1:14pm - Articles

I knew there was some articles to read, but I couldn't find them.  Thanks to our own Laura (OPOC) for sending me the links.

The Columbus Dispatch - Like village, New Rome politics just keep on ticking
Editorial - New Rome needs to be put out of our misery
 

12:09pm - Questionable meeting

Jeanne Frazier emailed me and reports that she was not informed there would be a meeting.  Go figure.  The old guard was taking things it into their own hands again.  Haven't they learned they can't get away with that yet?  What's it going to take?

If anyone has ideas or suggestions for the march in April please let me know!

Also Don't forget!!

Show support for House Bill 24 (formerly House Bill 644) 
A bill making its way through the Ohio house, introduced by the Larry Wolpert, the representative in New Rome's district.  This bill would outlaw villages that fail to meet minimum standards of government and services. 
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=125_HB_24
 

Mail Larry Wolpert at district23@ohr.state.oh.us and show your support for this bill!

ALSO use the below link to find the your State Rep and/or Senator and tell them to support House Bill 24

http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/search.cfm#reps_district

Posted by Jim on 2/5/03

8:05pm - Interesting meeting.  Jamie, Ed, and Jeanne were not there.  David was heading up the meeting. Daniel Plants showed up and resigned.  They put some woman in his place that I think is related to Nancy in some way.  Got to keep that seat in the family!  So then they start acting like they know what they are doing.  David playing "Mayor" tried to swear the new woman in, but didn't know how.  So Connie told him what to say, but it was all too much and she had to write it down for him to read.  Something like "Do you swear to uphold the State and Village laws"  I can see why it would confuse him.  So after that; they did the minutes and bills and new business and old business and adjourned in a matter of 10 or so minutes.  I couldn't help but wonder if this is how they did things before Jamie made them act like a real council? 
 

1:22pm - There is a council meeting tonight!  I'll be sure to be there and get pictures!  Please come on by and say hi! 
 

7:51am - Good morning all!  Just a couple things to share this morning.

We have an article from Steve Stephens at The Columbus Dispatch - 
Voters do as New Romans do -- defy the critics

I was standing there in the school talking to Steve about New Rome and Connie Tucker comes in.  She walks and is looking at us with a look somewhere between disgust and hatred behind something like a smile.  Now my hearing could be off on this, but I swear she asked the people doing the polling if they had anyone named Bussey as voting.  Yeah right.  I must look as dumb as a New Rome employee.

In the article Connie says "They'll try a new area of attack, but we're still in the game.  You'd think they'd give it up with the people voting to keep it, but they won't."

You are DAMN right that we will not give up.  You think that we CARE that the people of New Rome wants to keep their traffic trap?  Perhaps we should let all corrupt people vote on if they want to have an end put to their misdoings.

Then I see Larry Cunningham on the news talking about how every ticket they write is based on law and tells us that they do so aggressively, but that's not illegal.

Come on Larry!  We both know this is a bunch of hot air.  Your "men" will pull someone over just because they think they can find a reason to ticket them.  Aggressive traffic enforcement is NOT a public service.  It doesn't protect anyone.  It doesn't keep bad people off the road.  It put money into your pocket.  That is all.  I sat in your "court" and watched as Pete Beagle sucked money out of people who are already strapped for cash.  You are a disgrace to not just the cracker jack badge you wear, but to all of humanity along with the puppets you control.

Posted by Jim on 2/4/03

9:08pm - Results:

21 in favor of NOT dissolving the Village
11 in favor OF dissolving the Village

We may have lost this battle, but the WAR continues!

MARCH ON NEW ROME: PART III

12:00PM - SATURDAY APRIL 19TH

Jim says:

Does this REALLY surprise anyone?  We knew they wouldn't go without a fight.  I'm sure it will go on till the day the keys to the trailer are pried from someone's hand as they kick and scream that New Rome belongs to THEM.  This is a case where the voting system horribly failed the people of Ohio since most of the people allowed to vote are part of the corruption.  It's like asking a group of bad kids what their punishment should be!

1:16pm VOTING DAY!!!!

Let's all cross our fingers and hope that the voters of New Rome do the right thing and dissolve the Village.  It's only a matter of time now until they are gone one way or another.  Time for change has come!

I got this letter today in email.  It is very touching and makes all I have done worth while:

"hey guys glad to see the way you are standing up to this crap. 
I am serving in the Navy as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and knowing 
there are Americans like you at home helping us fight to keep America free 
makes it all worth while. You are being good Americans by no tolerating this 
tyranny, and they are a domestic enemy as far as I am concerned.  I salute 
you.  You are Americans in the truest sense of the word 

let me know how the vote turns out"
 

All I can say is wow.  When someone who risks their life fighting for freedom tells me I'm doing the right thing, it really reaffirms my belief that this is a very worth while cause and that we will win in the end.

