STAFF REPORT FROM SNH

"As with so many things in life, there are no easy answers to the problems that face the youth of Suffolk — and America — today. From teen teenage sexuality to violence on the streets to declining test scores to a seeming loss of social mores, the social climate surrounding teens today is more potentially poisonous than at any time in the history of the nation, much less the community.

“IS” is tempted to say “Hogwash.” We could judge, from this SNH report that our teenagers have somehow been walled off from their parents and helpful contact with society and forced to grapple with self-created unbearable problems and “pressures” of their own, using only their limited experience to deal with life. Granted, but only if they have no parental guidance or they are the victims of parents they would be better off without. Even kids in that mess often find the right path through teachers and religion. Our guess is that the SNH speaks for a very small percentage of children who haven’t yet realized they have and are a problem.

What Does MORE Government Mean?

NOT A SPECK OF HESITATION

Al Gore, Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama go to heaven. God addresses Al first. ''Al, what do you believe in?'' Al replies: "Well, I believe that I won that election, but that it was your will that I did not serve. And I've come to understand that now.'' God thinks for a second and says: "Very good. Come and sit at my left.''

God then addresses Bill. "Bill, what do you believe in?'' Bill replies: "I believe in forgiveness. I've sinned, but I've never held a grudge against my fellow man, and I hope no grudges are held against me.'' God thinks for a second and says: "You are forgiven, my son. Come and sit at my right.''

Then God addresses Barrack. "Barrack, what do you believe in?'' He replies: "I believe you're in my chair."

Test of New Background

You may see some changes to our site over the next week or so.  We thought we might try some different backgrounds that are now available in Blogger.  The same content will always be available to you, but the coloring will be different. So please stay tuned and enjoy the subtle changes as we make them.

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG

Let me get this straight. We're going to be gifted with a health care plan written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it, to be signed by a president who also hasn't read it and who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke.


AUTHOR UNKNOWN

=

VIRGINIA LEADS THE WAY

"Idaho requires its attorney general to sue the feds if ObamaCare passes while Virginia, the cradle of liberty, heads the line of states in front of the federal courtroom. Somewhere Patrick Henry is smiling. As the second coming of King George III seeks to impose the leftist mandate of national health insurance on the unwilling American people, the states are once again in revolt. This time they're unwilling to be the colonies of an imperial federal government determined to spend and tax us into bankruptcy while treating the Constitution as if it were bird cage liner. Is this what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they risked being hanged by the British crown because they said we shouldn't be taxed without representation? Well, we have representation, and they care not about the people they represent. ... Not amused is Idaho, the latest state to jump into the fray last Wednesday, with Gov. C.L. 'Butch' Otter signing into law a measure requiring the state attorney general to sue the federal government if residents are forced to buy health insurance. 'The ivory tower folks will tell you, 'No, they're not going anywhere,' Otter told reporters. 'But I'll tell you what, you got 36 states; that's a critical mass. That's a constitutional mass.' Otter shares the belief that nowhere in the U.S. Constitution is a mandate to buy health insurance or anything else. ... He believes in the 10th Amendment, in states' rights as defined in the Constitution. All powers not specifically given to the federal government belong to the states and to the people. Mandating health insurance is not one of them. Some would say these states are stepping on Superman's cape, that federal law trumps state law. Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli says that's true only when the federal law has some basis in the Constitution and is not in itself unconstitutional." --Investor's Business Daily

I GUESS THAT'S REASONABLE

CLICK ON PHOTO

'IS' READERS CAN'T BE GUILTY

The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the presidency.

It will be easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to an electorate willing to have such a man for their president.

The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails us. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince.

The republic can survive a Barack Obama. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president.”

