Comments on: What Are Your Top Three Priorities For 2008? (Most of) Our City Council Answers. UPDATED. http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/ If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen. — Samuel Adams Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:18:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: William Najger http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16776 William Najger Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:17:34 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16776 Hi Gordon, I'm new to your blog (or should I say our blog?). After reviewing the responses from Asheville's City Council members I noticed that there was not one issue that they could all agree on as a priority. Affordable housing, sustainable building and local business support are the top three over all focused topics. I can live with that for now. I do have one personal concern. What is with all the smoke trails behind the jets that cross our city on some of the clearest days turning our skies cloudy? I can't figure it out. Look up in the future and see for yourself. I counted seventeen recently. By the way some are now calling “Global Warming” by a new name “Global Imbalance”. We always have warming trends historically (even though this one seems to happening very fast) but never such an extreme change year to year. (Very hot and dry to very cold, wet or frozen) This is more like a planet out of balance. Thanks Will-I-Am Hi Gordon,
I’m new to your blog (or should I say our blog?). After reviewing the responses from Asheville’s City Council members I noticed that there was not one issue that they could all agree on as a priority. Affordable housing, sustainable building and local business support are the top three over all focused topics. I can live with that for now. I do have one personal concern. What is with all the smoke trails behind the jets that cross our city on some of the clearest days turning our skies cloudy? I can’t figure it out. Look up in the future and see for yourself. I counted seventeen recently. By the way some are now calling “Global Warming” by a new name “Global Imbalance”. We always have warming trends historically (even though this one seems to happening very fast) but never such an extreme change year to year. (Very hot and dry to very cold, wet or frozen) This is more like a planet out of balance.
Thanks
Will-I-Am

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]]> By: Arratik http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16755 Arratik Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:18:32 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16755 <blockquote>WHO IS GORDON SMITH?</blockquote> Good question. ;) <blockquote>NEW TO THIS BLOG</blockquote> Welcome! <blockquote>DO YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY TO BE ON THIS BLOG</blockquote> We have no "membership requirements" to read this or leave comments, but in the future you might want to disable your Caps Lock key...

WHO IS GORDON SMITH?

Good question. ;)

NEW TO THIS BLOG

Welcome!

DO YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY TO BE ON THIS BLOG

We have no “membership requirements” to read this or leave comments, but in the future you might want to disable your Caps Lock key…

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]]> By: Peter Brezny http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16753 Peter Brezny Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:46:55 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16753 Thanks Gordon for this blog, and thanks Robin for spreading the word in your newsletter and monitoring it for input. I'm really delighted to see so many on council paying attention to the issues surrounding development, gentrification, and the environment. Growth is going to occur in Asheville whether we like it or not. Making sure that growth creates livable communities where automobiles are not a requirement, and the new development geared toward optimal efficiency and solar input will go a long way in keeping Asheville the great place it remains today. I'm especially excited to finally see many policy makers making the connection between an enhanced local economy and environmental stewardship. There are so many great ways that we can create new jobs in the solar industry, jobs with a local focus that increase the local wage and at the same time reduce the cost of living and help clean up our environment. How could anyone be against this kind of new workforce/industry? Another big challenge and an important issue to natives and long term residents is the gentrification that has pushed real estate prices beyond what many "locals" can afford. I know many people who have lived here more than 30 years who can no longer afford their property taxes, many of them now on a fixed income. I'd like to see this issue tackled on all fronts, both with better paying jobs for the local population, and for reductions in tax on properties of long term residents. A differential property tax based on the purchase price of your home as opposed to its appraised value would help stabilize the local population and discourage the flipping of houses for profit. Higher taxes on trophy homes that are not permanent residences would also encourage a more vibrant and participatory community. And finally a recurrent discount on property tax for homes with solar and/or high efficiency construction/retrofits. Everyone wants to do the right thing for the environment, but the bottom line gets in the way. Make it cost effective for folks to utilize existing solar technologies, and we'll see much more rapid adoption. Thanks again for creating a forum for the community to brainstorm and for paying attention to what your constituents have to say. Sincerely, Peter Brezny Thanks Gordon for this blog, and thanks Robin for spreading the word in your newsletter and monitoring it for input.

