AltWeeklies Wire
Florida Hometown Democracy Aims to Get Constitutional Amendment on 2010 Ballotnew
That amendment would require referenda on changes to counties' comprehensive land use plans; in essence, whenever some developer wants to replace wetlands with a surfeit of McMansions, you get to vote no. Democracy, geddit?
Orlando Weekly |
Jeffrey C. Billman and Billy Manes |
06-19-2009 |
Commentary
Happytownnew
A weekly overview of the screwed-up happenings in Orlando.
Orlando Weekly |
Billy Manes and Lindy T. Shepherd |
06-11-2009 |
Commentary
Tags: Orlando, Orange County
Orlando City Council Watchnew
Thoughtful and biting commentary on Orlando's city council.
Orlando Weekly |
Billy Manes |
06-11-2009 |
Commentary
Tags: Orlando City Council
Conservatives Tell the GOP to Butt Out of the Florida Senate Primarynew
The national media has cast the brouhaha over Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's Senate candidacy as a battle for the soul of a Republican Party in decline, a fight between the conservative and moderate wings of the GOP.
Orlando Weekly |
Jeffrey C. Billman |
05-28-2009 |
Politics
The Orlando Police Beatnew
Nov. 4, 3:38 a.m.: Three hours after this incident, people were going to start voting for the next president of the United States, which means that you were still up tossing and turning and hoping that rednecks in Pennsylvania wouldn't screw this up for the rest of us.
Orlando Weekly |
Jeffrey C. Billman |
11-14-2008 |
Commentary
Happytown: Craigslist, Foreclosures, and Animal Servicesnew
Thank God the MBI has cleaned up this town.
Orlando Weekly |
Jeffrey C. Billman, Billy Manes, Deanna Morey and Bob Whitby |
11-14-2008 |
Commentary
Election '08: Point: All Is Won. Counterpoint: No It Isn'tnew
Four years ago in this space, Weekly editor Bob Whitby and I penned columns on the meaning of the 2004 election, in which progressives and Democrats took a drubbing from George W. Bush and his minions. I foresaw a dystopian future of Republican rule. Whitby prognosticated a different vision, one in which the chickens of GOP excess and incompetence would come home to roost.
Orlando Weekly |
Jeffrey C. Billman and Bob Whitby |
11-14-2008 |
Commentary
Happytown: U.S. Rep. Ric Keller Totally Ripped Us Offnew
The thing about publishing a weekly newspaper is that, when it comes to elections, you’re inevitably behind the curve.
Orlando Weekly |
Jeffrey C. Billman, Billy Manes and Deanna Morey |
11-06-2008 |
Commentary
The Orlando Council Watchnew
Item: The city approves the purchase of driver feedback signs from Emergency Vehicle Supply.
Translation: The city is spending $51,025 (plus $4,800 maintenance) on those pixelated stanchions that politely remind you of your current speed and that you're probably driving a bit too fast for a thoroughfare populated by paraplegic blind people and Ritalin children.
Orlando Weekly |
Billy Manes |
11-06-2008 |
Commentary
Happytown's Endorsementsnew
You may not have heard, but there's an election coming up Nov. 4. Suddenly you're asking yourself, "Who and what would my dear friends at Happytown vote for?" Wonder no longer. It's endorsement time.
Orlando Weekly |
Jeffrey C. Billman, Billy Manes, Deanna Morey and Bob Whitby |
10-30-2008 |
Commentary
Ewwww, Scary!new
Our annual wearable tribute to the truly horrifying, just in time for Halloween. Instructions: Cut along the dotted lines, open eye and mouth holes, immediately suspend all trick-or-treating and return to Washington.
Orlando Weekly |
Jeffrey C. Billman, Billy Manes, Deanna Morey and Bob Whitby |
10-30-2008 |
Commentary
Orlando City Council Watchnew
This looked like it could get good. Overhead, the flat-screen beamed images of a sweaty-backed Mayor Buddy Dyer being tackled by a gaggle of kids from the Parramore Kidz Zone, while on the council floor embattled state Sen. Gary Siplin made the rounds in a light fedora and pinstripes. Was it Personal Caricature Day? No.
Orlando Weekly |
Billy Manes |
10-23-2008 |
Commentary
Happytown: The Throngs Adore Sen. Hopey in Floridanew
Presidents Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were in fine form, rattling off candy-coated bits of rhetoric effortlessly while standing next to each other in pure Dream Ticket formation.
Orlando Weekly |
Jeffrey C. Billman, Billy Manes and Adriana Ruiz |
10-23-2008 |
Commentary
Election '08: Who Judges the Judges?new
You know nothing about local judges, but you still elect them.
Orlando Weekly |
Jeffrey C. Billman |
10-23-2008 |
Politics
Is ACORN a Scapegoat or Villian?new
The venom conservatives have directed toward the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now in the waning weeks of this presidential election has truly been something to behold.
Orlando Weekly |
Adriana Ruiz |
10-23-2008 |
Politics
