Southeastern NC's Political & Economic Opinion Arena
Tax increases, public safety cuts, crony payoffs, and the most aggressive forced annexation plan ever...
I am about to go over the edge. This Wilmington City Council is doing all they can to drive me straight to the loony bin.
In case you're not up to speed, they are planning on raising your taxes, because as the mayor inaccurately and arrogantly stated, "we don't have a spending problem, we have a revenue problem". Also, read about their plans to further cut public safety. (http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20100219/ARTICLES/100219586)
The Cameron Art Museum is pretentiously whining that they can't pay their bills and keep the doors open without a handout from city taxpayers. The "no spending problem" city council is anxiously considering the idea. The museum, although being on the public dole for many years now, refuses to open their books to the public to show exactly how much their costs are - yet we're supposed to continue to fund them anyway. (http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20100228/ARTICLES/100229678)
And now this: forced annexation for everyone. These tyrannical despots haven't done enough damage - they want more. Their "insatiable lust for revenues" as Russ Hauptman puts it knows no bounds. The "Horizons 2030: The City of Wilmington Comprehensive Annexation Master Plan" has been unveiled and no one is safe. Residents of New Hanover County, hold on to your wallets.
So - I've written a letter to our esteemed oligarchy, and I thought I'd share it here. Please share your thoughts on the matter.
If you feel as I do, on these matters, the Alliance for a Better Local Economy (ABLE) is having their monthly meeting and potluck dinner on Friday, March 12, at 6:30 at Wilmington Commercial Real Estate on Oleander Drive across from CVS and Kinko's. You are welcome to attend.
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To Members of Council:
I'll be honest - the seven of you are about to drive me insane - five of you especially. The sheer exercise in blatant, self-absorbed audacity is overwhelming. To consider raising taxes during a recession is staggering enough (which I may remind you; on the campaign trail, when I openly spoke out that those of you in the race would revert to form if elected, and raise taxes; I was scoffed at for such a notion by several of you). In addition, to ponder further cuts to public safety - even more disgracefully shocking. But to think about tossing more of our money down the tubes to this pretentious monument to waste - the Cameron Art Museum, while considering the aforementioned items is downright unethical, irresponsible, deranged, and corrupt.
And now - this just in, you have unveiled your tyrannical forced annexation agenda to finish off just about the rest of New Hanover County. Your power-hungry, profligate despotism is being recklessly implemented without regard to the impact that will be made on your constituents, and there WILL be a political backlash. Of this I am sure.
Your animosity toward a fiscally conservative mindset is duly noted - and one wonders how such ineptitude was chosen by the tiny segment of voters who bothered to show up at the polls.
You are not oligarchs. You are not royalty. It is said that the office is greater than the man who holds it - and truer words were never spoken. You exist for us - we don't exist for you. Padgett and Sparks - you voted against moving public comment to the beginning of meetings. and your positions on the subject are the most accurate description of your self-perceived, self-absorbed elevated importance:
"Council members Laura Padgett and Ron Sparks voted against the change, arguing that members of the public may try to sway council members’ opinions on items on that night’s agenda..."
-WSN
Absolutely mind-boggling.
Rivenbark, you were right when you said: “I think sometimes we forget who we’re working for here.” and credit goes to both you and O'Grady for sponsoring such a "no-brainer", as you put it, that should have never been any other way to begin with. But leave it to self-absorbed political hacks... I wish the two of you would continue down a road of responsible representation, and stand up against this tyranny being considered at every level by your shameful contemporaries. But your positions on forced annexation, reckless spending, and big government insert you both right in the pathetic hornet's nest of political hackery.
Although you all enjoy the convenience of widespread lethargy and indifference, your contempt for the people of Wilmington will eventually meet mass resistance.
-Ben McCoy
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gigi Anderson on -
I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of letting them know they are driving you insane ;)
As for the art museum---close your doors if you can't pay your bills...just like every other small business! No free money for you!!
I sure hope enough people get angry and show up at the polls next time. Then again......the votes that matter will probably be busy working and taking care of the family.
It is high time we TAX PAYING citizens take a day off work----like the "Day without an Illegal" staging a few years back. A DAY WITHOUT TAX PAYING CITIZENS WORKING!!! We are FAR more influential if only we started throwing our weight around like so many others do.
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