Three peas in a pod; Janet Joakim, Demetrius Atsalis, and Leona Helmsley…..

Taxes are for little people…..

Actually what Leona meant to say; Taxes are for people with little in their bank accounts,

Demetrius Atsalis is a few inches to tall to be a card-carrying member of the Little People of America.

COGgers know about Janet Joakim's abundance of IRS liens on her home.

Leona Helmsley served time in a federal prison because she didn’t pay her income taxes.

The trials and tribulations of both the wealthy and pseudo-wealthy beyond reasonable doubt.

Today we learned the Massachusetts Department of Revenue recorded a lien on Joakim’s extended family member, State Representative, Demetrius Atsalis.

Notification of Atsalis’s latest indiscretion was sent to Howie Carr who will probably discuss the matter for all to hear this afternoon on WXTK from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

The important thing for voters to remember is that Janet Joakim

is PRESIDENT of the Barnstable Town Council,

and as such is the defacto Mayor of Barnstable,

and the legislative branch's leader in setting the town’s $160 million budget.

Demetrius Atsalis is the town’s state representative to the body that approved the state's $28 BILLION budget.

Please read the following evidences of their personal finances, then ask yourself if these are the people you really want handling your tax dollars;

FROM TODAY'S BARNSTABLE PATRIOT.....

State places lien on Rep. Atsalis’s home    

 

Written by David Still II  


The DOR lien covers income assessments for tax years 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006. The amount represents about $5,100 in principal and $1,400 in interest and penalties.

Atsalis said that he was aware that there was a dispute between his accountant and the DOR regarding the manner in which his legislative travel per diem was handled in his tax return. He said only the taxes owed on that portion of his income is what’s in question.

He said that he’s been on a payment plan for the 2002-03 assessment and was working with the DOR on a plan for the remainder when he learned a lien had been placed on his home.

On Sept. 15, Atsalis mailed a check paying off the remaining balance of the assessment, but planned to replace the personal check with a bank check to expedite the process. He said he had learned that the DOR’s hold period on releasing liens paid via personal check was 30 days. Atsalis planned to retrieve the earlier check, have a bank check cut for the balance and deliver it by hand to the local DOR office. That would release the lien in a matter of days, he said.

The representative said he and his accountant have been frustrated at a lack of notification and correspondence from the DOR regarding the tax assessment and the lien. He said that part of the problem is that some of the notifications were sent to the physical address of his home, which does not have mail service. Atsalis uses a post office box in West Hyannisport.

He provided the Patriot with dated documentation that corresponds with his explanation.

In October 2007, Atsalis was selected by the DOR for a random desk audit of his 2005-06 returns, filed jointly with his wife.

Atsalis said that it wasn’t until a conversation with a DOR representative about getting on a payment program to settle the 2005-06 assessment that he realized a lien had been placed.

He said that neither he nor his accountant, who holds power of attorney on matters related to the DOR audit, received notification of the lien prior to it being placed Aug. 1. The lien was recorded at the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds on Sept. 2.

In a Sept. 17 letter, Atsalis’s accountant, Russell Sadler of Plymouth, provides a chronology of notification and actions regarding the tax assessments that agrees with Atsalis’s.

Sadler said that after requested information was sent to the DOR in February, neither he nor Atsalis received any further response until Aug. 27.

“Mr. Atsalis forwarded a partial payment of $2000 immediately and called the MA DOR within the allotted time to set up a payment agreement,” Sadler wrote. “The MA DOR had already filed a lien 5 weeks prior to his receiving notification of any balance due.”

In an Aug. 26 mailing, Atsalis was informed that the DOR planned to reduce any federal tax refund to help satisfy the assessment. He said it was in a conversation regarding that correspondence that he learned that his property received a lien.

The lien was recorded Sept. 2 at the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds, but the DOR filed for it Aug. 1.

DOR spokesman Robert Bliss said that details about individual taxpayers cannot be disclosed and he could not comment.