I’m really delighted to see so many on council paying attention to the issues surrounding development, gentrification, and the environment. Growth is going to occur in Asheville whether we like it or not. Making sure that growth creates livable communities where automobiles are not a requirement, and the new development geared toward optimal efficiency and solar input will go a long way in keeping Asheville the great place it remains today.

I’m especially excited to finally see many policy makers making the connection between an enhanced local economy and environmental stewardship. There are so many great ways that we can create new jobs in the solar industry, jobs with a local focus that increase the local wage and at the same time reduce the cost of living and help clean up our environment. How could anyone be against this kind of new workforce/industry?

Another big challenge and an important issue to natives and long term residents is the gentrification that has pushed real estate prices beyond what many “locals” can afford. I know many people who have lived here more than 30 years who can no longer afford their property taxes, many of them now on a fixed income. I’d like to see this issue tackled on all fronts, both with better paying jobs for the local population, and for reductions in tax on properties of long term residents.

A differential property tax based on the purchase price of your home as opposed to its appraised value would help stabilize the local population and discourage the flipping of houses for profit. Higher taxes on trophy homes that are not permanent residences would also encourage a more vibrant and participatory community. And finally a recurrent discount on property tax for homes with solar and/or high efficiency construction/retrofits. Everyone wants to do the right thing for the environment, but the bottom line gets in the way. Make it cost effective for folks to utilize existing solar technologies, and we’ll see much more rapid adoption.

Thanks again for creating a forum for the community to brainstorm and for paying attention to what your constituents have to say.

Sincerely,

Peter Brezny

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]]> By: bwhelms http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16752 bwhelms Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:44:13 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16752 WHO IS GORDON SMITH?......NEW TO THIS BLOG......DO YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY TO BE ON THIS BLOG...... WHO IS GORDON SMITH?……NEW TO THIS BLOG……DO YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY TO BE ON THIS BLOG……

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]]> By: Gordon Smith http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16750 Gordon Smith Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:22:06 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16750 Welcome Robin Cape Newsletter readers! Have a look around. Notice tags on the left-hand sidebar for easy subject navigation. Use our search bar on the left to find posts about your subject of interest. Go ahead, sign in, and leave a comment here if the spirit moves you. Welcome Robin Cape Newsletter readers!

Have a look around. Notice tags on the left-hand sidebar for easy subject navigation. Use our search bar on the left to find posts about your subject of interest. Go ahead, sign in, and leave a comment here if the spirit moves you.

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]]> By: Christy http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16623 Christy Fri, 28 Dec 2007 14:06:06 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16623 Sure. I will get them to you next week. Sure. I will get them to you next week.

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]]> By: Gordon Smith http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16590 Gordon Smith Thu, 27 Dec 2007 17:15:32 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16590 Great idea, Christy. Would you be willing to do one for the Board of Realtors and for MCAD? I can solicit input from a lot of different organizations, and we can put them up here. Great idea, Christy. Would you be willing to do one for the Board of Realtors and for MCAD? I can solicit input from a lot of different organizations, and we can put them up here.

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]]> By: Christy http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16588 Christy Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:20:59 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16588 Gordon, Another good blog (I think) would be to ask some of the local organizations what their goals are for the coming year and see how they match up with the council members' goals. It would be a good way to see how the community is (or is not) working together to achieve the same vision for Asheville. Gordon,
Another good blog (I think) would be to ask some of the local organizations what their goals are for the coming year and see how they match up with the council members’ goals. It would be a good way to see how the community is (or is not) working together to achieve the same vision for Asheville.

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]]> By: Christy http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16587 Christy Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:13:43 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16587 I didn't find it offensive, Mike...just stupid. I didn’t find it offensive, Mike…just stupid.

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]]> By: mike http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16586 mike Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:07:36 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16586 How heartwarming (and predictable), watching a tool coming to the defense of another tool. Or maybe you'd prefer something a little less offensive, like "dupe", "stooge", or "shill"? How heartwarming (and predictable), watching a tool coming to the defense of another tool. Or maybe you’d prefer something a little less offensive, like “dupe”, “stooge”, or “shill”?

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]]> By: Gordon Smith http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16585 Gordon Smith Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:28:51 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16585 Also - I notice there are 24 comments in this thread and only 3 of them germane to the priorities listed by City Council. Does anyone care to address the issues? Also – I notice there are 24 comments in this thread and only 3 of them germane to the priorities listed by City Council. Does anyone care to address the issues?

