Sorry about no FREAKY FRIDAY, but after 6 weeks confinement and absolutely beautiful weather, I had to have a “beach fix” on Friday and it took all day.
Every voting citizen in Fairhope should read the recent cover story in Lagniappe, A TALE OF TWO CITIES. It is a look at the other “side” of Fairhope — the gap between affluent and working poor.
A tale of two cities – Lagniappe Mobile
A tale of two cities – Lagniappe Mobile
By Lynn Oldshue “A century later, Fairhope is still a draw for writers seeking a peaceful retreat, for art lovers … and for many other vacationers, no shortage of whom fall for this unheralded setting and decide to stay. Sidewalks are filled with more than a dozen different public art pieces and copious flowers in […]
Source: lagniappemobile.com/65405-2/
This Lagniappe article has a paywall, however is free at news stands, get your Lagniappe today
The author Lynn Oldshue, an investigative reporter for Lagniappe, a reporter for Alabama Public Radio, storyteller with Our Southern Souls is also an administrator for the Facebook group Fairhope Now.
It is a very compelling story about the makeup of Fairhope, affluent vs. poor. Lynn has written what has been a sad reality in Fairhope for many years.
The major reason such disparity exists is that the municipal government of Fairhope has always represented the status quo.
POLITICS is the cause, POWER is the means. After reading the article ask yourself what you can do to help people in need?
Mayor Wilson, and her twin Kelly, have been working in the African American community years before the Mayor was elected. Mayor Wilson is the first Mayor of Fairhope to reach out to the African American community. Prior to this administration the black community was ignored except at election time and minorities were rarely hired by the city, which is not the case now.
The Mayor’s efforts have been blocked by the council who operates like a criminal enterprise.
The recent action of the City Council to purchase land for recreation, $2.65 million, near the Airport and not near the poorer neighborhoods was political, racist and typical of this council — a Faux hope move.
The Mayor fought passionately for a location that favored the most kids, her mistake was the kids were minorities.
CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE
CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE | THE RIPP REPORT / BALDWIN COUNTY LEGAL EAGLE
Fairhope being run as a Criminal Enterprise? WATCH UNTIL MINUTE 2:07–9:
After living in Fairhope for 27 years and doing the Ripp Report for 14+ years, I would call it a tale of three cities.
FAIRHOPE: The affluent are to busy to participate in municipal government and are quite willing to believe what they may hear while gossiping over wine. What is most important to them is that they live in “Fairhope”.
NO-HOPE: are the working poor, those working and living paycheck to paycheck.
NO-Hope is the African American Community, living in Fairhope with No Hope.
No-Hope is being completely ignored by the City Council and abused by a corrupt judicial system.
No Hope is NO Money.
FAUX-HOPE This community has flowers and hides behind them. FAUX HOPE is fake. What you see and what you hear is not reality.
Faux-Hope is the vehicle for corruption and the cover for accountability.
Faux-Hope is the status quo, the good ole boys.
FAUX HOPE depends on Fairhope and No Hope to maintain control.
Faux-Hope is CATALYST.
Pastor Chris Bell 3 Circle Church:
People see Fairhope as a flourishing utopia where people build bigger and bigger houses, with a boat, the perfect kids and the perfect life. Fairhope’s prosperity and perfect surface is a veneer that covers deeper problems. But there is something darker underneath the veneer. Under the surface of Fairhope, more families struggle than we want to admit or imagine. Some people are hurting, getting left behind and forgotten.
FAUX-HOPE capital city of CATALYST.
If you hate the place why not pack your bags and leave? You don’t own property in Baldwin County and don’t have a job so you have no ties. Arizona is nice. Try a new place. Get a job.
Ripp isn’t leaving because he, like so many of us are going to change this place. Then YOU will want to pack your bags and leave and take the Catalysts with you
Get ready to pack….
