Preble Rebel and Gary Crosby offer up some truly wacky perspectives. Equating a transient coffee jockey job or a minimum wage fryolator position with devoted public servants who have given decades of their lives is an insult to these good people. Gary Crosby should be ashamed of himself for agreeing with this kind of devisive comparison, oh wait, Gary is a divider...never mind. City Councilor Gary Crosby? Come on be serious.
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Posted on 2009 03 29

First of all Gary in past posts you said you would never respond to me again unless I revealed my name to you, I guess you said one thing and then did the other. Where do you stand on this, answering those who choose to remain anonymous or not? Final answer? As to Jim Gailey and the layoffs so far what I have seen are concerned citizens asking for accountability. Sadly when people start to pressure Jim Gailey and Dana Anderson to answer, you call it "hooting and hollering" and "freaking out". To date there is no indication that Jim Gailey or Dana Anderson will ever offer a transparent truthful review of their actions, so I guess we as citizens should follow your lead and let it all slide and just keep out of it. Otherwise we are just a bunch of whiners. Thats how you view the citizens who ask tough questions and demand accountability right? According to you the only solution to the city's problems is to cut programs, staff, and services. There are many of us who believe that there are better ways to do things, a vision for community that can only be achieved through bold, informed, and creative leadership. Your old politics of pitting people against each other in order cut city services and lower your taxes is a style of governance that should be rejected for its innability to address the needs of our community. We need people who strengthen our town not detractors like you who only view change as a means for slashing and burning services in order to save themselves a few tax dollars. True leadership inspires, teaches, and is open to looking at things differently, you Gary, as is evident in your past words and deeds, do not have these qualities. Oh and who was the school board member who attacked you regarding the flyer you designed and anonymously paid to have put in the Sentry and what did he say and why do you feel that school board member owes you an apology? Ah forget it Gary you are never going to answer, why should Jim Gailey?
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Posted on 2009 03 22

I love simple ideas like Gary Crosby puts forth that the military fights for my right to say what I want. Sure there have been instances where military might was needed to protect the intrests of the United States but I have not seen an example of that since 1945. The military may be fighting for your right to drive what you want Gary but I'm pretty sure my right to say what I want is secure and always has been. Except of course under your president George W. Bush where we actually had to worry about what we said for fear of being spied on or being called un-American by Bushies like you. One only need look at this most recent Gary Crosby comment to see what kind of leadership he would offer as a South Portland city councilor and that would be one who does not like citizens "hooting and hollering" or questioning a management decision that cuts a service that they valued. He says that Jim Gailey was in an untenable postion but then says that he does not know whether the cuts were right or wrong or whether we have the "whole story". I guess we just better take Gary's word for it then and blindly support the decisions and stop "freaking out". What a sad way to look at the citizen's role in a free society, (thats not a free society based on blindly following our military either) but one that values public input. Comments like these show why Gary Crosby would make a terrible public servant, that he is a divider and will never offer anything positive to South Portland. He is not a builder or creator, has no vision, and only sees what is wrong with our town. Lee Humiston's War Museum the exception. Oh and we are still waiting for Gary to answer questions posed to him in past posts. But then again his unwillingness to do so speaks to the type of city councilor he would make and that is a very poor one.
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Posted on 2009 03 22

Does this mean that the young adult room is closed at the library? Were citizens notified in advance so that the children who use that room every day after school can have time to process the loss or was Rita Napi just escorted out like Deb Smith with only minutes to gather her things and perhaps post a hasty note on the door? If that is how it was handled then it is an utter disgrace. Mr. Gailey should explain what plans were made to notify parents and children who rely on Rita Nappi and the young adult room at the library so that they could acknowledge her work and make plans to take their after school needs somewhere else. Thoughtless, shortsighted and heartless. What kind of town leadership makes job cuts on the backs of children's services? Shame on all of you who participated in these decisions.
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Posted on 2009 02 25

