OPEN THREAD
l3wis Looks like it is going to be a hot one on Monday! Welcome to freaking MERCURY!
2011
The Mayor and I agree on something
I do agree with Mayor Huether and the Build it Now group, a special election should be held in November of this year. First off, the cost of a special election is a spit in the bucket compared to what we have spent so far. I also think a special election brings out more educated voters, this is important.
Do I think it will pass in November? Sure, in fact I think it has a better chance of passing then in 2012. I used to believe that we should essentially FORCE everyone who was legally able to vote, to vote. I don’t think that so much anymore. GW Bush’s re-election (election) was proof of that. I think a special election in November, this year, will draw out the voters who have researched this topic. Opponents and proponents. It will be a battle royal like we have never seen before. There will be LEADERS on both sides educating the voters. I don’t support a new EC because I don’t believe there is a need. I also disapprove of the funding source (bonds) and I especially disagree with the last funding option of a (3rd penny – the most idiotic and unfair taxation idea so far). I still think that businesses and corporation in SF need to pony up, they benefit the most from economic impact, Joe-Sixpack paying into the 2nd penny kitty doesn’t benefit much from his contribution. I have suggested corporate entertainment taxes and advertising taxes. I might even support a 50/50 approach. 50% Bonds / 50% entertainment and advertising taxes.
WHO IS THE OPPOSITION?
Build it Downtown, The Staggers Brigade, Elderly fixed income and people like me who thinks it is not really needed.
WHO are THE PROPONENTS?
I have been confused by this. Besides the Mayor and his buddies and a handful of business owners and the hospitals, I’m not sure. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure they exist, they are just very, very quiet.
Personally I think the vote would be very close if held this year, others say it could be a blowout either way. Doesn’t matter, what is really important is that we vote on this ASAP while the debate is fresh and on the minds of concerned voters.
RAH! RAH! RAH! GOOOOOOOOO . . . EVENTS CENTER!
This group is such a joke. Just watch the press conference where they didn’t even know each other’s names. LOL!
I’m all for people organizing in our community to make it a better place to live, but we all know this is just a shell cheerleading squad for the Mayor’s proposal.
I’ll say it again, Huether wants it on the ballot in November 2011, so if it fails he can try again in November 2012. Trust me folks, we are going to vote on this every year until it passes.
Snooki Noem screamin’ out of both sides of her mouth (H/T – Helga)
Just like her buddy Ironic Johnny Thune-Bag, Noem bellies up to the trough
Freshman Republicans Lobby Federal Agencies For Millions Amid Spending Critiques
As lawmakers prepare to cut trillions of dollars from the budget as a condition to raising the nation’s debt ceiling, the story of the Cates Landing project underscores the dilemma that faces many members of the Republican-run House and the freshmen class in particular. Federal spending is derided as nothing short of a threat to the country’s future — unless, of course, it happens to be directed at that congressman’s home district.
Sara Sendek, a spokesman for Fincher, noted that the $13 million grant request was actually made by his predecessor, Rep. Jon Tanner (D-Tenn.). Even so, she added, “Congressman Fincher does support this project.”
As for the why: “He believes government does play a role in creating an environment that attracts private investment and job growth. This project does exactly that,” she said. “It is very important for Tennessee’s economy and for the country’s economy. So it was absolutely worthwhile.”
Such an explanation sounds like something out of the mouth of a Keynesian economist, rather than the musings of a congressman who proudly touts his support from the Tea Party movement. But Fincher is hardly alone. A Freedom of Information Act request of the communications between freshmen House members and federal agencies reveals that, in private, GOP lawmakers have pressed for tens of millions of dollars in federal help for their districts, even while decrying federal spending in front of the national press corps.
And then Snooki steps in . . .As much as the spending requests raise questions about the ideological consistency of the freshmen Republican class, they also underscore the arguments Democrats have been making during the height of deficit-reduction debate: The government plays a vital role in activities that the private sector often avoids.
This, undoubtedly, was what compelled freshmen Reps. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), Scott Tipton (R-Colo.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.) to co-sign an April 6 letter to the Department of Agriculture requesting that unused funds be spent helping the Rocky Mountain Region combat a bark beetle epidemic. It also seemed to be the thought process behind another letter Noem wrote to the Agriculture Department, demanding that South Dakota get its fair share of federal funds for wildfire damage control. Noem’s office did not return a request for comment.
Whether these members can turn around and make that argument that, for all their anti-spending bluster, the money they have requested is both legitimate and necessary may prove a tricky — though not impossible — task. Securing a contract for a defense company in one’s home district or getting a grant to build a new port are tried and true measures of securing voter support. And so long as the expenses are justified as legitimate and job-creating, even members of the Tea Party seem willing to limit their concerns to the practice of securing the money and not the money itself.
“Obviously there is going to be infrastructure spending, and one of the jobs of a Representative is to represent their district,” said Mark Meckler, co-founder of Tea Party Patriots. “I would say that we should be paying close attention to this process of petitioning federal agencies [for money] … But I don’t think anybody is saying that when the federal government is spending money, that no congressman should try to fund projects his district needs. I think what they are saying is we don’t want egregious, crazy, pork barrel spending.”
Please correct the POS city employee salary listing
I spoke at the city council meeting last night during public testimony (after removing my hat of course) about how this file is a piece of shit and it should be fixed. I told the mayor that I wasn’t blaming him for it’s current format, but the past administration, but it was his duty to fix it in the name of transparency. I did see him make a note about it when I was talking, so we will see.
I also brought up that we should build a parking ramp next to a new events center instead of building flat surface parking in the middle of nowhere. You could charge for ramp parking and it could pay for itself in a few years. I also went to bat for an indoor pool in conjunction with the school district. Then I put my hat back on and sat down.