Mumpower Takes Ball, Goes Home
By
In a blow to the definitions of adulthood and thoughtful governance, Carl Mumpower resigned from two city committees because he was angry that Mayor Bellamy didn’t, in his opinion, follow correct procedures.
AC-T: “City Councilman Carl Mumpower resigned Tuesday from two City Council committees, saying one should have discussed a gun buyback program before council voted on it.”
The buyback program was voted on and passed. Army of Mumpower stamped his feet, voted against the program, explained that gangs aren’t really that big a deal, and then said, “If you’re not going to follow proper procedure, there’s no reason for me to serve on that committeeâ€.
Mumpower also resigned from the Finance Committee, though the AC-T article doesn’t include Hot Carl’s reasons for that one.
The deafening sounds of the WAHHHmbulance filled City Council chamber, and Asheville residents were left wondering how this man would have a chance in hell of accomplishing anything in the halls of Congress.
This primary race between Mumpower, John Armor, and Spence Campbell for the Republican nomination is rapidly turning into a two-man race between the adults. Every time eCarl makes a statement or decision, he alienates a few more people and reveals a singular inflexibility that isn’t at all suited to the rigors of campaigning or serving the 11th Congressional District.
6 Comments
November 15th, 2007 at 11:28 am
I would take an opposite tack; The committe will not discuss that matter because Council is going to vote on it early-
Good, time to get out of here and grab a drink-
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November 15th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Far be if from me to agree with Mumpower on anything (really, it gives me indigestion), but I suspect the whole “gangs in Asheville” scare is largely (if not entirely) manufactured by the city government and its police force. There are fears in the communities where this gang activity is supposedly taking place that all of this is an excuse to increase the harrassment and intimidation of residents of these areas by the police.
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November 15th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Johnny I think you may be onto something there.
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November 15th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
I work at the police department.
I respect healthy cynicism, but you are quite wrong and I would hate for people to accept what you’re saying as true.
Because it ain’t.
Asheville’s last three homicides are believed to be gang related, and police have noted a marked increase in gang activity in the past couple of years.
Some of this is because officers are better educated at identifying gang activity and its associated crimes, and some is due to the notable increase in organized gang activity, such as gang tagging (marking turf), shooting incidents, and street robberies.
Other large N.C. cities have been combating organized gangs for quite some time.
Asheville has had small neighborhood gangs in the past that have been short-lived and did not adopt any national gang affiliation (Blood, Crip, etc.).
But now Asheville is seeing a re-emergence of neighborhood gangs that are stronger and more predatory in nature and that have also adopted some of the national gang traits (colors, names, drive-by shootings, etc.).
The city’s increase in shooting incidents is one indicator that gangs have contributed significantly to our violent crime increase.
Detectives and our crime analyst have found was a 21 percent increase in “shooting incidents” between 2004 and 2006. (This doesn’t mean there were an additional 150 people shot, just that there were nearly 150 more reports of gunfire, gunshot wounds, firing into occupied vehicles or homes and drive-by shooting incidents, etc.)
Police have also been getting information from residents, particularly in low-imcome and public housing neighborhoods where these gangs are operating. They tell police that gang members are conducting street robberies, shooting guns into houses and vehicles to intimidate residents.
We haven’t yet empirically studied whether this is all organized gang activity, but victims and residents tell police that this is gang activity.
So, get over the cynicism.
If you care to be constructive, why don’t you get involved with the Buncombe County Gang Violence Prevention Project, which is currently in the process of creating a grant proposal to fund further anti-gang initiatives in our county.
Project coordinators are asking for as much community contribution in this process as possible.
The next meeting will be Nov. 20 at 2 pm at The Mediation Center, 40 North French Broad Ave., Suite B (in downtown Asheville behind the Sheriff’s Department).
Those who can’t attend but who have input, questions or suggestions should contact Megan Leschak, The Mediation Center’s youth program director, at 251-6089, ext. 15.
Peace out.
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November 15th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
wasn’t it ole mumpower who was ignoring protocol last year, and despite the mayor reading the rules of order to him, he ignored her and continued to violate procedure?
just another republican
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November 15th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
folks,
Y’all are waaay over-thinking this one. This has nothing to do with procedure. Carl wants to use his seat on City Council as a way to get free media attention for his congressional campaign. Problem is, sitting on council is work. So if he wants to get out of that work he needs to fabricate a reason other than,”I just don’t wanna do it”.
Now he keeps his media attention and can focus more on the campaign.
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