Atsalis understands how this is likely to play out for him politically, with comparisons to legislators who’ve had tax difficulties with both the state and federal Internal Revenue Service.

“I’m going to be lumped in with [state Senator] Diane Wilkerson and [state Representative] Byron Rushing,” Atsalis said. “That’s not what this is.”

Following are copies of IRS liens taken from Registry of Deeds files for Janet and John Joakim a few months ago;

Let's not forget Janet's rubber check discovered hanging on the wall of shame at a local business;

Are these the kind of people you really want left to handle billions of dollars of public tax dollars?

Comments

Let me see if I got this straight.

Two days ago Precinct 6 voters went to the polls at Christ Chapel on Old State Road in Precinct 11.

On October 30th Precinct 6 voters may vote at the Marstons Mills Horace Mann Public Charter School one mile away from Christ Chapel in Precinct 10.

Four days later on November 4th Precinct 6 voters will elect their president at Christ Chapel in Precinct 11.

[John Julius]

I read the article in the Patriot today. Seems that Janet and Mr. Atsalis have things in common. And why is it always someone elses fault? And how come they never know anything about it?

And people wonder WHY we do not want people like these representing us?

I can't wait to see if Demitrius will call in to Howie Carr later. SURELY Howie Carr will have this on his program....

It is a sad state of affairs in our town.

[Mike Sanders]

The Christ Chapel is on line of the two precincts

Christ Chapel is in Precinct 11.

Close only counts in horseshoes.

The charter says the election will be held IN THE PRECINCT of the person to be recalled.

Anyway the church SAID IT CAN'T HAVE THE ELECTION THERE ON OCTOBER 30TH.

Look what was just posted over on Bugsy's blog:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Taryn

You are out of options at this point

If you live to see 10/30/2008 it will be a miracle at this point

Game Over
RIP

Fri Sep 19, 01:53:00 PM

Whatever happens with the recall, it's time to start working on new representation from Precinct 2. Arrogant, lazy, stupid, and mean- what a disgusting combination.

[John Julius]

Forget about precinct two. We need brand new representation ALL OVER the town as well as a NEW CHARTER! In my opinion, this is THE WORST town council in the history of Barnstable.

If anyone does not believe this, try taking aside a former councilor OFF THE RECORD and see what they have to say. Tey also to take aside a former zoning board member OFF THE RECORD and see what they say.

Even in the Patriot today, David Still wrote about how UNHAPPY some on the planning board are with what is going on. The town is all about two words, control and POWER.... and the Klimm administration has to be in control of both! THIS is the problem and what needs to change. Unfortunately the Klimm machine has gotten bigger and others simply have their own agenda's and could care less, as long as they get what they want.

It is sad, to say the least.

Rugo is so arrogant he has said many times, including during council hearings, that he ran for council because he couldn't afford health insurance.

Thanks Tom for giving up your valuable time for us.

Recall Joakim now!

[Miss High Maintenance Broad.]

Put down your Tarot Cards and drop the crystal ball routine over the date and local of the Recall election. Work with what you have. Word to all you fancy business types that can keep track of credits, debits and statistics:

I'm no mathematician but...

It required 10% of 2500 voters in Precinct 6 to force the five day "should I stay or should I go?" decision. This line is more than just a lyric from an 80's pop tune by "The Clash".

20% of the voters in a cast of 2500 is is 500 voters. You delivered over 300 signatures on the final pass.

You need 20% of the vote to haul out Joakim. Over 10% for vote is already telling you she is history.

Joakim's connection to Atsalis is political, and familial. Joakim refused to admit that she has damaged both O'Leary and Atsalis. Bernardo's low numbers show damage to the Atsalis machine. Atsalis "accountant" either becomes "confused" when Atsalis owes taxes or he lies through his teeth the way Atsalis does. I don't need a lecture from the "Sultan of Statistics" and a calculation of the "odds" on this one. Consider it fortuitous that Demetrius Atsalis got some bad press in the Barnstable Patriot today. If you suggest that there are now a number of parties now gunning for Atsalis, the pundits will call you paranoid anyway.

