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Author    Post   marcos Guest Poplar was wrong Nothing justifies councilwoman using position to extort money FLINT THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION Monday, December 04, 2006 Flint's renewal won't get far if business owners and residents - not to mention those outside the city - are left with the impression that a little palm-greasing is standard operating procedure here. That's what Councilwoman Jackie Poplar made it seem when she coerced $500 scholarship donations from two party store owners who had liquor license transfer applications pending before the City Council. Interestingly, Poplar, who represents the 2nd Ward, made opposing liquor licenses part of her 2005 election campaign. She said her ward already had too many places selling alcohol and vowed not to approve new licenses or transfers if elected. Apparently, after learning state government would approve these requests over her objection anyway, Poplar tried to extract something useful from the situation by demanding the store owners give money for the scholarships for young people. Unfortunately, her thinking was totally wrong. Just because the money didn't line her own pockets doesn't make her actions excusable or legal. Even a novice politician such as Poplar should have known this, but she claims she didn't realize that using her position to extort contributions was wrong. As explanations go, this one is less than reassuring. Indeed, the entire mea culpa, with Poplar surrounding herself with supporters, smacked of someone not fully appreciating the transgression or showing sincere remorse. Nevertheless, the councilwoman's "good intentions" were sufficiently persuasive for her to avoid further prosecution by federal authorities. As part of a pretrial deal, she wrote a public letter of apology, which was published in The Flint Journal. In the letter she promised to consider requests appropriately in the future. We'd like to believe this will be the end of such government shenanigans, but if Mayor Donald Williamson is correct, this bit of corruption is just the tip of the iceberg. Last week, Williamson announced that a newly created task force already had netted several cases that involve the misuse of city funds and federal grant money, overpayment of pensions and bribes for liquor licenses. While he wouldn't give specifics, he did say Poplar's case was not the only one. "A lot of things are going on," he said. We're all for ferreting out corruption and the misuse of public funds, but for Flint's sake we hope that the mayor is exaggerating. *** Mon Dec 04, 2006 4:41 pm  Adam F L I N T O I D "Just because the money didn't line her own pockets doesn't make her actions excusable or legal." No it doesn't but a hung jury would make it legal. In the unitied States constitution we have a right called trial by jury. I don't think poplar would have been convicted for giving scholarship money to kids. Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:03 pm  Ted J Guest OK then, what about the DON? Why the big deal about Ms. Poplar who had the blessing of the City Attorney and City COuncil? Of Which not one said that what she was doing was wrong? Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:51 pm  Visitor Guest It is truely amazing that more blame is put on council members not even involved in the extortion than is put on Poplar herself. Only in Flint can this corruption happen and the person is still in office. Political ethics: if you accept money for a vote, you are wrong. Poplar needs to step down. Adam and Ted are an interesting, confusing duo (note: see them speak at council meetings, they are a rare species). They need to understand that the other council members were not a part of the extortion, no matter how you try to spin it. Otherwise, the FBI would have been investigating them as well. Poplar was the lone extortioner. She took the money. Even if she gave it as scholarships you can't trade votes for money. How many other times did she accept money for votes? Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:54 am  Ted's Friend Guest I don't think that Ted is putting blame on the others. What he is saying is that if these folks think that it is wrong now, why didn't they think it was wrong then? Now that the Feds are involved, there is this huge uproar; like they are all jumping on the bandwagon. Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:15 pm    Display posts from previous:   All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First

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