Local News

The Quincy city commissioners voted Sept. 8 to pass, on second reading, an ordinance that would prohibit soliciting or collecting money on a public right-of-way. The ordinance also restricts the distribution of printed materials to sidewalks or other non-traffic areas that are intended for pedestrian use.

The ordinance grew out of concern by several commissioners for the safety of people soliciting at intersections.

"I've never seen anything like it," said Gadsden County Tax Collector Dale Summerford Monday night.

He was referring to the crowds that swamped his office beginning Aug. 28 to  take advantage of the old tag and license fees that took effect Sept.1, when prices doubled. The office, which usually handles less than 100 people per day, served 750 Monday.

There were only a few seats left at the Leaf Theatre Aug. 25 as U.S. Congressman Allen Boyd opened a town meeting to discuss the health care initiative. He said most of the people in the room were raised by parents whose lives were shaped by the Great Depression and many people are losing their jobs and their homes – and people are "scared."

"I'm delighted you're here. You were told last September that our financial institutions were about to collapse. That didn't happen but we never get credit for averting disaster," Boyd said.

The Quincy City Commission took pencil to paper last Wednesday and Thursday nights during the first two of three budget workshops planned before September public hearings to adopt the 2009-10 budget.

Commissioners studied the proposed budget almost line by line in an attempt to lower spending while continuing to provided services at a level to please citizens.