We've got....Democracy?!
 
So many of you are probably thinking "What the hell is this article about?" well I'll tell you. Simborough is growing fast and things are getting out of control. Many of you probably read the articles at Simmerville and the Simborough Spokesperson for the SUN has decided that its high time we had a hood council. Over the past few weeks 2Sim Lane has had a dramatic overhaul and High House is now stood there. High House will soon become the hood council central base and will also house an elected primeminister and his/her family.
Bill's to be passed are those on building restrictions, council tax on all property's and an safety and enviromental programme. Other bills include child benefit, an unemployment payment and a single parent benefit through either divorce or widowing.
The Voting procedure to find a prime minister will be very similar to that off Simmerville. Candidates must have 5 or more skills and they must have 2 or more friends outside of the family home. At this point in time only a level 3or higher knowledge of politics is needed as outside help will be brought in and because this is the first time this is occurring in Simborough it is thought that most sims if not all may not have any political knowledge at all.
The candidates will score 1 point for each skill, friend and political point. The Primeminister will be announced as soon as all sims have beeninterviewed on their qualifications for this job. In addition a primeminister will stay at his/her post for 100days, at this time their job is up for renewel.
Chris Harrow

Simborough's New Policies
 
Just over a month ago now Sally Phillips was nominated as Simborough's first ever Prime Minister. Over the past few weeks she has been consulting local residents and other neighbourhoods via the SUN to find out whether her policies will be happily recieved or not. There are definately some we won't like, Council Tax for one and Building Restrictions for another, however child support and maintanance will probably be well recieved. Below is the breakdown for the new policies:

5 Day Weeks: As Simmerville did a few months back, Simborough has converted to a 5day week system. Every 5th day is now family day where it is council policy that you may skip work if you want to and use the time to catch up with friends or further bond with your family. All bills have been produced working on a weekly allowance and payments will now be made every 20days. Sally Phillips and her council are also currently working on a new calender...it is likely that 100days will soon equal a year, thus there will be 5months in a year.
 
Council Tax: Due to the council's new need to make payments it also needs to make money. This will be done in the form of council tax for the type and size of property that your family owns. Family's owning a house up to size 8*10tiles will pay 250simoleons a week. Up to 16*20tiles will cost the owners 500simoleons and up to 32*40tiles will cost 1000simoleons weekly. This is also doubled if there are two stories. Therefore if your house is 9*11tiles with 2 stories you will pay a whopping 4000simoleons every month. This may seem very steep but Sally says she hopes to encourage economic property development with this plan. "This new council tax means that the larger houses should be left for sims with larger families, I want to do away with a sim couple rattling around in a 7bedroom house...there really is no need. There will of course be reductions for single sims and of course money is recieved due to other benifits."
 
Benefits:CHILD: Parents will now recieve 500simoleons a month for each child that they have (this works out at 125simoleons a week which was calculated from the no. of meals a child has daily.)
SINGLE PARENTS: These will receive a further 750simoleons a month which is not dependant on the no. of children they have.
WIDOWERS: Will receive 750simoleons a month until remarriage. If this does not occur they will recieve this amount for the rest of their lives.
NOTE: Seniors will also recieve an allowance but as yet the retirement age has not been calculated.
 
CHILD MAINTANANCE: Although only applicable to one member in our community child maintanance will have to be paid by any father/mother who leaves their family which results in divorce. Exceptions to this may occur. The standard will be 500simoleons a month.
 
BUILDING RESTRICTIONS: These were inspired by the simmerville council who seem to be having the same problems as us. However whereas Simmerville council charges for the initial set up of a home, Simborough will not *As long as it is a FIRST setup, thus the family only have 20,000 to spend*. If a family is moving with funds then charges will be made if the house shell costs more than 20,000simoleons. If Simborough residents would like to read more on these building restrictions see Simmerville Building Restrictions.
 
For now these are the only bills that Prime Minister Sally Phillips is bringing in. They are subject to change at any time that the council wishes to do so and more may be added in the future.
 
Chris Harrow

A new era, a new leader
 
Here we are on the brink of a new era ,the beginning of something big and Sally Phillips has decided to step down as primeminister. In a statement she said that she wanted to start in the new dimension with no responsibilities apart from her children and husband. This is all very well but what do the residents of Simborough do without a leader...especially at some an uneasy time. We elect a new one..that's what we do. After carefully looking through all the profiles of the Simborough residents the following were chosen to be suitable candidates: Jaspreet Shazad, Rita Gamming, Rachel Brittun, Sarah Troy and Hector McDougal. These sims had adequate political knowledge (5points), had at least 3 family friends and had more than 7 skill points in total. After initial interviews both Sarah Troy and Jaspreet Shazad pulled out due to heavy workloads. Therefore the three new candidates for the job are below. Take your time to study each member and read what they have to say, after all these are the folks that will be leading us into a new way of life.
 
