- It's late today as meetings have dominated my morning.
- Well this is interesting. Arguably, it will wipe out existing local ordinances which restrict employment, but I'm not entirely sure I agree with Bill Berryman's assessment that it opens up bars to folks 18 to 21. It seems the intent of the ruling was to address the right-to-work issues and not necessarily the access issues, though I do agree there is some obvious grey area there.
- Got to say ... John Huie makes a great point regarding financing the jail entirely through SPLOST, and I'm with Hillary on this. Why would you voluntarily take on $46 million in additional debt solely as a way to punish 'future' taxpayers? It's borderline absurd in the grand scheme of things.
- Of course, $80 million for a new jail is nuts too, particularly when Hall County just built a 1,061-bed facility for $30 million less. Can someone tell me how the proposed jail, with approximately 300 less beds, costs that much more than the Hall County one?
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Porter for Georgia, Jmac for Porter
Rep. DuBose Porter has relaunched his web site, and it's better in the sense that it now has actual content.
Speaking of Porter, I got a few questions about this post where, in defending Roy Barnes and poking fun at David Poythress (again), I mentioned that I was backing the Democratic Minority Leader in his campaign for governor. A lot of people thought I was backing Barnes, which is a reasonable conclusion given my criticisms of Poythress and defenses of Barnes.
But my defense of Barnes from outlandish attacks - and my genuine respect and admiration of him - doesn't mean I'm backing him. Make no mistake, I really, really like the former governor, and I think Georgia would be very well off if he were to be elected. However, I also really, really like Porter, and I also think the state would be very well off if he were to be elected.
My determination to cast my lot with Porter this early in the primary race was built largely, but not solely, around the work, dedication and commitment he has put into progressive politics over the past few years.
Listen, if you look at the track record of the past eight years, there is only one Democrat in this race who has consistently advocated for and fought for progressive policies, and that's Porter. And I don't intend this to be a knock against the other candidates, but rather as a reflection of the reality of the situation. When the world was crashing down around Georgia's Democrats and a 100-plus-year period of governance evaporated overnight, Porter was left standing and fighting for Democratic principles.
In the end, that means something to me.
In the end, that tells me something about him.
He's the only unabashed, rural populist in the campaign, and that makes me like him a lot. He went to the mattresses for Jane Kidd during her bid for chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, and that makes me like him a lot. He's focused on proposing alternative policy initiatives, despite being in the minority, and that makes me like him a lot.
Porter's slogan is 'DuBose Porter works for me' and, let the record show, that's exactly what he's been doing.
And if he's been working for me, the least I can do is vote for him.
Speaking of Porter, I got a few questions about this post where, in defending Roy Barnes and poking fun at David Poythress (again), I mentioned that I was backing the Democratic Minority Leader in his campaign for governor. A lot of people thought I was backing Barnes, which is a reasonable conclusion given my criticisms of Poythress and defenses of Barnes.
But my defense of Barnes from outlandish attacks - and my genuine respect and admiration of him - doesn't mean I'm backing him. Make no mistake, I really, really like the former governor, and I think Georgia would be very well off if he were to be elected. However, I also really, really like Porter, and I also think the state would be very well off if he were to be elected.
My determination to cast my lot with Porter this early in the primary race was built largely, but not solely, around the work, dedication and commitment he has put into progressive politics over the past few years.
Listen, if you look at the track record of the past eight years, there is only one Democrat in this race who has consistently advocated for and fought for progressive policies, and that's Porter. And I don't intend this to be a knock against the other candidates, but rather as a reflection of the reality of the situation. When the world was crashing down around Georgia's Democrats and a 100-plus-year period of governance evaporated overnight, Porter was left standing and fighting for Democratic principles.
In the end, that means something to me.
In the end, that tells me something about him.
He's the only unabashed, rural populist in the campaign, and that makes me like him a lot. He went to the mattresses for Jane Kidd during her bid for chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, and that makes me like him a lot. He's focused on proposing alternative policy initiatives, despite being in the minority, and that makes me like him a lot.
Porter's slogan is 'DuBose Porter works for me' and, let the record show, that's exactly what he's been doing.
And if he's been working for me, the least I can do is vote for him.
Maybe Bishop Park ain't a bad idea
I must admit ... the logic employed in this editorial isn't bad at all. Bishop Park had ranked toward the bottom of the list for me, but the rationale for locating the tennis center there - location, existing facilities, economic development potential, etc. - is sound.
The Southeast Clarke Park option has really dropped off dramatically for me the more I think about, primarily due to substantial community opposition, but also because it would be in a tricky location and also because it would result in the complete revision of the master plan of that area. There was considerable effort put into compiling those plans just a few years back - as well as a considerable amount of taxpayer money - and I'm just having a difficult time endorsing either the Lexington Road or Whit Davis Road sites as viable options.
Plus, I'm just not too crazy about the potential of simply relocating any displaced facilities to another location since that, too, would result in more expenditures from Athens-Clarke County. If you're willing to spend a certain amount of revenue for relocation, then why not spend it to locate at the Athens YWCO?
The Southeast Clarke Park option has really dropped off dramatically for me the more I think about, primarily due to substantial community opposition, but also because it would be in a tricky location and also because it would result in the complete revision of the master plan of that area. There was considerable effort put into compiling those plans just a few years back - as well as a considerable amount of taxpayer money - and I'm just having a difficult time endorsing either the Lexington Road or Whit Davis Road sites as viable options.
Plus, I'm just not too crazy about the potential of simply relocating any displaced facilities to another location since that, too, would result in more expenditures from Athens-Clarke County. If you're willing to spend a certain amount of revenue for relocation, then why not spend it to locate at the Athens YWCO?
Another good time had by all
Apparently the Athens-Clarke County version of Rep. Paul Broun's town hall was pretty interesting with the congressman refusing to answer a question from Ryan Lewis and instead accusing the latter of unfairly editing a video of an exchange between the two earlier this month in Oconee County.
At that town hall meeting, Broun walked away from Lewis after being asked a question about the expansion of health care. Lewis, of course, had brought with him a bag of his kidney stones which added another layer of absurdity to the entire exchange.
Leaving aside that ridiculous exchange, I'm partially creeped out by not only Broun planting an anti-British-health-care person in the crowd, but also the fact that his wife, Nicki, responded to folks objecting to the person cutting in line by blowing kisses their way.
Seriously, it's like Jim and Tammy Faye Baker are our congressional representatives.
At that town hall meeting, Broun walked away from Lewis after being asked a question about the expansion of health care. Lewis, of course, had brought with him a bag of his kidney stones which added another layer of absurdity to the entire exchange.
Leaving aside that ridiculous exchange, I'm partially creeped out by not only Broun planting an anti-British-health-care person in the crowd, but also the fact that his wife, Nicki, responded to folks objecting to the person cutting in line by blowing kisses their way.
Seriously, it's like Jim and Tammy Faye Baker are our congressional representatives.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Searching for the rational
A lot of folks deny that climate change is occuring because of the influence of man, despite volumes of statistical evidence to the contrary. That's fine, and no matter how infuriating it is, we've done that dance. The point is that a logical discussion over the best way to curb the impact of climate change doesn't really exist in our country because a large number of people in power simply don't believe it's real.
This is depressing, but it's not surprising when you consider Rep. Paul Broun's town hall meeting in Commerce this morning.
Broun believes the purpose of the police is to catch criminals after the fact, and up until that point it ought to be every man for himself. In his world, if someone's breaking in to my house, I'm a fool for trying to notify the authorities and should, instead, come downstairs with two guns a-blazing.
Broun thinks Rep. Nancy Pelosi is a 'domestic enemy of the Constitution.'
Broun thinks that Democrats are out to ban bicycles and Coke and coffee and all sorts of other things in an attempt to 'control you' ... though I really don't know what that means.
Listen, you can't have rationale discourse with people like this. It's not as if you can sit down and have the types of common sense policy debates we ought to be having where the discussion recognizes a common end and then analyzes the best way to reach said end.
For folks like Broun, there is no end.
And if there is no end, you get to just concoct things which make absolutely no sense.
This is depressing, but it's not surprising when you consider Rep. Paul Broun's town hall meeting in Commerce this morning.
Broun believes the purpose of the police is to catch criminals after the fact, and up until that point it ought to be every man for himself. In his world, if someone's breaking in to my house, I'm a fool for trying to notify the authorities and should, instead, come downstairs with two guns a-blazing.
Broun thinks Rep. Nancy Pelosi is a 'domestic enemy of the Constitution.'
Broun thinks that Democrats are out to ban bicycles and Coke and coffee and all sorts of other things in an attempt to 'control you' ... though I really don't know what that means.
Listen, you can't have rationale discourse with people like this. It's not as if you can sit down and have the types of common sense policy debates we ought to be having where the discussion recognizes a common end and then analyzes the best way to reach said end.
For folks like Broun, there is no end.
And if there is no end, you get to just concoct things which make absolutely no sense.
Let the market work!
An interesting discussion on the role and effectiveness of the free market in addressing climate change, particularly in light of the dire reports received at the United Nations ...
It implies that there’s some genuine ideological dilemma that makes it impossible for a committed free marketer to propose constructive policies to avert catastrophic climate change. But how about reductions in subsidies for fossil fuel production and consumption? The free market credentials seem impeccable. Or how about a “green tax shift” in which carbon is taxe(d) or carbon emission permits are auctioned and the revenue is used to finance deficit-neutral reductions in other taxes? Again, it surely can’t be that free market principles commit people to the precise series of revenue streams currently used in the United States.
Eliminating any or all of the existing tax exemptions connected to fossil fuels would go a long way in forcing the entire economy to readjust and innovate, and it would be the sole result of natural market forces. Likewise, a stiff carbon tax would dramatically deter folks from emitting high levels of carbon and compel to find ways to maintain their production without ample emissions (something a cap-and-trade system can't entirely produce).
It implies that there’s some genuine ideological dilemma that makes it impossible for a committed free marketer to propose constructive policies to avert catastrophic climate change. But how about reductions in subsidies for fossil fuel production and consumption? The free market credentials seem impeccable. Or how about a “green tax shift” in which carbon is taxe(d) or carbon emission permits are auctioned and the revenue is used to finance deficit-neutral reductions in other taxes? Again, it surely can’t be that free market principles commit people to the precise series of revenue streams currently used in the United States.
Eliminating any or all of the existing tax exemptions connected to fossil fuels would go a long way in forcing the entire economy to readjust and innovate, and it would be the sole result of natural market forces. Likewise, a stiff carbon tax would dramatically deter folks from emitting high levels of carbon and compel to find ways to maintain their production without ample emissions (something a cap-and-trade system can't entirely produce).
More fun from town halls
Also from Blake's liveblog of Rep. Paul Broun's town hall meeting in Commerce ...
Broun: "We've got a lot of domestic enemies of the Constitution, and one of them sits in the speaker's chair?" ...
Broun says the Democrats are going to outlaw bicycles because they're dangerous.
If the latter's the case, why do so many Athens conservatives make the anti-bike lane argument come election time?
Broun: "We've got a lot of domestic enemies of the Constitution, and one of them sits in the speaker's chair?" ...
Broun says the Democrats are going to outlaw bicycles because they're dangerous.
If the latter's the case, why do so many Athens conservatives make the anti-bike lane argument come election time?
To serve ... and catch after the fact
An interesting nugget buried in the liveblog of Rep. Paul Broun's Commerce town hall meeting ...
Gun rights: "It's not about hunting. It's about being able to protect our lives and our property." The police's "job is to catch criminals, not to protect you."
Gun rights: "It's not about hunting. It's about being able to protect our lives and our property." The police's "job is to catch criminals, not to protect you."
Couple of things
- Blake sums up some of the tennis center debate, and I'm just not understanding the preference of Southeast Clarke Park. Granted, I think all three of the proposed sites have considerable flaws, but it seems as if this is the place the petitioners least likely want it to go and it's a place that would greatly disrupt existing facilities and result in the revision of future planned expansions.
- One of the best comments regarding my column was 'I realize McGinty wants to hide behind the law, and then give us his opinion.' Um, if it's the law, thus meaning it's legally appropriate, and I'm using the existing law to articulate an opinion, then how is this a rational criticism? I mean, if they law tells you not to steal stuff, and I write a column saying 'we can't steal stuff, so the appropriate alternative is to get an education, find a job and lawfully acquire your property' ... then how is 'hiding behind the law' a bad thing?
- Well this is a shame. The organization fell on some hard times a year or so ago, but I had hoped they had gotten their feet back underneath them.
- It seems like the only security threat Rep. Paul Broun should be concerned with involves kidney stones.
- I'd like to live in a world where I can just not pay my mortgage for, say, two years and then have my bank shave off roughly half of what I owe them.
- Tonight is Family Day Dining Night in Oconee County where you can eat at one of nine area restaurants have a portion of your bill donated to the Oconee Area Resource Council.
- After a forgettable summer, Phil Mickelson closed it out nicely.
- One of the best comments regarding my column was 'I realize McGinty wants to hide behind the law, and then give us his opinion.' Um, if it's the law, thus meaning it's legally appropriate, and I'm using the existing law to articulate an opinion, then how is this a rational criticism? I mean, if they law tells you not to steal stuff, and I write a column saying 'we can't steal stuff, so the appropriate alternative is to get an education, find a job and lawfully acquire your property' ... then how is 'hiding behind the law' a bad thing?
- Well this is a shame. The organization fell on some hard times a year or so ago, but I had hoped they had gotten their feet back underneath them.
- It seems like the only security threat Rep. Paul Broun should be concerned with involves kidney stones.
- I'd like to live in a world where I can just not pay my mortgage for, say, two years and then have my bank shave off roughly half of what I owe them.
- Tonight is Family Day Dining Night in Oconee County where you can eat at one of nine area restaurants have a portion of your bill donated to the Oconee Area Resource Council.
- After a forgettable summer, Phil Mickelson closed it out nicely.
The read
From my Sunday column in the Athens Banner-Herald ...
If you didn't like the inclusion of the tennis center in the list of SPLOST projects, you can remember to be more engaged the next time projects are recommended for inclusion.
If you don't like how tight the restrictions are when it comes to what can and cannot be funded, you need not complain to the Athens-Clarke County Commission, but rather the state government who has ultimate authority over the rules and regulations of tax policy for local officials.
If you would rather that funding be used to shore up shortfalls elsewhere in the local budget, you ought to call your state representative and ask him or her to get to work on legislation that would overhaul the existing rules governing the local budgeting process.
The SPLOST process is basic, but it's also rigid.
State law very clearly and succinctly lays out how projects are approved and how the money can be spent. So, with that foundation laid out, the only result is that Athens-Clarke County is getting a tennis center in some form or fashion in the next few years.
