Cole Umber’s site is up and running. Disappointed and very distressing. This morning, when we clicked on a “favorite” Website, Cole Umber’s, this came up: “Blog has been removed Sorry, the blog at columbiapa-17512.blogspot.com has been removed. This address is not available for new blogs.” We hope this is a temporary situation. Cole Umber’s splendid photos and insightful comments are invaluable communications for Columbia.

Yesterday was a particularly magnificent weather day … for a parade … for a visit to River Front Park. Nearly every parking space at the Park was filled on Saturday early evening.

Have you noticed the “Notify Me!” icon at the top left of the borough’s Website? That the borough is indicating subscribers will get email notifications is a gigantic step forward. But the reasons you’ll be receiving email alerts is unclear. Will the alerts be emergency notifications (fire, weather, hazardous materials release, bridge or building collapse, crash, etc.)? Or will they be routine messages? It just doesn’t say.

Curiously, Columbia asks for name and email address. Other communities ask only for contact info, email address and/or SMS number.

Is it just because those in charge of Columbia’s government are “surveillance minded?”

Columbia is the Lancaster County borough with the most spy cameras and Columbia’s spy cameras are monitored by whom?

Columbia’s police department’s regularly updated facebook page requires registration for access?

This mostly out of date one, which now shows a new / old cover photo. Chilling to see children on the sidewalk in range of someone with a drawn weapon, a force of last resort.

The U.S. Department of Justice has a good reference on Use of Force; click on the graphic to download the document.

 

The West Hempfield facebook cover photo is a lot less threatening.

Noticed that Manheim Borough’s budget information is citizen-friendly and much more robust than Columbia’s.

We agree with this comment from Weaver95 : ‘I hope that one day we won’t have to send people off to die for corporations and oil.” – Pennlive.com