's American Express bill, the indictment says.<< Come on, stealing gifts designed for charity and used for yourself and your staff... That is Low, no matter what Political Party you belong to! And this is serious, she faces up to 85 years in prison if found guilty of all charges. Alas, this is becoming too common, we make the laws, but are above the laws ourselves. (Once again, all political parties). Heck, it looks like Former Orange County, CA Sheriff Mike Carona will be found guilty this week for the same type of charges (Bribes, abusing his office), and most folks would say he is conservative (no idea on what party he is registered as). We need some MAJOR reforms to try to eliminate (alas, probably not possible) or reduce the bribes and outside influence from folks like Unions, lobbyists and others trying to "buy" the elective official. I think things like NO exemptions built into laws to help avoid charges to politicians and other government employees as compared to a "regular" citizen would be a good start. Also reducing the "perks" of an government job over a private job is another good step in the right direction. Government in general needs to be cut back and its influence over the "regular" folks reduced.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer Gee, this Mayor has a history... <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/bal-te.md.ci.salaries11dec11,0,7029672.story" target="_blank">http://www.chicagotribune.com/...72.story</a> >>Mayor Sheila Dixon rejected suggestions that she give back a $3,700 pay increase quietly granted last month, saying city law would not allow such a move. (Baltimore Sun photo by Amy Davis / December 10, 2008) Mayor Sheila Dixon plans to keep a $3,700 pay raise despite a public outcry and pledges from some City Council members to return or donate their equivalent cost-of-living adjustments. Asked yesterday whether she would give the raise to charity, Dixon said at a news conference: "To be honest with you, no, 2 1/2 percent, based on what I do seven days a week, 24 hours [a day], trying to raise a family, a daughter in college." The mayor will now make $151,700 yearly. But City Council members fielded angry phone calls and e-mails from constituents after being blasted on talk radio for accepting raises while simultaneously calling for cuts to city services. A third of those on the 15-member panel said they would give the raise that lifted their salaries to $58,425 back to the city or to a charity.<<
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains And while doing all the bad she still <<The investigation has hung over Dixon, a Democrat, even as she became the city's first female mayor and oversaw a significant decrease in the city's homicide rate, reducing killings to a 20-year low. Viewed as an energetic and charismatic leader, she has earned praise from residents for implementing an easy-to-use recycling program and displaying a willingness to tackle the city's systemic racial and economic disparities.>> And then there is this... Analysis: Mayor's supporters underwhelmed by case <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-dixonanalysis0109,0,6998974.story" target="_blank">http://www.baltimoresun.com/ne...74.story</a> <<"That's all they've got?" asked Ronald W. Walters, a government professor at the University of Maryland, College Park. He said the charges against Dixon didn't approach the level of misconduct alleged against Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, who prosecutors say attempted to sell a U.S. Senate seat. "We're witnessing a situation going down in Illinois, and this is nowhere near anything like that," Walters said. "The substance of it, on its face, would appear to be minor." State Sen. Nathaniel J. McFadden publicly stated his support for Dixon Friday and predicted she would be cleared of all charges.>>
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains I am not sure why it would matter what party the person is from - I think if she is found guilty then it's news - but for now she is not being removed and it's all just acusations. It will be interesting to hear her side of the story.
Originally Posted By ecdc Gee, another day, another one-sided Darkbeer topic with selected cut and paste.
Originally Posted By ADMIN <font color="#FF0000">Message removed by an administrator. <a href="MsgBoard-Rules.asp" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the LaughingPlace.com Community Standards.</font>
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder "Heck, it looks like Former Orange County, CA Sheriff Mike Carona will be found guilty this week for the same type of charges (Bribes, abusing his office), and most folks would say he is conservative (no idea on what party he is registered as)." Heck, only a moron wouldn't know he's a Republican.
Originally Posted By dshyates "Alas, this is becoming too common, we make the laws, but are above the laws ourselves. (Once again, all political parties)." Yep. I think even with the scandals that we have heard about, we all would be STUNNED at the amount of corruption at all levels by all parties. I think that is what I learned from the BlogoTrick. But that said, I am far less concerned with someone stealing gifts from carity than I am a political party "fixing" The Department of Justice and targeting opposing party members like the early altzheimer's victim, Alberto Gonzalas did.
Originally Posted By gadzuux It's a "local" story. A small-time mayor of a small-time city doing small-time crimes. You'll forgive me if I don't feel the outrage.
Originally Posted By Mr X Know why we keep hearing so many stories of ONLY Democrats who are mired in scandal? Cause there's no more Republicans left in office! Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Originally Posted By DAR <<Among other accusations: In 2004, 2005 and 2006, Dixon solicited gift cards - to Target, Best Buy, Old Navy and Circuit City -- from two developers. She then used some of the cards to purchase a PlayStation2 controller>> A controller will run you maybe $25 at the least could have easily paid cash for that. And why not upgrade to a PS3, you get a blu-ray player in there along with some asthetically pleasing games. I'm assuming she's got kids or maybe grandkids, take them along when you go video game shopping.
Originally Posted By Mr X More importantly, DAR, why haven't you replied to my friend request on FACEBOOK!? ??
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder So I got deleted for calling the OP dishonest, but the truth isn't an attack. The attitude shown in the OP is the worst kind of partisanship, and exactly what we don't need right now. This country is in as worse shape as it has been in quite some time on so many fronts. Those who still feel the need to be sniping at each other simply because one's a Republican and the other's a Democrat, insteading of productively debating solutions, can take their spiteful, petty crap elsewhere. We don't need you.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 we're equal opportunity here in Illinois - one GOP governor in jail - and a DEM set to follow him -- the sad thing is I'm begining to believe there isn't a shred of honesty in any politician
Originally Posted By FaMulan vbdad55, I would be completely stunned and dumbfounded to find a 100% honest politician of any stripe. As SPP said, all the OP is doing is trying to continue to foster divisiveniss based on party when the time for that garbage is long past and should be put out to pasture. There are far too many problems in this country that need the support and action of EVERYONE regardless of affiliation to continue that kind of garbage.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>The attitude shown in the OP is the worst kind of partisanship, and exactly what we don't need right now.<< We're stuck with it, so ramp up the cope.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Wasn't there an OTC medicine called "Cope" in the 70's? Kind of an OTC prozac? Maybe that's what mawnck was referring to. Or maybe he's just a whiz with the abstract nouns.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <vbdad55, I would be completely stunned and dumbfounded to find a 100% honest politician of any stripe. As SPP said, all the OP is doing is trying to continue to foster divisiveniss based on party when the time for that garbage is long past and should be put out to pasture< fwiw I agree with you 100% - I just wish when someone makes similar partisan statements but are directed at a GOP target, I wish the call for the timefor that being past was as strong...