An advisory committee recommended it, the voters approved it, and state law requires them to allocate the money to build it.
It ain't ideal, but it's also a ship that already has sailed.
If you didn't like the inclusion of the tennis center in the list of SPLOST projects, you can remember to be more engaged the next time projects are recommended for inclusion.
If you don't like how tight the restrictions are when it comes to what can and cannot be funded, you need not complain to the Athens-Clarke County Commission, but rather the state government who has ultimate authority over the rules and regulations of tax policy for local officials.
If you would rather that funding be used to shore up shortfalls elsewhere in the local budget, you ought to call your state representative and ask him or her to get to work on legislation that would overhaul the existing rules governing the local budgeting process.
The SPLOST process is basic, but it's also rigid.
State law very clearly and succinctly lays out how projects are approved and how the money can be spent. So, with that foundation laid out, the only result is that Athens-Clarke County is getting a tennis center in some form or fashion in the next few years.
An advisory committee recommended it, the voters approved it, and state law requires them to allocate the money to build it.
It ain't ideal, but it's also a ship that already has sailed.
Friday, September 25, 2009
'Cheap politician'
The latest prodding by David Poythress of Roy Barnes prompted the latter to finally respond ...
Have we come to this, that we ignore the real issues and concentrate on an off-the-cuff remark explaining that we need not be Republicans or Democrats but Georgians?”
Barnes said he was “trying to pull people together” but his remarks were “turned by a cheap politician into some type of issue. And I think it’s wrong and I’m disappointed.”
Poythress aimed to respond, but it was rather forgettable, definitely pathetic and involved a Putnam County reference. Given the behavior of his campaign the past few months, I'd say 'cheap politician' and 'David Poythress' appear to go hand-in-hand.
In related news, the candidate I'm backing - Rep. DuBose Porter - had a nice rebuttal to Revenue Commissioner Bart Graham that can be found in the same post.
Have we come to this, that we ignore the real issues and concentrate on an off-the-cuff remark explaining that we need not be Republicans or Democrats but Georgians?”
Barnes said he was “trying to pull people together” but his remarks were “turned by a cheap politician into some type of issue. And I think it’s wrong and I’m disappointed.”
Poythress aimed to respond, but it was rather forgettable, definitely pathetic and involved a Putnam County reference. Given the behavior of his campaign the past few months, I'd say 'cheap politician' and 'David Poythress' appear to go hand-in-hand.
In related news, the candidate I'm backing - Rep. DuBose Porter - had a nice rebuttal to Revenue Commissioner Bart Graham that can be found in the same post.
How feasible?
Building off this brief summary of the three candidate sites for the proposed tennis center, let's dig a little more into the feasibility of the Athens YWCO site.
According to the Athens-Clarke County project summary for the tennis center, out of a total $2.3 million available, $1.9 million is allocated to the construction of the various facilities (i.e. courts, buildings, etc.).
Assuming that the YWCO property is sold for $1 million, then $1.3 million would remain in available funding for construction and site enhancements. And, assuming the site is properly graded, preliminary information - based on the limited available data - suggests the construction of 18 courts would cost $630,000 (at $35,000 per court) compared to $900,000 based on Athens-Clarke County staff estimates (at $50,000 per court).
This cost savings - again, done using limited information - is significant, but doesn't seem to be significant enough. Assuming the grading costs are built into the overall construction costs (which, according to the summary, it appears they are), it's plausible additional savings could be found in that area.
However, those savings must bring the overall construction total down to a total of $900,000 because $400,000 in additional funding is tied up in other services and fees. As a result, in order for the YWCO site to be viable, the breakdown would have to be $1 million for property acquisition, $900,000 for construction and $400,000 for other costs.
This suggests an overall reduction in constructions costs by $1 million, which I don't think is terribly feasible. Still, I'd still favor the inclusion of the YWCO site in the final analysis given its other tangible strengths (i.e. location, popularity, possibility of retaining the facility in Athens-Clarke County), and then see what the final numbers tell us.
According to the Athens-Clarke County project summary for the tennis center, out of a total $2.3 million available, $1.9 million is allocated to the construction of the various facilities (i.e. courts, buildings, etc.).
Assuming that the YWCO property is sold for $1 million, then $1.3 million would remain in available funding for construction and site enhancements. And, assuming the site is properly graded, preliminary information - based on the limited available data - suggests the construction of 18 courts would cost $630,000 (at $35,000 per court) compared to $900,000 based on Athens-Clarke County staff estimates (at $50,000 per court).
This cost savings - again, done using limited information - is significant, but doesn't seem to be significant enough. Assuming the grading costs are built into the overall construction costs (which, according to the summary, it appears they are), it's plausible additional savings could be found in that area.
However, those savings must bring the overall construction total down to a total of $900,000 because $400,000 in additional funding is tied up in other services and fees. As a result, in order for the YWCO site to be viable, the breakdown would have to be $1 million for property acquisition, $900,000 for construction and $400,000 for other costs.
This suggests an overall reduction in constructions costs by $1 million, which I don't think is terribly feasible. Still, I'd still favor the inclusion of the YWCO site in the final analysis given its other tangible strengths (i.e. location, popularity, possibility of retaining the facility in Athens-Clarke County), and then see what the final numbers tell us.
Flood watch issued
With three or so inches of rain expected to fall this weekend - including the bulk of it right when I hope to be sitting in Sanford Stadium - we've got a flash flood watch in effect.
Well, that's great
Well, I hope my grandchildren appreciate the coming global catastrophe brought on by the unrelenting stubbornish, stupidity and childishness of my generation, as well as my parents'.
Couple of things
- So Rep. Paul Broun is gonna do a town hall in Athens-Clarke County after all. A lot of folks are saying 'good for him' but I don't know why we need to pat someone on the back when they're finally doing what they should have done all along.
- Friend of BTT David Hamilton talks about the problems with the proposed Sycamore Ridge facility.
- Revenue Commissioner Bart Graham defends his turf and speaks up for government bureaucracies.
- I joked on my Facebook status that I was waiting for the story that noted the area was still in a drought after all the rain the past few days, and while yesterday's doesn't exactly do it, as Hillary joked with me, it does manage to point out certain areas are still below pool.
- Speaking of Hillary, her criticism of Jessica Morris, Broun's spokesperson, is spot on. Oconee County is not Athens-Clarke County, and Athens-Clarke County is not Oconee County. They are distinctly different geographically - and demographically - speaking, and there's just absolutely no way around it.
- Friend of BTT David Hamilton talks about the problems with the proposed Sycamore Ridge facility.
- Revenue Commissioner Bart Graham defends his turf and speaks up for government bureaucracies.
- I joked on my Facebook status that I was waiting for the story that noted the area was still in a drought after all the rain the past few days, and while yesterday's doesn't exactly do it, as Hillary joked with me, it does manage to point out certain areas are still below pool.
- Speaking of Hillary, her criticism of Jessica Morris, Broun's spokesperson, is spot on. Oconee County is not Athens-Clarke County, and Athens-Clarke County is not Oconee County. They are distinctly different geographically - and demographically - speaking, and there's just absolutely no way around it.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Opposing local control
Revenue Commissioner Bart Graham's recent letter opposing localized collection of sales tax revenue is, for lack of a better term, pretty silly ...
We previously provided the $1.6 billion figure in the Joint House and Senate Appropriations Budget Briefing on January 21, 2009. It is actually the total amount of all delinquent tax accounts of all tax types dating back to 1988. Senator Chip Rogers (R) is correct that “there is no way” there is $1.0 billion of sales tax annually which goes uncollected.
We will always agree that more collectors will always collect more money. If the solution was as simple as hiring private companies to collect taxes, many states and the IRS would have been privatizing tax collections for decades. Alabama, which authorized local collection in 1947, is joined by only Louisiana, Colorado, and Arizona out of the 36 states which have local sales taxes.
Of course, Graham parrots a baseless speculation by Sen. Chip Rogers and then proceeds to completely reinforce the argument put forward by Rep. DuBose Porter that localized collection could be more efficient.
Mind you that Rogers offers absolutely no evidence to support his claim that 'there is no way' there is $1 billion in uncollected sales taxes out there, instead relying on saying it loudly enough so that it 'sounds right' to folks listening. There may not be $1 billion out there ... or there may very well be as Alabama discovered when it switched to localized collection. The point is, you don't know if you don't try.
Likewise, Graham attempts to suggest that because more states centralize their collection process then it arguably must work better. Of course, the evidence from Alabama suggests the exact opposite meaning, for all practical purposes, something about that system works well.
All in all, this isn't a policy rebuttal, but rather a political ploy aimed at protecting Graham's turf. His office collects the revenue, and he's worried that it will lessen his influence if it's taken away. It's blatantly transparent for those who wish to see it.
It just makes me wonder ... what world are we leaving in when Republicans are defending a state bureaucracy and opposing local control?
We previously provided the $1.6 billion figure in the Joint House and Senate Appropriations Budget Briefing on January 21, 2009. It is actually the total amount of all delinquent tax accounts of all tax types dating back to 1988. Senator Chip Rogers (R) is correct that “there is no way” there is $1.0 billion of sales tax annually which goes uncollected.
We will always agree that more collectors will always collect more money. If the solution was as simple as hiring private companies to collect taxes, many states and the IRS would have been privatizing tax collections for decades. Alabama, which authorized local collection in 1947, is joined by only Louisiana, Colorado, and Arizona out of the 36 states which have local sales taxes.
Of course, Graham parrots a baseless speculation by Sen. Chip Rogers and then proceeds to completely reinforce the argument put forward by Rep. DuBose Porter that localized collection could be more efficient.
Mind you that Rogers offers absolutely no evidence to support his claim that 'there is no way' there is $1 billion in uncollected sales taxes out there, instead relying on saying it loudly enough so that it 'sounds right' to folks listening. There may not be $1 billion out there ... or there may very well be as Alabama discovered when it switched to localized collection. The point is, you don't know if you don't try.
Likewise, Graham attempts to suggest that because more states centralize their collection process then it arguably must work better. Of course, the evidence from Alabama suggests the exact opposite meaning, for all practical purposes, something about that system works well.
All in all, this isn't a policy rebuttal, but rather a political ploy aimed at protecting Graham's turf. His office collects the revenue, and he's worried that it will lessen his influence if it's taken away. It's blatantly transparent for those who wish to see it.
It just makes me wonder ... what world are we leaving in when Republicans are defending a state bureaucracy and opposing local control?
The possibility of partnerships
The various tennis association, whether local or regional, have expressed their desire for the proposed center to serve as a possible economic development engine. The rationale is that a large enough facility can land various competitive tournaments, and the participants and attendees of those events would understandably spend their money in the area.
As a result, these associations - the same ones who officially submitted the request for the project to the SPLOST Citizen Advisory Committee way back when - have a vested interest in seeing those considerations factored in and are more than open to exploring partnerships with Athens-Clarke County officials to help share the cost burden of the project.
The minutes from the May 7 meeting record Michael Beck, the vice president of the Georgia Tennis Association, inquiring about the possibility of partnering with the local government in an attempt to share some of the costs for construction and, most importantly, maintenance. Beck asked, on three different occasions, for additional details regarding possible areas of collaboration.
The first question raised the feasibility of working together ...
In Columbus, the tennis association there partners to actually manage the 35 clay court facility there. What if the Clarke Oconee County Tennis Association wanted to be involved in managing and raising funds for this facility? What if I said that we are ready to write you a check to build 8 more courts, how would that factor in?
Athens-Clarke County District Two Commissioner Harry Sims, who served as chair of the Site Selection Committee, responded that such a partnership would require an intergovernmental agreement and would need to be reviewed by Bill Berryman, the county's attorney.
Beck followed up by asking how the community association should best go about getting that partnership started, to which Sims directed the question to various members of Athens-Clarke County staff present at the meeting. Derek Doster, the SPLOST Project Administrator, said the local government was reluctant to take any donations or enter those types of partnerships if they were allocated for new projects that would require new maintenance costs.
Beck responded by focusing on the committment to assist with maintenance and noted that the United States Tennis Association has a number of grants available to assist with projects like these. Then, in what was arguably the most unusual response of this exchange, an unidentifed staff member followed up with ...
Mr. Beck was then reminded that the original project proposal had the local tennis association contributing $100,000 for furniture, fixtures and equipment for the center.
As a result, these associations - the same ones who officially submitted the request for the project to the SPLOST Citizen Advisory Committee way back when - have a vested interest in seeing those considerations factored in and are more than open to exploring partnerships with Athens-Clarke County officials to help share the cost burden of the project.
The minutes from the May 7 meeting record Michael Beck, the vice president of the Georgia Tennis Association, inquiring about the possibility of partnering with the local government in an attempt to share some of the costs for construction and, most importantly, maintenance. Beck asked, on three different occasions, for additional details regarding possible areas of collaboration.
The first question raised the feasibility of working together ...
In Columbus, the tennis association there partners to actually manage the 35 clay court facility there. What if the Clarke Oconee County Tennis Association wanted to be involved in managing and raising funds for this facility? What if I said that we are ready to write you a check to build 8 more courts, how would that factor in?
Athens-Clarke County District Two Commissioner Harry Sims, who served as chair of the Site Selection Committee, responded that such a partnership would require an intergovernmental agreement and would need to be reviewed by Bill Berryman, the county's attorney.
Beck followed up by asking how the community association should best go about getting that partnership started, to which Sims directed the question to various members of Athens-Clarke County staff present at the meeting. Derek Doster, the SPLOST Project Administrator, said the local government was reluctant to take any donations or enter those types of partnerships if they were allocated for new projects that would require new maintenance costs.
Beck responded by focusing on the committment to assist with maintenance and noted that the United States Tennis Association has a number of grants available to assist with projects like these. Then, in what was arguably the most unusual response of this exchange, an unidentifed staff member followed up with ...
Mr. Beck was then reminded that the original project proposal had the local tennis association contributing $100,000 for furniture, fixtures and equipment for the center.
My interview
I just finished up an email interview series with Dan Lorentz from My Athens Blog. It's the second interview like this Dan's conducted, as he did one with Ben Emanuel a few weeks ago.
You can find it here, and I appreciate the chance to chat with him.
You can find it here, and I appreciate the chance to chat with him.
The site recommendations
My column this week is going to focus on all the hoopla surrounding the proposed tennis center, and I was fortunate enough to be able to get a good number of viewpoints and lots good information for it as well. The problem, of course, is that it's difficult to cram all of that information into a 750-word column, so I'm going to try and break up some of the more interesting pieces and some of the background of this discussion in a couple of blog posts.
But - and as I put forward in my column - this is a project that has to be built. It's the law and, as Blake said a few weeks back, there's nothing you can do to overturn a voter-approved, state law-binding project ... short of Gov. Sonny Perdue deciding to wade into this thing, and that's about as likely as, well, Gov. Sonny Perdue wading into anything Athens-related.
