Seizing People's Homes and Farms!!!

Kim Jung Un School of Journalism

See no evil, hear no evil!!

Unless its someone you really don't like!!

Dear Editor,

I was sorry to see an article by Geoff Hamill in a recent Pocahontas Times that was not up to the high standard for balance and accuracy that I expect of him. It is customary in reporting on legal disputes to attempt to interview both sides, and I certainly was not contacted for this purpose.

After correspondence both with Editor Jaynell Graham, and Hamill himself, a correction of the least important error (the Judges name) appeared last week, but the overall posture and significance of the case remained misrepresented.

It was in 2007, not 2006 as stated, along with Charlotte Elza, Doug Bernier and me, several hundred other Pocahontas County property owners were sued, and in Joseph Pomponio's Court, not Rowe's. Several hundred more had been sued for the same fee, several years before, in Rowe's Court. Altogether, our Solid Waste Authority under Chairman Ed Riley has sued over a third of Pocahontas County property owners, and another raft of suits is now pending.

The central issues, ignored by the Courts so far, are far more important than paying for garbage (which noone disputes is important) , but are whether non-elected Government agencies can do whatever they find convenient, by whatever means they find convenient, or if they are bound to fulfill the specific responsibilities laid on them by the Laws that establish them, by the specific means and powers granted to them by those Laws.

The West Virginia Supreme Court's Memorandum Decision, to which Hamill referred, is not yet final, and will be challenged in Federal Court, if not reversed on reconsideration.

Government by Laws that We, the People enact through our representatives, rather than rapacious Government by a King and bureaucrats who do as they please, was what a certain Revolution was fought over, and a certain Constitution was written to ensure, some two-and-a-quarter centuries ago.

I'm not ready to give it up. Are you?

 

John Leyzorek 

Indian Draft

Editor's Note:  We have been holding this response for a short time to give the Pocahontas Times an opportunity to correct its false journalism slant.  From the above you can see, that the Times has no intention of correcting its story to provide a full balance.  

So the Commentator is presenting John's letter to provide the "rest of the story."

The person's involved in this lawsuit are not trying to save a $ but to ensure that the Solid Waste Laws of WV are fully and appropriately enforced.  They have not been!

These folks who are fighting the Solid Waste Authority are extreme environmentalists almost to a fault.  If their ideas were followed our landfill would last decades longer because they believe in recycling.

The Pocahontas County Solid Waste Authority went for decades without taking an oath of office.  They hired an out-of-county law firm to oppress the local folks and are attempting to set up a legal precedent whereby they can seize their homes and sell them on the courthouse steps.

The victims of this rogue public body are lots of older folks who live on a limited income and sometimes have to choose between buying their medicine or their food.  They are being denied the benefits allowed them by law.