This is mmore national in nature, but tomorrow's Election Day for a few places, and they've all been very fascinating races to watch. There are three key races worth watching - New Jersey governor, New York District 23 and Virginia governor - and conservatives figure to capture all three of them (though, in New Jersey, it really is a toss-up but with movement to Republican candidate Chris Christie).
A friend who sees the world through a different ideological prism than me asked if I'd accept this as a rejection of President Obama and Democratic policies. In a word, no. And, when you understand the context, there's plenty of reason to understand why that is so.
In New Jersey, the fact of the matter is that both candidates are awful. That's why a third party candidate jumped into the race and is drawing 10 percent of the vote and neither Christie or Democrat Jon Corzine can get above 42 percent in the polls. Ultimately, I think the voters are going to want some change and, truth be told, Corzine's been a rather lousy governor who happens to be the guy in office when the economy went south. Christie will benefit from that, but he's probably a one-term governor in a solidly Democratic New Jersey.
In Virginia, Democrats have made steady gains for eight years - taking control of a house of the Virginia General Assembly, electing two U.S. Senators and a pair of governors - and it's naturally time for that to come to an end in this purple state. Plus, Creigh Deeds was easily the worst Democratic candidate in the field, and he's run a lousy campaign in contrast to Bob McConnell's. Given that McConnell had already beaten Deeds in a statewide race once before, it's not shocking to see history repeating itself.
And in New York, everything has imploded in a fantastic way. This is a solidly Republican district that has a cultural makeup closer to our own Georgia District 10 than what we might traditionally think of New York. The fact that the Republican Party opted to put up a moderate-to-liberal candidate was utterly staggering in the first place and resulted in Doug Hoffman, a Conservative Party candidate, jumping into the fray. Hoffman is, for lack of a better term, an absolute nut ... and because of so, he's earned the endorsements of folks like Sarah Palin and Texas Gov. Rick Perry. In this rock-ribbed Republican district, Hoffman's embracement of far-right talking points has been overwhelmingly embraced by the voters (despite the fact that he doesn't live in the district and has no concept of local issues). Once Republican Dede Scozzafava dropped out over the weekend and endorsed Democrat Bill Owens, this thing was done.
So, by my assessment, I don't necessarily think it's a harbringer of 2010 (where I see pretty much a status quo election to be honest, with Republicans picking up a decent chunk of seats in the House of Representatives). Instead, I see it as an example of voter frustration with poor campaigning and failed leadership, and, in New York, the movement of the Republican base to even more hardline, conservative positions that are out-of-step with the mainstream these days.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Couple of things
- These will be welcome changes, though I would have made the firefighters subject to the same restrictions (to be fair, the argument is that the firefighters only do one boot drive per year anyway, meaning they are already in compliance).
- With the Athens-Clarke County Commission slated to take a vote on the approval of use of the space for the proposed Clayton Street parking deck on Tuesday, I did some digging around into the origins of the $2.50 parking fee proposal and Athens-Clarke County District Nine Commissioner Kelly Girtz offered thoughts on the fees as well as engagement and transparency in the process.
- Kudos to J.T. for dropping 'The Beatitudes' in his column. Maybe we ought to hang those up in local courthouses too?
- Don Nelson argues for consolidating economic development resources. Here's hoping Oconee County Commissioner Chuck Horton is listening.
- A really cool story from Blake on the student vote issue up in Franklin County.
- With the Athens-Clarke County Commission slated to take a vote on the approval of use of the space for the proposed Clayton Street parking deck on Tuesday, I did some digging around into the origins of the $2.50 parking fee proposal and Athens-Clarke County District Nine Commissioner Kelly Girtz offered thoughts on the fees as well as engagement and transparency in the process.
- Kudos to J.T. for dropping 'The Beatitudes' in his column. Maybe we ought to hang those up in local courthouses too?
- Don Nelson argues for consolidating economic development resources. Here's hoping Oconee County Commissioner Chuck Horton is listening.
- A really cool story from Blake on the student vote issue up in Franklin County.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Much alike
Though you can remove the residency issues, if you replace 'Doug Hoffman' with 'Paul Broun Jr.' then you have this ...