This first post will deal with the three site recommendations which are Bishop Park, Southeast Clarke Park and the Athens YWCO.
Locating the tennis center, and its 20 courts, at Bishop Park would dramatically change the existing landscape of the facility. It would devour the recreational field that fronts Sunset Drive all the way down to Oglethorpe Avenue, and it would take with it at least one existing baseball field. Parking would a primary issue as well, and it could displace the Athens Farmer’s Market, thus jeopardizing the future of the popular event.
Likewise, the renovations to Southeast Clarke Park pose their own concerns. Locating the tennis courts off of Lexington Road would result in the removal of existing baseball fields and wipe out future plans for a concession stand, library and gathering area.
Moving the courts to Whit Davis Road is also problematic. When the park was built in 2003, local officials assured nearby residents most of the facilities would be centered off of Lexington Road, thus minimizing light pollution and increased traffic.
In all, this would result in a significant disruption of existing services. At Bishop Park, more than 13,000 users would be displaced, while more than 6,000 users at Southeast Clarke Park would be affected.
The scope of renovations required at Bishop Park and Southeast Clarke Park figure to be quite extensive. Both sites will need excessive work when it comes to grading, property improvements and enhancements, and the work needed will more than likely chew up all of the existing funding
The Athens YWCO is another animal entirely as it is private property, though, by being a non-profit entity, is already off the county's tax rolls. Selling the property to a private owner, of course, would put it back on the tax digest which isn't a bad thing at all given the budgetary crisis confronting all local governments, and that ought to be considered as well in the final analysis.
The property's 16 acres are valued $1.6 million or roughly $100,000 per acre. The Site Selection Committee reviewed a parcel of land that was approximately 10 acres is size, thus suggesting it would be about $1 million in value.
The Athens-Clarke County Commission, faced with shrinking sales tax revenue, made the determination that it would not spend money on land acquisition in a smart attempt to maximize funding. However, one thing that a few folks have mentioned to me that I admit I hadn't even considered is that the YWCO site actually is the most ready location to begin renovative work on given that it's already properly graded for the construction of tennis courts.
According to Court Makers, a tennis court construction firm located in Atlanta, it costs approximately $35,000 to build one tennis court on already level, graded land. Some basic math on my part shows that 18 courts would cost $630,000 (if the land at the YWCO is properly graded prior to court construction). The estimates from Athens-Clarke County in the project summary sheet for the tennis center project $50,000 per court (or $900,000 for 18 courts).
It's plausible, then, with this anecdotal evidence, to think that it might not be as cost prohibitive to locate the tennis center at the YWCO (plus you'd get the added bonus of keeping the popular facility in Athens-Clarke County and not upsetting the users of the other facilities). Again, it may be cost-prohibitive, but we won't know for sure until we get a cost analysis of all the sites done.
But - and as I put forward in my column - this is a project that has to be built. It's the law and, as Blake said a few weeks back, there's nothing you can do to overturn a voter-approved, state law-binding project ... short of Gov. Sonny Perdue deciding to wade into this thing, and that's about as likely as, well, Gov. Sonny Perdue wading into anything Athens-related.
This first post will deal with the three site recommendations which are Bishop Park, Southeast Clarke Park and the Athens YWCO.
Locating the tennis center, and its 20 courts, at Bishop Park would dramatically change the existing landscape of the facility. It would devour the recreational field that fronts Sunset Drive all the way down to Oglethorpe Avenue, and it would take with it at least one existing baseball field. Parking would a primary issue as well, and it could displace the Athens Farmer’s Market, thus jeopardizing the future of the popular event.
Likewise, the renovations to Southeast Clarke Park pose their own concerns. Locating the tennis courts off of Lexington Road would result in the removal of existing baseball fields and wipe out future plans for a concession stand, library and gathering area.
Moving the courts to Whit Davis Road is also problematic. When the park was built in 2003, local officials assured nearby residents most of the facilities would be centered off of Lexington Road, thus minimizing light pollution and increased traffic.
In all, this would result in a significant disruption of existing services. At Bishop Park, more than 13,000 users would be displaced, while more than 6,000 users at Southeast Clarke Park would be affected.
The scope of renovations required at Bishop Park and Southeast Clarke Park figure to be quite extensive. Both sites will need excessive work when it comes to grading, property improvements and enhancements, and the work needed will more than likely chew up all of the existing funding
The Athens YWCO is another animal entirely as it is private property, though, by being a non-profit entity, is already off the county's tax rolls. Selling the property to a private owner, of course, would put it back on the tax digest which isn't a bad thing at all given the budgetary crisis confronting all local governments, and that ought to be considered as well in the final analysis.
The property's 16 acres are valued $1.6 million or roughly $100,000 per acre. The Site Selection Committee reviewed a parcel of land that was approximately 10 acres is size, thus suggesting it would be about $1 million in value.
The Athens-Clarke County Commission, faced with shrinking sales tax revenue, made the determination that it would not spend money on land acquisition in a smart attempt to maximize funding. However, one thing that a few folks have mentioned to me that I admit I hadn't even considered is that the YWCO site actually is the most ready location to begin renovative work on given that it's already properly graded for the construction of tennis courts.
According to Court Makers, a tennis court construction firm located in Atlanta, it costs approximately $35,000 to build one tennis court on already level, graded land. Some basic math on my part shows that 18 courts would cost $630,000 (if the land at the YWCO is properly graded prior to court construction). The estimates from Athens-Clarke County in the project summary sheet for the tennis center project $50,000 per court (or $900,000 for 18 courts).
It's plausible, then, with this anecdotal evidence, to think that it might not be as cost prohibitive to locate the tennis center at the YWCO (plus you'd get the added bonus of keeping the popular facility in Athens-Clarke County and not upsetting the users of the other facilities). Again, it may be cost-prohibitive, but we won't know for sure until we get a cost analysis of all the sites done.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Perspective please
Earlier today, Gary Black, a Republican candidate for Agriculture Secretary in Georgia, posted this on Twitter ...
Greenhouse gas call w/EPA. I asked if Arg, Ind, Chna, Braz propose ag controls too. Bcrats say "they don't know." I KNOW this hurts US ag.
I think we ought to leave aside the comical notion that a man seeking a bureaucratic office is poking fun at bureaucrats and focus more on the baseless speculation he's making here.
Any sort of 'controls' on carbon emissions coming from agricultural activities need to be kept in perspective with three existing pieces of evidence. The primary one is climate change itself and the impact carbon emissions have in altering the planet's long-term weather. If a changing climate means certain types of revenue-producing agricultural ventures can't be pursued anymore, the notion of 'controls' becomes moot then.
Likewise, the American agricultural industry is already behind the curve and overly reliant on public subsidies to remain competitive in the global marketplace.
And lastly, under a hypothetical cap-and-trade system, any type of carbon emissions could be traded in a new marketplace, thus creating the potential for enhanced revenue. In addition, new technologies aimed at capturing methane for resale are another innovation with tremendous revenue potential.
If Black is going to focus solely on 'controls' and what China might do, then I'm not too terribly thrilled with the idea of him serving as the state agricultural chief.
Greenhouse gas call w/EPA. I asked if Arg, Ind, Chna, Braz propose ag controls too. Bcrats say "they don't know." I KNOW this hurts US ag.
I think we ought to leave aside the comical notion that a man seeking a bureaucratic office is poking fun at bureaucrats and focus more on the baseless speculation he's making here.
Any sort of 'controls' on carbon emissions coming from agricultural activities need to be kept in perspective with three existing pieces of evidence. The primary one is climate change itself and the impact carbon emissions have in altering the planet's long-term weather. If a changing climate means certain types of revenue-producing agricultural ventures can't be pursued anymore, the notion of 'controls' becomes moot then.
Likewise, the American agricultural industry is already behind the curve and overly reliant on public subsidies to remain competitive in the global marketplace.
And lastly, under a hypothetical cap-and-trade system, any type of carbon emissions could be traded in a new marketplace, thus creating the potential for enhanced revenue. In addition, new technologies aimed at capturing methane for resale are another innovation with tremendous revenue potential.
If Black is going to focus solely on 'controls' and what China might do, then I'm not too terribly thrilled with the idea of him serving as the state agricultural chief.
Little will, no way
Last week, I briefly talked about the tentative recommendation to request an expansion of Georgia's property tax deferment program. Given my policy preference for a property tax circuit breaker program, I was initially disappointed with the Athens-Clarke County Commission's decision to not pursue the program at the state level.
That said, my disappointment stems from my personal preference, and it's important to recognize the bigger picture. Passing a circuit breaker program would be incredibly difficult based on the nature of the existing political environment.
The primary reason why there is little will from the Athens-Clarke County Commission in pursuing a property tax circuit breaker program is because there is less will - almost no will - to pursue such a program at the state level. And, seeing how the state government (foolishly) must approve any sort of local funding mechanism, that means the idea, no matter how good it is, is DOA.
One can quibble over whether or not this is a battle worth waging - and, for what it's worth, I'd like to see some local governments starting pushing for legislation that sets up circuit breaker pilot programs across the state - but waging the battle differs from accepting the existing playing field.
To that end, the commission opted to take a more plausible route to deliver progressive tax reform by pushing for expansions to an existing program that is little used. I'm still not entirely sure it's something the state will ultimately change, and I'm not entirely convinced it's something Rep. Bob Smith signs off on given his general opposition to any sort of tax reform that benefits lower-income folks (as well as his general opposition to going to bat for anything the Athens-Clarke County Commission wants), but ... still.
The commission viewed its available options, checked out the map ahead and decided that making an existing program work better was a more viable path to pursue. In hindsight, it's hard to blame them for such a pragmatic decision, and if I was sitting in their seats, I can't say I'd act differently.
I'd still like to see them, as well as other local governments, advocate for ideas like circuit breakers, but advocacy for such innovation can go hand-in-hand with ongoing, practical work to make our state tax code fairer for low-income citizens.
That said, my disappointment stems from my personal preference, and it's important to recognize the bigger picture. Passing a circuit breaker program would be incredibly difficult based on the nature of the existing political environment.
The primary reason why there is little will from the Athens-Clarke County Commission in pursuing a property tax circuit breaker program is because there is less will - almost no will - to pursue such a program at the state level. And, seeing how the state government (foolishly) must approve any sort of local funding mechanism, that means the idea, no matter how good it is, is DOA.
One can quibble over whether or not this is a battle worth waging - and, for what it's worth, I'd like to see some local governments starting pushing for legislation that sets up circuit breaker pilot programs across the state - but waging the battle differs from accepting the existing playing field.
To that end, the commission opted to take a more plausible route to deliver progressive tax reform by pushing for expansions to an existing program that is little used. I'm still not entirely sure it's something the state will ultimately change, and I'm not entirely convinced it's something Rep. Bob Smith signs off on given his general opposition to any sort of tax reform that benefits lower-income folks (as well as his general opposition to going to bat for anything the Athens-Clarke County Commission wants), but ... still.
The commission viewed its available options, checked out the map ahead and decided that making an existing program work better was a more viable path to pursue. In hindsight, it's hard to blame them for such a pragmatic decision, and if I was sitting in their seats, I can't say I'd act differently.
I'd still like to see them, as well as other local governments, advocate for ideas like circuit breakers, but advocacy for such innovation can go hand-in-hand with ongoing, practical work to make our state tax code fairer for low-income citizens.
Bruuuuce!
Bruce Springsteen is 60 today, which is so incredibly weird for me to process.
Regardless, here are my favorite Springsteen songs ...
Atlantic City by Bruce Springsteen
Youngstown by Bruce Springsteen
The Rising by Bruce Springsteen
My City Of Ruins by Bruce Springsteen
Darlington County by Bruce Springsteen
Regardless, here are my favorite Springsteen songs ...
Atlantic City by Bruce Springsteen
Youngstown by Bruce Springsteen
The Rising by Bruce Springsteen
My City Of Ruins by Bruce Springsteen
Darlington County by Bruce Springsteen
Couple of things
- My suggestion for the anti-Rep. Paul Broun PAC would not so much be defeating him in an election, since that's not terribly likely based on the existing demographics of the district, but rather to challenge his positions throughout his term through radio, online and TV ads. If you start putting an alternative message out there during non-election season, you might start tilting the narrative a tad.
- I'm not sure this 'vindicates' the anti-NBAF crowd, but I do think it suggests there are some worrisome gaps in oversight that must be addressed.
- Sweet!
- The thing I think David Dunlap is missing is that the Athens Banner-Herald's editorial staff rarely writes about national issues, particularly insider-baseball ones like the ACORN fiasco. Dunlap is free to pen his own letter and talk about how awful it is, but it's misguided to think the local newspaper should avoid talking about a whole host of area issues so it can pick up on a national niche story.
- Regarding the 'McMansion' item in City Dope, isn't Five Points, as well as the other potential neighborhoods, protected (or should be protected soon) from this type of development from the historic preservation standards coming down the line? That might make such regulations a two-birds-with-one-stone kinda thing.
- David Brush isn't wrong, but I've also heard from various officials at the University of Georgia over the past two weeks who have suggested it wasn't so much the tailgaters who deliberately ruined the campus, but a combination of local residents who went looking for the recyclables and a handful of drunks who, on the way to downtown from the game, vented their frustrations on bagged trash. It's a plausible scenario, though that shouldn't deter anyone going to this weekend's game from bringing extra trash bags and doing their best to keep their site clean.
- I'm not sure this 'vindicates' the anti-NBAF crowd, but I do think it suggests there are some worrisome gaps in oversight that must be addressed.
- Sweet!
- The thing I think David Dunlap is missing is that the Athens Banner-Herald's editorial staff rarely writes about national issues, particularly insider-baseball ones like the ACORN fiasco. Dunlap is free to pen his own letter and talk about how awful it is, but it's misguided to think the local newspaper should avoid talking about a whole host of area issues so it can pick up on a national niche story.
- Regarding the 'McMansion' item in City Dope, isn't Five Points, as well as the other potential neighborhoods, protected (or should be protected soon) from this type of development from the historic preservation standards coming down the line? That might make such regulations a two-birds-with-one-stone kinda thing.
- David Brush isn't wrong, but I've also heard from various officials at the University of Georgia over the past two weeks who have suggested it wasn't so much the tailgaters who deliberately ruined the campus, but a combination of local residents who went looking for the recyclables and a handful of drunks who, on the way to downtown from the game, vented their frustrations on bagged trash. It's a plausible scenario, though that shouldn't deter anyone going to this weekend's game from bringing extra trash bags and doing their best to keep their site clean.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
That's about right
Via Brian's Twitter feed, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has some unkind words for Georgia and its prospects for commuter rail ...
