Friday, November 20, 2009
And then there was one
It looks like this blog is the only public forum for the citizens of League City to voice their opinions on. It is my understanding that the other blog has gone private because it could not conduct open discussion in a civil way. I have received a letter that, from what I understand, has been delivered to one of the contributors of the other blog. This may or may not have something to do with the drastic action taken by the other blog. You decide and tell us what you think.
38 comments:
If the letter is true, Mr. Hallisey jumped from the frying pan into the deep fryer.
I'm surprised it took so long.
Hey Hallisey haters, Mr. Hallisey and the operators of the blog were all protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. I suggest you Braniacs read it. There is no frying pan, no deep fryer. I spoke to Jimmy and he was just tired of all the hastle of the blog and the negative issues associated with it.
Jimmy never saw the letter posted here. The blog operator is free of liability in almost 99% of the cases, especially in this case were the complainant is a public figure. Not only that, Hallisey's text was sourced from other websites "Newspapers" The letter scared no one. Nobody wanted the hastle.
so cheer on,but there is no victory for you folks here, just another sad commentary on league city politics
The endless personal attacks on Ms. Kosty not only destroyed the valuable discussions of city matters, but also made me not want to participate in that blog anymore. I have worked with her on municipal issues before. However, going forward I'm not afraid to bash her opinion(s) to the point where it feels like it's personal. That said, I have refused, currently refuse, and will refuse personal attacks (I'll be my own judge of what that means) on her, Mr. Hallisey, or anyone else involved in League City topics. Personal issues should remain private.
When a blog administrator posts "I've provided the ant bed and syrup and don't even charge admission. Just sit back and enjoy the show" it should signal to everyone that sensationalism trumps everything,and anything goes, Morgan.
So "Braniac"...Pat did what he did because he could and because he was allowed to...and that makes it okay by you?
Amazing...
I knew it was coming, how could anyone not know. I'm just surprised it took so long. Pat was bordering on libel and it's a shame he is so consumed he was unwilling to listen to any reason. (braniac you should know that the section of the act you cited only protects the operator, not the poster. Obviously you're not a lawyer, nor anyone who honestly considers truth when it gets in the way of your personal desires)
It's a greater shame that Marc or Jimmy never took Pat aside and gave him a good rebuke. (I tried to tell Marc.) They do him no favor, and as such they did themselves no favor. Hopefully they will learn from this whereas Pat seems way to far gone to learn.
With that said, does anyone know for sure if the blog has gone private or if it's shut down?
How does anyone know for sure that "Braniac" is not in reality Pat Hallisey's new handle.
Braniac handle was started in Novemenr and has only one hit, probably mine, it could be Pat Hallisey with a new name.
The writings seem quite similar from past postings.
Braniac,
You may want to review the limitations of Section 230. There are federal laws and state laws that can apply to the limitations of Section 230.
"Section 113 was signed into law by President George W. Bush on January 5, 2006. It amends 47 U.S.C. 223, the Telecommunications Harassment Statute that is rooted in the Communications Act of 1934. The telecommunications statute prohibits anyone from using a telephone or a telecommunications device "without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any person.""
... and ...
"Section 113, entitled, "PREVENTING CYBERSTALKING," states that the prohibited criminal acts apply to whoever (1) in interstate or foreign communications (A) by means of a telecommunications device knowingly (i) makes, creates, or solicits, and (ii) initiates the transmission of, any comment, request, suggestion, proposal, image, or other communication which is obscene or child pornography, with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass another person."
Fact: Pat was a named contributor of the other blog.
Fact: Pat was using his own name to make harassing statements on the blog.
Fact: It was allowed to continue by others who shared control of the blog.
Fact: The blog operated under leaguecity.biz, through Blogger's services. Marc and Jimmy operate leaguecity.biz, as stated on their website.