-- Author Unknown

DID CAPITALISM TAKE A FATAL HIT

Socialism makes sheep. Not only do millions despise what just transpired in Washington, they fear the costs that will be facing the future generations and us. It has been tough enough living with our current welfare state that continues to grind down the middle class year after year. You can be sure that additional taxes necessary to float this health care balloon will weigh heavily on most of us. To realize that 216 individuals can bring a country of 300 million to this chaos is frightening. If they were Muslims I’d understand it. Most of you have saved and invested to secure a safe retirement yet Obama speaks of exacting a toll of four percent of your savings earnings each year you live, probably more than your investments can earn. After this debacle Socialism will begin to haunt you, that which took place where elected cowards dwell in the House and Senate will lead to other ways to make us all the same. If this does not affect you negatively you will be affected positively, you will gain from the loss of others. That is the nature of Socialism. If Pelosi is your heroine you have my sympathy.

Half way down from DC we have in Richmond another small elite group that decides even more issues for the entire state of Virginia, issues that take more of your salary or paycheck. And here in Suffolk we have less than a dozen devising formula to remove millions more from the wallets and purses of eighty thousand citizens unless they fall below a certain level of income. It is a very sobering thought; all three levels of government are elements of Socialism.

THE HOBSON WARS

For years we have heard complaints about Suffolk still having homes with outdoor toilet facilities. The city finally agreed and is taking action against owners by placing those buildings in bad condition on the “hit list.” Some have already been demolished in Hobson bringing other owners out in strength to demand a halt to destruction of “historic” buildings. The City insists their motive is only safety, not an attempt to merely clean up the village. One could say the residents can’t have it both ways. Mary Hill is defending the right to own historic buildings and insisting that the city allow sufficient time to restore rather than destroy “antiquity.” The city, on the other hand, has pointed out that they’ve already allowed plenty of opportunity to deal with the safety factor. Whose money would be spent for restoration is yet to be determined.

IT IS NOT AN EASY JOB

An article in the SNH caught my attention because the gentleman writer points out that young newspaper reporters get caught up in zeal and exaggeration due to innocence that comes naturally when short on experience. Young writers can be guilty of painting less than accurate pictures of a scene, an action, or when describing a person’s aura. The SNH gentleman considers himself, at 45, parallel to “an old man of the sea.” And his assumptions are correct, it takes knowledge, courage, and keen “eyesight” to see through the smoke to what is actually there. When it comes to “covering” noteworthy incidents involving allegedly important personalities a writer must be a “grumpy old man.” Cynicism is as important a tool as the pen and why we allow most all comments to “Inside Suffolk.” Anonymous Writers may have inside knowledge readers can use when forming their opinions. It is sometimes difficult for us to judge the fairness of opinion sent us, but we find transparency to be a good thing. As for the SNH writer to have PERFECTED his skills at 45 I have doubts. At 85 I carry cynicism with me at all times and am a well established gumpy old man, but I still get conned now and then.

March Madness

No – I’m not talking about basketball.  But it’s a game that Obama seems to like.  He continues to look for parliamentary tricks to save his game.  He doesn’t like to lose.

He’s been dribbling for over a year on the healthcare bill – and he hasn’t scored yet.  His center, Princess Pelosi, isn’t helping.  And Rebound Harry knows that most Americans don’t want the bill and he is on the offense.  They are now getting even more fired up to cheat the game and even remove the referees.

Obama has changed the game to one-on-one.  He’s enticing players with trips on Air Force One and promising other special favors.  He has a full-court press on the players in Congress.  We’ll watch as he picks off players one by one.  Team Obamacare is committing more than its fair share of personal fouls.  Team players are sneaking along the court looking for every point they can make.  Point guard Roving Rob Emanual continues to try to coordinate the offense for the big win – both in the locker room and in the showers.  He’s now looking for a 3-point play.  If he keeps on his current game plan, his players will continue to foul.

He’s finding it hard to make it through the human hoop of American citizens who simply don’t want some of the plays to result in a score.  But he’s persistent.  He’s looking for a free throw because he can’t make the score any other way. He’s ready to buy the game result.

March Madness is hitting us daily from our legislators in Congress.  I don’t know about you, but I want this madness to be over.

TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION

Nancy Pelosi wants a Windfall Tax on Retirement Income. In other words tax what you have made by investing toward your retirement. stock market profits (including 401K and Mutual Funds! Alas, it is true - all to help the 12 Million Illegal Immigrants and other unemployed Minorities! This woman is frightening. She actually says (quotes) ... "We need to work toward the goal of equalizing income in our country and at the same time limiting the amount the rich can invest" (didn't Marx say something like this?) When asked how these new tax dollars would be spent, she replied: "We need to raise the standard of living of our poor, unemployed and minorities. For example, we have an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in our country who need our help along with millions of unemployed minorities. Stock market windfall profits taxes could go a long way to guarantee these people the standard of living they would like to have as 'Americans'." (Read that quote again and again and let it sink in.) 'Lower your retirement, give it to others who have not worked as you have for it'. This lady is out of her mind and she is the speaker of the HOUSE .....

Between her and two ladies downtown we are broke.

WHERE TO BUILD A NEW SCHOOL

This week the Planning Commission was placed in a difficult situation. The School Board submitted an application to build a new school on Copeland road to serve the needs of Holy Neck and Whaleyville Borough residents. Seventeen sites were considered before deciding upon Copeland Road. Unfortunately no one bothered to check if the location was suitable in the City’s 2026 Comprehensive Plan. So on Tuesday afternoon after much discussion and good intentions the Planning Commissioners did the right thing and turned down the School Board’s application. They unanimously agreed that amending the Comp. plan in a haphazard manner would have undermined its importance. If there is to be a change to the plan to accommodate the school, the decision belongs with City Council. Regardless which location is chosen some of the approximately ninety students will be traveling greater distances. To save costs the site selection needs to consider the availability to water and sewer. The Copeland site will require wells drilled, water quality evaluated, drainage basins created for storm water runoff and drain fields or an expensive sewage treatment plant. The Villages of Whaleyville and Holland have water but need sewage treatment plants. Development is progressing along Route 58 faster than 13. If you were a member of the School Board where would you look?

"IS" Team Deme Panagopolus ME

ALWAYS A REASON TO SPEND

"Increased financial responsibilities include the King’s Fork Public Safety Center, additional police officers and dispatchers needed for public safety, increased local costs at the Western Tidewater Regional Jail, technology upgrades and other needed funds, according to Seward."

"Fire Chief Mark Outlaw and Police Chief Thomas Bennett asked for additional firefighters and police officers, as well as replacements for old emergency response vehicles."

“The police fleet is getting a little long in the tooth,” Bennett said. Twelve vehicles in the police department’s fleet have more than 130,000 miles, which is a maximum recommendation for mileage, Bennett said."

"On the fire department side, Outlaw stressed the need for additional vehicles, noting that some fire trucks are approaching 20 years of use on the front lines. Under ideal conditions, a fire vehicle would be used only 10 years on the front lines and 10 years as a backup."

Uh,,,listen just a minute fellows. Pretend the city is out of money, that most of us are over-assessed and taxed, and that we like to eat. See if you can make do for a little while. That new setup on Kings Fork wasn't exactly necessary but it does blend well with the overpriced school next door. Try hard, you can do it.

ONE TAXPAYERS VIEW

This is an abbreviated version of a comment.

As I sit here in my over-stuffed and comfortable chair in my older home, just a few blocks from the intellectually challenged leaders that ride upon our backs on Market Street, I am watching them vote to give away the rest of the "Fairgounds Project" that millions of public dollars has been spent upon. This bitter pill is even more so, because it is clear to one and all, that it is being given to Friends of the Mayor (FOM) and other members of Council as political payback and is it ever "payback"! For just pennies on the dollar, the Mayor and her henchmen are voting to give to select developers who have supported her with campaign money and political help to keep her in power. It is an absolute shame that the sale of this heavily moneyed public project is being "sold-out" for utterly give-away prices and without any real plan or comment. Some might say, "well it has been ten years and nothing has been done with it, so why not give it away and let someone do something with it". That contrived reasoning is utterly wrong and shows that the deep pockets of the people have once again been picked clean and it hurts in these difficult times for the umpteenth time.