Ray LaHood, the U.S. secretary of transportation, was asked Monday whether high-speed rail would ever come to Atlanta.
“It’ll come to Atlanta if Georgia gets its act together,” LaHood said, using words that came across more blunt in person than they do on the page.
In a later interview, LaHood revised and extended that remark, suggesting that the state has yet to get its act together in other ways as well.
“I think that’s true of transit too,” he said. “There has to be a commitment by state government that transit is important,” implying that in Georgia it isn’t. ...
Every region, every state has to decide which approach best suits its needs, he said. Some communities will make a commitment and investment to passenger rail and high-speed rail, while others will not.
“If the people of Atlanta think it’s OK to sit in traffic for an hour and a half on the way to a doctor’s appointment, so be it,” LaHood said.
Ray LaHood, the U.S. secretary of transportation, was asked Monday whether high-speed rail would ever come to Atlanta.
“It’ll come to Atlanta if Georgia gets its act together,” LaHood said, using words that came across more blunt in person than they do on the page.
In a later interview, LaHood revised and extended that remark, suggesting that the state has yet to get its act together in other ways as well.
“I think that’s true of transit too,” he said. “There has to be a commitment by state government that transit is important,” implying that in Georgia it isn’t. ...
Every region, every state has to decide which approach best suits its needs, he said. Some communities will make a commitment and investment to passenger rail and high-speed rail, while others will not.
“If the people of Atlanta think it’s OK to sit in traffic for an hour and a half on the way to a doctor’s appointment, so be it,” LaHood said.
Couple of things
- Looks like Northeast Georgia has been spared the worst, and I even see the sun shining faintly out my window.
- Really? Another non-profit? Have we learned nothing from the pleas of local officials, non-profit professionals and other various players from across the community? Why in the world are we adding another competitor to a more than saturated non-profit marketplace, particularly when it is going to do nothing but duplicate existing services? Why are we fighting over shrinking funds rather than pooling our efforts to raise money in a common purpose type of way?
- Though he hasn't officially filed yet, Rep. Paul Broun has drawn a challenger in the 2010 Republican primary.
- This is a mess ... primarily because no one outside of a handful of folks wanted this tennis center, thus suggesting this whole ordeal ought to be a lesson in how not to recommend SPLOST projects to the public. Regardless, now it's gotta go somewhere, and no one wants it in their backyard. Compounding problems is if Athens-Clarke County has to acquire property to build the center, that's gonna chew up all the available funding ... thus meaning the center would have to be reapproved by the voters as part of the next round of SPLOST projects. Fun. Lots of fun.
- Really? Another non-profit? Have we learned nothing from the pleas of local officials, non-profit professionals and other various players from across the community? Why in the world are we adding another competitor to a more than saturated non-profit marketplace, particularly when it is going to do nothing but duplicate existing services? Why are we fighting over shrinking funds rather than pooling our efforts to raise money in a common purpose type of way?
- Though he hasn't officially filed yet, Rep. Paul Broun has drawn a challenger in the 2010 Republican primary.
- This is a mess ... primarily because no one outside of a handful of folks wanted this tennis center, thus suggesting this whole ordeal ought to be a lesson in how not to recommend SPLOST projects to the public. Regardless, now it's gotta go somewhere, and no one wants it in their backyard. Compounding problems is if Athens-Clarke County has to acquire property to build the center, that's gonna chew up all the available funding ... thus meaning the center would have to be reapproved by the voters as part of the next round of SPLOST projects. Fun. Lots of fun.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Flooding possible
Rather than improve, it looks like the weather situation is rapidly breaking down outside. According to The Weather Channel, Athens-Clarke County and Oconee County should expect heavy rainfall for the next hour, and ongoing rain through Wednesday morning.
A flood alert has been extended through Thursday morning with minor to moderate flooding in the forecast. At 10 a.m. this morning, the Oconee River was at 11.5 feet and rising with the flood stage at 11 feet. The river is projected to rise to roughly 14 feet by Wednesday afternoon.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has set up an update page that covers the metro Atlanta area.
A flood alert has been extended through Thursday morning with minor to moderate flooding in the forecast. At 10 a.m. this morning, the Oconee River was at 11.5 feet and rising with the flood stage at 11 feet. The river is projected to rise to roughly 14 feet by Wednesday afternoon.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has set up an update page that covers the metro Atlanta area.
Broun gets a challenger
Um, OK?
Cason Sisk, a 26-year-old University of Georgia graduate, has opted to challenge Rep. Paul Broun in the 2010 Republican primary. He's for the Fair Tax, so there's a run to the right on that issue, but he also runs a solar energy company, so there's that.
Cason Sisk, a 26-year-old University of Georgia graduate, has opted to challenge Rep. Paul Broun in the 2010 Republican primary. He's for the Fair Tax, so there's a run to the right on that issue, but he also runs a solar energy company, so there's that.
It's lonely down here
An interesting breakdown of the most recent Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll which suggests President Obama is still really, really popular ... just not in the South. And, as a result, that's dragging down his overall approval rating, thus distorting the reporting and perception of his popularity ...
While I am not surprised that the Republican party is more popular in the South than other regions, the starkness of this distinction is beyond what I had expected. Moreover, while I would have expected the Republican party to be unpopular in the Northeast, I did not expect such similar numbers from the West and Midwest. Quite seriously, if I saw this type of regional distribution of support for a political party in a country like Slovakia, I would assume the party represented an ethnic minority. ...
Taken together, I wonder if we’ve hit the point where the mainstream media ought to be reporting support for the president, congress, political parties, etc. not in terms of the country as a whole, but rather by providing two numbers: support in the South and support in the rest of the country excluding the South?
While I am not surprised that the Republican party is more popular in the South than other regions, the starkness of this distinction is beyond what I had expected. Moreover, while I would have expected the Republican party to be unpopular in the Northeast, I did not expect such similar numbers from the West and Midwest. Quite seriously, if I saw this type of regional distribution of support for a political party in a country like Slovakia, I would assume the party represented an ethnic minority. ...
Taken together, I wonder if we’ve hit the point where the mainstream media ought to be reporting support for the president, congress, political parties, etc. not in terms of the country as a whole, but rather by providing two numbers: support in the South and support in the rest of the country excluding the South?
New player in Watkinsville City Council race
Via Dan, This guy used to work with The Wife, so I suppose that garners him an endorsement from me.
He's conservative as all get-out, but it's The O.C. so what are you gonna do?
He's conservative as all get-out, but it's The O.C. so what are you gonna do?
Truth to power
Jason Winders, former executive editor of the Athens Banner-Herald, with some not-so-glowing words for the (foolish) possibility of a newspaper bailout and Morris Communications ...
When reading this, I cannot help but to think back to my old company, Morris Communications, who like many other news organizations, decided to cut its employees’ pay earlier this year. (That included cutting the pay of people making less than $25,000 annually as well. Nice folks.)
Of course, unlike many other news organizations, mine decided to make the announcement at 8:30 p.m., requesting the story be put in the next day’s newspaper. Thus, hundreds of employees companywide discovered the news about their paycuts by reading them in the next morning’s newspaper.
When reading this, I cannot help but to think back to my old company, Morris Communications, who like many other news organizations, decided to cut its employees’ pay earlier this year. (That included cutting the pay of people making less than $25,000 annually as well. Nice folks.)
Of course, unlike many other news organizations, mine decided to make the announcement at 8:30 p.m., requesting the story be put in the next day’s newspaper. Thus, hundreds of employees companywide discovered the news about their paycuts by reading them in the next morning’s newspaper.
Couple of things
- The long-awaited editorial from Rep. Paul Broun was a big letdown and, to be honest, probably shouldn't have been run at all. He didn't break any new ground in explaining his conspiracy theories and instead relied on the same old, nonsensical paranoia. For example, I'm still not sure how President Obama is going to take over the media seeing how, you know, no one is recommending we actually reimplement the 'Fairness Doctrine' and just because Broun thinks AmeriCorps is going to morph into a Marxist Gestapo doesn't make it so.
- I can kick myself for my error in my Sunday column as I labeled the 'S' in 'MACORTS' as 'system' and not 'study' ... so consider this my correction.
- Um, yeah, if you want seven-day access to the lake, then pay the property taxes that come with the lake frontage 365 days a year.
- Kudos to Oconee County Library Friends for putting on the book sale this past weekend. The Wife, The Kid and I enjoyed breakfast at The Big Easy Cafe before heading over there where I paid $11 for six or seven books (including a 1968 policy analysis of The Great Society, which excites a wonky guy like myself).
- Parts of the Oconee River are above flood stage already, and we've got five to six more inches of rain heading our way. Everyone be safe out there today.
- I can kick myself for my error in my Sunday column as I labeled the 'S' in 'MACORTS' as 'system' and not 'study' ... so consider this my correction.
- Um, yeah, if you want seven-day access to the lake, then pay the property taxes that come with the lake frontage 365 days a year.
- Kudos to Oconee County Library Friends for putting on the book sale this past weekend. The Wife, The Kid and I enjoyed breakfast at The Big Easy Cafe before heading over there where I paid $11 for six or seven books (including a 1968 policy analysis of The Great Society, which excites a wonky guy like myself).
- Parts of the Oconee River are above flood stage already, and we've got five to six more inches of rain heading our way. Everyone be safe out there today.
The read
From my Sunday column in the Athens Banner-Herald ...
However, thanks to a recommendation from the Madison Athens-Clarke Oconee Regional Transportation System, Simonton Bridge Road is on a slate of expansion projects that could result in it being expanded from two lanes to four. The proposed widening would alter forever its historic nature by wiping out vast portions of downtown Watkinsville, including parts of First Christian Church at the corner of Main Street and Simonton Bridge Road.
So much for serenity.
Of course, such a proposal doesn't make any sense given that the widening wouldn't extend across the county border. The four-laning of Simonton Bridge Road would end at the Athens-Clarke County line where the project would funnel back into just two lanes at Whitehall Road.
In addition, the Watkinsville City Council voted unanimously to oppose the project with Mayor Jim Luken and Councilman Brian Brodrick formally registering their disapproval during the official comments period offered by MACORTS.
Furthermore, as Luken noted at a recent council meeting, the Georgia Department of Transportation notified the city's officials that Simonton Bridge Road did not meet the state's criteria to qualify for the widening, thus potentially making the entire issue moot.
To be sure, why an unwanted road expansion project that doesn't meet state requirements and would occur only in the less populated, less congested county rather than in the urban hub of Northeast Georgia was approved in the first place is a puzzling question.
However, thanks to a recommendation from the Madison Athens-Clarke Oconee Regional Transportation System, Simonton Bridge Road is on a slate of expansion projects that could result in it being expanded from two lanes to four. The proposed widening would alter forever its historic nature by wiping out vast portions of downtown Watkinsville, including parts of First Christian Church at the corner of Main Street and Simonton Bridge Road.
So much for serenity.
Of course, such a proposal doesn't make any sense given that the widening wouldn't extend across the county border. The four-laning of Simonton Bridge Road would end at the Athens-Clarke County line where the project would funnel back into just two lanes at Whitehall Road.
In addition, the Watkinsville City Council voted unanimously to oppose the project with Mayor Jim Luken and Councilman Brian Brodrick formally registering their disapproval during the official comments period offered by MACORTS.
Furthermore, as Luken noted at a recent council meeting, the Georgia Department of Transportation notified the city's officials that Simonton Bridge Road did not meet the state's criteria to qualify for the widening, thus potentially making the entire issue moot.
To be sure, why an unwanted road expansion project that doesn't meet state requirements and would occur only in the less populated, less congested county rather than in the urban hub of Northeast Georgia was approved in the first place is a puzzling question.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Property tax deferments
I expressed my disappointment with the Athens-Clarke County Commission's decision to not pursue a property tax circuit breaker program, and while I'm still disappointed, I also have some additional perspective on two key points.
I'll hold off on one point - the practical realities of getting any sort of legislation for such a program passed at the state level - for another post, but I will focus on the Legislative Review Committee's suggestion that the community seek an expansion of the tax deferral program.
The existing program, which Nancy Denson noted was currently only being used by one property owner, is incredibly narrow in its scale ... which explains its low participation.
For instance, the program only helps property owners older than 62 with income of less than $15,000. According to the state code, the definition of 'household income' is tremendously broad and includes Social Security benefits in addition to pension payments and any income from dividends.
Furthermore, it only works with properties assessed at $50,000 or less and, for properties with a higher value, only applies to the taxes on the portion of the value which is $50,000 or less.
Narrow definitions such as these dramatically shrink the pool of eligible participants, thus suggesting an expansion of this program could potentially work. Based on conversations I've had today, there isn't any sort of concrete idea of what the program could be expanded to cover (I'd suggest, for starters, increasing the income threshold to $30,000 and the value of the property to $75,000 or $100,000).
I'll hold off on one point - the practical realities of getting any sort of legislation for such a program passed at the state level - for another post, but I will focus on the Legislative Review Committee's suggestion that the community seek an expansion of the tax deferral program.
The existing program, which Nancy Denson noted was currently only being used by one property owner, is incredibly narrow in its scale ... which explains its low participation.
For instance, the program only helps property owners older than 62 with income of less than $15,000. According to the state code, the definition of 'household income' is tremendously broad and includes Social Security benefits in addition to pension payments and any income from dividends.
Furthermore, it only works with properties assessed at $50,000 or less and, for properties with a higher value, only applies to the taxes on the portion of the value which is $50,000 or less.
Narrow definitions such as these dramatically shrink the pool of eligible participants, thus suggesting an expansion of this program could potentially work. Based on conversations I've had today, there isn't any sort of concrete idea of what the program could be expanded to cover (I'd suggest, for starters, increasing the income threshold to $30,000 and the value of the property to $75,000 or $100,000).
Adding My Athens Blog
In a programming update, I added Dan Lorentz's 'My Athens Blog' to the blogroll and encourage everyone to check it out.
Makes sense
Contrary to the overreaction of some commenters at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's web site, I think University of Georgia President Michael Adams's response is a measured one that is both rational and, you know, perfectly sane ...
Adams said workers picked up some 70 tons of trash after Georgia's home opener Saturday against South Carolina. Adams said crews would put out extra trash bags and containers for the next home game against Arizona State on Sept. 26 and pleaded with fans to cooperate.
"There are other things we can do [if the situation doesn't improve]," Adams said. "I don't want to start arresting people or have a heavy police presence. We simply ask people to spend a little more time to maintain our campus."
"I'm pretty hopeful ... because I think it's not just us out-of-touch administrators that are concerned. The students, alumni and faculty" have all raised concerns, Adams said. "We don't want to get a reputation like a British soccer crowd ... I hope we'll get some help out of our fans."