It wouldn't surprise me if Pat's posts put Marc and/or Jimmy in the hot seat as well. I personally think this is why the blog was taken down, and why Pat was removed as a contributor before it was finally locked down.
Braniac said: "Not only that, Hallisey's text was sourced from other websites "Newspapers" The letter scared no one. Nobody wanted the hastle." (November 21, 2009 9:07 AM).
I'm sure if you read the blog, you would have seen how I outed his "facts" from his "sourced material" as being incorrect, nonfactual, and skewed many times. It usually wasn't very long after my informative posts, with direct links back to the source, that Pat's threads were deleted. I wonder why...
Overall, he not only attacked Mrs. Kosty, but Mr. Kosty by posting the SSH matter and distorting the facts behind it. Given everyone's reaction and repeated requests to have it stopped, it is easy to conclude the content was obscene by our moral, and even political, standards.
There is no doubt in my mind that the content posted was used to harass and annoy her; and further into the comments, there were definitely "threats" made to other individuals. This type of behavior should not be permitted, period.
Just like last time, Pat went too far. The only difference is that a lawyer got involved... and personally I think it's about time.
Regards,
Richard
BHL,
My understanding is that Marc's blog is indeed closed. The 'private invitation' message is just a place holder screen.
Jeff
Fubar,
It wouldn't surprise me if it was him. I honestly can't think of anyone other than himself that would stick his neck out in defense of what was said and done. It would fit into his past trends, too.
- Richard
Fubar,
The letter is true. It’s unfortunate that the blog administrator(s) allowed their personal ambitions and desire for controversy to blind them. The blog had once been informative, fun, and sometimes entertaining, before they allowed one individual to turn it into a personal forum from which to spew vengeful, hate filled, personal attacks. Those attacks weren’t just limited to me. They included the mayor, members of council, city employees, former elected officials, private citizens, and former candidates for elected office. A prudent administrator would have removed Pat as a contributor when he posted that he intended to continue his assault on the community for the next year. What Pat did was wrong. It is time the community recognized that Mr. Patrick Hallisey has become a cancer, seeking to widen the divide that keeps this city from being everything it could be.
There are alternatives to what has been done for the other blog.
As with other blogs, the author(s) could screen the responses, first, prior to them being published, but that would be a lot of work for the Originator.
I have also witness that with one other blogs, the responders would be screened first, with the specific knowledge that if they abuse the privilege of posting that all futures postings would be block.
Give all persons read only with only a few selected persons write access or that a person has write access, until they abuse the privilege.
I hope it comes back, so I can keep up with LC Happenings.
To: Elaine Kosty
I hope you take those persons who have wrong you to task to see what damage they have done to you & your family and to the LC Community. Now that would be a great thread to Blog About!
FUBAR SNAFU
There is no need for the other blog to come back. This one is more than capable of serving the blog needs of the city.
As somebody who administers another blog that is far less controversial than local politics, I have to say that it is simply impractical for a volunteer blog administrator to take on the task of pre-screening all postings. Deletion of the most offending posts upon request is probably the most administrative intervention that is practical for a volunteer blog.
Jeff
What about when a "contributor", who repeatedly has threads removed for content, vows to continue for a year, Jeff. At what point should the administrator suspend the privilege of creating the thread topic? This wasn't about the random posting of offensive material.
Jeff
One is sufficient, but 2 or more could & would provide more information to many readers.
More topics from more points of view, as long as they are not personally motivated against a person or persons. No person should have been subjected to the cruel insults from a reader that went on for far too long.
I for one do not always agree what this city council has done or what past city councils have done. I never ran for office nor did I want to, but I have put in on average 300 Hours annually of volunteering with many organizations over the last 5 years.
To invite more law suits against the city thus our tax dollars going down the tubes to enrich others who feel that the only way to get satisfaction is to sue. The open meetings act, seems much or what the city does is behind close doors and the public is left wondering what is going on.