No Gary it was only after the media cornered you that you did not deny putting the fear mongering flier in the Sentry. Today you make it sound like it was clearly marked paid for by Gary Crosby, and that of course is not the case is it? Just like your big painted signs put up under the cover of night no clearly marked attribution of origin. It was only after you were caught and questioned about it that you were you willing to come clean. Those are your actions Gary and that is who you are, a divisive public character. Joey
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Posted on 2009 02 17

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMOmB1q8W4Y
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Posted on 2009 02 16

Well I have certainly heard you make that claim many times before, no name no response. You can't seem to help yourself though. I think most of us realize why you want names and many of us choose to remain anonymous as a result of that understanding. Though I am curious why is a comment made by "Joe" worthy of your attention when the opinions of an anonymous enrolled voter of South Portland is not? You are the one who has chosen to shape South Portland to how you want it to be, whether it be putting up signs to deny high school students a decent school to learn in, or more properly a safe building that meets code, or to restrict responsible dog owners from using public property. Your public presence and apparent goals for South Portland only seek to tear things down, impede, and deny. I have never heard you offer a positive vision for South Portland, ever. I do not think you have it within you that's why I urge voters to deny you an opportunity to serve that type of negative agenda. Thanks, Joe
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Posted on 2009 02 15

What we were talking about Gary is your view of the citizens of South Portland. I used the dog issue as an example of your divisive and untrustworthy way of conducting business. While on the task force did you push hard for changes you now want in your referendum? I doubt it. My original point however was that someone with such a negative prejudiced view of our community is not fit to be a city councilor. When asked about citizens being responsible for their own trash your starting point is based on mistrust, lack of faith, and opinion based on your own ruminations on what people might do. That's not leadership its fear mongering. Your last post, while not addressing your poor view of the integrity of our community, seems to suggest that because the SOPO dog owner president brought up the notion of a referendum, in whatever contexts that may have been, at a past city council meeting, that it somehow absolves you from the actions you have taken in regards to your own referendum. That seems a bit pathetic to search out what other people do in order to justify your own actions. I'm not sure that is a good characteristic to have as a public servant either. I think South Portland voters are looking for servants who see what is good and possible in our city not candidates who are concerned with "pet peeves" or things that drive them nuts.
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Posted on 2009 02 14

No problem Gary I'll just quote you instead. "The first thing that would come to mind for me is you would have a lot of people dropping trash anywhere they could to save money. Probably making a real mess in the city." This is what you said about "a lot" of the citizens of South Portland. No words rearranged just you and your feelings about your neighbors. I do not "know full well that there are people that simply don’t care and will toss it anywhere", that is your negative and devisive world view, not mine. Furthermore I have no idea where you stand, you joined a task force to work out a solution to beach access for responsible dog owners and then when the results were not to your liking you launched into a new tirade and moved to eliminate dogs from the beaches for six months of the year all together. An extreme response that any reasonable person would realise is bitter vengeful and full of spite. In my mind this is the real Gary Crosby and all the polite bloviation one can find in your constant public input should be highly suspect. I do not belive you would be a good public servant as ego seems to be what drives your public behavior and that ego seems to only be able to see what is wrong with people and community. I don't think South Portland citizens want that kind of attitude representing them.
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Posted on 2009 02 13

Wow so thats what Gary thinks of the citizens of South Portland. If they were required to deal with their own trash that we would cheat, litter, and break the law. Is this really a person we want representing us on the city council? Negative, devisive, and untrustworthy when it comes to public policy. No thanks.
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Posted on 2009 02 13

So why did you bother with a role on the task force if this is how you felt all along? Seems like a big waste of time and tax payer money. Unless you have some need to be in the public spotlight stop yapping about it and get on with your referendum.
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Posted on 2009 01 11

I say Anthony Young VS. Gary Crosby in five five minute rounds of mixed martial arts UFC stylee. Winner gets to decide the fate of his neighbor's quality of life. Jim Soule officiating and bring back Claude Morgan as MC. In this corner wearing the pelt of a long haired collie and weighing in at 214 pounds, he is an expert in the art of bloviation and sand kicking, with a record of no victories and two losses, Gary "The Laundry Man" AhhCrooooooooooooooooosby....
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Posted on 2008 12 31