Adams said workers picked up some 70 tons of trash after Georgia's home opener Saturday against South Carolina. Adams said crews would put out extra trash bags and containers for the next home game against Arizona State on Sept. 26 and pleaded with fans to cooperate.
"There are other things we can do [if the situation doesn't improve]," Adams said. "I don't want to start arresting people or have a heavy police presence. We simply ask people to spend a little more time to maintain our campus."
"I'm pretty hopeful ... because I think it's not just us out-of-touch administrators that are concerned. The students, alumni and faculty" have all raised concerns, Adams said. "We don't want to get a reputation like a British soccer crowd ... I hope we'll get some help out of our fans."
The return of silly email attacks
To say that I think David Poythress's attacks on Roy Barnes are desperate would be an understatement, but I loved the comical pivot to label the former governor as a special interest opportunist today by posting Barnes's registry as a lobbyist with the state government, as well as the fact that he received funding from various organizations and lobbyists when he ran for re-election in 2002.
Of course, go to Barnes's web site and click on who he represented. He had two clients - his own law firm, which offered subsidized legal support to low-income folks, and the Northeast Atlanta Beltline organization. To label those two groups as some nefarious 'special interest' group out to undermine America is, well, just crazy.
Likewise, it's equally as absurd to think that an incumbent governor who was favored to win re-election handily wouldn't receive the support of various business groups and other advocacy organizations from all sorts of the ideological spectrum as they attempted to curry favor with him. That's not Barnes's fault, but rather the fault of a system where power is rewarded and the inability of Poythress to recognize that is, well, crazy.
Then again, consistently polling at five percent or less probably makes you do the wacky now and then.
Of course, go to Barnes's web site and click on who he represented. He had two clients - his own law firm, which offered subsidized legal support to low-income folks, and the Northeast Atlanta Beltline organization. To label those two groups as some nefarious 'special interest' group out to undermine America is, well, just crazy.
Likewise, it's equally as absurd to think that an incumbent governor who was favored to win re-election handily wouldn't receive the support of various business groups and other advocacy organizations from all sorts of the ideological spectrum as they attempted to curry favor with him. That's not Barnes's fault, but rather the fault of a system where power is rewarded and the inability of Poythress to recognize that is, well, crazy.
Then again, consistently polling at five percent or less probably makes you do the wacky now and then.
Making that bill better
Ezra Klein lists five ways to improve Sen. Max Baucus's bill, and I agree with all of them, as well as this closing ...
If Baucus's Republican colleagues want to support this bill and give him some cover, their presence should be welcomed. But if not, Baucus should loudly and publicly allow the Democrats on his committee to strengthen the bill, as it will be a Democratic majority that passes the bill. A bipartisan group should shape a bipartisan bill. But a bipartisan group should not get to shape a partisan bill, particularly if that bill becomes partisan because they have abandoned it.
In 2001, Baucus helped shape the president's tax cuts, and he voted for them. In 2003, he helped shape the Medicare Modernization Act, and he voted for it. He has upheld his end of the bargain of bipartisanship. Now is his moment to demand the same of his Republican colleagues.
If Baucus's Republican colleagues want to support this bill and give him some cover, their presence should be welcomed. But if not, Baucus should loudly and publicly allow the Democrats on his committee to strengthen the bill, as it will be a Democratic majority that passes the bill. A bipartisan group should shape a bipartisan bill. But a bipartisan group should not get to shape a partisan bill, particularly if that bill becomes partisan because they have abandoned it.
In 2001, Baucus helped shape the president's tax cuts, and he voted for them. In 2003, he helped shape the Medicare Modernization Act, and he voted for it. He has upheld his end of the bargain of bipartisanship. Now is his moment to demand the same of his Republican colleagues.
Some examples
Building off our discussion of property tax circuit breakers yesterday, here's a good summary from The Center On Budget And Policy Priorities on various policies already in place.
Taking it to the streets!
Via Dan's Facebook page, the USA Today has picked up on the Oconee County fundraising ban story.
Again, I say this is a needed ban, and I don't even know if I'd offer the qualifier that Oconee County Chairman Melvin Davis offered in saying groups could apply for permits. This is something that is being abused by one group of folks who are putting their own safety in risk time and time again (just this past weekend I dodged one of these folks who tried to run across three lanes of traffic during a green light).
(Plus, speaking as a fundraising consultant, it's just a lazy strategy to do a on regular basis and that kinda bugs me.)
Again, I say this is a needed ban, and I don't even know if I'd offer the qualifier that Oconee County Chairman Melvin Davis offered in saying groups could apply for permits. This is something that is being abused by one group of folks who are putting their own safety in risk time and time again (just this past weekend I dodged one of these folks who tried to run across three lanes of traffic during a green light).
(Plus, speaking as a fundraising consultant, it's just a lazy strategy to do a on regular basis and that kinda bugs me.)
Endorsements for AG
A flurry of endorsements in the Democratic primary for Attorney General with Rep. Rob Teilhet picking up several key ones from the likes of former Rep. Tom Bordeaux, as well as current Reps. Bob Bryant, Craig Gordon and Al Williams. Sen. Lester Jackson is also on the Teilhet bandwagon.
Ken Hodges, his opponent, picked up a noteworthy one from former Georgia Supreme Court justice Leah Sears ... which probably would be worth more before she closed out her judicial career with a string of puzzling dissents (including one regarding the recent noise ordinance challenge in Athens-Clarke County).
Ken Hodges, his opponent, picked up a noteworthy one from former Georgia Supreme Court justice Leah Sears ... which probably would be worth more before she closed out her judicial career with a string of puzzling dissents (including one regarding the recent noise ordinance challenge in Athens-Clarke County).
Couple of things
- Kudos to Wilmont Greene for this idea. It's an awesome one.
- Folks, please, pick up your trash when you tailgate. It ain't rocket science.
- Hmmmm ... I wonder why The Drudge Report didn't sensationalize this story. Apparently, for some right-wing talking heads, it's wrong to have teenagers get into a fight on a school bus, but it's perfectly acceptable for a white male to assault an African-American female reservist in front of her seven-year-old daughter in a crowded parking lot.
- There are surprisingly good things in Sen. Max Baucus's proposed health care reform bill, but the 'free rider' provision ain't one of them.
- Anna Chapman tries to be hip in her criticism of Sen. Jeff Chapman, hence her repeated usage of the word 'dude' in her letter. That said, I don't intend on voting for Chapman seeing how, you know, I vote in Democratic primaries, but I've always liked the guy. I've got a good friend who thinks he's a nut, but I've always been impressed by him.
- Folks, please, pick up your trash when you tailgate. It ain't rocket science.
- Hmmmm ... I wonder why The Drudge Report didn't sensationalize this story. Apparently, for some right-wing talking heads, it's wrong to have teenagers get into a fight on a school bus, but it's perfectly acceptable for a white male to assault an African-American female reservist in front of her seven-year-old daughter in a crowded parking lot.
- There are surprisingly good things in Sen. Max Baucus's proposed health care reform bill, but the 'free rider' provision ain't one of them.
- Anna Chapman tries to be hip in her criticism of Sen. Jeff Chapman, hence her repeated usage of the word 'dude' in her letter. That said, I don't intend on voting for Chapman seeing how, you know, I vote in Democratic primaries, but I've always liked the guy. I've got a good friend who thinks he's a nut, but I've always been impressed by him.
The North Campus situation
Photo courtesy of 960 The RefThis is North Campus after last Saturday's Georgia game. It's embarassing.
I've tailgated with a steadily growing group of folks for the better part of five years now, and we've never had a problem like this. The folks who tailgate around us never have a problem like this.
The solution is simple - bring some trash bags and bag up your trash. Don't blame the lack of trash cans. Don't blame out of town tailgaters. Don't blame late kickoffs. Don't blame anyone ... just throw your stuff away.
Here's the video from North Campus to underline how awful it was ...
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Calming everyone down
On the Oconee County Democratic listserve, Ericc Ferrari just sent out the following ...
I just heard Baucus press conference and my blood is boiling. That a Senator representing a state with a small population continues to defy the President and the
mandate from the people who elected a Democratic Congress and president to effectuate change. His plan is an insult to our intelligence. He must go!!. He
has to be removed from his position as the chair of the finance committee; he has
such a clear conflict of interest; in any other profession it would not be permitted. I wish I knew how.
Please take a couple of minutes an e-mail to president Obama asking to reject Baucus
proposal (I wish you would ask him to change the chair). We want the Public Option.
Arguably, I think this is a tremendous overreaction. Make no mistake, Sen. Max Baucus's bill features ample flaws (i.e. taxing 'Cadillac plans' or the fines associated with individual mandates), but there are also some good things in the bill too.
Consider the more robust National Health Insurance Exchange that goes much further than existing legislation from the House and a common sense compromise on the issue of state regulations of insurance. Those are two strong ideas that ought to be incorporated in the final piece of legislation.
And that's what this is about. Baucus's proposal will be incorporated with other competing pieces of legislation when it hits the Senate floor, including ones with various forms of a public insurance option, and a final bill will be produced for a vote (or will wind its way through budget reconciliation).
I just heard Baucus press conference and my blood is boiling. That a Senator representing a state with a small population continues to defy the President and the
mandate from the people who elected a Democratic Congress and president to effectuate change. His plan is an insult to our intelligence. He must go!!. He
has to be removed from his position as the chair of the finance committee; he has
such a clear conflict of interest; in any other profession it would not be permitted. I wish I knew how.
Please take a couple of minutes an e-mail to president Obama asking to reject Baucus
proposal (I wish you would ask him to change the chair). We want the Public Option.
Arguably, I think this is a tremendous overreaction. Make no mistake, Sen. Max Baucus's bill features ample flaws (i.e. taxing 'Cadillac plans' or the fines associated with individual mandates), but there are also some good things in the bill too.
Consider the more robust National Health Insurance Exchange that goes much further than existing legislation from the House and a common sense compromise on the issue of state regulations of insurance. Those are two strong ideas that ought to be incorporated in the final piece of legislation.
And that's what this is about. Baucus's proposal will be incorporated with other competing pieces of legislation when it hits the Senate floor, including ones with various forms of a public insurance option, and a final bill will be produced for a vote (or will wind its way through budget reconciliation).
Simple disappointment
After some time away and additional perspective - plus at least one good snarky comment under my belt - I think I can approach this from a rational perspective.
Plus, it's fair to note that Athens-Clarke County Commissioners are supportive of circuit breakers and primarily concerned over how best to implement it.
Again, make no mistake, these are good, decent people working on the Athens-Clarke County Commission who have the best intentions in mind and, on a daily basis, aim to do the right thing for the community. I consider many of them close friends, and I helped get several of them elected.
And perhaps that's why this disappoints me so greatly.
Because rightful concerns from a progressive commission over how to best execute a program has resulted, unfortunately, in the program apparently being nixed in favor of the status quo.
There was a concern over how the Georgia General Assembly would handle these proposals, but I say that's a fight worth having ... isn't it? I'd rather be fighting to help low-income citizens get a tax break than watch the county's attorney wage court battle after court battle in an attempt to fleece non-profit organizations for tax money.
There was a suggestion that local officials lobby state legislators to expand a program that gives deferments to poor and elderly homeowners, but that program is only currently used by one property owner.
There was a complaint by Nancy Denson, the community's tax commissioner and current candidate for mayor, that college students are filing for homestead exemptions in violation of state law, but that seems like a wholly different problem that, quite frankly, shouldn't really be that much of a problem.
There was a worry that senior citizens might unfairly qualify for the program if they have little income but more valuable assets, but no connection that assets don't equate readily available income.
There are understandable concerns over the impact on the overall budget, but isn't that why the community elected a progressive commission that believes in things like progressive taxation?
It just seems like a wasted opportunity. Again.
Plus, it's fair to note that Athens-Clarke County Commissioners are supportive of circuit breakers and primarily concerned over how best to implement it.
Again, make no mistake, these are good, decent people working on the Athens-Clarke County Commission who have the best intentions in mind and, on a daily basis, aim to do the right thing for the community. I consider many of them close friends, and I helped get several of them elected.
And perhaps that's why this disappoints me so greatly.
Because rightful concerns from a progressive commission over how to best execute a program has resulted, unfortunately, in the program apparently being nixed in favor of the status quo.
There was a concern over how the Georgia General Assembly would handle these proposals, but I say that's a fight worth having ... isn't it? I'd rather be fighting to help low-income citizens get a tax break than watch the county's attorney wage court battle after court battle in an attempt to fleece non-profit organizations for tax money.
There was a suggestion that local officials lobby state legislators to expand a program that gives deferments to poor and elderly homeowners, but that program is only currently used by one property owner.
There was a complaint by Nancy Denson, the community's tax commissioner and current candidate for mayor, that college students are filing for homestead exemptions in violation of state law, but that seems like a wholly different problem that, quite frankly, shouldn't really be that much of a problem.
There was a worry that senior citizens might unfairly qualify for the program if they have little income but more valuable assets, but no connection that assets don't equate readily available income.
There are understandable concerns over the impact on the overall budget, but isn't that why the community elected a progressive commission that believes in things like progressive taxation?
It just seems like a wasted opportunity. Again.
Broken circuit
It's safe to say that I'm pretty angry about this.
In fact, it's best if I take a little time to work through my thoughts in a responsible manner since I'm actually quite fond of the Athens-Clarke County Commission and consider many of its members good friends.
I will say ... sure must be fun to talk about things, but not so much with the actual heaving lifting, eh?
In fact, it's best if I take a little time to work through my thoughts in a responsible manner since I'm actually quite fond of the Athens-Clarke County Commission and consider many of its members good friends.
I will say ... sure must be fun to talk about things, but not so much with the actual heaving lifting, eh?
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Couple of things
- Embrace the crazy John Oxendine.
- One of the important pieces of background in this story - though it really shouldn't be background since it was already approved by the Oconee County Board of Education - is that there was already a plan in place, as well as a funding mechanism, to build a field house, weight room, etc. for North Oconee High School. The problem, of course, is that none of these outraged parents actually pay attention to what's going on until something directly impacts them. Had they followed the news coming out of the BOE, they would have recognized that John Osborne was, by in large, just showboating.
- In all seriousness, I'm bummed. I have definitive memories of Dirty Dancing as a child, seeing how I had a host of cousins who absolutely loved that movie, and Roadhouse was a favorite of the Athens Banner-Herald sports staff during my days there. Plus, there's this.
- An oldie, but goodie as Gary Evans pens the guest editorial today.
- One of the important pieces of background in this story - though it really shouldn't be background since it was already approved by the Oconee County Board of Education - is that there was already a plan in place, as well as a funding mechanism, to build a field house, weight room, etc. for North Oconee High School. The problem, of course, is that none of these outraged parents actually pay attention to what's going on until something directly impacts them. Had they followed the news coming out of the BOE, they would have recognized that John Osborne was, by in large, just showboating.
