Arkansas Blog

Crime? What crime?
No crime out here in WLR.

"What , me worry?"
-A E Newman

You'd better watch out Max or Barbara will get those famous Power Panties in a wad. Of course, she might have said something different if she'd had a pair tugged on.

I expect this issue will kill her chances of becoming mayor. It was almost Valley Girl in its appeal.

Better get them Power Panties fixed!!

Bravo. Mark Stodola is the Mayor Little Rock desperately needs. If we don't look these problems in the face and act, beginning this year, 10 years from now we'll have hell to pay. We need a mayor who represents the city in its ENTIRETY.

Have you guys come out and endorsed Stodola yet?

Or that Woody guy up in the Third?

Because it's pretty clear who you prefer.

Max,
The mayor's race is not solely about crime. Stodola wants to define the race that way because all he has ever done was to serfve as prosecuting attorney. The mayor is responsible just as the other board members from everything from garbage to economic development. Stodola is way over the top. You can only fight crime by increasing the number of jail beds (we defeated that); hiring more cops; spending more on treatment and prevention; and of course, tearing down drug houses (Stodola's favorite activity). All these require new taxes. Which tax is Stodola recommending to increasing. STodola is a demagogue in the classical sense. He describes a problems; tires to convince everyone he is the only one with the answer to solve the problem; and then offers himself in the role as savior. Give me a break.

Max,
The mayor's race is not solely about crime. Stodola wants to define the race that way because all he has ever done was to serfve as prosecuting attorney. The mayor is responsible just as the other board members from everything from garbage to economic development. Stodola is way over the top. You can only fight crime by increasing the number of jail beds (we defeated that); hiring more cops; spending more on treatment and prevention; and of course, tearing down drug houses (Stodola's favorite activity). All these require new taxes. Which tax is Stodola recommending to increasing. STodola is a demagogue in the classical sense. He describes a problems; tires to convince everyone he is the only one with the answer to solve the problem; and then offers himself in the role as savior. Give me a break.

I've heard Stodola speak on crime and he has an understanding of the issue that far exceeds any of the other candidates. It's not just campaign rhetoric -- but knowledge gained from real experience on the front line. He's head and shoulders above the rest on this one.

A real leader would have required the telephone utility to offer advanced services to all city residents, not just her favorite neighborhoods.

Give it a rest, Labradoodle. We know that you are part of his campaign.

In fact, Vince, lete someone else do your talking. You are not even a resident of LR.

Hank must be wearing his Power Panties.
Little Rock is bipolar. It hates its image as the crime/murder center of Arkansas but hate raising taxes to deal with the problem even more.
Whoever the mayor is (and they all present themselves as saviors in some fashion) is going to have to resolve this paradox.

I once lived in Little Rock. I even had my business located there. I left because of crime and I would like to return some day. I know first hand that crime IS the issue or should be. Until crime is reduced in LR, I will not be moving my business back there.

I don't know which candidate would be the best to deal with crime. Talk is cheap. I like what Stodola has to say though.

http://markforlittlerock.com

The job description for Mayor of Little Rock is still largely undefined since the shakeups of the 1990s. Dailey, who has demonstrated the spine and intestine of a common nematode, has done nothing to bring definition to the position. So much for the bully pulpit. Honestly, the guy is the Ed Begley of municipal government. If Stodola says he wants to broaden the role of the mayor as an advocate for law enforcement and community revitalization, that's all the better. Graves' "not my job" response shows exactly what her aspirations are: to be a placeholder for West Little Rock developers who are already bleeding the city dry. I guarantee you that that thong she's wearing has "PROPERTY OF DELTIC TIMBER" stamped on the crotch.

Wrong, Hank. I'm not a part of Stodola's campaign. Just an interested citizen like you.

Simply put, Mark Stodola is the best candidate...go get 'em, Mark...

Okay Stodola partisans - you build jails and you lock them up - THEN WHAT?

Come on, lets get real here, because crime is not solved by jails. The way we solve the murder rate is to improve living standards. On that issue, Bill Walker is head and shoulders above Mark Stodola.

The way to reduce crime is to invest in intervention programs, neighborhood watch, and other crime deterrents. On that issue Bill Walker has a plan and Mark Stodola doesn't.

Also, its more than just locking up people. What are we going to do to reduce the convicted and then acclimate them to a job, and make them a credit to society?

Yes its easy to talk tough like George W. Bush does and now Mark Stodola does.

Its another thing to be a leader and think long term like Bill Walker.

http://www.BillWalkerforMayor.com

Pritt it's easy to talk about all that but what have you done to get any of that in place? What has Walker actually done to get any of that in place? Untill that is in place, we have no alternative than to lock up criminals. You do the crime; You do the time.

It would be wonderful to provide the things you talk about but HOW does Walker plan to do it? It's very easy indeed to talk about those types of programs. There's a reason why crime exists and as long as it exists, criminals must be punished.