This rural district depends on the federal government for an investment in Fort Drum and its soldiers, environmental protection of our international waterway and the Adirondack Park, and the livelihood of all our dairy farmers across the district, among other support. Our representative cannot be locked into rigid promises and policies that would jeopardize these critical sectors of our economy.
For a member of Congress, there may be a time to promote reform in Washington, but there is also a time to work within a system that best serves the people you represent.
It is frightening that Mr. Hoffman is so beholden to right-wing ideologues who dismiss Northern New Yorkers as parochial when people here simply want to know how Mr. Hoffman will protect their interests in Washington.
This rural district depends on the federal government for an investment in Fort Drum and its soldiers, environmental protection of our international waterway and the Adirondack Park, and the livelihood of all our dairy farmers across the district, among other support. Our representative cannot be locked into rigid promises and policies that would jeopardize these critical sectors of our economy.
For a member of Congress, there may be a time to promote reform in Washington, but there is also a time to work within a system that best serves the people you represent.
It is frightening that Mr. Hoffman is so beholden to right-wing ideologues who dismiss Northern New Yorkers as parochial when people here simply want to know how Mr. Hoffman will protect their interests in Washington.
Girtz: Engagement is a two-way street
Athens-Clarke County District Nine Commissioner Kelly Girtz, in an email response to me, reiterated his desire to obtain clearer, more accurate depictions of the proposed Clayton Street parking deck. In accepting some of the responsibility for not ensuring those documents were available sooner, he also expressed some frustration with the sudden, '11th hour' outcry over the deck ...
It is government's job, acting on behalf of citizens, to work with clarity and openness. Producing accurate, contextual images of proposed public structures is part of this responsibility. At the same time, citizens need to pay attention and bring concerns to representatives in a timely way. Unfortunately, some of the parking deck naysayers have overlooked the issue during years of discussion, and come to us at the 11th hour. This is one of those cases in which everyone could have done a better job.
This was something first noted by Athens-Clarke County District Eight Commissioner Andy Herod, who, when presented with criticism of the potential impact of parking rate increases, pointed out that the SPLOST information page clearly noted that parking revenues would be used to help offset the project's cost.
It is government's job, acting on behalf of citizens, to work with clarity and openness. Producing accurate, contextual images of proposed public structures is part of this responsibility. At the same time, citizens need to pay attention and bring concerns to representatives in a timely way. Unfortunately, some of the parking deck naysayers have overlooked the issue during years of discussion, and come to us at the 11th hour. This is one of those cases in which everyone could have done a better job.
This was something first noted by Athens-Clarke County District Eight Commissioner Andy Herod, who, when presented with criticism of the potential impact of parking rate increases, pointed out that the SPLOST information page clearly noted that parking revenues would be used to help offset the project's cost.
More on the parking fee
This column by Kathryn Lookofsky, director of the Athens Downtown Development Authority, points out, as well, as how the $2.50 fee is tied soley to the new parking deck ...
The new deck will have approximately 520 spaces. There is a current waiting list of 450 people for downtown parking. If we meet the needs of future employees and customers of the new tenants in the mixed-use facility, the new deck already is full.
The discussion about future downtown parking costs has caused some concern. Citizens should know that the proposed fees for the parking deck will be used to cover the operating costs and the related debt service. The proposed fees presented are for the new parking deck only.
The new deck will have approximately 520 spaces. There is a current waiting list of 450 people for downtown parking. If we meet the needs of future employees and customers of the new tenants in the mixed-use facility, the new deck already is full.
The discussion about future downtown parking costs has caused some concern. Citizens should know that the proposed fees for the parking deck will be used to cover the operating costs and the related debt service. The proposed fees presented are for the new parking deck only.
Girtz on parking fees
As noted last night, the $2.50 per hour fee suggestion is only tied to the proposed Clayton Street parking deck and not necessarily applicable to all of downtown Athens-Clarke County's parking.
Adding further clarification is Athens-Clarke County District District Nine Commissioner Kelly Girtz who, in addition to reiterating that central point, also suggested in an email that a more modest hike is more likely ...