If his taxes were lowered by the assessors office, his round robin comment would have gone something like this. Hey folk one last thing just wanted everyone to know that I wrote the assessors office and was able to get my property value lowered significantly so my tax bill has gone down quite a bit, yep lot lower...kaa-ching. Now I know most of you aren't sitting in a city council seat, well in fact 99.9999 percent of you aren't, but I expect that if you complain to the city assessor that you will get the same treatment that I got. So I encourage all citizens to follow my lead and get some money for yourselves. Oh yeah and that whole education funding formula thing that I meant to work on as mayor, you know it will ahh probably work itself out. Until then Elizabeth Sawyer is your gal, she'll hook you up, tell her the mayor sent you.
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Posted on 2008 12 17

mike, this American realizes that we already have it and as a citizen it is my responsibility to think about how it can best be used. We also need to be realistic, the glass museum's efforts to use the building failed, and as sad as things are today it would be a good bet that the Children's Theater would have stumbled as well. So we are where we are, now you feel it should be sold. To who? As you stated in an earlier post even the brand new 100 Waterman Drive has no takers so why entertain such folly? There is no speculation in real estate "now" the deal went down years ago its a city property so what should we do with it that best serves the community? My suggestion is to look at it with a long view and to be creative about its use. To make it a place that becomes a destination in its own right. What that means mike is that people make the journey to South Portland because of something special and then they go off and eat at our restaurants, shop at our stores and enjoy our town. There are ways to make this property work well for South Portland but you do need to look at things differently. Hey and if money is so important to you what's wrong with, what I believe is a low ball estimate, of $25,000 in reclaimed materials? I'm pretty sure my ideas, while I put them out there only for the sake of conversation, would be a lot cheaper than the price tag for renovating the building and future operating costs. Without bringing up selling it tell us what you would do with the site mike.
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Posted on 2008 12 17

I think writing letters to the assessor's office demanding to have his taxes lowered and after being denied using his public seat to launch into a tirade about property values speaks volumes about his view of his council seat. Suppose mike that he did get a favorable hearing from the assessor's office do you really think we would hear anything from Mr. Soule on the subject?
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Posted on 2008 12 17

I guess the obvious needs to be stated. Jim Soule, by publicly calling for a review of his property value and by using his council seat to offer his house up for sale has abused his position. Regardless of his tongue and cheek offer to sell his home it remains a breach of the public trust and he should at the very least publicly apologize, and at the most resign his seat. This is a guy who did nothing as mayor, zilch, zero, nada, and the first opportunity he gets as a re-seated councilor he schemes for ways to benefit himself. He is the perfect example of what public service should not be.
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Posted on 2008 12 16

I forgot to note that this educational building could be built with reclaimed material from the existing armory. Likewise elements of the building could be used in the landscaping. Sculpture, benches, walkways, could all be created from pieces of the old run down building.
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Posted on 2008 12 16

Unfortunately there is no need to create the concept of a "gateway" as that is exactly what it is. Whether it was the old bridge or our current one, traffic empties in to the Millcreek area and gives people a first impression of South Portland. Millcreek is the gateway. There is no getting around this fact, unless you sail. So it is what you do with this image that matters. Most of the buildings were already in place before our new bridge altered the view experienced by drivers coming to South Portland. The scene of sewage and and the backside of Blockbuster and VIP were an unfortunate consequence of the need for a new bridge. Now it is up to the citizens of South Portland to work to seek whatever improvements can be made to the obvious visual blight that is our gateway. In my opinion 100 Waterman Drive was not part of that effort. The building is boring even with its copper top floor. Its just another brick block, and here's a scoop I think it may be moving forward to contract. The sign is down and the site was being surveyed last week. Who knows there may be signs of life there soon. As far as the Armory goes, isn't 650K chump change for this site? (This is your opening mike) Lets forget about the building and focus on the land, remembering that even before the real estate bubble bursting no one wanted the building. The numbers did not work then they certainly do not look good now. Selling it now seems like a foolish avenue to consider. So lets think outside the box and create something on the land that becomes a destination spot in its own right. Eclectic gardens tied to the SMCC agriculture program, sculpture tied to MECA, a "SMALL" award winning, innovative, green visitors building that could double as a learning center. The building could be so unique and self sustaining that it would its own attraction. Local furniture makers could create one of a kind pieces for placement there. Rotating art could highlight the creative gifts of South Portland citizens. This spot could become an educational HUB that teaches visitors not just how to get to Bug Light but about the rich history of South Portland. Naturally this would be an extension of the South Portland Historic Society and perhaps its operation could be aided as an educational tool by students of the public schools. Lets try to think about this site carefully with a long view. We can create something that will make today's price tag seem like a rock bottom deal.
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Posted on 2008 12 16