Thanks Jason!  Please tell everyone over there that we at newromesucks.com are behind you all 100%

I will be at the meeting tonight!  Please stop in and say Hi!  Let's hope this will be the last meeting of the council.

I'm trying to get the flood of mail we received from the 20/20 broadcast up.  Mail has been running 50 to 1 in favor of our efforts to dissolve New Rome.  We will be monitoring tomorrow's vote...check back for the results.  As one reader noted, election turnout in New Rome is expected to be 123%, heh heh.

The Dispatch had a nice article this morning on New Rome's upcoming vote, along with a comprehensive timeline.  Click here to read it, registration required.  A story from This Week Newspapers is here.

We've received so much support already.  Thank you all for stopping by.  Please take a look through the sections above and enjoy.  Here's a picture sent in by a supporter! 

Welcome 20/20 viewers!  The stories keep coming.  Check out this one from the Toledo Blade!  Hopefully by this time next week, New Rome will be no more!

Well folks, two major national news stories on New Rome are breaking as we head toward Tuesday's big vote!  The first is from USAToday, you can see the web edition by clicking here.  If you get a chance, find a copy of Thursday's print edition.  There's a teaser picture on the front page, and a large article on page 3, including several pictures of the players in New Rome!

Tomorrow, we're set to see New Rome featured in a segment on ABCNews' 20/20 program.  Click here to read more about John Stossel's report on New Rome.

Here's a couple more articles on the happenings this week from This Week News and ONN.  Thanks to our websearching readers!

Late this afternoon, 20/20 informed us that the New Rome story will now air on Friday January 31st!  This is fine by us, it brings it close to the election and is at the beginning of the February "sweeps" period.  We hope that the New Rome story of corruption can give 20/20 a nice ratings boost!

Another very pleasing article in today's Dispatch.  The Ohio State Highway Patrol is now investigating New Rome's abuse of the LEADS computer!  How nice it would be if their access to LEADS was terminated!

Two more stories from Channel 4...a story on the request by the board of elections for sheriff protection during the vote, and another story on the LEADS abuse.

Thanks to Laura (aka OPOC) for sending this Channel 10  link on the courthouse events the other day.

Posted by Michael on 1/22/03

Another big news day for New Rome. Seems like the famigila is using the LEADS computer in the trailer to check up on poor Ed Anthony!  If  clerk-treasurer Connie Tucker can run checks through LEADS on Ed Anthony, what's to stop her from checking out the person that cut her off in traffic?  New Rome's abuses of the very laws they purport to uphold continue!  Click here to read the whole story.  (Registration required).

Also, check out the many letters of support we've received this week regarding the 20/20 story!

And...here's a scary sight!  It's Jim's original receipt from his New Rome bribe!

Posted by Michael on 1/17/03

Check out this new banner sent in by a fan!  We have so much going on.  You'll be seeing a lot of new information coming up as we countdown to the 20/20 segment a week from tonight!  Here's a jab at New Rome in an unrelated Dispatch editorial.  (Registration required).  We're also hearing a report that the Board of Elections is issuing supoenas to everyone registered to vote in New Rome.  Meanwhile, Ed Anthony is still being pressured by police chief Larry Cunningham, read a lot more here. 

We're continuing to add features and information so check back often. Here's a great story with many details on the latest bickering!  This story tells the tale of what happened to one Missouri town when the ticket trade dried up!

Posted by Michael on 1/14/03

Late update tonight.  We've added a new feature, a list of reasons why New Rome should dissolve February 4th!  Check it out.  We're getting lots of mail, so check back for that tomorrow.

Posted by Michael on 1/14/03

The news keeps getting bigger!  New Rome has been sued by a Columbus attorney who contends that New Rome never had traffic ordinances in place prior to September 3, 2002!  Evidently nobody told the village council that you can't slap 35 mph signs in the ground and start writing tickets!  You must have laws in place before you can enforce them.  Incredible!  Click here to read more!  The Dispatch story is here.

Posted by Michael on 1/13/03

Big news tonight!  We have the official ballot wording for next month's election straight from the Board of Elections! 

# 4  PROPOSED ORDINANCE 
 (Proposed by Initiative Petition)

VILLAGE OF NEW ROME

     A Majority Affirmative Vote is Necessary for Passage.

The Village of New Rome, Ohio received a petition requesting that the question of surrender of corporate powers be placed on the ballot. The Council for the village of New Rome adopted Ordinance No. 090302-1 requesting a special election for the surrender of corporate powers and declaring an effective date. 
 

Shall the Village of New Rome surrender its corporate powers and cause the municipality to become part of the township organization within the territorial limits of which it is situated? 

Obviously, we're for a YES vote on Issue 4!  No more corruption!  No more traffic trap!  Yes on Issue 4!
 