Then the folks will sign us up for even more debt to support SPSA for debt that was run up to cover tipping fees we were not responsible for, due to our agreement to host the landfill. But our leaders are indifferent to protecting our interests. Mayor, you have failed to represent us and our interests in any realistic way! Your administration, under the guidance of the most incompetent city manager we have ever had in our city, is now a real embarrassment given how you have used us all as your own little piggy bank for "Chicago-style" political payback for your own gain, not ours'. When they look for an example of failed municipal leadership and an absolute sell-out to the developers and moneyed characters of the area, they all will look to you as the "Best" bad example of such.

I have lived, worked, and grown old in this City and must now state that I have never seen such abject and utter failure as the period that Mayor Linda Johnson, Charles Parr, and Jeffery Gardy have been in charge. We are now suffering the pox of selfish and obtuse leadership under these people and that defines all that is wrong in Suffolk politics for the last six years. Mayor Johnson, her henchmen: Gardy, Parr, and the new guy Barclay; show us all how not to represent the people. The rest, Milteer, Brown, Barlow, and Bennett just don’t understand what is going on and can be manipulated by the Mayor's group. The people lose once again as the policies’ of the Mayor takes, demands, and obfuscates the truth only to line the pockets of her inner circle of the "Friends of the Mayor" (FOM) who know too well how to pick the pockets of the people, who are usually asleep or slow to comprehend the truth of the situation.

(With full Understanding)

SO WHY DO WE ??

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

DOESN'T THE MAYOR GET IT

Market Survey by Broker/Owner Harry L. Cross, III:

We have seen an increase in buyers in the market over the past few weeks and have made a number of contracts, but I am not feeling confident that we have made any real turn around. As I continue to investigate and study where I think we are headed, I must tell you that we are probably in this market for at least two more years. It is always best to make decisions from an informed position, so here is what I have summarized from what I have read and experience:
1. We have had a value shift downward by 15-25% for almost all properties since this all started.
2 . Values will most likely continue to fall as long as the foreclosures continue to be 25-35% of our total market, as they are today.
3. Interest rates will increase for long term mortgages to around 6% or higher.
The Government programs to help home owners to stay in their homes have not been successful for a lot of reasons. The solution is “short sale agreements” where the bank and owner come to an agreement and the home owner is released from any future obligation because of the short sale. This process saves the bank a lot of expenses inherent in a foreclosure and allows the seller to get back in the market in 2-3 years to buy again.
The big change coming is that the Government is backing or buying up almost 90% of all mortgages in today’s market. The Government has become the mortgage market. The Government plans to cut back on this policy soon and as the banks and lending institutions start to make more loans, then it is predicted that the rate will go up about one percent to 6% in the open market. This is all very complicated, but the bottom line seems to be, it is the best time to buy and sell, because the interest rate is headed up, which will affect prices and demand.

HIGH OFFICE ROBBERY

"For Congress to guarantee a right to health care, or any other good or service, whether a person can afford it or not, it must diminish someone else's rights, namely their rights to their earnings. The reason is that Congress has no resources of its very own. Moreover, there is no Santa Claus, Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy giving them those resources. The fact that government has no resources of its very own forces one to recognize that in order for government to give one American citizen a dollar, it must first, through intimidation, threats and coercion, confiscate that dollar from some other American. If one person has a right to something he did not earn, of necessity it requires that another person not have a right to something that he did earn. To argue that people have a right that imposes obligations on another is an absurd concept. A better term for new-fangled rights to health care, decent housing and food is wishes. If we called them wishes, I would be in agreement with most other Americans for I, too, wish that everyone had adequate health care, decent housing and nutritious meals. However, if we called them human wishes, instead of human rights, there would be confusion and cognitive dissonance. The average American would cringe at the thought of government punishing one person because he refused to be pressed into making someone else's wish come true. None of my argument is to argue against charity. Reaching into one's own pockets to assist his fellow man in need is praiseworthy and laudable. Reaching into someone else's pockets to do so is despicable and deserves condemnation." --economist Walter E. Williams

HOW THE CITY CAN SAVE A FEW BUCKS

Because my assessment has not been reduced I demand they close the Cultural Center. I can live without the arts a few years without reverting to cannibalism. I've still got my TV where I can get even better quality programming. And lock the door on the Tourist Bureau where people sit around and dream up such nutty themes as Restaurant Week so I can enjoy the experience of having lunch for ten dollars and dinner for twenty. I figured how to accomplish that the first day a fast food emporium opened its doors. Seems to me the responsibility for achieving success in that business belongs to the owner. What is next, Bait Shop Week?