Yes run the Good Ole Boys out along with the current council
Shoot I will be happy to help them pack and go BACK to Mississippi and Georgia
Yes, that’s right I said it. These are two states that are the home oF at least two council members
Amen to that.
We need good people running with no ties to special interests. I heard Kant might run.?
I do not HATE anything and this is where I choose to live. I have that right as a Combat veteran and U.S. citizen, and the U S Constitution. The Ripp Report is a consumer Association, not for profit. My goal is honest government, for Fairhope to really be Fairhope there can be no Fauxhope or No hope
Combat vet my ass. REMF at best.
Be careful about downplaying ANY Marine, especially a COMBAT Marine. They are NOT to be underestimated.
By the way, are YOU a veteran? If you are were you on the front lines or were you a Lieutenant’s lackey?
Marine combat vets don’t talk or brag about their service and never use it as an excuse or a crutch to gain favor or sympathy. RIPP the REMF.
Vietnam, the whole country was a Combat zone. I was in a combat engineer,11th, 3rd Battalion. I am very proud to have served in the United States Marine Corp but always remembered my friends and first cousin, that were killed while serving their country
Only time Ripp carried a gun was in basic. Only combat he saw was when the real Marines were charging toward the fight and he passed them going the other way at some rear airbase. What a joke.
So you know Ripp’s history. Ha ha were you there with him if he was an REMF?
Another Catalyst operative trying to discredit the biggest threat to them
Not working. You might have to go back to Boone or Cox for advice.
Yep. Can tell it’s election year and the trolls are out.
Everyone in Vietnam had a weapon. I served 67/68 in Vietnam during Tet Offensive, my last base was about 8 miles from the DMZ, Dong Ha. I have always charged toward the fight before the Marines and after. I must really chap your ass, that makes my day
You might want to stay anonymous, to your kids as well, for talking smack about any veteran you pompous jackass. When you wake up in the morning you should say thanks to all veterans and hope we continue to protect you from abroad enemies and DOMESTIC ones as well. Prick
Print your name next time!
Moron REMF …
Stop it Robert Brown. Why do you read this blog? Insecure o guess.
We will get YOU out of this town
I wish Jack would love to Arizona and take the rest of the council with him
Haha. I pray people wake up and vote this council out. The only two who grew up here are serving for special interest and the other 3 are outsiders and could give a damn about Fairhope.
You must be one of those who thinks their shit doesn’t stink. I’m sure you don’t give two shits about anyone being less fortunate than you. Move yourself! We don’t need people like you for sure!
Sorry For Real,
We are going to fight for our homes. Just because you might have moved here recently doesn’t mean we are going to bow down to you
By the way take it easy on your temper. You must come from up North
Back at you boy. Homegrown and proud to be from here. Was speaking to those who are on my side and want this council out. Before you think I’m from anywhere besides here without knowing it might seem to us that you must have just moved here. I fight everyday for my home, my family and my town. Maybe you are just confused with the point I was trying to make in the first place.
Your attitude, like so many, is what is wrong with Fairhope. Never willing to look for ways to do better. You probably spend most of your time complaining with no solutions.
Mayor karin versis sherry cant Sullivan.
Didnahe take his name?
The different Fairhopes is nothing new. Many of us old timers have seen this town transform from a small community to a suburban city with oversized and over priced houses. The builders keep building them and the younger couples stretch their budgets to buy them so they can park their leased luxury cars.
With this covid thing going around, watch and see these overstretched people be kid bare because they are trying to give the appearance of wealth.
For years the city has tried to keep the minority outside the city limits. Just on the other side of Thomas Hospital is outside city limits. But go for miles East and you are in the city limits. I have seen Fairhope annex East but not South. Why? Minorities
Why does the council run at large instead of districts? Minorities.
How many minorities on council? Zero. It’s all white men.
Well how can we have a rich town with ugly houses in it? Go East and not south unless it is Point Clear. Bigger houses mean bigger property taxes without riff raff
You’re an idiot. Someone who does not understand equity and raising the whole City up.