Notes on Political Strategy:

The date of October 30th brings the recall election in tight enough such that there is sufficient interest in municipal and national politics. When it comes to interest in major elections, people finally get a chance to self-preserve. For most, this does indeed pay lower local taxes and fair shift of tax burden. Dang those pesky elderly voters for not stepping a "two strut" to the tune of the "All-America City" dance.

Constituents vote in a separate location anyway. The insistence of a separate date brings you high visibility without confounding the voting public. Get out the vote based on Joakim' abysmal voting record and lack of substance to an arcane political platform.

Information is delivered to the inside that dismantles any effort of the existing political infrastructure to rally to the Joakim/Atsalis cause.

Put down your mice and "cursors". Move to a solid ground campaign against the political adversary. You have her in your sights. The Recall election is yours to lose. Stay on target.

Take the decision as a blessing and don't beat a dead horse over this one.

1) There is a fine line between a political gift horse and a political ass.

2) Consider the above and note that there's another ole' saying in politics: Never look a gift horse in the ass, it might fart in your face.

[John Julius]

Yes, Tom Rugo has in fact admitted that his primary reason for being on the council is for the insurance. i also recall Harild Tobey who also publicly stated at a council subcommittee meeting one time back that in his words, "about half of the councilors are there for the discount health insurance", which by the way, is not free. i believe that they have to pay for half, except that if I am correct, Councilor Jim Crocker gets his almost for free through COMM. Gary would know this better than I..........

in the meantime, to say the least, what a sad state of affairs all of this is for all of us. We are being represented by a bunch of clueless clowns, about half of whom seem to be there for their own personal agenda's. In the meantime, the spendaholic town manager continues to go unchecked and seems to do what he pleases, spend and waste what he pleases and the clueless councilors let him keep going. It's nuts! If this were in the private sector, this manager would have been booted long ago!

[Gary Lopez]

To the last who made the last comment;

I've visions of Jeff Goldblum as the fly, because earlier today we formatted our strategy, and we concur.

Last night's council action was indeed a gift, and we've already formulated a course of action along the same lines you postulated.

My blog is intended to show the holes in Janet Joakim and her ilk, and their fatally flawed policies of greed, deception, and dishonesty.

Janet Joakim, Jimmy Crocker, Harold Tobey, and James Munafo are the Babe Ruth, Lou Gherig, Joe DiMaggio, and Yogi Berra of corrupt politicians.

They've set a standard that can never be surpassed.

We're way ahead of you.

Stay tuned.

He who laughs last, laughs best, so I bought a pair of oversize pants so I'll have room for a real good laugh on October 30th.

[Dieting Braniac]

NOT TO WORRY, Sultan, the groundwork on the strategy was ALREADY IN PLAY way back when. It appears that someone takes their right to LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPPINESS quite seriously. Obviously there is more than FIRST AMENDMENT rights at work here. I should say! Someone has dismantled the Atsalis/Joakim infrastructure on the inside. This effort has been done GRATIS. The same reason why people climb mountains. Because they're there.

I'm not sure that it's posssible for you to BE AHEAD OF ME on this! Nothing wrong with taking a little segway into recalling one of the many that fall INTO the "nemesis" category.

At this point I POSTULATE that you will never find a big enough pair of pants to fill the DRAWERS of an egomaniac.

[Gary Lopez]

Egomaniac is an egregious under-mischaracterization of Joakim’ psychosis.