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]]> By: Gordon Smith http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16584 Gordon Smith Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:11:48 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16584 Christy, I'm guessing he's about to post again in this very thread after seeing your comment... Christy,

I’m guessing he’s about to post again in this very thread after seeing your comment…

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]]> By: Christy http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16583 Christy Thu, 27 Dec 2007 13:48:43 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16583 Mike, how many times are you going to post that "You're a tool" photo on this blog. You posted it to someone else not long ago. Talk about predictable...(and immature). And, by the way, hammers have many functions. Mike, how many times are you going to post that “You’re a tool” photo on this blog. You posted it to someone else not long ago. Talk about predictable…(and immature). And, by the way, hammers have many functions.

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]]> By: mike http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16582 mike Thu, 27 Dec 2007 13:04:09 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16582 <blockquote>Yeah Mike. A hammer. :)</blockquote> A very appropriate choice, seeing as how hammers are dull, predictable, and only do one thing.

Yeah Mike. A hammer. :)

A very appropriate choice, seeing as how hammers are dull, predictable, and only do one thing.

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]]> By: John Warren http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16559 John Warren Wed, 26 Dec 2007 18:10:55 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16559 Freeborn new more about how city government works than any other member of council. Most City employees would agree. Freeborn had a zero learning curve on this issues or the structure. I would say where he needed more education was on the political back room bs. Freeborn new more about how city government works than any other member of council. Most City employees would agree. Freeborn had a zero learning curve on this issues or the structure. I would say where he needed more education was on the political back room bs.

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]]> By: Twain http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16556 Twain Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:46:53 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16556 All things considerd.... (listening to the 96.9/99.9/103.7 Aural Spectrum -FM )..... and..uh , waiting...but not worrying or even wondering about the web.... I LIKE 4 Deuces....and once ....found 5....without a net, leprauchan...or a cell: JUST 1 TRUCK 1 LUCK and ONE TICKET TO RIDE the Ober Gatlinburg Express...from THE STRIP to the SNOW....@ 2700'. Until we meet again....ON SUGAR ...or w/ HUNNNEE......or two...........I lay 'low odds' on more than ... A GOOD GOOD GOOD time.....on the NET, w/ THE WORD...and in the SOUP..... "knowin' what Kenny Rogers meant....." DEUCES....times 4 by........4x4 is GOOD CLEAN FUN.......w/ ONE OLD KITE FLYIN' DUDE....you know...THE GREATEST WHO NEVER SERVED ...at 1600.......................... And...until 1/20/2009.... NEVER EVER....EVER STOP: just .....slide w/ care ....(all together now)...Thanx to John & John & 'Jesus'...... HOLD YOUR DEUCES.....dumpt the rest...and walk merrily away.... UNTIL 2008.. Happy Happy Happy EVERYTHING...AVL/NC! And......to the '3 dawgs' who taought me HOW & WHERE & WHY to HUNT........and peck!..... ---my power is DRY.... -Twain aka Cameron aka.... The Border Ridin'... Goofy-footed.... Partner/Brother/Friend'. :-) ***** ok...one scan & hit that 'send' button......and...for all who 'just' went WI-FI....I am NOW .........5 days past ONE YEAR. (learning to type...and glad I already KNOW how to: Think Wait & Fast. -30- **** All things considerd….
(listening to the 96.9/99.9/103.7 Aural Spectrum -FM )…..

and..uh , waiting…but not worrying or even wondering about the web….

I LIKE 4 Deuces….and once ….found 5….without a net, leprauchan…or a cell:

JUST

1 TRUCK
1 LUCK

and ONE TICKET TO RIDE the Ober Gatlinburg Express…from THE STRIP to the SNOW….@ 2700′.

Until we meet again….ON SUGAR …or w/ HUNNNEE……or two………..I lay ‘low odds’ on more than …

A GOOD GOOD GOOD time…..on the NET, w/ THE WORD…and in the SOUP…..

“knowin’ what Kenny Rogers meant…..”

DEUCES….times 4 by……..4×4 is GOOD CLEAN FUN…….w/ ONE OLD KITE FLYIN’ DUDE….you know…THE GREATEST WHO NEVER SERVED …at 1600……………………..