We need jobs and the City can help!!!

With the economy still in the tank, there has been some talk by my friend Mayor Linda Johnson about “streamlining” and deconflicting the complex processes of economic development projects that build jobs in Suffolk. It is well understood that over eighty percent of the jobs created in this country are done by the small businesses that struggle mightily with ever mounting demands and hurdles from our friends in the planning and engineering offices on “Market Street”. We really do need to see some real changes in the processes and a much more simplistic method to the “planning-review-permitting” process to encourage good economic development. Another community tried it and to good cause and effect:

Maryland To Ease Storm-Water Pollution Requirements On New Building Projects.
The Washington Post (3/10, B6, Fahrenthold) reports Maryland is set "to make developer-friendly changes in a law that requires new building projects to reduce the pollution that rain washes off their roofs and parking lots." Those changes "provide a loophole for some incomplete projects" and "are the result of a compromise between environmental groups, developers and local government officials," and according to the Post appear to be designed "to head off attempts in Annapolis to weaken the rules even further." The Post notes, "The battle over storm-water pollution opens a potentially critical year for the Chesapeake Bay." The changes will only apply to projects that "already have been given preliminary approval by local authorities." According to a builders trade group, "the exemption for projects in development would save money, since developers wouldn't need to redo expensive site plans."

These ideas and more that streamline the many complex demands that raise costs and dissuade projects seems like a good idea that should be encouraged. We need to encourage and help small to mid-sized commercial developers, step forward and create jobs that will drag us all out of the malaise of this “Spartan” economy. I applaud Mayor Johnson’s call to reduce development hurdles and issues on commercial projects, which do slow the attached job growth we need. I hope she will continue to push this good idea further and hard. This is an idea whose time has dearly come!

Roger A. Leonard, MPA
Suffolk…

THE TEACHER'S CASE

Excerpts From A SNH article.
The five hours of public input included numerous teachers and employees advocating for programs and positions in the system including the arts, early education, physical education, assistant principals, school nurses, special education, resource centers, academic coaching and advanced classes.

“Every program my children participate in is important to their lives,” said Dawn Evans, a PTA president and mother. “I’ve heard over and over that it will take 10 or more years for the school system to recover from this budget crisis. My first grader will be in 11th grade, and I don’t want to say ‘I am not prepared for college.’”

“Schools are the primary locations for children social, physical, educational, moral development and experiences,” said Eric Landon, a sixth-grade English teacher who urged the board to retain personnel “at all costs.”

“If maintaining the same educational support means raising my taxes, then raise my taxes,” said Dana Milby, a mom and academic coach. “If keeping teachers means raising my taxes, then raise my taxes. If being able to mentor three more students, means raising my taxes, then raise my taxes. If smaller classes means raising my taxes, then raise my taxes.”

"IS" calculates it is Plausible if... There are 37,000 households in Suffolk. If each came up with an additional $270 the Schools would have an additional $9,990,000. Simple?

KINGS FORK HIGH SCHOOL ROCKED

So many people last night were packed into the 740-seat auditorium that the Suffolk Fire Marshal’s Office sent deputy marshals to bring the crowd under control. Those not seated had to leave the auditorium causing a few heated arguments. Parents remaining served as lobbyists for curriculum necessary for a proper education. Cheryl Landy pleaded with the School Board not to close schools or increase class sizes. “Overcrowding affects both students and teachers,” Landy said. “When a teacher must struggle to simply maintain order in a crowded classroom, the likelihood increases that they will suffer from burnout.” Is that teachers or students? That was a key statement and frames 50% of public school problems, lack of discipline. Others encouraged higher taxes and pay cuts for administration as a way to close the funding gap. We should be grateful that only City Council could raise taxes and not the School Board. One mother concerned about cutting the arts said that participating in the band has kept her daughter out of trouble. We find that interesting. The fact that almost a thousand attended the meeting is encouraging. Board chairwoman Lorraine Skeeter asked the crowd to refrain from applauding the citizen speakers. That was ignored in favor of even standing ovations. The parents were better at lobbying than finding the money.