I’ve characterized her malady as malignant personality disorder (MSD), the symptoms according to the American Psychiatric Association are;

• Feels grandiose and self-important (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents to the point of lying, demands to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)

• Is obsessed with fantasies of unlimited success, fame, fearsome power or omnipotence, unequalled brilliance (the cerebral narcissist), bodily beauty or sexual performance (the somatic narcissist), or ideal, everlasting, all-conquering love or passion

• Firmly convinced that he or she is unique and, being special, can only be understood by, should only be treated by, or associate with, other special or unique, or high-status people (or institutions)

• Requires excessive admiration, adulation, attention and affirmation - or, failing that, wishes to be feared and to be notorious (narcissistic supply)

• Feels entitled. Expects unreasonable or special and favorable priority treatment. Demands automatic and full compliance with his or her expectations

• Is "interpersonally exploitative", i.e., uses others to achieve his or her own ends

• Devoid of empathy. Is unable or unwilling to identify with or acknowledge the feelings and needs of others

• Constantly envious of others or believes that they feel the same about him or her

• Arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes coupled with rage when frustrated, contradicted, or confronted

[Dieting Brainiac]

I'm a little ahead of schedule and I'm shopping for November. I'm serving up cooked political goose for Thanksgiving this year.

What are you serving at your house?

Stuffed TURKEY.

[Dieting Brainiac]

Are you stuffing it with SPAM?

[Dieting Brainiac]

Who do you think does the menu and Thanksgiving dinner cooking at the Joakim house anyway. It's not uncommon for men to do the culinary aspects when the wife is a heavy political power broker.

Have you suggested that J.P. try a little ground sausage in the stuffing? It makes for a really tasty meal.

[Kathleen Murphy]

Voters following the developments in Barnstable municipal politics are clearly in a state of disbelief.

President Janet Swain Joakim's underhanded tactics have undermined Democratic politics in a region and locale where principles of democracy matter most.

A bipartisan effort for this Recall is necessary to restore sanity to residents and constituents of Barnstable.

We wish you well in your efforts to remove President Janet Joakim from office.

[Patriot reader]

Hey is it my imagination or did Janet Joakim mention that she was effective in lobbying for that light at Rt.28 and Lumbert's Mill Road in her From Your Councilor Precinct 6.

It was in the Barnstable Patriot today. Even she used the words, finally.

[Mark]

She sucks.

did Howie Carr pick up the Atsalis story?

[Bernard]

Plenty of people fall on tough times now and then.

The economy is particularly brutal right now, and most folks would understand a tax lein or a bad check if the offender simply said he or she was sorry and made diligent and timely efforts to resolve the matter.

The problem I have with people like Joakim and Atsalis is that it is always someone else's fault.

Atsalis actually blamed the DOR for not notifying him properly, and Joakim blamed the shopkeeper for not calling her enough times about the bad check.
The guy pays his bookkeeper 25 bucks an hour and didn't see the financial sense in calling Joakim more than three times about a ''fourty'' dollar bounced (twice) check.

These people are delusional, and it is time for a serious reality check. I will be voting YES for the recall on October 30th, and praying for a suitable candidate to run against Atsalis in the next election.

[John Julius]

Bernard, you are so right. Many people also feel the same way you do. Yes, with these two elected officials, it IS always someone elses fault. In both cases, all they needed to do was step to the plate and make good. In the case of Mr. Atsalis, I would have had more had more respect for him if he had simply said that he needed the money for his family and would pay up when he could. Or he could have said he needed the money for his kids tuition or anything, just NOT that it was someone elses fault. No one cares!

It is actually very enlightening to see people like Bernard who can see the truth through all the garbage that the local papers continue to print. Bernard says they are delusional. Good call Bernard, and you are right on! They ARE very delusional for sure!

The article in today's Times is so comical and so sad too...the editorial not only contradicts itself, but more importantly is full of blatant LIES. Gee, what a surprise!

Janet Joakim nas NEVER, even ONCE, discussed any of the ISSUES. She has NO DEFENSE, other than continue to whine that people are 'picking on her'.... Wah wah wah....

Here, to Janet Joakim:

IF ANYONE HAS ATTACKED PEOPLE, go back and RE-READ the rotten filth that she has written about people from Barnstable. Personally I have only read her site maybe two times over the past year or so, and that was ONLY BECAUSE SHE ATTACKED ME PERSONALLY and libeled me personally. She also SMEARED my personally BUSINESS NAME as well as my wife and business partner!