And…until 1/20/2009….

NEVER EVER….EVER STOP:

just …..slide w/ care ….(all together now)…Thanx to John & John & ‘Jesus’……

HOLD YOUR DEUCES…..dumpt the rest…and walk merrily away….

UNTIL 2008..

Happy Happy Happy EVERYTHING…AVL/NC!

And……to the ’3 dawgs’ who taought me HOW & WHERE & WHY to HUNT……..and peck!…..

—my power is DRY….

-Twain aka Cameron aka….
The Border Ridin’…
Goofy-footed….
Partner/Brother/Friend’.

:-)

*****

ok…one scan & hit that ‘send’ button……and…for all who ‘just’ went WI-FI….I am NOW ………5 days past ONE YEAR.

(learning to type…and glad I already KNOW how to:

Think
Wait
& Fast.

-30-

****

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]]> By: Gordon Smith http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16541 Gordon Smith Wed, 26 Dec 2007 14:30:55 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16541 Yo, Please move the global warming denials to the next thread down. It sounds like once Russell gets his ears wet he might support more living wage policies. He wants to raise wages and so do the progressives on Council. I think what he means, of course, is "We've got to get higher paying jobs in Asheville". But that's what every politician has been saying for 15 years and especially since NAFTA. I'm in favor of everything the Council has on its priority list. I think it's a testament to the political awareness of the participating electorate that we have 6 members of such focus and depth. The latter responder is sitting in Bryan Freeborn's seat and will have a very similar learning curve to negotiate. Yo,

Please move the global warming denials to the next thread down.

It sounds like once Russell gets his ears wet he might support more living wage policies. He wants to raise wages and so do the progressives on Council. I think what he means, of course, is “We’ve got to get higher paying jobs in Asheville”. But that’s what every politician has been saying for 15 years and especially since NAFTA.

I’m in favor of everything the Council has on its priority list. I think it’s a testament to the political awareness of the participating electorate that we have 6 members of such focus and depth. The latter responder is sitting in Bryan Freeborn’s seat and will have a very similar learning curve to negotiate.

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]]> By: David Roat http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16530 David Roat Wed, 26 Dec 2007 03:55:18 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16530 I'm slinging peer-reviewed science. You are slinging lies that harm our health, our economy and our national security. Why do you hate truth and America? I’m slinging peer-reviewed science. You are slinging lies that harm our health, our economy and our national security. Why do you hate truth and America?

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]]> By: timpeck http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16529 timpeck Wed, 26 Dec 2007 03:34:39 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16529 <blockquote>Nobody is a Libertarian when their house is on fire.</blockquote> Quite the contrary. But back to the original point -- shit happens. What matters is that we stop slinging it.

Nobody is a Libertarian when their house is on fire.

Quite the contrary.

But back to the original point — shit happens. What matters is that we stop slinging it.

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]]> By: David Roat http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2007/12/23/what-are-your-top-three-priorities-for-2008-most-of-our-city-council-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-16526 David Roat Wed, 26 Dec 2007 02:31:27 +0000 http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4624#comment-16526 Hi Tim, Evidently you are also a denier of peer-reviewed science. And you are also a denier that the most qualified people to comment on global warming are climatologists and not economists. The author of your referenced article is an economics professor at an extremely right-wing university: Pepperdine. Pardon the topic-shift, but the funny thing is that Pepperdine was saved from forest fires several times by a pinko-commie-socialist concept called public fire departments. Nobody is a Libertarian when their house is on fire. But back to the original point – the science is still out on the EXACT timing and EXACT severity of global warming. The peer-reviewed science is not out on the following: global warming exists, humans significantly exacerbate it, and the results are most likely catastrophic. Hi Tim,

Evidently you are also a denier of peer-reviewed science. And you are also a denier that the most qualified people to comment on global warming are climatologists and not economists. The author of your referenced article is an economics professor at an extremely right-wing university: Pepperdine.

Pardon the topic-shift, but the funny thing is that Pepperdine was saved from forest fires several times by a pinko-commie-socialist concept called public fire departments. Nobody is a Libertarian when their house is on fire.

But back to the original point – the science is still out on the EXACT timing and EXACT severity of global warming. The peer-reviewed science is not out on the following: global warming exists, humans significantly exacerbate it, and the results are most likely catastrophic.

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