Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Yeah, I'm calling out Doug Wilder again...
So I was listening to sports radio again today (as I do from time to time), and I heard about how Doug Wilder was going to announce that some basketball tournament was coming back to Richmond. The commentator said Wilder probably didn't have anything to do with it but "was going to take credit for it anyway."
See, it's not just me.
Anyway, on to more serious issues... I saw a statistic recently about how home assessments in one county (I can't remember which one) went up between 20 and 30 percent this year. The county is responding by dropping the taxation rate from $1 per $100 to $.93 per $100 of assessment. 25% increase vs. 7% decrease.
Am I wrong, but isn't that a HUGE increase in the amount of money rolling into the government? One's a fat 5th grader sitting on a see-saw. The other's the skinny kindergartener. You do the math.
This really hits home for me, as I received my new assessment today, and it went up a sizeable 16%. My next door neighbor had a similar increase. As an elderly widow, she barely made her payment last year. How is she going to do it this year, and how many times is this happening around the city?
Rising assessments are a fact of life... but the change in what it ends up costing is simply too much to bear for many.
Say the average City of Richmond assessment goes up 10-12 percent. Will city leaders (Wilder) drop the taxation rate by anywhere close to that? Highly doubtful. If last year is any indication, they will make a token adjustment, but we will still end up paying more taxes than the previous year. (Remember this from the election?)
So my question to you is, why is this happening? Where is all of this money going?
I can't deal without a roof over my head. And until we get a handle on how much we're paying in the City of Richmond (and other cities), we will continue to see flight to the suburbs, thus rising crime, and thus, more of a tax burden for those who are left behind.
When's Doug Wilder going to take credit for that mess?
See, it's not just me.
Anyway, on to more serious issues... I saw a statistic recently about how home assessments in one county (I can't remember which one) went up between 20 and 30 percent this year. The county is responding by dropping the taxation rate from $1 per $100 to $.93 per $100 of assessment. 25% increase vs. 7% decrease.
Am I wrong, but isn't that a HUGE increase in the amount of money rolling into the government? One's a fat 5th grader sitting on a see-saw. The other's the skinny kindergartener. You do the math.
This really hits home for me, as I received my new assessment today, and it went up a sizeable 16%. My next door neighbor had a similar increase. As an elderly widow, she barely made her payment last year. How is she going to do it this year, and how many times is this happening around the city?
Rising assessments are a fact of life... but the change in what it ends up costing is simply too much to bear for many.
Say the average City of Richmond assessment goes up 10-12 percent. Will city leaders (Wilder) drop the taxation rate by anywhere close to that? Highly doubtful. If last year is any indication, they will make a token adjustment, but we will still end up paying more taxes than the previous year. (Remember this from the election?)
So my question to you is, why is this happening? Where is all of this money going?
I can't deal without a roof over my head. And until we get a handle on how much we're paying in the City of Richmond (and other cities), we will continue to see flight to the suburbs, thus rising crime, and thus, more of a tax burden for those who are left behind.
When's Doug Wilder going to take credit for that mess?
Saturday, February 25, 2006
An Open Letter to Doug Wilder
So the Maymont bears died in vain. It happened. Get over it.
The best part of Maymont Park was the bears. The mansion is cool, the Japanese and Italian Gardens are amazing, but the bears were far and away the most transfixing part of an amazing park.
Yes, the parents were stupid in letting their child run free. However, the most reprehensible behavior has been by our fair emperor... er... mayor, Doug Wilder.
Doug, why do you demand to be part of EVERY decision. Granted, city government needed a major enema, but micromanaging and backbiting will get you nowhere, and will earn you few friends.
Delegate responsibility, PLEASE! I bet the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries knows a helluva lot more about rabies than you do.
Maymont is probably one of the best run parks in Virginia, thanks to a dedicated staff and an amazing corps of volunteers willing to sacrifice their time to keep it beautiful. Let them continue to make sound decisions.
This was not something you need to be getting involved in. The Maymont folks made the right decision (even how painful it had to be). There was egregious human error. However if the bears had been rabid the city would have faced a horrendous lawsuit, and even worse public relations. You simply gauged public opinion by watching the news, and then stuck your nose in and slammed dedicated people who made a difficult but correct decision. Paul Goldman should have taught you better. Does the city really need to be investigating why these bears were euthanized? I'd rather investigate why you held up a great idea to revitalize Shockoe Bottom.