The recent Logo change is but one of many shinning examples that the Mayor & City Council are not always concerned of the public’s opinions, should have looked within its own citizens for a contest to determine what the citizens wanted or not wanted, instead of contracting to an outside firm, sending out tax dollars to persons outside LC.
It was my understanding when it was first mentioned about a new City Logo, many thought it was a waste of tax payer dollars, but the Mayor & Council forged ahead, using clip art off the internet that we paid over $30K that should have cost the city $200.
Charles,
I don't disagree with anything you said. I was only addressing FUBAR SNAFU's suggestion that a hypothetical blog could be created in which all comments are pre-screened before being posted. That would just not be practical without a professional staff.
My comment was not meant to address in any way the specific case of what has been going on with the other blog.
Jeff
FUBAR,
The other blog existed for many years by itself. Chris only created this blog when the other blog was closed the first time. It is only the short period of time since the other blog reopened until now that two blogs have coexisted. As we have all seen, the other blog degenerated to the point of being useless some time ago.
That other blog is now closed. It is not going to come back. In the interests of healing the community and personal strife that has occurred, we all need to just let it go and accept that it is gone.
I personally think Chris has done a good job of keeping this blog open to all points of view without becoming uncivilized and it should be adequate to serve the community. However, if you feel that having another blog is a good idea, it would be easy for you to start one.
Jeff
Thanks for the clarification, Jeff.
I don't particularly care for the new logo, but wasn't the selection a committee process that involved more than just the Mayor and Council?
Whatever. There sure wasn't a budget, or any semblance of budget control. ANY project that doesn't have a price tag or a price limit must be aborted, period.
To: Elaine Kosty
I hope you take those persons who have wrong you to task to see what damage they have done to you & your family and to the LC Community. Now that would be a great thread to Blog About!
-------------------------------
I would hope Ms. Kosty would hold where things are without proceeding further, and additionally find it in herself to not excuse but to still forgive. That said, if such malicious words are spread elsewhere then I would not fault any additional and appropriate action as fair warning has been served.
BHL:
If it had been a Single Thread, once it took its course with associated comments and it was done, I would agree with you.
But this was several threads over several weeks. As one thread was taken down, another would pop up. It seems to me it was a vendetta of some type. And since it caused a Blog to be removed from serving the citizens of LC, it also had a profound negative effect on the community at large.
As the letter states “Mrs. Kosty reserves all rights and remedies” and I hope we hear about what those rights and remedies are in a future thread, but that is solely up to Mrs. Elaine Kosty & family, for her husband was also slighted.
Is Mrs. Kosty a forgiving person or wishes to make a statement about a vindictive zealot person who has wronged her and her family? Elaine Kosty did make a statement earlier on this thread, I hope she makes one more comment what she is contemplating on doing or let the matter be dropped.
I just hope she holds no ill will against Mark and does not hold him personally responsible for what has happen.
Fubar,
What is it you think was lost with the closing of the other blog, given that forums history?
The majority of threads on this blog originate from Chris. A wide variety of originators with varying opinions makes for diverse threads.
One person’s trash is another person’s treasurers. Weeds & flowers are the difference of what people want in their garden.
What would you pick for a topic?
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Freedom of Speech
Good Morning League City,
I have started this blog...I am not influenced by anyone (except my wife) and therefore I am willing to let the voice of ALL the people be heard. (Freedom of speech)
If you wish to be a contributor (by placing a thread for discussion) please feel free to email me with your real name and you will be added onto the list.
Thanks for reading.
Chris Mallios
Posted by Chris John Mallios at 9:52 AM 42 comments
Please note that I reserve the right and will remove any thread and contributor who is not civil in their discussion.
So FUBAR SNAFU this one is for you. My email is mallios@comcast.net
One last note .... if y'all haven't figured it out by now, like most of y'all, I am just doing what I feel is best for our city and am not looking for personal gain.
I thank you for the emails address Chris, however I will not send in my contact information. However, others now may do so.