ANE YET, this NEVER APPEARED ANYWHERE in the LOCAL PAPERS now, did it? I sent her a couple emails and threatened her with a lawsuit and she appropriately REMOVED the lies and filth. I happen to be one of the top real estate professionals and she smeared me and my professional name...and again, NOWHERE was that ever exposed.... I was also told that she attacked MANY OTHER people on her very own blog and again, no one ever saw that in ANY local paper.... Hmmmmmm, little old 'double standard'?

They can like this or not but this forum is here ONLY to HELP make things in OUR TOWN BETTER and to help FORCE the local town OFFICIALS to be more OPEN and HONEST! And ACCOUNTABLE! Accountability in this town has been gone for years and we will continue to fight to get this back!

And NOW this irresponsible so called 'leader' whines that people want her removed because of some 'vendetta'. Talk about a JOKE!

JANET:

YOU are being RECALLED for TWO simple reasons:

1. She broke her pledge to ALL the voters in Barnstable and not just those in precinct six. In my humble opinion, she LIED about her change of heart on the split tax.

2. She ABUSED her power in her participating in the mass resignation of arguably the BEST zoning board in the entire state!

And yet, the local papers continue to print the same GARBAGE that Janet spews.... wah wah wah.

This is simple.... WE ALL DESERVE BETTER! The almost 300 REGISTERED VOTERS who SIGNED the recall petition could have easily said, "no thanks" if any of them had really thought that this was about some 'vendetta' but those 300 VOTERS are far smarter than that!

God Bless them all, and to people like Bernard, THANK YOU for having the ability to see right thru these IDIOTS!

The article today about blogs and bloggers is a joke. Like this or not, THIS BLOG and Eric Schwaab's Cape Cod living are BOTH great vehicles to EXPOSE this WASTAHOLIC, spendaholic, and grossly INCOMPETENT bunch of irresponsible jerks!

People ask me all the time, "How come I never saw this or that in the paper?"
Why? You will not see ANYTHING in any paper here regarding the GROSS INCOMPETENCE of these clowns, trust me. And THIS IS PRECISELY WHY these blogs are here!

The local papers and some press folks forget that this is CITIZENS FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT and we will continue to fight for this. Here we are now THREE years and running!

[John Julius]

And Thank you also to Kathleen Murphy who logged in last night following our madness here from apparently outside the region. Kathleen, you also appear to see right through these irresponsible incompetent clowns who call themselves our local town government. It is both sad and yet comical at the same time....

I sat and watched the other night and saw the circus and how idiotic the council acted..... they were actually considering NOT EVEN SETTING any date, which I was praying for.... Had they chosen to SPIT in the voters faces and SPIT on our local charter, I would have taken the FOUR Attorney's on our council to the Attorney General AND to the MA BAR Association.

It is even MORE sad that four Attorney's who went to law school, passed the BAR, and TOOK TWO OATHS (one for a law degree and another to SERVE voters who ELECTED THEM!) almost participated in spitting on both a town constitution AND voters! aND THEY ALMOST DID. They even called the Town Attorney Ruth Weil to the podium to ask her IF they shoudl take the vote! TO ME, that was amazing!

Imagine. We had 11 ELECTED town officials actually needing to ASK the head Town Attorney IF they actually had to FOLLOW the RULES of OUR TOWN CHARTER!!! Talk about idiots! Talk about INCOMPETENT nitwits!

So Kathleen, people like you are really a big help coming in here. We appreciate that people from elsewhere see what we see-- something badly broken and IN NEED OF DIRE REPAIR and FIXING!

It is even MORE SAD that we even need a vehicle like this BLOG TO HELP not only to FIX all this but more importantly to EXPOSE the GROSS INCOMPETENCE of both elected and appointed irresponsible wastaholic clowns. And if anyone doubts this, just watch a council CIRCUS meeting one Thursday night.

Tune in October 2nd for another one. I plan to be there to help STOP more nonsense. People should come and help. We welcome all the help we can get. Thank you.