Apparently the Supt suggests 126 ees could retire early and save 2.7 million, a good start on the nine million. And close 3 schools with 37 positions and save 1.6 million. But the board would rather not consider that. Hooray for the board's spine but they will have to come up with better ideas than Dr. Liverman. If they did both it adds only to 4.3 million. Cutting fat salaries won't do it. And we need solutions to cover several years, not just next year.

SO GET MAD

Clearly, Suffolk officials only see local property owners as piggy banks that support otherwise ridiculous spending. Being a municipal official only means
continuing to throw money that doesn't exist at problems that never get solved "without ever having to say you're sorry"! They can't help themselves because
the public isn't mad enough to hold them accountable. Does the public have the authority to insist that the Board of Equalization establish weekend hours to
meet with the vast majority of the public who do hold jobs and have to take annual eave to argue with their assessments? Is it too much to ask that Suffolk
officials living off public taxation arrange their working schedules to meet with the public when we're available to meet with them? Or is this just part of the
game where Suffolk's customer service can be summed up under the motto "We're not satisfied until you're not satisfied!"? In VA, the real estate assessment you get each year in the mail represents the estimated fair market value of your property. But this doesn't really mean much when you consider that city assessors get to pick and chose the "fair market value" sales they have to consider in coming up with property assessments. So as residential property duress sales, foreclosures, and lender "take backs", are not considered "arms-length" transactions under Virginia law, the municipal assessors get to exclude such sales when generating annual assessments on homes which by any measure will result in a highly inflated assessment value for the entire community!

Home Resales Tumbled 7.2% in January and of the 5.05 million overall U.S. home resales over the past year, 38% were considered distressed sales, a category that includes foreclosures. And that rate is down from late 2008 and early 2009 when distressed sales accounted for 45% to 50% of all home resales. So will Suffolk be forced to explain this to area property owners? That these homes were in fact sold at the highest price the seller could get at the time-but assessors get to ignore them as not being representative of the homes values simply because these forced transactions tend to be based more on the loan amount than on some mythical "market value" that the seller obviously couldn't get at the time of sale?? And since 1 and 4 homes in Tidewater are "under water," (mortgage amount is greater than the homes value today), and if this is the game municipal assessors are playing, why wouldn't folks simply skip out on their loans and walk away? Municipalities constantly add insult to injury by taxing homes at values they can not be sold for!

George H. Mears ME, MBA

Property Assessments Revealed!

Here’s what we know:

• ·         Property assessments are the largest source of revenue for Suffolk.
• ·         In Suffolk, the  average sales price for residential properties for 2009 is $244,200, which is $10,800 less than the 2008 average of $255,000.
• ·         The assessor has counted 315 foreclosed properties in the assessment, which the mayor indicates is not very much compared to other communities.  We do not believe that the 255 foreclosed homes for 2008 were included in the calculations last year.  This is significant since approximately 75% of the assessed values come from residential parcels.
• ·         When looking at residential sales, there is a 4.0% decrease in taxable values from the 2008 assessments to the 2009 assessments . This is the smallest percent decrease for cities including Chesapeake (-6.30%), Virginia Beach (-5.75%), Norfolk (-4.90%), Portsmouth (-4.38%).

We've got a number of Inside Suffolk team members who will be bringing their analytical and commonsense thinking to the blog.  Stay tuned for more!

It's a Good Thing

Any time an elected official brings together the citizens that he or she represents, that’s a good thing.  So kudos to School Board member Enoch Copeland for taking the initiative to bring the citizens he represents together to share ideas about the school district budget.  Also in attendance were Councilman Jeff Gardy and Superintendent Milton Liverman and each assisted by providing information and answering questions.  It’s a good thing to see Team Holy Neck working on behalf of citizens.

Source: Parents raise alarm over school budget

Suffolk News-Herald/Leila Roche

Tuesday, March 2, 2010