Walker is serving on the Parole board thanks to an appointment by his buddy Mike Huckabee (Walker endorsed Huckabee over Fisher in 2002 remember). Besides letting criminals go, what has he done to make low-income neighborhoods safe?

MarkforLittleRock.com

There are some folks lurking that haven't a real grasp on their preferred candidate for LR mayor...

Mark Stodola is the guy...period.

Stodola ia a lliberal democrat. Stodola is a weak attorney whose only clients to speak of are other government entities. Stodola has major peronal pecadillos that will come out in this campaign. We do not need a mayor whose peronal morality will be called into question.

Oh, and by the way, the article in the DGAZ this morning talking about Stodola's decision to resign from his representation of the airport commission is classic.
First, the amount listed as his reimbursement last year of $145,000 may be correct. My sources tell me that since the first of this year that compenstation has been over $250,000. Second, it is my understanding that Stodola has been bragging to all concerned that even if he is elected he will be able to retain the contract for his law firm. That is why he has asked city attorney Tom Carpenter for a formal opinion. This is a typical Clintonian move. Also, Stodola asked the commission to extend his contract three years only a few weeks before he announced that he was going to run for the mayor's position. A coincidence? I do not think so. No one in the article referred to the issue that Stodola is also still on the Sixth Judicial District's payroll primarily so that he could retain his government pension? Is he gong to relenquish that if elected as well? Stodola is and has been on the government teat for his entire life. We do not want to reward that kind of mooching behavior by giving him another sip at the trough. Stodola is a fraud and he should be uncovered for what he really is. Any of the people running for mayor other than Stodola have more intellectual honesty than Stodola. Pick one.

Someone needs to ask Larry Jegley for the time records submitted by Stodola to justify his compensation. A FOI request should be used since I doubt if the information will be given freely. There is fraud involved here and people are going to circle the wagons quickly. Where are you on t his one Max? You don't seem to be as agressive if the target is a liberal>

Geesh, Hank. What did Stodola ever do to you? This ax you have to grind is way to personal.

"Bold and Blue" you have personal reasons to be angry over 2002's election. Let it go because while I disagree with Walker endorsing Huckabee, this is not the issue.

You said what has Walker done to help lower crime in Little Rock and this state?

* Sponsored legislation that created the Arkansas Drug Abatement Law, which identifies any property used for illegal drug activity as a nuisance and allows for closure.

* Sponsored the 70% Law, which requires criminals serve at least seventy percent of their term for major criminal offenses before they become eligible for parole

* Sponsored legislation that formed neighborhood enhancement programs to rehabilitate neighborhoods suffering from neglect and abandonment

* Sponsored legislation to require sheriffs and chiefs of police to be notified when an inmate was to be within their jurisdiction while on furlough

* Sponsored legislation that required out-of-state property owners to comply with city codes (Long Arm Statute)

But Walker is more than just someone with a record in fighting crime and the reasons that lead to it. Walker is a fighter who does more than talk tough.

Also, he is committed to a plan for a Light Rail System for the city. He is wanting to disperse economic opportunity throughout the city, not concentrated in certain pockets.

Most of all - Bill Walker is not in the hip pocket of the developers.

"Bold and Blue" you have personal reasons to be angry over 2002's election."

Not that it is relevant but there was nothing "personal" about the 2002 election for me. Nothing personal about the mayor's race either.

The fact remains that Walker supported Huckabee and was then appointed to the parole board. One of the more prized appointment$.

You complain about Stodola talking about getting tough on crime and then you point to Walker voting for the 70% law. you can't have it both ways.

Light rail? You got to be kidding. Who the hell is going to use that? I can just see all the WLR residents parking their SUV's to use public transportation. This ain't Europe. I don't know anyone that uses public transportation now. Buses go many more places that light rail. I suggest you do some research. You'll find that light rail is not efficient according to studies.

I woke up on Saturday morning and hung out around the house for a while. Decided to run out to grab some lunch around noon. When I pulled back into my driveway I noticed a Bill Walker for Mayor sign in my front yard. I think his campaign must be traveling around LR planting signs randomly in front yards. It is certainly no longer in mine and I hope that no one saw it.

I was very excited to hear that a female was running for mayor of Little Rock. I think more females should be involved in politics. But, not just any female. We need a strong female leader and Graves is not that. Example: her response to the increase in homicides in Little Rock. )"this is not the crime wave of the 90's. There are people who know each other casually who have a drug, alcohol, or anger management problem and kill each other and it's horrific."

What kind of naiive response is that??? Is that what she will say to vicitm's families? Sorry, the person(s) who murdered your family member was just angry and having a bad day?

What is Graves going to do about crime? That was the question and she failed to adress the issue. In fact she fails to come to the table with any plans and for that reason I will not be voting for this panty waste female candidate for mayor. Stodola gets my vote! He's the man with the plan!!