On the way home from work the other day, listening to our local hate talk radio station, WAAM, I had the distinct pleasure of hearing my friend, County Commissioner Andy LaBarre, called a ‘psychotic lame-brain fascist weenie clown’ by Ann Arbor’s own tea-partying, Michael Savage wannabe Thayrone X. It would seem that Thayrone was less than enthusiastic about Andy’s attempt to mitigate the local impact of Michigan recently passed anti-union legislation by renegotiating the county’s union contracts now, before right-to-work goes into effect. (Collective bargaining agreements in place prior to Michigan’s rollout of right-to-work would be exempted from the legislation.) Andy’s resolution, if passed, would direct the County Administrator and the Director of Human Resources, “to engage in expedited negotiations, as requested by the Unions, with the goal of reaching four year agreements to protect and extend each bargaining unit’s union security provisions, as well as enter into a Letter of Understanding separate from the existing collective bargaining agreements for a period of ten years.”
Here, for the 99.99% of local folks who don’t listen to Thayrone’s show, is the highly entertaining audio.
Fortunately for us, though, Thayrone has no power, and Andy’s resolution passed out of Wednesday’s Ways and Means committee with a 6 to 1 vote. So, it looks as though it will be passed at the next meeting of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners.
Here’s the resolution:
Whereas, on December 11th, 2012 Governor Rick Snyder signed “Right to Work” legislation passed in the lame duck session of the 96th session of the Michigan Legislature; legislation designed to weaken labor unions and their ability to serve their members; and
Whereas, Washtenaw County has long had a beneficial relationship with labor unions representing our county workforce, which assist in the provision of customer service to our citizens as union membership can lead to productive tenures for employees; and
Whereas, Washtenaw County has served as host to various labor conventions and training sessions for a collective thirty years with the EEI Union Training Programs; United Association Instructor Training Program; NJATC National Training Institute; Ironworkers Instructor Training Program; and others; and
Whereas, the annual positive economic impact of such events for the County is approximately $12 million; with 22,000 hotel room nights in Washtenaw County; representing 31% of the total rooms booked by the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau; resulting in $2.3 million in spending at local restaurants and $3.5 million in spending on entertainment, recreation, shopping/retail, transportation at local businesses; and
Whereas, Washtenaw Community College serves a world leader in union training and has signed a new Training Agreement with Australia – UA of US, Canada and Australia; and
Whereas, both local and visiting Labor groups have made positive social impacts for Washtenaw County residents.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners formally condemns the passage of “Right to Work” legislation in the State of Michigan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners seeks to notify all of its labor partners that it does not support the economic arguments for and assumed outcomes espoused of “Right to Work” proponents.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners calls on the Michigan Legislature to provide swift passage of SB 95 and SB 96, which would repeal “Right to Work.”
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners seeks to continue the long and successful partnerships the County, its businesses, organizations, and citizens have had with various labor organizations by re-affirming the value derived from these relationships.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners re-affirms its support for the rights of labor organizations and members to exercise their rights to the fullest possible extent;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners directs the County Administrator and the Director of Human Resources to engage in expedited negotiations, as requested by the Unions, with the goal of reaching four (4) year agreements to protect and extend each bargaining unit’s union security provisions, as well as enter into a Letter of Understanding separate from the existing collective bargaining agreements for a period of ten (10) years;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution shall be sent to the Washtenaw County delegation to the Michigan Legislature, the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and any and all labor groups deemed appropriate by staff.
Also, for what it’s worth, the easiest way to gain my respect, for those of you would would like it, is to be attacked by Thayrone.
24 Comments
If LaBarre was smart, he’d forward this to the unions, and use this audio in his future fundraising appeals.
You need to interview Thayrone for markmaynard.com (ideally as an Exit Interview).
in other news, there’s a radio station downtown.
The fall of Thayrone is truly sad. He actually used to be a really good guy. Both he and his wife were really likable people who actually showed acts of kindness and did some cool things for other folks, free of charge even. I really liked his music show and had lots of music conversations with him. He has excellent taste and a deep knowledge of music. Rhythm & Blues, country…music of the poor, downtrodden, black and white.
His descent into this ugly world view is weird and sort of tragic.
KJC refers to Brian Robb’s 1700 AM, broadcasting from the DejaVu annex.
http://am1700radio.com/
My guess is that this website has more readers each day than Thayrone’s show has listeners.
I think that Mark is the only person that listens to Thayrone’s show.
How do we know that Mark isn’t Thayrone?
If it weren’t for folks in Saline and the outlining townships, I doubt that WAAM would still be open!
Mark isn’t the only one who listens. I am somewhat forced to listen in my commuter van when one of the right wing tools drives (we have two). As they drive at least twice a week, I get the pleasure of hearing Thayrone spew his hate and go on about how the preponderance of traffic circles in the county is actually a European Socialist plot. I used to like his show on WEMU back in the day. And I don’t disagree that folks in my town (Saline) are probably the ones who are the regular listeners. One clarification, however. The folks who live in the city of Saline are a decent lot. The ‘saliners’ who live in the outlying townships and are in the school district are much more likely to be regular listeners. Haters gonna hate!
The bagging on Saliners is as lame-brained as Thayrone’s rants. I’ll bet the Ypsi Township Republicans outnumber the Saline Repubicans. I’ll bet there are a whole lot more guns over there too.
A lot more guns, yes. A lot more Republicsns, no way. Of course this is my opinion, based on my 18 years in the township and 9 years in Saline. I am not bagging on folks from Saline. I love it here in the city. Outside the city limits (Lodi twp, Saline twp, Pittsfield twp, Bridgewater, etc) is pretty much god and guns territory, however.
Pete, we should form a band with Thayrone! We could tour the country opening for Victoria Jackson at Tea Party events outside of gun shows.
Thayrone is a steaming pile of rat dung, no question about it. I suspect, like Joe McCarthy was, he is in the advanced stages of syphilitic dementia.
I thought this guy was off the air. Seriously, he’s still around? Well, smack my ass and call me surprised.
Oh oh oh, YES form a band with him! Please use him to remake the “She’s Gone” video! He could play the part of the devil. (PS: I still want to be the lady who walks around aimlessly, even though she is about 1/2 of my weight).
Man, I remember when the Bone Conduction was a pretty decent institution. What the fuck happened to this guy?
Yes, Thayrone is horrible, but if you want some pure ignorance and hate, you’ve gotta catch “The Abolitionists Table”, with two African-American, conservative nut jobs on Saturday mornings at 7:00 am. Appalling radio at its worst. WAAM used to be a really great local station with Ted Heusel, Lucy Ann Lance and local coverage. Now it’s all right wingers, including Glenn Beck. What a shame.
If Andy is 12 now, that would have made him about 4 or 5 when I first made his acquaintance, when he was working for Dingell. Say what you will about his politics, but that’s one precocious mother fucker.
What a fucking fucktard loon. OK, I’ve demonstrated all of this X guy’s qualifications, may I have my own talk radio show now?
I just heard that the Mackinac Center FOIA’d the emails of our County Commissioners over this.
And by “this” I don’t mean this post, or the mention of Andy on Thayrone’s show. They want to see the emails because of this plan to renegotiate the contracts of Washtenaw County unions now, before Right to Work becomes the law of the land.
From the Ann Arbor Chronicle:
Read more:
http://annarborchronicle.com/2013/03/20/new-washtenaw-county-labor-deals-approved/
Thank you, WCBoC. The rest of us aren’t so brave. My wife and I, well, you know us. We follow the money.