KU owns Lawrence. KU wants Wal-Mart.

Of course, KU also created the Dole Institute. Somehow thinking he is a good role model.

"Marion 1) We elect city commissioners to make decisions FOR US."

That is new thinking for you now that special interest money elected a special interest majority on very low voter turnout. The special interest money and low voter turnout are both sad.

i've heard this survey called "scientific" and "unbiased" now in a few letters. the survey didn't call those residents randomly, instead opting for calling registered voters. 1/3 R, 1/3 D and 1/3 I.

that's neither scientific nor unbiased. most importantly it doesn't accurately reflect how Lawrence residents would vote on this issue. however, voting does. and we elected these commissioners knowing their intentions regarding Wal-Mart. stop acting so surprised.

(and i don't favor a wal-mart so no need to flame me with the propoganda)

Why is it that no one can seem to get more than 400 signatures on a petition against Wal-Mart? I thought that an overwhelming majority of people opposed it.

"400-plus voice opposition to N.W. Lawrence store"

Jeanne Newman, who lives in northwest Lawrence, organized the eight volunteers who collected petition signatures Monday and Tuesday. She said planning commissioners should be expecting a strong neighborhood contingent Wednesday  the petition effort proves that.

"I think it's more than 400 signatures," Newman said of the petition. "I'll bet I can get 4,000 easily." from LJW Oct. 17th 2002

Yet 5 years later the overwhelming opposition is not 4000 but still 400 signatures?

Typically you need to get 5% of registered voters to force action through a petition & that would be over 3000 signatures not 300.

A pathetic grassroots movement, 400 signatures in 5 years? Check out what this kid did:

Chris Paradies, 16, and a junior at Lawrence High School, and some friends sought signatures in support of scrapping the city's fireworks ban at the Lawrence Sidewalk Sale last month.

He said they collected more than 900 signatures that day - 500 from those older than 18 and 420 of those from registered voters. LJW Aug. 16th 2005

Grassroots Action should hire this kid.

"Godot (Anonymous) says:

That is why California is so screwed up."

That was a response to max1 "Clearly, Kansans have way too many freedoms. Let's elimnate the few that are still on the books. http://www.citizensincharge.org/main/usm: California - You have full Initiative & Referendum rights. Kansas - You have no statewide Initiative & Referendum rights."

I thought one of the most interesting things about the CC meeting was Mayor Sue Hack's suspension of the 1st Admendment. I can understand it when people are shouting out of turn, but how is it justified to not allow someone to hold up a sign? Is there a precedence for this rule?

It was downright hilarious when Hack tried to get the cop to take away the people's signs, and he asked, "what do you mean". It seriously troubles me that a former Civics teacher and current mayor feels it necessary to remove signs during a city commission meeting. In Sue Hack's own point of view she is not serving to represent the electorate, as she herself stated many times at the meeting, "this is a business meeting". Indeed it was.

Godot (Anonymous) says:

"Mkh, Mayor Hack used the same tactics on the opponents of the smoking ban. She is an equal opportunity stifler of dissent."

That may be Godot, but that doesn't justify her behavior. Sue Hack is dangerous for the citizens of this community.

You know, there were some positive attributes to the old "tar and feather" method of civil disobedience.

Man, am I glad that I don't live in Lawrence. What a screwed-up city.

I can live with the residents, college kids, homeless, whiners, (even Marion!!! :), etc.

But WHO elects the yahoos that you have in city government??? Have you flushed your brain down the toilet---and then went out and voted???

Here's my plan for ending the war in Iraq:

Transplant the Lawrence City Council to Baghdad and rename Baghdad "Lawrence, IQ". Then let 'em loose. The insurgents (and everyone else) will be gone in no time.

SwanDiver --

The paternalistic subjectivity of your post makes me want to throw up. If you don't like West Lawrence, I and most people that live here could really care less. Then let us do what we want on our side of town without interference from your trash! You be content and live on your side of town and I will stay on my side of town.

I don't want to live in East Lawrence, I happen to have a clear preference for clean streets, low crime and attractive neighborhoods! Now I wan't to shop at Wal-Mart now too! If you don't like, convince 100 of your friends to vote at the next city commission election. I will be working hard to convince 200 of my friends to support Hack and Amyx. Have a good life!

Isn't this "hate speech" and a racist comment?

"... like the endless White suburbs across this country. It's the geography of no place - with no face, and no culture, and no heritage of any kind."

Are you saying the "White suburbs" have no culture or heritage? How does one establish "heritage" in less than 2 decades?

I think you either have some anti Caucasian issues or you have some self hate issues.