Rita Gamming, 46 - Rita joined us about one and a half years ago after she left the SimLook project in Simmerville. She has been an been a pro-active member of the SSW and is always on hand for the sim in need.
"I, Rita Gamming have grown to love and admire this community of the past years and joining it was one of the highlights of my life. And that is what I want for Simborough...to grow, thrive and for its residents to cherish it. On arrival into the new dimension I want to make Simborough green again. There will laws against litter, benefits for gardening allowances and awards for those who keep up the high standards of our society"
 
Rachel Brittun, 35 - Rachel was one of those who moved to Simborough immediately after the intial plague wiped out the community and in doing so showed tremendous faith in the future. Although initially engrossed in business she has taken an active part in the socialising of this neighbourhood and I'm sure that not many sims haven't been to one of her and sister Carrie's BBQ's.
"I want to start of the age in the new dimension as one of growth for Simborough. At the top of my list is tourism, I want to encourage visitors and new residents to our hood. To diversify our culture, to create a thriving business district and to learn more. After taking an extreme interest in the new science behind the new dimension I think it is highly important that new genes are brought to the community so that we don't stagnate"
 
Hector McDougal, 33 - Hector only recently moved to Simborugh from the downtown district after his marriage to Fatima Shazad. He is a family man and has brought happiness to many families in Simborough.
"In the forefront of my mind is children. No longer will they remain as they are, small and non skilled. They will grow into fully functional and working members of our community. I therefore think it is highly important that measures are taken to support and nurture these little ones. My lead in the new dimension will be to inform those with children how to look after them, how to pass down family skills and most importantly how to make their childhoods happy so that they grow up to be happy children. A happy child is a happy family."
 
Now that you've read their information and policy ideas its time to make a decision. Go away and think about it if you need...please don't make any rash decisions. To vote simply fill in the poll below (secret ballot) or visit High House between 10am-12pm for the next two weeks and place your vote in the ballot box provided.
 

Yes, its true what you've heard...Hector McDougal is our new priminister and he hasn't wasted anytime. He's not even moved into High House but he's making new laws already. Although he informed us he'd be looking at children his first new policy is to do with housing for the new dimension. Here's what he had to say at a press conference earlier today:
"Hello everyone...firstly an ecstatic thankyou to everyone who voted for me! I can't believe I won...especially after being in Simborough for so little time. Now as we all know kids were the main focus of my election campaign but my first policy is that of housing in the new dimension. Over time Simborough has grown dramatically and so have the houses...I'm afraid to say a few have become quite ugly. To have happy children we first need to have a happy environment in which to bring them up and so there will be a number of changes as we enter this new era. Certain sim families will be given their net worth in Simoleons and with the help of an onsite architect will be asked to totally rebuild their houses...they can have what they want as long as its within their budget and fits to the new housing standards which will be drawn up shortly. However some sim families will not be allowed this opportunity..we can't have eveything changing around us, we need some continuity. The following families will be allowed to rebuild their houses:
Phillips
Kaleesha Weaver/Gemima Park
Yates
Shazads
Brittun
Gamming/Derwin (allowed to build individual homes)
Gillspee
If there are enquiries about this please contact me. You are very welcome to start using the local architects to paln designs but until the new dimension is returned to us we are not certain of all the options that will be available. There will also be a number of articles published over the coming weeks about sitting down and actually designing homes...never fear, help is at hand!"

TS2 Policies: Amendmant Act 1

With a new world it brings new ways and aspects of life. Certainly for such a dramatic change as to starting out in a brand new dimension laws have to be amended to fit with the new scheme of life. King Harry and Prime Minister Hector McDougal have been working on a series of new schemes to bring our hood alive and the 5 new laws are as follows:

Grey Sims Organisation:
Following the example of other hoods and the growing need of our community for a society of this kind the "Grey Sims Organisation" has been founded in Simborough with 4 current members: Mick & Sharon Sherwood & James & Candice Sherwood. Currently meetings will be held at James and Candice's although the demographics of our hood mean that there will shortly be a much larger number of elders requiring a larger place to meet. Although not confirmed there is talk of an Elder Only community lot allowing the organisation to meet in peace. It was also give the opportunity to allow elders to enjoy their retirement. A society page will soon be available on the web and James hopes that Simborough's club can affiliate with other hoods to create fun and informative meetings, outings and workshops.

Compulsory Family Graveyards:
After serious talks with sims from Simborough and other hoods it has been decided that by law it will be compulsory to have a family graveyard on all residential lots. Gravestones must be kept for a minimum of 15days after the Sim individual has passed on, the only exception in this scheme is if the house is sold due the last surviving Sim dying. In this instance the new family may remove all gravestones. This does NOT mean however that Sims can move freely. When a Sim dies the existing family must stay on their family lot until at least 15days before moving house. Any moving before this time has expired will be seen as breaking the law and a fine or custidy may be applied to the involved individuals. We hope that most Sims will want to keep all gravestones as they are their heritage, however we respect that some Sims may not feel emotional ties to gravestones.

Youngest to Gain:
Young Johnathon Sherwood's got reason to smile as a new law is passed which will directly benefit all youngest children. Sims in general are happy and get along with their families but this law has been put in place to solve any disputes that may arise in reference to who is entitled to the family house. It has been decided that the youngest child of a household shall inherit the house on the passing of their parents. Older children often want to marry, move out and have children anyway and this will give the youngest child peace of mind that once their parents pass on they cannot be thrown out of the family house. It is, of course, not compulsory, you may move wherever you wish, but younger children should be welcome to the fact that their older, and sometimes not so nice, brothers and sisters cannot throw them out of the house...it is rightfully theirs.