- In all seriousness, I'm bummed. I have definitive memories of Dirty Dancing as a child, seeing how I had a host of cousins who absolutely loved that movie, and Roadhouse was a favorite of the Athens Banner-Herald sports staff during my days there. Plus, there's this.
- An oldie, but goodie as Gary Evans pens the guest editorial today.
Monday, September 14, 2009
The right to reply (and other clarifications)
Just when he had gotten on my good side too ...
Lee Becker has apparently chosen to air what I believed to be a private email exchange between the two of us regarding a disagreement we had roughly a month ago in an analysis of gaining access to various journalistic audiences. It's an interesting take, to be sure, but I would like to clarify the actual circumstances he's discussing when referring to me.
The chronology, which was omitted by Becker, began when he sent me an email criticizing my column that included the following lines ...
I had hoped you would listen to this before you wrote the column. People who know what is going on in Oconee will now ignore you as uninformed. Unfortunately, others will think you know what you are talking about and be influenced.
See my response on the B-H site.
This really is a bad column.
Arguably, I was taken back by this comment, not because it disagreed with my position, but because it was grounded in a belief that my views were wrong solely because it wasn't Becker's position (in fact, I received various dissenting views that paralled Becker's line of argument, but each of those recognized the rationale for my initial argument and respected my take).
My response, albeit defensive at times, attempting to explain my rationale for reaching this position. Becker's response, unfortunately, swept aside my explanations and hopped back into questioning my level of intelligence ...
I think you are ducking the real issue here. You tried to understand this issue on the cheap. You missed. ...
You chose to be an authority on this issue when you decided to write a column about it. You professed to know what was going on. You didn't say that the four commissioners had not made a case. You said that the ordinance was a mistake and not needed. That's quite different.
It is fair to blame you for being uninformed. You were. You were publicly. And it makes a difference. The Sunday Banner-Herald is quite a soapbox. I think you did the readers a disservice by not investing enough time to really understand the issue.
And you are doing yourself a disservice by not admitting that now.
By my assessment, Becker wasn't attempting to offer an honest criticism of my position. Instead, he wanted to express his disappointment with my position and rationale, and he opted to do that by calling me uninformed and by suggesting that I tried to understand the issue 'on the cheap.' He said that I had lost the respect of the community largely because I didn't adhere to his logic or follow the same path he took to reach his conclusions.
So Becker challenged me to put his response on my blog, which I declined, and I did so for two primary reasons ...
- Calling me uninformed and projecting your personal opinions on the rest of the community's population don't strike me as reasonable criticism;
- Ultimately, it is my blog, and I make the decisions over submitted content, and Becker's challenge to post his comments was rooted in hostility.
Arguably, my second private response to Becker was less charitable, and the spirit of my dissent from his assertions can be felt in additional posts I did during this time frame.
So, with that primer laid out, I'd like to take a look at his primary concern ...
That remains under the control of the organization or person who has attracted the audience in the first place. Increasingly, as journalists operate independently of media organizations, the journalists control the audiences.
The late A.J. Liebling, journalist and media critic, is famous for his observation: "Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one."
That is less true today than in the past.
What hasn’t changed is that the right of reply is guaranteed to no one.
This, to me, seems to be a strawman argument. For starters, I'm in the process of replying to an argument right now. I could privately email Becker and let him know of my thoughts, as he did me regarding my column, or I could put up a blog post that responds to some of his assertions.
To suggest that the right of reply isn't guaranteed is foolish. Becker's concern stems from how the reply is made, not if it is made ... because there are ample avenues for Becker to respond to any journalistic or commentary piece.
What Becker is arguing for is assured access to specific audiences in order to make his reply, which is a very different thing. Gaining access to various readers is not something that is afforded to you as a right, but is rather earned through a combination of compelling content and effective marketing.
I've built up a modest audience based on my areas of coverage, my experiences in journalism, the work I've put into a non-compensated hobby I pursue in my spare time and my voluntary participation in various blogs through the area and the state. As a result, over time, I've attracted curious readers who are intrigued by my ramblings.
It's not my responsibility to personally subsidize Becker's readership - or anyone else's - by putting up his thoughts at my blog. I do regularly link to his blog because he does good work in detailing various issues in Oconee County and, various issue-based disagreements aside, I think he runs a very good blog that specializes in hyperlocal content.
Still, it's my decision to choose my editorial content, just as it is his to write about what he wants to. And, likewise, it's our respective decisions to create or deny avenues for various viewpoints or criticisms.
Lee Becker has apparently chosen to air what I believed to be a private email exchange between the two of us regarding a disagreement we had roughly a month ago in an analysis of gaining access to various journalistic audiences. It's an interesting take, to be sure, but I would like to clarify the actual circumstances he's discussing when referring to me.
The chronology, which was omitted by Becker, began when he sent me an email criticizing my column that included the following lines ...
I had hoped you would listen to this before you wrote the column. People who know what is going on in Oconee will now ignore you as uninformed. Unfortunately, others will think you know what you are talking about and be influenced.
See my response on the B-H site.
This really is a bad column.
Arguably, I was taken back by this comment, not because it disagreed with my position, but because it was grounded in a belief that my views were wrong solely because it wasn't Becker's position (in fact, I received various dissenting views that paralled Becker's line of argument, but each of those recognized the rationale for my initial argument and respected my take).
My response, albeit defensive at times, attempting to explain my rationale for reaching this position. Becker's response, unfortunately, swept aside my explanations and hopped back into questioning my level of intelligence ...
I think you are ducking the real issue here. You tried to understand this issue on the cheap. You missed. ...
You chose to be an authority on this issue when you decided to write a column about it. You professed to know what was going on. You didn't say that the four commissioners had not made a case. You said that the ordinance was a mistake and not needed. That's quite different.
It is fair to blame you for being uninformed. You were. You were publicly. And it makes a difference. The Sunday Banner-Herald is quite a soapbox. I think you did the readers a disservice by not investing enough time to really understand the issue.
And you are doing yourself a disservice by not admitting that now.
By my assessment, Becker wasn't attempting to offer an honest criticism of my position. Instead, he wanted to express his disappointment with my position and rationale, and he opted to do that by calling me uninformed and by suggesting that I tried to understand the issue 'on the cheap.' He said that I had lost the respect of the community largely because I didn't adhere to his logic or follow the same path he took to reach his conclusions.
So Becker challenged me to put his response on my blog, which I declined, and I did so for two primary reasons ...
- Calling me uninformed and projecting your personal opinions on the rest of the community's population don't strike me as reasonable criticism;
- Ultimately, it is my blog, and I make the decisions over submitted content, and Becker's challenge to post his comments was rooted in hostility.
Arguably, my second private response to Becker was less charitable, and the spirit of my dissent from his assertions can be felt in additional posts I did during this time frame.
So, with that primer laid out, I'd like to take a look at his primary concern ...
That remains under the control of the organization or person who has attracted the audience in the first place. Increasingly, as journalists operate independently of media organizations, the journalists control the audiences.
The late A.J. Liebling, journalist and media critic, is famous for his observation: "Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one."
That is less true today than in the past.
What hasn’t changed is that the right of reply is guaranteed to no one.
This, to me, seems to be a strawman argument. For starters, I'm in the process of replying to an argument right now. I could privately email Becker and let him know of my thoughts, as he did me regarding my column, or I could put up a blog post that responds to some of his assertions.
To suggest that the right of reply isn't guaranteed is foolish. Becker's concern stems from how the reply is made, not if it is made ... because there are ample avenues for Becker to respond to any journalistic or commentary piece.
What Becker is arguing for is assured access to specific audiences in order to make his reply, which is a very different thing. Gaining access to various readers is not something that is afforded to you as a right, but is rather earned through a combination of compelling content and effective marketing.
I've built up a modest audience based on my areas of coverage, my experiences in journalism, the work I've put into a non-compensated hobby I pursue in my spare time and my voluntary participation in various blogs through the area and the state. As a result, over time, I've attracted curious readers who are intrigued by my ramblings.
It's not my responsibility to personally subsidize Becker's readership - or anyone else's - by putting up his thoughts at my blog. I do regularly link to his blog because he does good work in detailing various issues in Oconee County and, various issue-based disagreements aside, I think he runs a very good blog that specializes in hyperlocal content.
Still, it's my decision to choose my editorial content, just as it is his to write about what he wants to. And, likewise, it's our respective decisions to create or deny avenues for various viewpoints or criticisms.
Friday, September 11, 2009
9/11
To remember the tragedy and heroism of that day, I always like to post Leonard Pitts's award-winning column that recapped his experiences and emotions on 9/11 ...
Let me tell you about my people. We are a vast and quarrelsome family, a family rent by racial, cultural, political and class division, but a family nonetheless. We're frivolous, yes, capable of expending tremendous emotional energy on pop cultural minutiae: a singer's revealing dress, a ball team's misfortune, a cartoon mouse.
We're wealthy, too, spoiled by the ready availability of trinkets and material goods; and maybe because of that, we walk through life with a certain sense of blithe entitlement. We are fundamentally decent, though -- peace-loving and compassionate. We struggle to know the right thing and to do it. And we are -- the overwhelming majority of us -- people of faith, believers in a just and loving God.
Some people -- you, perhaps -- think that any or all of this makes us weak. You're mistaken. We are not weak. Indeed, we are strong in ways that cannot be measured by arsenals.
Couple of things
- Folks ought to go to the Clarke Central game tonight to honor Billy Henderson.
- Hillary takes exception to my argument that Athens-area progressives ought to back someone against Rep. Paul Broun, and I think her criticism lacks context. By that, I mean that everyone knew that Broun was a far-right Republican who believed, among other things, that Medicare and Social Security were unconstitutional, yet, despite this advance information a lot of progressives still voted for him in 2007. My proposition is, well, area progressives ought to find someone better than that to represent the area. My inclusion of a moderate Republican is merely an example that would more than likely come in the absence of a Democrat challenging Broun. And, again, I haven't had one person challenge my assertion that someone in the mold of, say, a Sen. Susan Collins from Maine would be better for the area, and district, than Broun.
- I'm not sure I'm on board with this editorial. That's not to say that I don't think some of the lack of respect and outright hostility displayed by Southern House Republicans isn't rooted in racial animosity - because, for some, it obviously is - but I'm not sure if reading tea leaves for what Sen. Saxby Chambliss 'really meant' is that useful.
- Dan invents a position in the Oconee County government and then speculates what he'd do.
- The chronology of an unusual debate/discussion on health care, and Tim Bryant confirmed to me this morning they're hoping to find a time to host it. In addition, I was asked if I'd be interested in participating, and I replied 'why not?'
- Hillary takes exception to my argument that Athens-area progressives ought to back someone against Rep. Paul Broun, and I think her criticism lacks context. By that, I mean that everyone knew that Broun was a far-right Republican who believed, among other things, that Medicare and Social Security were unconstitutional, yet, despite this advance information a lot of progressives still voted for him in 2007. My proposition is, well, area progressives ought to find someone better than that to represent the area. My inclusion of a moderate Republican is merely an example that would more than likely come in the absence of a Democrat challenging Broun. And, again, I haven't had one person challenge my assertion that someone in the mold of, say, a Sen. Susan Collins from Maine would be better for the area, and district, than Broun.
- I'm not sure I'm on board with this editorial. That's not to say that I don't think some of the lack of respect and outright hostility displayed by Southern House Republicans isn't rooted in racial animosity - because, for some, it obviously is - but I'm not sure if reading tea leaves for what Sen. Saxby Chambliss 'really meant' is that useful.
- Dan invents a position in the Oconee County government and then speculates what he'd do.
- The chronology of an unusual debate/discussion on health care, and Tim Bryant confirmed to me this morning they're hoping to find a time to host it. In addition, I was asked if I'd be interested in participating, and I replied 'why not?'
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The debt argument
Part of the rather maddening element of the health care debate is the deficit argument, which is that the $900 billion worth of reforms is too costly given our fiscal state. This is maddening primarily becuase, well, it's not accurate. Any health care reform, as laid out by President Obama last night, will be deficit-neutral in that it will feature sufficient cuts and revenue enhancements to balance out the cost of the program.
So, yes, the plan will cost $900 billion, but it already identifies ways to pay for it ... which is something that didn't accompany, say, the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts or the Medicare Plan D program. And those expensive outlays are what had a more direct and detrimental impact on the nation's debt than anything else.
Then again, as you can tell from 'The Global Debt Clock' from The Economist, the worry over the deficit - though legitimate - is also dramatically overstated. As Free Exchange noted ...
Just having a quick glance, three things stand out to me. The first is that among developed nations, America's level of debt per capita is pretty small, and it remains small relative to other developed nations in 2010 and 2011, according to The Economist's projections. The second is that rising levels of public debt in America are not unique; debt is rising basically everywhere and will continue to do so for the next two years. This reflects that rising debt levels are only partially a result of domestic policy choices, and are also heavily influenced by broader economic conditions and demographic change. And the third thing, the thing that immediately jumps out looking at the map of public debt per capita across countries, is that high debt levels are associated with wealth.
So, yes, the plan will cost $900 billion, but it already identifies ways to pay for it ... which is something that didn't accompany, say, the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts or the Medicare Plan D program. And those expensive outlays are what had a more direct and detrimental impact on the nation's debt than anything else.
Then again, as you can tell from 'The Global Debt Clock' from The Economist, the worry over the deficit - though legitimate - is also dramatically overstated. As Free Exchange noted ...
Just having a quick glance, three things stand out to me. The first is that among developed nations, America's level of debt per capita is pretty small, and it remains small relative to other developed nations in 2010 and 2011, according to The Economist's projections. The second is that rising levels of public debt in America are not unique; debt is rising basically everywhere and will continue to do so for the next two years. This reflects that rising debt levels are only partially a result of domestic policy choices, and are also heavily influenced by broader economic conditions and demographic change. And the third thing, the thing that immediately jumps out looking at the map of public debt per capita across countries, is that high debt levels are associated with wealth.
The success (?) of New Media
I suppose this is one for social media, but a really weird health care debate, of sorts, is evolving in the comments section at Blake's blog.
Jeff Snowden prodded Ryan Lewis and Andy Rusk on some more specifics regarding their views on the issues, and somehow a four-person forum was loosely organized to accommodate the three of them and another individual who'd be 'on Snowden's side' (rumor has it to be Matt Chastain). Snowden contacted Tim Bryant with WGAU about the possibility of the four of them appearing on his show, and the latter confirmed to me the former was willing to host it.
Of course, the debate broke down afterward as Lewis said he didn't want to wake up that early (which means he wouldn't last a second in my house where The Kid has me up around 6:15 a.m. each morning).
