Category: community service

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Handguns

It seems that nearly every modern city is plagued with the same problem. Handgun violence is on the rise. One mayor is trying to combat the problem by making handgun rules stricter. Mayor Richard Daly of Chicago is proposing tough new handgun laws that are aimed at preventing crime and limiting the number of handguns in the city.

At South Side Park, the mayor announced proposed news rules that include training for handgun owners, trigger locks for people with children, and limiting the number of handguns bought to one a month. The mayor remains strong in his feelings despite opposition from some members of the public. I hope he is successful.

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Being Chosen

One of the small pleasures I have in life is the ability to help people from time to time. I recently had the chance to help a number of kids who really needed it. It’s a group of underprivileged kids called headway. They are sponsored by a local church group and others who care. One way we care for the kids is to encourage physical exercise as a way of staying out of trouble.

The group has a building where the kids meet and there is a large field behind it. The building is old but still very functional. Anyway, we thought that providing Gym Lockers for the kids would help them feel like they had a stake in the group. Each kid would have his or her own locker that would be entirely theirs. We agreed to start looking for some right away.

Being as that some members of the group know that I excel in matters like these, I was volunteered to find some Lockers for sale and purchase them. While I was apprehensive at first, I soon found out how easy it was to find them. I visited a site called morelockers.com and found just what I was looking for. The prices were right and the service was first class. Now the kids are happy and I have a warm feeling in my heart.

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Helpless

One thing that happens to many people when disaster strikes is a feeling of helplessness. One instance of this is going on in the coastal towns that surround the Gulf of Mexico. As the oil continues to destroy the fishing industry, many are uncertain about the future and what it will bring. This has led to many people needing help from depression.

Social services that provide mental health to these individuals are being overloaded with new cases. Stress on the system is causing gaps in service and is taking a toll on those who depend on it. There is also the long term impact of the spill and no one knows how that will turn out.

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Sting

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Office of Correctional Safety ran a sting this week involving hundreds of parole violators. The office sent out thousands of e-mails to families of parole violators stating that they were eligible for amnesty and cash or prizes. All they had to do was show up and collect. They were in for a surprise!

Upon showing up at the Oakland parole office, they were arrested. Authorities say they arrested 81 felons for parole violations or outstanding warrants. They move was part of a plan to reduce the amount of convicts on the most wanted list. It also removed many dangerous felons off the street. I am all for this type of thing and wish it hadn’t gotten into the news as it will make other felons aware of the scam!

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Congress Freezes Pay!

I was glad to hear that members of congress had the good sense to forego voting themselves a pay raise. The congress rejected an automatic cost of living increase that would have taken effect on January 1. Don’t worry; they still bring home about $174,000 dollars per year which is a pretty good chunk of change.

There will be an election come November and I am sure that no congressman wants to explain a pay raise to his supporters. I hope the money they would spend on themselves will be put to a better use. Maybe we could make a payment on the debt we owe!!

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Census

We’ve all been hearing about the census lately. It is important that everyone fills theirs out and mails it back in. The census helps the government decide how to allocate money. It’s all a part of being a good citizen. I filled mine out and sent it back in as soon as I got it. I hope everyone else does the same. I think it is important to do your part in helping out the government; they need all the help they can get!

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Hello Doc

While I am happy that the Obama administration has been successful in passing the new health care bill, it seems that it may have certain drawbacks. One problem that may crop up is the need for more doctors. With the millions of additional patients that will be seen, a good doctor will be hard to find.

The government is working on ways to increase the amount of doctors available by offering bonuses to doctors who serve in priority areas. They are also considering using doctor led nurse teams to provide for additional patients. I think that becoming a doctor would be a great idea for some of the young people who are in need of a good career.

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A Good Arrest

The drug problem in America is causing many problems. Not only are our own citizens suffering, but many people in Mexico are paying the price. The good news is that the Mexican police made an arrest that will help keep drugs off our streets and keep Mexicans a little safer. They arrested Jose Antonio Medina who is also known as the “King of Heroin”.

Violence in Mexico is steady as different gangs compete for the lucrative drug trade. Smuggling drugs into the U.S. is very profitable and continues to be a major problem for drug enforcement agencies. I am glad to hear that these lawless people are still being arrested and prosecuted for their crimes!

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There is no con census

The news today reads that the Census Bureau will fork over $2.5 million dollars to take out an ad during the Super Bowl. The ad is aiming to increase awareness and excitement about filling out and sending in the questionnaire that helps the government count the people. Other useful information is gleaned from these forms as well. The problem is that not everyone agrees with the spending of so much money for just a few ads.

Many citizens as well as congressman and senators are fuming over the fact that the Census Bureau is spending so much money in these budget crunching times. Their advertising budget is about $133 million this year. I believe that the debate will continue to rage until an answer is found.

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A Union Win

The Machinists local union in Hartford Connecticut has scored a great victory for the U.S. in U.S. Federal court. The union sued the company of Pratt & Whitney in order to keep jobs from being shipped over seas. Their contract with the union requires that the company do everything possible to keep jobs in their state.

A federal judge issued an injunction against the company saying that they must comply with the contract. I am glad to hear that a judge has finally ruled for the people!