Unfortunately when he won he was referred to as Bob Crowley from Portland not South Portland. Oil tank art I can handle as being noted from Portland, but Bob, come on now the parade will be on Broadway not Congress Street.
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Posted on 2008 12 15

There is no point speculating about the armory as a destination for this war museum. The city has no idea what to do with the armory, it is currently unsafe to house anything, and using the Humistan war museum as some jumping off point for finding its future role is ridiculous. If anything bulldoze the building, create an eclectic park, and place a small visitors center to highlight what South Portland has to offer. War is over if you want it.
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Posted on 2008 12 14

Noooooooooooooooooooo! Now where will I be able to buy my next HDTV. Oh yeah, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, Sears, Circuit City, Home Depot..........China rocks!
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Posted on 2008 12 03

I thought it was interesting to see Linda Boudreau use her round robin time at last nights city council meeting to launch into her own little inaugural address. Rather than apologize to the citizens of South Portland for her bizarre comments made at the mayor's caucus of the previous week, she seemed to lay out her own agenda of what she wanted done over the coming year. It seemed to be more bitter, albeit passive aggressive, language from a woman who is full of her own self importance. A sore loser who, if I am not mistaken, had no congratulatory words for our new mayor during her closing statement of last night.
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Posted on 2008 12 02

I hope that during tonight's city council meeting Linda Boudreau uses her round robin time to explain her comments made during last weeks caucus for mayor, and then make much needed apologies to Tom Blake, The SouthPortlander, and most importantly the citizens of South Portland. Her opinions seen in the posted video are disturbing. Either she still feels the same way and will make no round robin comments about them or she will have the moral fortitude and decency to clarify what was a shameful rant.
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Posted on 2008 12 01

It is so nice to see Linda Boudreau confirm for us all in this video clip, as many of the earlier posts correctly pointed out, that she would have been a terrible choice for mayor. Her bitter statement verges on paranoia and displays absolute contempt for the average citizen to participate in the democratic process. Tom Blake's hard work and passionate involvement in our community is exemplary. It is only natural that his dedication be attractive to any citizen regardless of party affiliation. I am so glad that Linda Boudreau stepped aside, and likewise, I am glad that the South Portlander was there to capture her statement for the public to witness. Congratulations Tom Blake. P.S. Last week I tried to post something regarding councilor Boudreau and it was rejected. I felt the comment was justified but it was denied as perhaps too harsh. The moderator is obviously professional and unbiased. Where Linda Boudreau comes up with her conspiracy theories one can only guess.
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Posted on 2008 11 24

I forgot to mention a few ideas. When you say "repurposing" I think of re-branding. Re-branding and green washing are known tactics of the fossil fuel industry used to divert attention away from their true business model and intentions. An example might be the recent Iriving Oil advertisement claiming to divert their tanker ships to avoid wright whales when in fact the industry is currently lobbying to loosen restrictions on ship speed and routing that will have the opposite consequence for whales. I also sense that when we hear talk of the tank farm becoming some sort of future art gallery that this is an example of how the concept can be used to float positive spin using an irrational hypothetical. There is only one way for the industry to look at this contest and that is how can it be used to help redefine its image in the wake of an enlightened consumer movement to cease using its product. Well done Senor Gilis and bravo MCC you help to protect the profits of an industry we all want to end.
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Posted on 2008 11 15