With all due respect to all of the individuals, I'm flat-out puzzled at who would really want to listen to a freelance writer/musician debate a marketing/advertising professional on health care ... but, then again, folks read my blog, so I should probably remember that phrase about glass houses and stones.
Anyway ... I suppose we'll be waiting for blogger wars to come to life, sort of like those traveling Sesame Street productions that make their way to the Gwinnett Arena.
Jeff Snowden prodded Ryan Lewis and Andy Rusk on some more specifics regarding their views on the issues, and somehow a four-person forum was loosely organized to accommodate the three of them and another individual who'd be 'on Snowden's side' (rumor has it to be Matt Chastain). Snowden contacted Tim Bryant with WGAU about the possibility of the four of them appearing on his show, and the latter confirmed to me the former was willing to host it.
Of course, the debate broke down afterward as Lewis said he didn't want to wake up that early (which means he wouldn't last a second in my house where The Kid has me up around 6:15 a.m. each morning).
With all due respect to all of the individuals, I'm flat-out puzzled at who would really want to listen to a freelance writer/musician debate a marketing/advertising professional on health care ... but, then again, folks read my blog, so I should probably remember that phrase about glass houses and stones.
Anyway ... I suppose we'll be waiting for blogger wars to come to life, sort of like those traveling Sesame Street productions that make their way to the Gwinnett Arena.
The rationale
My point in repeatedly returning to the history of how Rep. Paul Broun was elected is not to poke a stick in anyone's eyes, but rather to say that it's imperative to turn this justified outrage into something tangible ... namely a strong challenge to the congressman next year. And that means getting on board with whoever that challenger is by giving him/her money, knocking on doors, making phone calls and doing all of the things absolutely necessary to waging a good campaign.
Who that person will be, who knows. But whether or not it's a staunch progressive who is out to merely run a principled race against Broun or a moderate-to-conservative Democrat who strives for centrism or even a moderate Republican who folks might disagree with on a few issues, but would be willing to go to bat for the community he/she represents ... it's essential that the community gets behind them.
Yes, it would be an uphill battle, but it's arguably one worth waging. And I saw too much apathy among local Democrats in 2007 and 2008 surrounding this race, and that frustrated me greatly. Broun's given us just cause to shed that apathy and actually fight back.
Sure, we'll probably lose, but if we don't play, we won't know.
Who that person will be, who knows. But whether or not it's a staunch progressive who is out to merely run a principled race against Broun or a moderate-to-conservative Democrat who strives for centrism or even a moderate Republican who folks might disagree with on a few issues, but would be willing to go to bat for the community he/she represents ... it's essential that the community gets behind them.
Yes, it would be an uphill battle, but it's arguably one worth waging. And I saw too much apathy among local Democrats in 2007 and 2008 surrounding this race, and that frustrated me greatly. Broun's given us just cause to shed that apathy and actually fight back.
Sure, we'll probably lose, but if we don't play, we won't know.
Couple of things
- There's hope that the Simonton Bridge Road can be deterred in some fashion, but it is troubling it earned approval from MACORTS. For starters, the widening simply makes no sense considering it funnels back into two lanes at the Athens-Clarke County line. Considering that it wipes out several historic buildings and would dramatically impact downtown Watkinsville - against the stated wishes of that community's elected officials - I'm hopeful something can be resolved from this.
- Perhaps they should call off the rivalry with Union County ...
- Speaking of that, I agree.
- Rep. Bob Smith's criticism is dismissed by ACCG and easily refuted.
- Perhaps they should call off the rivalry with Union County ...
- Speaking of that, I agree.
- Rep. Bob Smith's criticism is dismissed by ACCG and easily refuted.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Our shame
Via Talking Points Memo, our own Rep. Paul Broun waves copies of the supposed Republican health care reform alternative as part of a silent protest.
Bravo
That ... was a tremendous speech.
And while I have always logically believed health care reform was probable, for the first time since Sen. Arlen Specter switched parties, I emotionally believe it to be so.
And while I have always logically believed health care reform was probable, for the first time since Sen. Arlen Specter switched parties, I emotionally believe it to be so.
Just. Saying.
I know I'm potentially beating a dead - and arguably unpopular - horse here, but when I read things like this ...
For those not familiar with Rep. Broun, he has been a sore spot for Athens-area liberals since he took office in 2007. Many remember his proposal to make 2010 the “Year of the Bible,” his comparison last year of Obama to Hitler, and his insistance that global warming is a hoax.
... I'd like to refer folks to what I wrote yesterday.
For those not familiar with Rep. Broun, he has been a sore spot for Athens-area liberals since he took office in 2007. Many remember his proposal to make 2010 the “Year of the Bible,” his comparison last year of Obama to Hitler, and his insistance that global warming is a hoax.
... I'd like to refer folks to what I wrote yesterday.
The cost of health coverage
Ezra Klein speaks for me, particularly the final paragraph ...
The first is that it's fractured among thousands of plans and competitors and business arrangements, and that fracturing is inefficient. Medicare negotiates better rates because Medicare has a large customer base, giving it power in those negotiations. An insurer covering a bunch of small businesses in Iowa does not.
The second is that the insurance market is broadly parasitic on the employer-based market, which as I've argued before, allows everyone to pass costs onto someone else and tricks individuals into thinking they're getting a good deal when they're really getting a terrible deal.
The answer to these problems, at least to my way of thinking, is not so much the public plan (though I think it would be a good inclusion) but the health insurance exchanges. And I do talk about them. Often. Loudly. In all different ways.
Expanding the exchanges is where insurers — both public and private — get the size for administrative efficiency and negotiated discounts. Expanding the exchanges moves us towards a system where people see how much of their money is being spent on health care and thus understand the need for cost control and the damage being done by the status quo. Expanding the exchange is even the key to a strong public plan, because the public plan is nothing without a large customer base to give it strength.
Obviously, I can't do much about how this post will be read. Marci wrote earlier that I'm engaged in "a struggle to talk about how cool insurance companies are," and my hunch is this will be filed in that category. For what it's worth, I don't think the private insurance industry should exist. But I don't think that fight will be won anytime soon, and at this point, I don't think assaulting the industry is the key to getting health-care reform right.
The first is that it's fractured among thousands of plans and competitors and business arrangements, and that fracturing is inefficient. Medicare negotiates better rates because Medicare has a large customer base, giving it power in those negotiations. An insurer covering a bunch of small businesses in Iowa does not.
The second is that the insurance market is broadly parasitic on the employer-based market, which as I've argued before, allows everyone to pass costs onto someone else and tricks individuals into thinking they're getting a good deal when they're really getting a terrible deal.
The answer to these problems, at least to my way of thinking, is not so much the public plan (though I think it would be a good inclusion) but the health insurance exchanges. And I do talk about them. Often. Loudly. In all different ways.
Expanding the exchanges is where insurers — both public and private — get the size for administrative efficiency and negotiated discounts. Expanding the exchanges moves us towards a system where people see how much of their money is being spent on health care and thus understand the need for cost control and the damage being done by the status quo. Expanding the exchange is even the key to a strong public plan, because the public plan is nothing without a large customer base to give it strength.
Obviously, I can't do much about how this post will be read. Marci wrote earlier that I'm engaged in "a struggle to talk about how cool insurance companies are," and my hunch is this will be filed in that category. For what it's worth, I don't think the private insurance industry should exist. But I don't think that fight will be won anytime soon, and at this point, I don't think assaulting the industry is the key to getting health-care reform right.
Unsure about this one
According to the Athens Banner-Herald, John Osborne will remain on leave for the remainder of this year and then return to his position as principal at North Oconee High School. He and John Jackson, the superintendent of schools in Oconee County, reached a workable compromise regarding their dispute which stemmed from Osborne releasing a statement criticizing the athletic facilities at his school and ending the athletic rivarly with Oconee County High School.
Osborne's statement is here, while Jackson's is here.
I have to say, I'm just unsure about this. While Osborne did apologize, I think it's fair to say that he apologized for the wrong thing ... which is that speaking to the Athens Banner-Herald was bad because it threatened to divide the community and not because he was openly insubordinate to his superiors. To make matters worse, Osborne claims that his actions were justified, thus suggesting little remorse.
I just think this sets a poor precedent for future personnel situations in the school system
Osborne's statement is here, while Jackson's is here.
I have to say, I'm just unsure about this. While Osborne did apologize, I think it's fair to say that he apologized for the wrong thing ... which is that speaking to the Athens Banner-Herald was bad because it threatened to divide the community and not because he was openly insubordinate to his superiors. To make matters worse, Osborne claims that his actions were justified, thus suggesting little remorse.
I just think this sets a poor precedent for future personnel situations in the school system
How wrong can you be?
To continue to point out how off-base Rep. Bob Smith's criticism was, here are the 2010 legislative priorities for the Georgia School Boards Association, while here are the 2010 legislative policy preferences from the Georgia Municipal Association.
Smith's shallow criticism
The email sent by Rep. Bob Smith to various supporters and consituents has created some behind-the-scenes furor in a few circles. The 11-paragraph message was arguably a serious venting session for Smith, who openly criticized the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia and three other member organizations (the Georgia Municipal Association, the Georgia School Board Association and the Georgia School Superintendents Association) for what he felt were obstructionist tactics against various Republican policy proposals.
Referring to these groups as 'The Gang Of Four' throughout the email, Smith works to lay the blame for the state's economic woes at their feet and accuses local governments of not doing enough to trim their budgets during the recent economic downturn.
In his email, Smith attacks these agencies for not proposing any solutions to the various issues confronting the state ...
No and no. The gang of four said NO! And on and on and on and on we go!!! I cannot recall a single suggestion or solution from the gang of four to find solutions to our pressing unfair tax system for property owners. Not one! All I heard from the gang of four was NO, NO, NO and then NO! The taxpayers lose again ... BIG!
It seems that every possible suggestion coming from the Georgia Legislature for reducing the burden of our hard working taxpayers meets resistance from the gang of four. What are their solutions? Other than nothing, the gang of four says we must have "tax reform". They have been advocating this for YEARS. Tax reform?????..what is their solution? What are their suggestions?
Beth Brown, the director of communications for the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, said she has seen Smith's email and disputed some of the implications and accusations made by the Watkinsville representative.
Brown said Griffin was sharing information, including an article from the magazine Governing with various board members, including Oconee County Chairman Melvin Davis, who is serving as a vice chairman this year for ACCG and ultimately forwarded article to Smith. Griffin was passing along the article as a practical example of a state government fixing various problems that arose from the passing of Proposition 13 in California. Brown said the article was purely informative and not intended to be directed toward any leadership officials in Georgia, as Smith implied ...
(Griffin) was by no means trying to imply anything about the political leadership here in Georgia or that Georgia is even headed down that road.
Brown forcefully disputes Smith's assessment that ACCG, or the other three organizations, haven't offered any policy suggestions ...
For the last several years, the County Platform has recognized the need for comprehensive tax reform. ACCG has expressed its willingness to work with legislators to achieve this goal while ensuring that counties remain financially able to provide the programs and services mandated by the state and demanded by their local citizens. ACCG has been opposed to individual legislative proposals that seek to provide tax relief by impacting local government revenues alone - especially at a time when many counties have already taken steps to reduce their budget and cut services. Many of the tax reduction proposals of recent years have
addressed specific taxes, such as property taxes or vehicle ad valorem taxes, which would have had a direct, negative impacted on local revenues. We know that taxation will continue to be an hot topic during the 2010 legislative session, and we will look for opportunities to work with state legislators and state elected officials on solutions. Some of the solutions we have recommended include eliminating the sales tax and property tax exemptions that are not serving their intended purpose, exploring ways to expand the sales tax base and reduce the rate, and allowing for local collection of sales tax to generate better compliance, just to name a few.
True enough, a simple search of ACCG's web site would assuage Smith of his concerns. The organization's 2009 policy platform features numerous proposals across a wide spectrum of issues ranging from transportation to water planning.
Referring to these groups as 'The Gang Of Four' throughout the email, Smith works to lay the blame for the state's economic woes at their feet and accuses local governments of not doing enough to trim their budgets during the recent economic downturn.
In his email, Smith attacks these agencies for not proposing any solutions to the various issues confronting the state ...
No and no. The gang of four said NO! And on and on and on and on we go!!! I cannot recall a single suggestion or solution from the gang of four to find solutions to our pressing unfair tax system for property owners. Not one! All I heard from the gang of four was NO, NO, NO and then NO! The taxpayers lose again ... BIG!
It seems that every possible suggestion coming from the Georgia Legislature for reducing the burden of our hard working taxpayers meets resistance from the gang of four. What are their solutions? Other than nothing, the gang of four says we must have "tax reform". They have been advocating this for YEARS. Tax reform?????..what is their solution? What are their suggestions?
Beth Brown, the director of communications for the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, said she has seen Smith's email and disputed some of the implications and accusations made by the Watkinsville representative.
Brown said Griffin was sharing information, including an article from the magazine Governing with various board members, including Oconee County Chairman Melvin Davis, who is serving as a vice chairman this year for ACCG and ultimately forwarded article to Smith. Griffin was passing along the article as a practical example of a state government fixing various problems that arose from the passing of Proposition 13 in California. Brown said the article was purely informative and not intended to be directed toward any leadership officials in Georgia, as Smith implied ...
(Griffin) was by no means trying to imply anything about the political leadership here in Georgia or that Georgia is even headed down that road.
Brown forcefully disputes Smith's assessment that ACCG, or the other three organizations, haven't offered any policy suggestions ...
For the last several years, the County Platform has recognized the need for comprehensive tax reform. ACCG has expressed its willingness to work with legislators to achieve this goal while ensuring that counties remain financially able to provide the programs and services mandated by the state and demanded by their local citizens. ACCG has been opposed to individual legislative proposals that seek to provide tax relief by impacting local government revenues alone - especially at a time when many counties have already taken steps to reduce their budget and cut services. Many of the tax reduction proposals of recent years have
addressed specific taxes, such as property taxes or vehicle ad valorem taxes, which would have had a direct, negative impacted on local revenues. We know that taxation will continue to be an hot topic during the 2010 legislative session, and we will look for opportunities to work with state legislators and state elected officials on solutions. Some of the solutions we have recommended include eliminating the sales tax and property tax exemptions that are not serving their intended purpose, exploring ways to expand the sales tax base and reduce the rate, and allowing for local collection of sales tax to generate better compliance, just to name a few.
True enough, a simple search of ACCG's web site would assuage Smith of his concerns. The organization's 2009 policy platform features numerous proposals across a wide spectrum of issues ranging from transportation to water planning.
History lessons please
John Oxendine's Twitter post features this quote from that intellectual beacon, Rush Limbaugh ...