Privacy Order:
After many complaints from Miss Harlow we have decided to put a privacy order in place to keep her from being constantly spied on. Ever since moving to the new dimension Josie Harlow has been spied on every minute of every day and she is starting to get very upset with Simborough's residents. She doesn't mind a little but the fact the everybody is spying on her, and only her gives her reason to be angered. Sims found to be spying on Miss Harlow will be fined 1000Simoleons and continuous offences may result in incarcaration. Please take this law seriously as we simply will not tolerate spying and bullying in this town.
 
 

Stopper of Life:
Whilst the council understand the need for the Exilir of Life they also realise that there needs to be some kind of restriction on taking this life stimulant. Teresa Harrow, one of Simborough's finest scientists says "Whilst we all take it and it is legal we do not know the long term effects of this drug and I for one am not willing to chance it." Please read the following carefully to fully understand the restrictions on this drug. Only adult Sims with 12days till elderhood may use the Exilir of Life. They may use it as many times as they wish in order to stay rejuvinated but may ONLY share it with their spouse or partner. * NO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD ARE ALLOWED TO SHARE THE EXILIR OF LIFE APART FROM THOSE MENTIONED*. Continuous use is allowed until all purchasing aspiration points are gone. Once this occurs you may NOT ask another Sim to purchase it for you. This would be unfair on that Sim whose points would then dwindle and they may not have enough to purchase it for themselves later on in their lives. You MUST accept Elderhood graciously and not become greedy to stay young. The most extreme measures will be used to enforce this law.

If you have any questions relating to the laws above please do not hesitate to contact a council member for further information. New laws and amendmants are to follow.
Hector McDougal, 16/01/2005

The New Hood Council

Welcome to Day 20 of the new world! It is at this time that I need to introduce to our new Hood Council. Due to the degree of change in the new dimension we have opted for a similar system as that of Simmerville where a spokessim is selected for each career opportunity. So during the recent elections we now have 10 Spokessim's, 9 for the career's available plus 1 for those who choose to stay at home and become a homemaker. Of these 10 Spokessim's 2 are then elected further to sit on the hood council thereby giving us a hierachy of legal order for our community to work around.
 
In addition to 2 councillors elected from the 10 Spokessim's is a representative from the elders and also one from the teens. Add to this an international Correspondant and our King we end up with a total of 6 Councillors for our hood with a further 10 Spokessims (two of course sitting on the council as well).
Selections were made last week and so all Simborough Residents should have been informed by post that they needed to reply listing their individual statistics. If you did not recieve such notification please inform your local spokessim immediately but do not worry as council's will re-elect every 15days so you will have an opportunity at the next election. Please note, Sims currently known due to fame reasons cannot participate in elections. It was decided by former Prime Minister Hector McDougal and King Edward that a conflict of interest could arise in this case due to the Sim Public already knowing their faces through the media and that they may be overly harrassed, not due to problems within the hood but for purely fan based reasons, autographs, pictures etc. Please contact Anthony Troy if you wish to complain at all about this.
 
Based on the applications that we recieved we have come up with the following council. Sims who were elegible for councilship had to have the following minimum requirements:

These were decided for a number of reasons. Firstly to be a personable Sim who others can related to it is needed that you already have a number of friends to guide and help you, and that your skill level is relatively high. In addition, you need to be able to speak clearly and concisely about your career to the council so a level 4 or above was thought agreeable. Sims who then qualified for this round were then, quite literally summed. The Sims with the most friends and skills (worked out as an SF score) were then elected. In the case of a tie, the individual who was highest in their career path then won. Where two adult Spokessim's were picked to sit on the council the individual careering in Politics was altomatically placed. The other position was filled by, once again, the Sim with the highest SF score.
 
Please find the new council listed below. Where you have something to discuss with council members please go through the spokessim for your particular career. In the event that is urgent and they are unavailable please contact the next spokessim. Only contact a HOOD COUNCILLOR if ALL Spokessim's are unavailable. If you contact a councilor directly for no apparent reason it is very likely that your case will not be heard and will be thrown out. Live long Sims and remember "Your Council Cares".

         Hood Council:                                                                                SpokesSims:
                                                                                                               1) Home Maker: Gloria Oognata
                                                                                                               2) Medic: Johnathon Gamming
         Leader: King Edward                                                                      3) Scientist: Teresa Harrow
         International Correspondant: Anthony Troy                                    4) Military: Richard Phillips
         Elder Representative: Mick Sherwood                                            5) Catering: Rita Gamming
         Adult Representative: Sally Phillips                                                6) Politics: Sally Phillips
         Adult Representative: Lucy Derwin                                                 7) Law Enforcement: Lucy Derwin
         Teen Representative: Daniel Oognata                                             8) Business: Raza Shazad
                                                                                                               9) Athletes: Kelly Sherwood
                                                                                                              10) Slacker: Marie Oognata