I'll miss the bears greatly. But I'm more frustrated with you.
Why don't you start with trying to lower the gas, water, and sewer rates? Why don't you make substantive cuts so my elderly neighbors will be able to stay in the houses they've owned for 40 years? Why don't you work on fixing up Jackson Ward, Gilpin Court, or other crime ridden areas? Why are people sleeping on the streets of our fair city?
You make me sick. Stick with issues that matter first... and then I'll listen to you about the decision to euthanize two bears.
The best part of Maymont Park was the bears. The mansion is cool, the Japanese and Italian Gardens are amazing, but the bears were far and away the most transfixing part of an amazing park.
Yes, the parents were stupid in letting their child run free. However, the most reprehensible behavior has been by our fair emperor... er... mayor, Doug Wilder.
Doug, why do you demand to be part of EVERY decision. Granted, city government needed a major enema, but micromanaging and backbiting will get you nowhere, and will earn you few friends.
Delegate responsibility, PLEASE! I bet the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries knows a helluva lot more about rabies than you do.
Maymont is probably one of the best run parks in Virginia, thanks to a dedicated staff and an amazing corps of volunteers willing to sacrifice their time to keep it beautiful. Let them continue to make sound decisions.
This was not something you need to be getting involved in. The Maymont folks made the right decision (even how painful it had to be). There was egregious human error. However if the bears had been rabid the city would have faced a horrendous lawsuit, and even worse public relations. You simply gauged public opinion by watching the news, and then stuck your nose in and slammed dedicated people who made a difficult but correct decision. Paul Goldman should have taught you better. Does the city really need to be investigating why these bears were euthanized? I'd rather investigate why you held up a great idea to revitalize Shockoe Bottom.
I'll miss the bears greatly. But I'm more frustrated with you.
Why don't you start with trying to lower the gas, water, and sewer rates? Why don't you make substantive cuts so my elderly neighbors will be able to stay in the houses they've owned for 40 years? Why don't you work on fixing up Jackson Ward, Gilpin Court, or other crime ridden areas? Why are people sleeping on the streets of our fair city?
You make me sick. Stick with issues that matter first... and then I'll listen to you about the decision to euthanize two bears.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Special Session Part Deux?
Anybody remember all the fun the General Assembly members had two years ago, with that really long special session to get stuff done?
It looks like it's about to happen again.
I was watching the local news recently, and there was a report on how far apart the Senate and House are on transportation funding, that they may not have it done by the time the session runs out.
In fact, Del. Jack (Dick Jr.) Reid was quoted he thought it was a 50/50 chance they'd get a compromise done in time.
That's not very optimistic.
However, others say everything's fine. (there is a GREAT quote from Ward Armstrong in there)
On another note, remember that crazy non-state agency that held up the budget as well? Here we go again with that one too. The House has approved
$4.5 million for the Virginia Horse Center, while the Senate is stuck at $890,000 (a continuation of the phase-out budget agreed to two years ago). This would also include an eventual transfer of power over to the private board, meaning the big public/private partnership that this was founded on would be dissolved.
Chichester would not go forward with a budget that included $1.2 million, and in fact has seemingly made it one of his goals to get the center out of state hands. I just don't see him ponying up for that kind of coin, even if he never has to hear the words "Horse Center" again. It's simply too much for him to bear.
It looks like it's about to happen again.
I was watching the local news recently, and there was a report on how far apart the Senate and House are on transportation funding, that they may not have it done by the time the session runs out.
In fact, Del. Jack (Dick Jr.) Reid was quoted he thought it was a 50/50 chance they'd get a compromise done in time.
That's not very optimistic.
However, others say everything's fine. (there is a GREAT quote from Ward Armstrong in there)
On another note, remember that crazy non-state agency that held up the budget as well? Here we go again with that one too. The House has approved
$4.5 million for the Virginia Horse Center, while the Senate is stuck at $890,000 (a continuation of the phase-out budget agreed to two years ago). This would also include an eventual transfer of power over to the private board, meaning the big public/private partnership that this was founded on would be dissolved.
