[nfbmi-talk] opinion only

Thu Mar 17 17:47:56 UTC 2011

Well, then I guess if you don't care to belong to either organization, then well, then well obviously you do care.  'Cause you're a member of a chapter, so obviously you do care.   You know, because if you didn't care, then you wouldn't be responding, or you wouldn't be a member of a chapter now, would you?

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> Original Message:
> ---------------------------------
> 
> From: Regina Alvarado <regina.alvarado6 at gmail.com> 
> Sent: March 17, 2011 1:08:40 PM
> To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] opinion only
> 
> 
> 
> I have stayed out of this as I have been too angry to write.  First of all,
> let me say here that I believe Christine and especially Larry are the best
> people to be on the Board.  My problem is not his placement on the Board but
> the fact that Snyder placed him there.  Did the NFBMI scream to high heaven
> when Granholm place someone from the ACB on the Board.  Are we not being
> just a bit hypocritical here? Nepatism (sorry for the spelling) goes on in
> both parties, but lets call it what it is.  He knew Larry and nobody else.
> Why should be we high fiving when we screamed at Granholm?  Anyway, I am
> coming to the conclusion that it is about time we begin to work together for
> the betterment of blind people instead of playing games.  In case nobody has
> payed attention, more blind people I know think the NFB doesn't speak for
> them than do.  Just look at Newsline subscribers.  I want everyone to be on 
> the same side against what we know
> is incorrect, not fighting each other, and most of all I want hypocrisy to
> be acknowledged for what it is.  Personally right now, I do not care if I
> belong to NFB or ACB.  I just happen to believe in some of NFB's philosophy.
> However, I will say here I do not eat, drink, sleep, smoke, or anything else 
> the NFB line nor do I the ACB's.
> 
> Again, I think Larry is the best person for this, but NFBMI was just a bit 
> hypocritical in my opinion.  Sounds from the news clip that the governor is 
> just a tad worried too!  OK got it off my chest.  Am staying in the WWCC 
> chapter until I move to Florida (hopefully sooner than later), but not sure 
> I am going to be a part of any blind organization once I hit Florida except 
> maybe Guide Dog Users.
> Reggie who wants peace and honesty as life it just too darned short to fight 
> with one another
> 
> 
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net>
> Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 11:12 AM
> To: <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] horrible slanted news
> 
> > This is just plain disgusting and just plain fluff. Listen please you all.
> > I'm personally a decidedly left of center person and all know I've had
> > political and philosophical disputes with both NFB and ACB for that
> > matter. It is all irrelevant. The MCB is a federally funded program that
> > is supposed to run under the rule of law and not the rule of man as are
> > all others. That is independent, or should be of politics. Yet, here we
> > have basically a news plant, devoidof content that is meaningful which is
> > typical Cannon modus operandi. The news should in my mind do some due
> > diligence in reporting real and documented actions rather than playing
> > political football. Maybe they should look into the books of MCB. And, as
> > per Richard Bernstein all I have to say is this: "I've sent him for years
> > documentation of the ADA violations by Cannon and MCB. I ask openly here:
> > What gives?"
> >
> > Darn maybe he'd like to see the accessibility surveys and such in
> > accessible format of MCB and other state facilities. Oops he's seen as
> > much as I have.
> >
> >
> >
> > IOh, my I'm trying very hard not to swear here. But, I've begged
> > Bernbnstein, M PAS and others, literally and in phone calls and in writing
> > to sue MCB for ADA violations.
> >
> > I personally have grave reservations and will protest other issues related
> > to the Snyder administration and our Republican dominated legislature.
> > But, this stuff is nothing short of pure political football without any
> > accountability, which should be the bottom line of news period. And end of
> > story. Except that Bernstein, Bodding, and the Detroit News should simply
> > look at the books and the shenigans and all the other crap conducted under
> > the regime of Cannon.
> >
> > I, for one, as a former journalist am damned sick and tired of the fluff,
> > and PR driven news coverage in general and in specific here. That goes to
> > both the so-called right and the so-called left. Facts are facts and news
> > should be fact driven.
> >
> > And I don't give a rat's posterior if those facts hit a Democrat or a
> > Republican, or a Socialist, or a doornob.
> >
> > This is nothing but politics in the worst sense of the term. This is
> > nothing but character assasination by default without examing the facts.
