Jan
08
Friday Open Thread: Retreat!
ByYour Asheville City Council will convene at 11am in the Canon Lounge at Warren Wilson College. Â In this public meeting away from Council chambers, Council sets priorities for the coming year. Â Click here to see the agenda for the retreat, which will run 11am – 5pm today and 9am – 1pm on Saturday.
Finding our collective will on issues like affordable housing, sustainability, and transportation in light of the expected budget shortfalls will make for some creative problem-solving. Â I’m grateful for the opportunity to partner with the other members of Council, all of whom are faithful public servants with brains in their heads.
Anyway, that’s my next couple of days. Â What are y’all up to?
18 Comments
January 8th, 2010 at 9:30 am
I’m just so thrilled that Sean Hannity has lately been using the term “Teabaggers” on his radio show. Even while apologizing to those who are pissed off, he keeps saying “teabaggers”, not “teapartiers”.
I feel so free now…
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January 8th, 2010 at 9:34 am
Teabagging for Jesus
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January 8th, 2010 at 10:12 am
By the way, why do they call it a Retreat? Isn’t a Retreat when you get away from the glaring eyes of the Twittering public and press?
What y’all should do is lock yourselves up, conclave style, in Carl Mumpower’s little church and don’t come out until you’ve solved all these pesky problems.
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January 8th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Retreat? I believe the military term is a “strategic redeployment”.
Nice link, MM. I especially like the Casio soundtrack.
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January 8th, 2010 at 10:46 am
I prefer the term “Manufactured Dog & Pony Show In Order To Project The Illusion of Transparency” (although, admittedly, that’s a mite unwieldy). If I wanted transparency, I’d go down to the sausage-making factory, thank you very much. I want results! Results, I say!
The first bus for Warren Wilson leaves the Transit Center at 11:30 am. Alan Ditmore better be on it.
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January 8th, 2010 at 11:33 am
Speaking of Transparency, here’s a neat video from the folks over at the Sunlight Foundation. It’s worth a look. (Thanks to Ellen Miller at the Sunlight Foundation. Their website is here.)
Also, the Homeless Memorial Service has been rescheduled for Saturday, January 30, from 2-4 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 1 Edwin Place in Asheville. The event includes a service, a pot-luck meal and music.
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January 8th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Lauren Bradley’s City of Asheville press release about the retreat:
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January 8th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
According to the MtnX article on the City Manager’s budget report, he recommends two distinct alternatives to the current shortfall:
“choose to be a low-tax, low-service community†OR raise taxes & go on other revenue-hunting explorations.
http://www.mountainx.com/news/2010/managers_to_asheville_city_council_citys_at_financial_crossroads1
Gordon – is that article essentially accurate, that the advice from City staff is that you have an either/or scenario in front of you?
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January 8th, 2010 at 9:29 pm
r shvll cld smply mntn th stts q f hgh-tx, lw-srvc, nd th stck-yr-ns-vryn’s-bsnssts tht fflcts th crrnt cty gvrnmnt.
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January 8th, 2010 at 10:28 pm
YOU SAID AFFORDABLE HOUSING – IS THAT THE SAME AS MIXED-INCOME AND MIXED USE? CAM YOU EXPLAIN? THANKS SO MUCH
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January 8th, 2010 at 11:32 pm
Barry – I’ll talk more about the budget after I hear the City Manager’s report tomorrow.
Karen – Affordable Housing takes many forms. I believe that we can focus on expanding opportunities for private developers to create mixed-income housing that incorporates affordable housing in it while pursuing strategies for improving our public housing. Further, the work that Mountain Housing is doing has been a lifesaver, and we need to continue to partner with them to continue their successes.
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January 9th, 2010 at 6:21 am
One of the most telling statistics in the City Manager’s report is that we have a daily influx of about 40,000 commuters – the largest percentage influx of any N.C. city.
While they do contribute sales taxes (about which more in a moment) they don’t pay property taxes, but we do provide city services. They represent the core problem for downtown parking. And, on the up side, they are urgently needed as a work force.
Sales taxes generated in the city are split with the county, and we receive a smaller percentage back than comparable cities in the state.
One specific way that commuters cost the city money is that the state highway patrol dumped accident response for state/federal highways within the city limits on our emergency responders last year.
My take on the Managers report is that it simply points out that given the shortfall in tax revenues due to the recession, but also due to our differential treatment by the state (i.e. room tax, water rates, sales tax percentage), we face the question of either cutting services or raising revenue. It’s not like we can only choose A or B.
And, see Herbert’s column today. NYT.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/09/opinion/09herbert.html?hp
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January 9th, 2010 at 10:42 am
My take on the Managers report is that it simply points out that… we face the question of either cutting services or raising revenue. It’s not like we can only choose A or B.
That’s what I was getting at, Cecil. At least the way the MtnX article described it, the City Manager is offering you an A or B choice, and I found that remarkable. In terms of how to manage the discussion about the budget, I wonder if it was considered how an “A or B” presentation like this could lead to a polarizing and paralyzing debate, and make creative solutions and compromise more difficult.
Of course, to be fair, it’s entirely possible that MtnX oversimplified or misrepresented what the report says…
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January 9th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Of course, to be fair, it’s entirely possible that MtnX oversimplified or misrepresented what the report says…
And after reading the report, I believe that is the case. I don’t see this as an “A or B” presentation, like the MtnX paints it. I think it’s more a “A is clearly unacceptable & won’t solve our long-term problems, so I recommend B” presentation.
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January 17th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Mrtn Lthr Kng ctvly ppsd vrppltn s fw d tdy nd vn fwr rmmbr.
< hrf="http://www.plnndprnthd.rg/bt-s/wh-w-r/rvrnd-mrtn-lthr-kng-jr-4728.htm" rl="nfllw">http://www.plnndprnthd.rg/bt-s/wh-w-r/rvrnd-mrtn-lthr-kng-jr-4728.htm
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January 17th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Ccl, Jst bcs th “stt hghwy ptrl dmpd ccdnt rspns n th cty lst yr,” dsn’t mn th cty hs t pck t p. Th cty cn jst lv th ccdnts n th ntrstt ntl th stt gts sck f t. t’s gm f chckn rlly, whvr gts nnyd frst s th n wh hs t cln t p. Th strngst stmch wns.
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January 18th, 2010 at 11:01 am
Mncpl cntrcptn slvs ths bcs cty wth lw frtlty rt cn sly b lw tx hgh srvc lk gy cts, Prvnctwn, Ky Wst, nd Frsc rthr thn hgh frtlty cts lk Dtrt.
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January 18th, 2010 at 11:42 am
Alan, maybe the city ought to actively encourage contraception, sterilization, and abortions. And since fertility rates among Blacks and Hispanics are far greater than those of whites (arguably also two demographics which disproportionately over-utilize scarce social service resources), any PSAs should be targeted to those groups. Would you agree?
MM
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