On the issue of parking rates: the $2.50/hr notion assumes that only revenue from the deck is being used to repay the debt. However, the deck will exist as part of the entire inventory of downtown parking options, and should draw from the total pool of revenue for repayment. A $.25 hike in hourly meter fees produces about 500K of annual revenue, while annual debt service on the new deck will be 570K. Thus, if rates rise to $1.00/hr for metered parking (from the current $.50/hr), we would fund debt service on the deck as well as produce additional revenue that could pay for other long-advocated downtown mobility options like a shuttle/bus to move people easily through the area. In addition, debt service on the College Ave. deck will be retired after FY2014, freeing-up about 350K/year.
I want the public to understand that Tuesday's vote will not accept any "assumed" fee structure for parking in the deck or elsewhere. What it would do is create an agreement for use of the space and maintainence responsibilities between ACC, the Athens Downtown Development Authority, and Batson-Cook the developer of the private space, as well as approve the deck design.
Adding further clarification is Athens-Clarke County District District Nine Commissioner Kelly Girtz who, in addition to reiterating that central point, also suggested in an email that a more modest hike is more likely ...
On the issue of parking rates: the $2.50/hr notion assumes that only revenue from the deck is being used to repay the debt. However, the deck will exist as part of the entire inventory of downtown parking options, and should draw from the total pool of revenue for repayment. A $.25 hike in hourly meter fees produces about 500K of annual revenue, while annual debt service on the new deck will be 570K. Thus, if rates rise to $1.00/hr for metered parking (from the current $.50/hr), we would fund debt service on the deck as well as produce additional revenue that could pay for other long-advocated downtown mobility options like a shuttle/bus to move people easily through the area. In addition, debt service on the College Ave. deck will be retired after FY2014, freeing-up about 350K/year.
I want the public to understand that Tuesday's vote will not accept any "assumed" fee structure for parking in the deck or elsewhere. What it would do is create an agreement for use of the space and maintainence responsibilities between ACC, the Athens Downtown Development Authority, and Batson-Cook the developer of the private space, as well as approve the deck design.
The read
From my Sunday column in the Athens Banner-Herald ...
Proponents of the homebuyers' tax credit, like Isakson, don't have as much supportive evidence. In fact, the credit appears to have had only a minimal effect on the overall sales figures. An analysis by The Brookings Institution concluded that out of the 1.9 million buyers expected to get the credit, more than 85 percent of them would have purchased a home without it.
This is understandable, given that a narrowly targeted, one-time incentive of $8,000 has a marginal effect on the relatively large price tag of a house. For people struggling during a down economy, it simply isn't enough justification to buy. The risk remains too high, resulting in the majority of those buying a home doing so for reasons not attributable to the availability of the credit.
In addition, the majority of the new home sales are helping move renters into ownership, which can be a positive development in terms of individual economic security but is problematic with regard to the nation's housing inventory. Most analysts indicate one of the primary reasons for the weak housing market is that it's still sorting through the aftermath of the housing bubble. Too many homes were built and left vacant thanks to the recession, resulting in an 8.5-month supply of housing inventory across the country.
Proponents of the homebuyers' tax credit, like Isakson, don't have as much supportive evidence. In fact, the credit appears to have had only a minimal effect on the overall sales figures. An analysis by The Brookings Institution concluded that out of the 1.9 million buyers expected to get the credit, more than 85 percent of them would have purchased a home without it.
This is understandable, given that a narrowly targeted, one-time incentive of $8,000 has a marginal effect on the relatively large price tag of a house. For people struggling during a down economy, it simply isn't enough justification to buy. The risk remains too high, resulting in the majority of those buying a home doing so for reasons not attributable to the availability of the credit.
In addition, the majority of the new home sales are helping move renters into ownership, which can be a positive development in terms of individual economic security but is problematic with regard to the nation's housing inventory. Most analysts indicate one of the primary reasons for the weak housing market is that it's still sorting through the aftermath of the housing bubble. Too many homes were built and left vacant thanks to the recession, resulting in an 8.5-month supply of housing inventory across the country.
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