I do agree with your concerns about the Maine Center For Creativity and its directors singular vain pursuit of a project that if public comments indicate, is not wanted and disliked to an astounding degree. The diversion of money to this ugly project with little concern for public need is immoral. As far as the art goes, it does not do anything but allow the industry in general, and Sprague Energy specifically, to exploit the Maine coast beyond our borders in order to aid its own causes. It is cynical p.r. that can be used in campaigns around the world helping to position the industry as one that is a good corporate citizen. Of course here in Maine where we have to live with the ugly design, nothing could be further from the truth. Citizens do not like project at all. So how will our discontent be portrayed beyond our borders, I would suggest falsely. The public has been virtually ignored in the process and the tunnel vision displayed by the contest participants should be viewed with great suspicion. Art is political indeed, and it must be looked at in terms of the moment not some hypothetical future purpose that will never happen. Sprague Energy's donated oil tank park? Come on Sharkey, I appreciate your thoughtful comments but lets keep it real, there will never be an oil tank art park, more likely, if soil samples allow, the land will be home to a hotel, or condo complex. Or, if they really have their way, oil will remain there for as long as possible. Mr. Gilis and Jean Maginnis have helped to ensure that. In twenty years when Mr. Gilis's salt water taffy colors have faded and peeled and Jean is off on some other personal goal lets revisit this and see who really benefited from this contest. I doubt it will be you and me.
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Posted on 2008 11 15

I guess he sounds like a hypocrite talking about "blood for money", and his personal campaigns to fight against fossil fuel dependency, and then he hops right in to bed with them and sells his himself out. Oil tank art teaches us what about fossil fuel dependency? His ugly design is merely a mask meant to elevate oil tanks to the unfitting level of icon. It would be one thing if he said he was just after the money or the opportunity to make art on large objects regardless of their place in society, but to respond as he does in this interview, with disingenuous drivel about humanity getting off of oil is pathetic. Any artist with a true concern for global warming would never have participated in this horrible contest. Mr. Gili can save his preaching, enjoy his blood money, and look forward to a prominent place in future oil trade magazines and industry promotions.
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Posted on 2008 11 14

....and until then I will be happy to take the money.
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Posted on 2008 11 13

This could be our opportunity as a town to buy the mall! We could put the high school there, SMCC could have a satellite campus, and we could even have room for a city hall. Keep a few of the stores that the kids like and the food court of course, and voila a major hub to solve all our problems. Best Buy would make a heck of gym, and the kids would already know their way around. No parking problems either.
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Posted on 2008 11 12

First officer deputized to patrol the beach, outgoing city councilor, the man from Texas, Claude Morgan. View his swearing in ceremony here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1LsvM-vMbY&feature=related
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Posted on 2008 11 11

What I find interesting is that two republicans go running for government solutions when it suits their own personal goals. Belief in personal liberty and individual responsibility go right out the window when they want something for themselves. Dog parks we all know involve a diversion of tax dollars regardless of the false promise of raising money to fence the sand lot in. Of course these will be the same republicans who will jump on their soap box and sound off about spending money on the high school or education in general. They only seem to view government as a means to their own ends. Divisive and pathetic.
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Posted on 2008 11 09

The city council should never have done anything regarding this issue. They should have listened to comments at council meetings from those who have a problem with dogs on the beach and continued to refer them to the police chief. It is his jurisdiction and he was the one to handle the situation. If citizens did not find relief from the laws on the books, then the council should have suggested they bring it to referendum. This appears to be where its heading anyway and we could have spared ourselves this nauseating discourse. The attention that this issue has reached is truly ridiculous. It has reached the level of absurd entertainment. My advice, just keep walking the dog and following the laws and you should be fine, and when you're out there, reach for your cell phone and call in an infraction yourself once in a while. Hey and don't forget to vote. You know -- election, president, financial crisis, world peace and all that....hmmm photo-op, Obama walking a dog, that's it, a sure hedge against the margin of error! Golden Retriever or Spaniel? Dog people, come on now, do what you do best. Oh one last thing....Hi Linda...Boudreau that is. You been blogged girl, whatever that is.
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Posted on 2008 10 20