Chichester would not go forward with a budget that included $1.2 million, and in fact has seemingly made it one of his goals to get the center out of state hands. I just don't see him ponying up for that kind of coin, even if he never has to hear the words "Horse Center" again. It's simply too much for him to bear.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Allen 2008
I'm calling the 2006 Senate race for George Allen 56-42, or 52-47, depending on who he runs against.
Why the substantial win, you may ask? Because the Democrats are about to sqander all of the momentum they had from of Warner.
With the Miller vs. Webb tussle breaking as it is, I just can't see the Dems having any sort of shot. The Democratic primary is going to completely drain whoever wins . It'll kinda be like the Foreman-Lyle fight; both combatants will land haymakers and look great at times, but neither will really be the same afterwards.
As has been said earlier, Webb is not making any friends in the Democratic party, but is still going to drain money and resources. Any sort of fracture breaks a party wide open when you're trying to unseat an incumbent. And this is already a fairly wide fissure.
I believe James Webb will very soon have better name recognition. Just compare "businessman" or "former Secretary of the Navy", and the latter will stick with the voter.
However, he could be done in by the extremes. He's a candidate that will appeal to the middle, so lefty democrats won't bear to vote for a Reaganite. Far righties will see him as a threat to Allen, and in small numbers will go to the polls on primary day to try to keep him out of it.
The middle may not be paying attention and not show up. For the most part, statewide elections are won in the middle, but primaries are won on the wings. However, there are exceptions, and this one could be ripe for one.
This quite interesting article shows why this could be a very tight race IF Webb can get through the primary. Who knows, he could just lose the nomination and run as an independent. THAT would be something to see.
Why the substantial win, you may ask? Because the Democrats are about to sqander all of the momentum they had from of Warner.
With the Miller vs. Webb tussle breaking as it is, I just can't see the Dems having any sort of shot. The Democratic primary is going to completely drain whoever wins . It'll kinda be like the Foreman-Lyle fight; both combatants will land haymakers and look great at times, but neither will really be the same afterwards.
As has been said earlier, Webb is not making any friends in the Democratic party, but is still going to drain money and resources. Any sort of fracture breaks a party wide open when you're trying to unseat an incumbent. And this is already a fairly wide fissure.
I believe James Webb will very soon have better name recognition. Just compare "businessman" or "former Secretary of the Navy", and the latter will stick with the voter.
However, he could be done in by the extremes. He's a candidate that will appeal to the middle, so lefty democrats won't bear to vote for a Reaganite. Far righties will see him as a threat to Allen, and in small numbers will go to the polls on primary day to try to keep him out of it.
The middle may not be paying attention and not show up. For the most part, statewide elections are won in the middle, but primaries are won on the wings. However, there are exceptions, and this one could be ripe for one.
This quite interesting article shows why this could be a very tight race IF Webb can get through the primary. Who knows, he could just lose the nomination and run as an independent. THAT would be something to see.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Death and Taxes
Well, it appears that the "Death Tax" in Virginia will finally be repealed this year. Basically it will revoke the inheritance tax (in a graduated fashion) on estates of a million dollars or more.
I have a feeling that the Senate will pass this no problem. Kaine says he supports it, so no veto a la 2003.
Does anyone realize how little a million dollars is nowadays?
Really, the argument for repealing the death tax has gone from "save the farmers" and "save the minority owned businesses" to "save my uncles estate from the gummint". We have something that the upper and middle classes can get behind together on.
Incorporate rapidly escalating real estate values, an improving stock market, and a generally improving economy, and a million dollar estate is not that rare anymore.
Good lord, the "Death Tax" going away. What's next, the Car Tax?
I have a feeling that the Senate will pass this no problem. Kaine says he supports it, so no veto a la 2003.
Does anyone realize how little a million dollars is nowadays?
Really, the argument for repealing the death tax has gone from "save the farmers" and "save the minority owned businesses" to "save my uncles estate from the gummint". We have something that the upper and middle classes can get behind together on.
Incorporate rapidly escalating real estate values, an improving stock market, and a generally improving economy, and a million dollar estate is not that rare anymore.
Good lord, the "Death Tax" going away. What's next, the Car Tax?