No nation ever taxed its way into prosperity.
It just seems that basic U.S. history suggests the exact opposite. The top marginal tax rates in the U.S. were above 80 percent from 1940 through 1963, and were even around 90 percent throughout the 1950s with a Republican president in Dwight Eisenhower. During this same time frame, of course, the U.S. enjoyed an unprecedented level of growth and prosperity.
Granted, I don't think we ought to return to 90 percent tax rates, but I also think its a widely discredited notion that higher tax rates suppress economic growth ... particularly when volumes and volumes of statistical evidence suggests otherwise.
No nation ever taxed its way into prosperity.
It just seems that basic U.S. history suggests the exact opposite. The top marginal tax rates in the U.S. were above 80 percent from 1940 through 1963, and were even around 90 percent throughout the 1950s with a Republican president in Dwight Eisenhower. During this same time frame, of course, the U.S. enjoyed an unprecedented level of growth and prosperity.
Granted, I don't think we ought to return to 90 percent tax rates, but I also think its a widely discredited notion that higher tax rates suppress economic growth ... particularly when volumes and volumes of statistical evidence suggests otherwise.
Couple of things
- It's good that John Osborne and John Jackson have seemingly resolved their differences, but I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that this potentially sets up a disturbing precedent ... be openly insubordinate, whine enough in public and then get your job back.
- I'm not necessarily on board with this summary of the Oak Grove rezoning in that, well, I think it leaves out some gaps in information. For instance, it falsely claims that the Planning Commission twice rejected the proposal, which isn't accurate. The Planning Commission recommended denial only on the compromise, and it only did that due to four other members being absent from the vote (including two who supported the project in its first version). Secondly, the master plan had already been amended, thus justifying the rezoning. Finally, the original vote to approve Oak Grove included plans for a commercial section, and folks had bought into the neighborhood anticipating such a development. Granted the proposal deviated from the original proposal, but the Athens-Clarke County Commission worked hard to craft a compromise that fit the earlier use requirements. It's not a perfect solution given its location in the greenspace, but I find it difficult to lay the blame on this commission when the decision was made by an earlier commission.
- Lee Becker talks Oconee County Courthouse.
- Grift catches conservative pundit Phil Kent in, well, a truth-stretcher.
- I'm not necessarily on board with this summary of the Oak Grove rezoning in that, well, I think it leaves out some gaps in information. For instance, it falsely claims that the Planning Commission twice rejected the proposal, which isn't accurate. The Planning Commission recommended denial only on the compromise, and it only did that due to four other members being absent from the vote (including two who supported the project in its first version). Secondly, the master plan had already been amended, thus justifying the rezoning. Finally, the original vote to approve Oak Grove included plans for a commercial section, and folks had bought into the neighborhood anticipating such a development. Granted the proposal deviated from the original proposal, but the Athens-Clarke County Commission worked hard to craft a compromise that fit the earlier use requirements. It's not a perfect solution given its location in the greenspace, but I find it difficult to lay the blame on this commission when the decision was made by an earlier commission.
- Lee Becker talks Oconee County Courthouse.
- Grift catches conservative pundit Phil Kent in, well, a truth-stretcher.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Smith: Obama wants to control right to vote
Rep. Bob Smith has routinely been a thorn in the side of local officials - ranging from his ideology blocking local legislative requests from progressive Athens-Clarke County to his support-then-opposition to a future pay increase for members of the Oconee County Board of Education - so there's not much love lost between him and local leaders from all sorts of political stripes.
In an email obtained by Beyond The Trestle sent from Smith to various supporters and constituents, the Watkinsville representative lambasts the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, along with school superintendents, state educators and the Georgia Municipal Association for blocking controversial tax cuts or cost shifts at the state level.
It's a lengthy document, so we're going to sift through it somewhat, but here's a quick preview. In this portion of the 11-paragraph email, Smith attacks criticism of unfunded mandates from the state level by accusing the Obama Administration of plotting to control the right of citizens to vote ...
The runaway, changing hourly, requirements from Washington, D.C. are mind boggling and makes for extremely difficult budget decisions with our state appropriations. Washington D.C. and the U.S. Congress ... and to (Jerry) Griffin, let’s give them credit where credit is due ... you want to see more out of control spending, waste, fraud and abuse ... and unfunded mandates??? I will guarantee it is coming to you and the taxpayers by first class delivery from Washington, D.C.!! Think government controlled healthcare, banking system, automobile industry/business, etc., etc., and etc. Just wait until you see the mandates coming down from the West Wing of the White House to control our precious right ... the right to vote!! They did not take control of voter redistricting from the Commerce Department and move this operation to the West Wing of the White House just to play solitaire. Think mandates ... it is coming to a voting booth near you.
In an email obtained by Beyond The Trestle sent from Smith to various supporters and constituents, the Watkinsville representative lambasts the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, along with school superintendents, state educators and the Georgia Municipal Association for blocking controversial tax cuts or cost shifts at the state level.
It's a lengthy document, so we're going to sift through it somewhat, but here's a quick preview. In this portion of the 11-paragraph email, Smith attacks criticism of unfunded mandates from the state level by accusing the Obama Administration of plotting to control the right of citizens to vote ...
The runaway, changing hourly, requirements from Washington, D.C. are mind boggling and makes for extremely difficult budget decisions with our state appropriations. Washington D.C. and the U.S. Congress ... and to (Jerry) Griffin, let’s give them credit where credit is due ... you want to see more out of control spending, waste, fraud and abuse ... and unfunded mandates??? I will guarantee it is coming to you and the taxpayers by first class delivery from Washington, D.C.!! Think government controlled healthcare, banking system, automobile industry/business, etc., etc., and etc. Just wait until you see the mandates coming down from the West Wing of the White House to control our precious right ... the right to vote!! They did not take control of voter redistricting from the Commerce Department and move this operation to the West Wing of the White House just to play solitaire. Think mandates ... it is coming to a voting booth near you.
On our hands
I didn't vote for Rep. Paul Broun.
Now, given my frequent criticisms of his comments, positions and general crazy rantings, that's not terribly surprising, I know. But, then again, I'm not referring to me pulling the level this past election cycle when he was running against Bobby Saxon. I'm speaking of the special election runoff two years ago that propelled Broun into Congress.
Broun, after just squeezing into a runoff with Jim Whitehead, proceeded to upset the frontrunner thanks to heavy turnout in the rural areas of Northeast Georgia and, most crucially, an unprecedented level of support in Athens-Clarke County. His margin of victory over the well-funded and well-known Whitehead was 400 votes, meaning every ballot counted.
Since then, as we know, Broun has emerged the guy who compares the president to Hitler, thinks the president is turning AmeriCorps into a national military police, believes a public insurance option will literally kill you and blames illegal immigration for the swine flu outbreak.
Back then, though, Broun was an upstart conservative who rode a backlash against Augusta-based establishment candidates to victory.
In the first special election, 7,247 Athens voters went to the polls and awarded more than 3,900 of those ballots for Democrat James Marlowe. The other nine candidates battled for the remaining ones with Broun garnering 1,474. Broun, as we know, went on to edge Marlowe for the other spot in the runoff to square off against Norwood.
In the runoff, however, 5,723 returned to the polls, and 5,122 cast their ballot for Broun compared to 601 for Whitehead. The former captures a razor-thin victory over the latter, and the conspiracy theories that rolled around in Broun's head were unleashed on an unwitting public.
And folks, rightfully, roll their eyes.
Yet, there's something unsatisfying about this response and perhaps it's because we all knew exactly how unhinged Broun was long before he began spouting off his typical nonsense ... and progressives in Athens-Clarke County still voted for him solely because Whitehead said some mean things about the community.
So, while I don't disagree that someone needs to speak out against Broun - whether they're a fire-breathing, in-town progressive in Athens-Clarke County or a moderate Republican city councilman from Watkinsville - I think it's clear the tacit approval initially came from the very folks who are rolling their eyes now because it was Athens progressives who put this man in Congress.
He earned the endorsement from the Athens Banner-Herald, and Pete encouraged liberals to go to the polls and back him over Whitehead.
Self-professed Democrats were writing in to support him, and, after his stunning victory, local progressive activists talked about the influence Democrats played in the final outcome ...
And even though Broun is a stalwart conservative, many Democrats appear to have turned out to vote for him because Whitehead made little effort to court voters outside his home base.
"Broun is just as far-right as Whitehead. He's staunchly pro-life, pro-gun, very different than Athens -- a progressive town where Democrats do very well," said Justin Mann, a Democrat who has run campaigns in Athens. "But there was a perception in this part of the district ... that Whitehead was just going to blow us off."
Broun won because he wasn't Whitehead, and that's fair enough. Whitehead deserved every ounce of criticism he received for his lackadaisical campaigning, callous comments about Athens-Clarke County and general smugness regarding the entire process. Yet, justifiable criticism for one candidate does not equate support for another.
The Broun who earned 5,122 votes in Athens-Clarke County on July 17, 2007 is the same one who believes Social Security and Medicare are unconstitutional, that global warming is a man-made myth, that illegal immigration is permitting terrorists to slip past our borders and that the federal government has the power to 'reinforce national unity.'
These aren't new views at all.
Does anyone think that Whitehead would repeatedly claim that President Obama is on the verge of establishing an authoritarian government? Or, more than that, does anyone credibly believe that Whitehead wouldn't go to bat for the federal funds and local projects that Broun swears off in his purist desire to avoid earmarks?
I had a good, progressive friend of mine, just a day or so before the runoff, ask if I was voting. I replied that I wasn't planning on it given my ideological disagreements with both men, and he devoted 15 minutes to urging me to reconsider so we could 'stop Whitehead.' Broun, he argued, was at least from Athens and that had to count for something.
I told that it really didn't, and, truth be told, Whitehead would probably be a more palpatable legislator than Broun given the record, experience and stated views of both. I reiterated my frustrations with Whitehead, but said I hoped he'd win out since he could, potentially, work the system in a more efficient and more favorable way than Broun could. Plus, Whitehead favored the popular and bipartisan Patient's Bill of Rights, which Rep. Charlie Norwood had worked so hard for during his time in Congress.
My friend, safe to say, disagreed with me, and he went and joined more than 5,100 others in voting for a man who just, 20 minutes ago, declared at a town hall that health care was a privilege, not a right and proclaimed the Republican Party as the 'Party of K-N-O-W.'
Now, given my frequent criticisms of his comments, positions and general crazy rantings, that's not terribly surprising, I know. But, then again, I'm not referring to me pulling the level this past election cycle when he was running against Bobby Saxon. I'm speaking of the special election runoff two years ago that propelled Broun into Congress.
Broun, after just squeezing into a runoff with Jim Whitehead, proceeded to upset the frontrunner thanks to heavy turnout in the rural areas of Northeast Georgia and, most crucially, an unprecedented level of support in Athens-Clarke County. His margin of victory over the well-funded and well-known Whitehead was 400 votes, meaning every ballot counted.
Since then, as we know, Broun has emerged the guy who compares the president to Hitler, thinks the president is turning AmeriCorps into a national military police, believes a public insurance option will literally kill you and blames illegal immigration for the swine flu outbreak.
Back then, though, Broun was an upstart conservative who rode a backlash against Augusta-based establishment candidates to victory.
In the first special election, 7,247 Athens voters went to the polls and awarded more than 3,900 of those ballots for Democrat James Marlowe. The other nine candidates battled for the remaining ones with Broun garnering 1,474. Broun, as we know, went on to edge Marlowe for the other spot in the runoff to square off against Norwood.
In the runoff, however, 5,723 returned to the polls, and 5,122 cast their ballot for Broun compared to 601 for Whitehead. The former captures a razor-thin victory over the latter, and the conspiracy theories that rolled around in Broun's head were unleashed on an unwitting public.
And folks, rightfully, roll their eyes.
Yet, there's something unsatisfying about this response and perhaps it's because we all knew exactly how unhinged Broun was long before he began spouting off his typical nonsense ... and progressives in Athens-Clarke County still voted for him solely because Whitehead said some mean things about the community.
So, while I don't disagree that someone needs to speak out against Broun - whether they're a fire-breathing, in-town progressive in Athens-Clarke County or a moderate Republican city councilman from Watkinsville - I think it's clear the tacit approval initially came from the very folks who are rolling their eyes now because it was Athens progressives who put this man in Congress.
He earned the endorsement from the Athens Banner-Herald, and Pete encouraged liberals to go to the polls and back him over Whitehead.
Self-professed Democrats were writing in to support him, and, after his stunning victory, local progressive activists talked about the influence Democrats played in the final outcome ...
And even though Broun is a stalwart conservative, many Democrats appear to have turned out to vote for him because Whitehead made little effort to court voters outside his home base.
"Broun is just as far-right as Whitehead. He's staunchly pro-life, pro-gun, very different than Athens -- a progressive town where Democrats do very well," said Justin Mann, a Democrat who has run campaigns in Athens. "But there was a perception in this part of the district ... that Whitehead was just going to blow us off."
Broun won because he wasn't Whitehead, and that's fair enough. Whitehead deserved every ounce of criticism he received for his lackadaisical campaigning, callous comments about Athens-Clarke County and general smugness regarding the entire process. Yet, justifiable criticism for one candidate does not equate support for another.
The Broun who earned 5,122 votes in Athens-Clarke County on July 17, 2007 is the same one who believes Social Security and Medicare are unconstitutional, that global warming is a man-made myth, that illegal immigration is permitting terrorists to slip past our borders and that the federal government has the power to 'reinforce national unity.'
These aren't new views at all.
Does anyone think that Whitehead would repeatedly claim that President Obama is on the verge of establishing an authoritarian government? Or, more than that, does anyone credibly believe that Whitehead wouldn't go to bat for the federal funds and local projects that Broun swears off in his purist desire to avoid earmarks?
I had a good, progressive friend of mine, just a day or so before the runoff, ask if I was voting. I replied that I wasn't planning on it given my ideological disagreements with both men, and he devoted 15 minutes to urging me to reconsider so we could 'stop Whitehead.' Broun, he argued, was at least from Athens and that had to count for something.
I told that it really didn't, and, truth be told, Whitehead would probably be a more palpatable legislator than Broun given the record, experience and stated views of both. I reiterated my frustrations with Whitehead, but said I hoped he'd win out since he could, potentially, work the system in a more efficient and more favorable way than Broun could. Plus, Whitehead favored the popular and bipartisan Patient's Bill of Rights, which Rep. Charlie Norwood had worked so hard for during his time in Congress.
My friend, safe to say, disagreed with me, and he went and joined more than 5,100 others in voting for a man who just, 20 minutes ago, declared at a town hall that health care was a privilege, not a right and proclaimed the Republican Party as the 'Party of K-N-O-W.'
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