 
 

Posted by Michael on 1/10/03 
 

The Dispatch does it again, with a scathing editorial blasting New Rome police chief Larry Cunningham and his tactics to discredit councilman Ed Anthony.  Click here to read if you have access to the Dispatch site.  In this reader editorial, an Obetz woman likens her town's leadership to New Romes!  Yikes!

Posted by Michael on 1/9/03

Big buzz today on the Dispatch's front page article detailing New Rome police chief  Larry Cunningham's investigation of pro-dissolution councilman Ed Anthony. A lot of people at work were talking about this, unanimously angry.  This has generated some New Rome Sucks reader response too! Other coverage: Channel 4 and ONN.  Cunningham, though absent from council meetings is running New Rome, in case there was any doubt.

Posted by Michael on 1/7/03

Jimis just back from the monthly New Rome council meeting!  Here's the highlights of tonight's meeting in New Rome:

• The minutes of the December meeting were read, and it was learned that the majority council members are filing a suit against major Jamie Mueller over his refusal to allow the council to hire auxillary police officers. 
• Councilman Daniel R. Plants II has missed the last three meetings.  A formal letter is going to be sent to him.  (Hopefully Jamie will get to appoint a new member to council) 
• Ed Anthony pointed out that New Rome hasn't gone through the formal legal process of adopting Ohio's Revised Code this year.  
• Old guard members are attempting to get Ed Anthony removed from council for being "affiliated" with New Rome Sucks.com! 
• A crew from ABCNews 20/20 was there taping everything!  We'll let you know as soon as we know an airdate for the story! 
• Prairie Township Trustee Jeff Norris stated that old guard council members are spreading rumors that tax rates will skyrocket if New Rome is dissolved back into the township. 

Here's the exact PDF (Acrobat required) document showing the total property tax rate in New Rome's is 89.48 vs Prairie's 88.28, due to a 1.20 levy placed by the village of New Rome!  Don't let them lie to you! 
 
 
 

Posted by Michael on 1/1/03

A sincere "Thank You" to the Dispatch writers who continually take swipes at New Rome, ever isolating the "village" as a complete joke and an absolute disgrace to Central Ohio.  This article leads with a jab at New Rome.  This editorial rips New Rome.  Finally, this article mentions the Car and Driver "Loser" designation it awarded New Rome this year.  As always, registration is required to read the preceding articles. 
 
 
 

Posted by Michael on 12/29/02

We hope everyone had a good holiday!  With about six weeks before the big vote, we're getting ready for an all-out DISSOLVE NEW ROME push!

The Dispatch started the ball rolling this morning with a story updating what's going on in New Rome.  A picture of the New Rome corporation limit sign was included on the front page in a photo montage.  Hopefully by this time next year, the only place to see a New Rome sign will be in the Dispatch archives.

Thanks for the letters we've received lately and check the letters sections to read them.  Also check out OPOC's limerick page for a special Christmas one! 

Posted by Michael on 12/18/02

If anyone's had e-mails bounce in the last couple days, our technical problems are over so send away! 

Posted by Michael on 12/17/02

Commercial Point, a small village in northern Pickaway County fired its Police Chief.  He was working 80 hours a month for $8/hour, or $7680 a year.  I think New Rome's Cunningham has a better deal at $20,000 a year for 4 to 6 hours a week.  Click here to read if you have access to the Dispatch site. 

Posted by Michael on 12/14/02

Sorry we've been away for a couple of weeks, we had a little technical glitch.  But we have LOTS of news including more national coverage of New Rome! Check out page 51 of January's Car and Driver magazine for a blurb on our favorite traffic trap!  They were given a LOSER tribute in C&D's annual Top Ten issue!

Steve Stephens of the Dispatch had a couple jabs for New Rome in a recent editorial on liquor laws.  Click here to read it, registration required.

The Westland News did a story this week regarding the upcoming election that will decide the future of New Rome.  There's bickering over everything from how many registered voters are in New Rome to where the actual polling will take place (Norton Middle School, just outside of the village).  I predict the number of registered voters will become a very hot topic, and would be shocked if we don't see a lawsuit over it from one side or the other.

A couple stories lately about villages and their police departments.  I'll link to 10TV's website since the Dispatch (though owned by the same group) is now requiring registration.  The first is from the village of Commercial Point, kind of a strange name for this town of 776 just south of the Pickaway County line.  The mayor has stepped down over threats regarding the police department's strict enforcement of traffic laws.  There's little detail of what's going on in Commercial Point, but if someone could write in, we would appreciate it.

The second story is about a nasty debate on keeping the police force in Buckeye Lake.  Seems that it's another case of reported police abuse and misconduct, and the council members are sick of it.  Isn't it funny how one town is ready to fire their police force, while New Rome is ready to expand?