I & wife & family are no longer League City Residents, as I sold my house in October and moved to Comal County November 1. My wife retired from her job and I quit my job.
The increased taxes and decreased services and the operant traffic convinced me that League City had more than growing pains, but was driven by special interests groups. You need to get elected to City Council Office if you want to get items done that a person favors. The city has taken on much too much debt all for special interests.
The Dog Park was cancelled for the reasoning to save money. One of the reasons was because it was far down on the so called Parks Master Plan when other projects that had been built like the Field of Dreams & Skate Board Park were even further down on the list. Then the new City Logo that cost thousands of dollars convinced me that the League City I moved to twelve Years ago was not the League City of today. I have also learned that the Boundless Playground has garnered a sum of $250,000 that the city will contribute towards the project that is not listed on the Parks Master Plan, that will serviced the entire area that CCISD services, but was one of the reasons why the Dog Park was killed, because it would service the same area.
We have been back to League City once since moving to visit some friends who are slightly older than we are and on a fixed income.
Here is a subject that you can write about. Our friends are on a fixed income and bought their house in 1973. They have had to take out a reverse mortgage to help them pay for the increase living expenses within League City. The city should freeze property values for senior citizens over 65. Not just some of the taxes, but the property values themselves.
Our friends have asked us to checkout properties where we are living, since our taxes are much lower and are services seem to be much better where traffic moves freely.
Ah Comal county VERY familiar with the area ! A GREAT place to live. The Comal River is beautiful as well as Landa Park where it starts. Spent many a day and evening fishing in that area and hope to be up there shortly in December. I love the river road drive and of course THE DEVIL’S BACKBONE drive.
I understand the situation regarding taxes and our senior citizens. There are many ways to help the seniors with that situation, not just at the city level, but the county and school district level as well. As with the former Mayor, it will take an egregious act to wake the electorate up so that they will resolve the situation.
I wish you well in Comal County and feel bad that you have left our great city. God Bless and stay warm.
Fubar, we are sorry to see you go, but it's time for you to go to the light and cross over to a Comal county blog.
Morgan, I am also sorry to go, but life is good up here. I should have done it before the last Presidential Administration made a mess of our country's finances.
Morgan you need to take CJM up on his offer and post a thread of you own or is that too difficult for you?
FUBAR,
Barney Frank and his ilk in Congress insisting on turning a blind eye to the excesses of Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae had far more to do with the financial melt down than anything done or not done by the past administration.
But let's try to leave national politics out of this blog so that it can be used for the intended purpose of focusing on League City issues, especially since you aren't even a League City resident. Thanks.
Jeff
But since I am still a property owner of sorts, I am a Owner Finance for the Person who bought my house, I still have an interest in LC.
But GW Bush was still President and he is the person who “must” sign all legislation, before becoming law and it was the Republicans who stopped it then and is trying to stop it now.
Try reading:
Time Magazine it started in the year 2000 and Senator Phil Gramm lead the way, who was John McCain's Advisor at one time during the last Presidential Campaign.
Happy Turkey Day to one and all on this day of Thanksgiving and hoping our troops who are far far away from home are coping with this day of Thanksgiving the best they can and to stay safe.
Ok, you jokers here is the truth. Marc and Jimmy ran the blog. They are both friends with Pat. They allowed him to be a contributor. They did not take the blog as seriously as some of you did. Then it got serious (legally), they took too long to stop Pat. When the letter came to light, they decided to shut it down AGAIN. Depends on your definition of "scared" , but yes they were afraid of the legal ramifications. It was just not worth it. Exactly like the last time. It was fun while it lasted, and never say never.....they may be back some day.
No Body can criticize EK. There is a list of people and entities she has been in legal battle with.
Braniac:
The hearsay rule is in effect.
Just like the authoritative reporting by newspapers for the five “W's”, Who, What, When (dates), Where & Why are needed to substantiate your assertions.
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