The way the good old boys like it. Bless us on the inside and bless us well. All the others can go to Hell
Absolutely correct
Council opposed Council Manager form of Gov which would have created districts.
If the black community would annex into the city, they’d have a vote, it would increase the percentage of minorities and increase the likelihood of districts being created. They could be a game changer but have never been interested.
Initially, it really is hard to understand why you live in Fairhope when you hate it so much. You have been doing the Ripp Report for 14 years and have never had good things to say about any council and each one is worse than the other. Leave. If not, give a plan for something, anything.
Also, you scream CONFLICT all day long. Do you not see a conflict with raising taxes (1/2%) on gas for the downtown merchants. Isn’t the mayor a downtown merchant ? Isn’t that a CONFLICT? Not saying that they don’t deserve it, but shouldn’t the mayor recuse herself from the vote and discussion? If the mayor pushes for a tax for her business that is the very definition of CONFLICT.
Finally, since you are the great Ripp, and Catalyst is the problem, put your list of council candidates forward… who are you supporting? Nobody carrying your flag….thought so.
In fact you hitched your wagon to Attorney Harry Still who ran for city council in Bay Minette. He got his ass handed to him in a district race in a dying city. Terrible attorney, terrible political candidate and now terrible blogger. Best mates with Ripp, fittingly.
Ah Catalyst Fact Checker
You know just enough to be misleading
How about if the Mayor recuses herself from the discussions would that be ok with you?
Oh and by the way, Ripp supported many other candidates and they won
Tucker lost. Oh and how about the JOP race Catalyst put so much money on? How did these work out for your swarm group?
Notice how that Catalyst fact checker never answers a direct question? Just like the dirty politicians he works for.
Now that Catalyst no longer rules the press now that Chuckie is no longer with the Courier and Baldwin Insider has been exposed, Catalyst is on defense and cannot spin the news like it once could
The truth is coming out about the politicians in Baldwin County
The Baldwin Insider was authored by Chucky Cheese and Sherry Sullivan. God bless her.
This group out slot of effort to defeat Jody Wise Campbell. Didn’t work either
Fairhope this August will have its first real election cycle in 50 years.
They rigged the elections for 5 decades.
Ripp ended it.
Whwere do we put the Paul Ripp statue?
I say where the clock is.
Nude.
?
Oh Pontius Pilate, don’t rule out Baby Boone. He still has a few tricks up his sleeve
The last real election was in 2016. Mayor Wilson had the Secretary of State overseeing the election.
Well he supported Wilson for mayor, didn’t she win?
He also supported Burrell.
No more!!!!
Sherry “Catalyst” $ULLIvan
As usual you did not listen or attend the meeting. The Mayor was talking about all business in Fairhope she did point out the Downtown Merchants Association but made it clear she was talking about ALL business. You are wrong about not supporting candidates I supported this council, but they all ball faced lied about their affiliation with Catalyst and the fact that they were a block vote. Your complaints inspire me.
The catalyst fact checker is further evidence that Catalyst admits they are real
Catalyst is scared because of the over 15,000 readers of Ripp are becoming aware of this outfit.
I know several candidates are afraid of using Catalyst because Ripp is outing this group
Wow Catalyst Fact Checker? Seems like you must be about 2 years old. The terrible twos are tough even for all you little men who think you are bullets proof. I guess you can pound your chest without having to post your name. What a loser so many of you are.
Nervous Catalyst supporter. Ripp fights corruption and an advocate for ways to improve Fairhope. Only those who benefit from a self-serving agenda disagree with him.
You are obviously worried.
Full of do gooders who do druga and steal.
Rumor is there was a kickback to 4 of 5 councilmen on the 2.6 million land sale.
I looked at the vote.
One of the councilmen didnt vote. Others were 4-0.
Burrell Boone and Brown, the three B’s are responsible the other two Conyers and Robinson just closed their eyes and held their noses. The whole deal stinks.