> >
> > Arrgh! Let me write later about the stuff on my old computer related to
> > the Kerry campaign and Janelle Cannon. Let me write later about trying to
> > make Democratic Party functions and events and even the 2004 primary fully
> > accessable to the blind.
> >
> > Let me write later about all my years of trying to make the Grandholm
> > Administration and all of its programs, services and activities accessable
> > to all people with all disabilities. Argh! And much of what you good
> > people on this list have seen in these regards has been sent to both
> > Richard Bernstein and in fact the Detroit News.
> >
> > I am so outraged at this crap I simply can hardly write. But, this needs
> > to be a component of the public record.
> >
> > Larry is an honest broker. He and I differ generally when it comes to
> > nominal party affiliation. In fact and I'll say it here my only issue with
> > Obama is that he is far to the right of me. Now, that and a dollar or two
> > will get us all a cup of coffee.
> >
> > Opinions are like noses as everyone has one for the most part. But, facts
> > are facts.
> >
> > For too damned long. Far too damned long MCB has run as a sort of secret
> > government. And I and others wish the News and other so-called news
> > sources would simply look at the books. Or maybe they should simply look
> > at attending today's meeting and finding the entrance with a blind fold on
> > or in a wheelchair.
> >
> > This is incredible in that for some reason if it is done then the stuff
> > I've sent to the News, to Bernstein and others about compliance and simply
> > fixing the ADA issues alone surrounding MCB will come to light.
> >
> > Man, for ten years I've tried to get Bernstein to sue MCB and other state
> > entities for violations of the ADA. These are known and documented
> > violations bythe way and not some spin or conjecture including the lack of
> > ADAAG required raised character and Braille signage in all state
> > buildings. This also includes independence reports forwarded to Bernstein
> > and in fact a Detroit News reporter documenting these things as well as
> > other issues relevent to ADA, Title II compliance.
> >
> >
> > Argh!! Argh!
> >
> > Here things are clear. Neither the News nor Bernstein or anyone else
> > really cares about the ADA or our civil rights or facts. They just care
> > about politics.
> >
> > They are as guilty as this Administration and this Legislature of going
> > after people with disabilities and those who are blind. A pox on them
> > both! But, the outrage expressed here is simply an outrage and bovine
> > stuff of the highest order.
> >
> > The politics and the crap will ultimately shut MCB and otherstate run
> > organizations like it down and it all goes to politics.
> >
> > And sadly, most sadly it is politics devoid of principle and laden in fact
> > and deed with personal engrandisement of a few chosen, and that includes
> > Cannon. Who died and named him God? What the heck is his documented track
> > record devoid of politics? Has the News or any other so-called news source
> > ever investigated the fact that this clown is the highest paid and highest
> > placed public official in the entire state without a college degree?
> >
> > The News and MCB and all Party types should be made aware that all
> > agencies of state government should be scrutinized regardless as to
> > affilliation, or politics and on objective standards. And MCB is and
> > should not be immune to that scrutiny.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Joe
> >
> > Snyder appointee to agency for blind risks conflict
> >
> >
> >
> > New commissioner, director have been at odds for years
> >
> >
> >
> > Paul Egan / Detroit News Lansing Bureau
> >
> >
> >
> > Lansing ? Gov. Rick Snyder's appointment to the Michigan Commission for
> > the Blind of a vocal critic has set the stage for increased turmoil at the
> > agency
> >
> > that serves the state's estimated 45,000 blind people.
> >
> >
> >
> > Snyder's press secretary, Sara Wurfel, says the governor wasn't aware of
> > the bad blood between his newly appointed commissioner, Larry Posont, and
> > longtime
> >
> > agency director Pat Cannon when he appointed Posont earlier this month.
> >
> >
> >
> > Posont, who is blind and serves as Michigan president of the National
> > Federation of the Blind, says Cannon has fostered "an atmosphere of
> > cover-up, secrecy
> >
> > and intimidation," and he wants him to step down. Cannon, who is also
> > blind and has held his state post since 1998, denies the allegations and
> > says he
> >
> > has no intention of leaving.
> >
> >
> >
> > "This is not good," said Richard Bernstein, a prominent blind attorney
> > from Farmington Hills who last year sought the Democratic nomination for
> > attorney
> >
> > general. "At a time when you're going through critical budget cuts ? you
> > really need to have more cohesion."
