Pre-Weekend Ramble
A few thoughts for the weekend ... The discussion about the Outer Beltway here on the blogs is the most intelligent, easy to understand and informative than anything I've read, heard or seen among the many, many public presentations on the always-changing project. The blog contributors should be thanked, of course, but let's not forget My Clay Sun for providing this awesome community forum for the exchange of ideas and information. ... Bill Garrison, familiar to MCS bloggers as Baxley and a member of the most recent Clay County Charter Review Commission, is stepping into the lion's den Monday night. He's going to be at the Fleming Island Library to talk about Charter Amendments relating to the composition of the County Commission with Citizens for Term Limits and Accountability. Since the topic is likely to come up for a vote in November's election, it would be a good time for folks to hear some reasonable discussion on the issue. ... Speaking of CTLAC, yesterday someone mentioned to me that the group seems to draw an incredible amount of intense, personal opposition in the MCS blogs. Summed it up rather nicely, too, with "Too bad they're not this diligent in questioning the motives and actions of elected officials, the ones who are spending our tax dollars." ... Had a request to refine the definition of a word, as it often appears in my blogs. The word is "builder," and after conversations with a couple of buddies who are "builders," I can see the point. It's often been used in tandom when referred to the root of all behind-the-scenes evil in Clay County government, as in "developers and builders." (OK, not all the evil. I don't want to insult lobbyists and lawyers by denying them their well-earned share of credit.) "Geez, I live in a freakin' double-wide in Clay Hill," one of them said about the local political power he possesses. My other builder-buddy, who also lives in a freakin' double-wide in Clay Hill, is spending more of his time right now looking for something to build than actually building anything. So, for you two guys, I'll stop lumping "builders" in with the others. On the ladder of Clay County political power, you're nowhere near the top rung. In fact, you're closer to the rest of us regular folks. You know, the dirt on the ground expected to keep that whole political power ladder stable. ... Is anyone else looking forward to watching the local government scramble in reaction to the state's passage of Amendment 1? If the dire estimates of lost revenue come true, county government will have to trim its budget by about $9 million. That $9 million-plus, and growing, expense of Iveygate would come in pretty handy right about now, wouldn't it? ... The three generations of my immediate family all wore our "I Voted" stickers this week. Our votes in the presidential primary were for three different candidates, in effect canceling each other out. We're independent political thinkers in my family. ... CNN headline: "Britney has mental issues." Well, duh. Besides the fact that she's not really news, neither is that particular revelation about her. The surviving Democrats played nice in their debate. Wow, were they boring. I wish I'd gone to Vegas a couple of decades ago and placed a bet on the final two Democratic Party candidates in this year's election. What do you think the Vegas House Odds would have been on a black man and white woman in that bet? ... Enjoy the weekend. Michael S. Mann Related: OneMann's blog | login or register to post comments | printer friendly version | Tags: Clay County | CTLAC | government
Submitted by stryker on Sat, 02/02/2008 - 1:44am.
OneMann.....what time is the meeting Monday night at the Fleming Island Library? Sounds like an interesting night Thanks,
Submitted by OneMann on Sat, 02/02/2008 - 11:33am.
The Bax-CTLAC debate will be at the meeting of the Fleming Island Republican Club, which begins at 7 p.m. Say hi to me if you get a chance. Michael S. Mann Submitted by stryker on Sat, 02/02/2008 - 3:32pm.
Thank you OneMann! How will I know you....name tag? Stryker People are talking about ...Here are the recent blog postings with the most comments. |
Who's online
There are currently 1 user and 121 guests online.
Online usersRecent comments |
and I'm all ears!!
I quit talking about builders a few months ago. Yes, you have a few gargantuan size companies but I believe the majority of builders are regular folks just trying to earn a living.
With the passing of Amendment 1 there is more to look for then just the scramble to streamline and/or find other ways to get the money from taxpayers. Remember Mayor Peytons fee hikes? What I am waiting for on this Amendment 1 issue is the class action litigation that is going on attacking the whole SOH program that has now been made worse (in their eyes) with doubling and making it portable. It's great for the Homesteaded owners which I am one of. It's just that much worse for those who own properties that aren't homesteaded, I have one of those too. The only thing it really has succeeded in doing is increasing the desparity among the tax payers. The spirit of the tax laws are for them to be fair, and the new amendment only makes the gap worse.
I still go back to that property on the river. There will now be more property taxes paid on a home assessed at 155k then a million dollar property on the river, if that is not disparity I don't know what is.
In this house the votes on that amendment were also rendered moot. I voted against it because I don't believe it's a good solution in the long term and it just adds more fuel to the fire for the class action suit. I would hate to see SOH struck down altogether. It's not all that far fetched for it to be overturned even if the voters who want it had the majority because it is being attacked as unconstitutional.
My vote in the primary may not be the same vote I cast come November. This time around it was about voting against someone, not for someone.
I didn't wear my "I voted" sticker, I don't do stickers.