With a spirited debate going on all around our state and across the nation about the legalization of marijuana, I thought it would be a good opportunity to do a series of articles on the topic, analyzing the main points and counterpoints. At the end of the series, I will give you my thoughts on the issue, but before that, it’s important to look at both sides of the issue critically and objectively. As with any topic involving this amount of money, separating the “spin” from

It’s not unusual for people come to me with things they want to see changed or need fixed. That’s part of the job in public service. Generally, it’s something fairly easy to take care of, like a permit or stop sign or something like that. However small it may seem, it was sufficiently important to them to take time out of their day to seek a solution. The take-away from citizens like this, those who look to solve problems cannot ever get complacent – where there are issue

You’ve probably heard a fair amount in recent weeks about Mount Vernon’s loss of its bond rating by Moody’s Investors Service. For those of you familiar with credit ratings, a lot of this column might be a review, but for those of you who are not, let’s use Mount Vernon’s current financial situation as one of those “teachable moments” – one that you can, hopefully, utilize in your own personal finances, as well. The same principles apply when you are talking about applying a

Having been completely consumed by the City’s budget nightmare for the last few months, I haven’t been able to spend much time reflecting. It’s an important thing for all of us to do, but this political life has me running in so many directions usually that I don’t get to do it as much as I would like. Reflection gives you perspective and allows you to focus on real priorities without getting lost in the weeds. It gives you strength to take on the next challenge. This job