> >
> >
> >
> > The heads of two agencies that advocate for the blind have written Snyder
> > asking him to reconsider the appointment to the five-member commission
> > charged
> >
> > with helping blind people live and work independently. It holds its
> > quarterly meeting in Lansing today and Friday.
> >
> >
> >
> > "I would like to see them withdraw the appointment," said Gwen Botting of
> > Ionia, president of Michigan Parents of Children with Visual Impairments.
> > "It
> >
> > is a mistake, in my opinion."
> >
> >
> >
> > Joe Sibley, president of the Michigan Council of the Blind, said he's
> > "concerned this could be damaging in the long run, especially if (Posont)
> > is made
> >
> > chairman."
> >
> >
> >
> > As federation president, Posont, 59, has organized a public demonstration
> > against Cannon for about the past two years has criticized his handling of
> > personnel
> >
> > issues, his dealings with blind entrepreneurs who operate shops or vending
> > machines in state buildings, and his handling of a federal audit, among
> > other
> >
> > issues. Posont said his main priority as a commissioner is to do a better
> > job of helping blind people get jobs.
> >
> >
> >
> > "Mr. Cannon's recent actions are an unwarranted abuse of power and amount
> > to intimidation and bullying of blind citizens of Michigan who dare to
> > speak for
> >
> > themselves and question his policies," Posont said after Cannon's 2010
> > firing of Christine Boone, who is blind, as director of the commission's
> > Blind Training
> >
> > Center in Kalamazoo.
> >
> >
> >
> > Wurfel said Snyder's children know Posont's children but the governor
> > wasn't "aware of the extent of the commission's history" when he appointed
> > Posont
> >
> > on March 2. Snyder expects "both appointees and staff to work together in
> > a collaborative, constructive fashion," she said. "Moving forward to best
> > serve
> >
> > the blind and visually impaired community is imperative."
> >
> >
> >
> > Posont of Dearborn Heights did not sound conciliatory this week. "He
> > (Cannon) could go between now and June and we wouldn't have to figure out
> > a way to
> >
> > push him out," he said. Otherwise, "this could get very dirty."
> >
> >
> >
> > Cannon, 68, whose $125,000-a-year post is civil service, not a political
> > appointment, said Posont's comments are surprising and unfortunate.
> >
> >
> >
> > "We are both dedicated to working in the best interests of blind people in
> > Michigan," he said. "I am optimistic that we will work well together."
> >
> >
> >
> > The commission, which is not paid, must have at least three members who
> > are blind. It can't dismiss Cannon but annually reviews his performance
> > and recommends
> >
> > a replacement if the post becomes vacant. Cannon said he's received
> > "outstanding evaluations over the last 13 years."
> >
> >
> >
> > Though both advocate for the blind, Posont's federation and Sibley's
> > council have different philosophies on issues such as whether special
> > accommodations
> >
> > should be made for blind people, with the federation less supportive of
> > such measures.
> >
> >
> >
> > Sibley said the council takes a nonconfrontational approach while Posont
> > prefers the "pit bull" method. Posont agreed the federation is more
> > aggressive
> >
> > than the council and said it is less supportive of special measures, such
> > as currency implants to help blind people distinguish one denomination of
> > bill
> >
> > from another.
> >
> >
> >
> > Boone was fired for allegedly violating rules about workplace safety and
> > firearms on state property after she used pellet guns to offer
> > marksmanship training
> >
> > to blind students.
> >
> >
> >
> > Cannon said he can't comment on a personnel matter.
> >
> >
> >
> > Posont said Boone had been doing an "exemplary job" of instilling students
> > with "a positive philosophy of blindness" and Cannon had verbally signed
> > off
> >
> > on the marksmanship training. There was no safety issue and the
> > small-caliber pellet guns used are not even considered firearms under
> > Michigan law, he
> >
> > said.
> >
> >
> >
> > Posont put out a news release announcing his appointment before the
> > governor's office did. Posont's release said Snyder had named him
> > chairman; Snyder's
> >
> > release only named Posont a member. Posont conceded his release was
> > premature.
> >
> >
> >
> > http://www.detnews.com/article/20110317/POLITICS02/103170410/1022/Snyder-appointee-to-agency-for-blind-risks-conflict
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
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