If Conyers and Robinson lack a backbone to stand up to the three Bullies then they are part of the problem too. They were elected just like the crooked Three B’s and have the same right to speak out. But the way Jack made Robinson shut up that night made me believe Jack has Brown’s manhood in Jack’s hands
I question the backbones of Robinson and Boone – if they even have them. The other members of the council need to realize that they, as elected officials, have just as much right to be on that council as does Burrell. Yet they cower to him. Then these guys go home to their families to be the “men” of their houses?
Geez, come on guys, where are your vertebral columns?
By the way, for those who work for Catalyst, the term “Chordata” is a biological phylum that groups animals with backbones. Take note, Baby Boone.
Bingo. We need leaders who can think for themselves and want to make a positive difference.
This council has done nothing and love the status quo.
Robert Brown has a nice new ride.
Banked MILLIONS.
Fairhope graft.
Legal.
See ya at church.
Bless YOUR ❤
He is being investigated for violating ethics laws. Eastern Shore Art Center. No bids.
It won’t ever happen. In the first place, I’d be shocked if there was ever a doubt as to whom would be awarded that contract. Cliff Pitman has a stellar reputation (he just happens to have a partner with much less integrity than he has). In the second place, Robert Brown is protected by Corte’s cash (imho). When Brown ran for Council, he was vocally against the apartments at Fly Creek; once he won, he was all for the apartments because he stated that Corte was his mentor and he could vote for anything he wanted. I’m sure that he will win again……Fairhope is nothing if not full of short-sighted voters who are willing to have their heads turned by snake oil salesmen.
Looking for info from folks who know about Burrell’s juvie charges against.
Thanks.
Al Ethics Commission
Bullies are supported by city council, PD and Judge Snedeker.
Best can do is vote jack out.
Troubling times. Fairhope needs real leadership.
A first fair election in 50 years should bring out the cream of the crop in terms of political
candidates. Would be nice to get some women on the council to help Mayor Karin.
Totally agree with you! I have become increasingly aware that the majority of the men on the Council are more concerned with trading favors and puffing up their egos than they are with what is best for out City. Truly it is time for a clean Council; if Burrell had a conscience, he would resign now and never run again. He is toxic.
Toasting rhe crucifix is a bad omen. Even in cults, like Fairhope.
How is it a bad omen?
Burrell’s church prays on Sunday, lies on Monday, steals on Tuesday, diddles minors on Wednesday, drinks at McSherry’s on Thursday, worships Catalyst on Friday’s, and is paid by Corte on Saturday. The cycle repeats
Ripp served
and was wounded.
He was a sniper.
Saw action.
Yea sure….on his Playstation 3 Call of Duty that his Mom bought him.
The amount of people with negative and hateful comments is unbelievable and yet comical at best, due to the folks who choose to call themselves “anonymous” as opposed to identifying themselves truthfully.
I appreciate your blog and being able to read about “the other side of the coin.” Thank you for the truth, as well as thank you for your service to our country. Keep up your good work!
B. Jimenez
A Mobile resident
?
Mobile Moron
The Mobile Moron is not aware of the crap that goes on here
Awesome anonymous. Just like the lady said. Scarred and hide behind your post. Try saying something nice. Thanks Ms. Betty.
Betty, the reason many of us post as anonymous is because Baldwin is not Mobile. Furthermore, the many people who post if exposed would bring retribution on us and our families. Ripp was threatened with jail at one time when he tried to speak before the Council. The Sheriff is a Catalyst. If our names were made public we would face hell
We are waiting for the next election with the feds and Secretary of State to monitor
There is so much crookedness in this county.
Ms Jimenez
Ripp says things so many of us feel and is fearless in doing it
Ripp was a hero back then and is a hero now
The more I learn about him the more I admire him
Why is a mobile resident commenting here? Your city has bigger problems than we do.