Sunday, February 21, 2010
SCHOOLS SHORT MONEY BUT PHOENIX RISES
If Forbes is frustrated at having been unable to arrest out-of-control spending in Washington that adds thousands of dollars to each family’s portion of the national debt, then why not stop spending? If City Mothers are concerned about impending reductions to state and federal programs why exacerbate the situation by allowing spending for the Phoenix Bank restoration NOW? That money will come from the same fast emptying pot. We are certain that the late Helen Daughtrey, the former NAACP branch vice president, was wise enough to see the folly of picking a bad time like now. But City Mothers shared the good news with the congressman on Friday that the project is almost ready for construction. That’s a good place to leave it, almost. Unless it is one of those shovel ready projects that will enhance local businesses and put local people to work.
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9 comments:
The excuse being given to rehab the Phoenix Bank and the old courthouse is that they will house city offices in city owned buildings instead of renting. If the economy is going to remain on the skids for a prolong period, one would think that smaller government will require less office space.
This is a very bad sign to all the citizens of Suffolk. It means council still hasn't gotten the message to reduce spending and downsize the size of government. It means higher operating costs and more personnel to maintain small buildings. More wasteful closed door deals with political patronizing contractors. It suggests deal making and yet another attempt to revive the East Washington Street corridor. We were told many times the Fairgrounds project was going to do that.
The city needs to sell it's non-performing assests and rein in spending. They need to demonstrate they are endeavoring to build up cash reserves for the rainy days that surely will come without taxing citizens out of their homes.
Where is the outrage CPOH? Did somebody suddenly awaken you at the prospects of losing the Obici House and now you've returned to hybernate believing all is well in the hands of Roundtree and Council. Did you have nothing better to do in the dead of winter than moan and whine with letters to the editor and remarks at the cocktail parties. Are the weeds popping out in your gardens more important than demanding a satisfactory explanation why the Phoenix Bank is more important than the O-House. Would there ever have been a Phoenix Bank if there was no Obici-Planters.
I had hoped that the city would view the Phoenix Bank as it did the train station. That is to let the group wanting to restore it be responsible to obtain the funds, but not use city funds.
It tells me that the city has plenty of money if they are going to put funds into it. After all, they just gave out bonuses in October.
A School Board in Road Island fired a whole school of teachers for poor performance. But, in Virginia, the state legislators don't want school to start
before Labor Day to make up for lost teaching days because of the potential loss of revenue and taxes. How can progress be made at the local level if that is
the attitude at the state level?
This old bank building should not be restored with our tax money. The bank failed in the 1930s and took many of our citizens’ money down with it. We should never spend taxpayer money on projects that have no benefit to all citizens.
If the NAACP would like to buy the Phoenix Bank or better yet Andy Damiani deserves the first right of refusal then go ahead. Andy had the contract to buy it only to have it wrested from him by an overzealous city manager. Somebody better something very soon before it collapses and we have to pay to remove the debris pile. Call it the; Charles Brown Center for the Performing Arts.
Since he's up for re-election and is floating in cash from his development activities perhaps the city could approach the Councilman from Cypress to purchase and rehabilitate the Phoenix Bank building. His close community relations and investment on the East Washington Street corridor saving the bank would be a landmark for the community and his career. I see in red neon lights the word BOOTY across the facade for Brown's Outreach Organization for Troubled Youths.
Troubled Youth? How about troubled council members?
You would think that the movers and shakers in the black community would be stepping up but I guess they see that they cant make any real profit for themselves.
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