Over 100 Inches Of Snow - Did someone say "Global Warming!" Perhaps the folks in mid-western New York did not get the word, but it is not supposed to snow at record levels during "Global Warming."
Over 100 inches of new snow fell in small towns east of Buffalo, NY, over the weekend. More snow is predicted. Meteorologists typically refer to this snow as Lake-Effect Snow. Cold weather from Canada hitting the warm Great Lakes water resulting in an area of increased snowfall. Citizens who reside in and around the Buffalo area understand exactly how this weather pattern works.
The western New York snow belt.
Makes me wonder why they have not packed their bags for a winter vacation in sunny Florida.
Greetings to our friends from western New York, who are fortunate enough to be in Florida.
Over six feet of new snow.
Amazing.
Speaking of snow, ski resorts in the Rockies have also had a great snow year.
Record snowfalls in the Rockies and western New York.
Are They Kidding? - If you read the latest news reports from our county government, you read about a fund being established to help beginning teachers who earn over $42,000 a year to obtain low-cost housing loans from a proposed county taxpayers fund. Firepersons, teachers, nurses, etc., would qualify for use of this contemplated county taxpayer fund.
Yes, we support helping good teachers to remain teachers. Yes, we support quality education in our public schools. Yes, we expect accountability. Yes, accountability.
What about the hard-working people who are not teachers, nurses or firemen? Do they not work just as hard on their jobs?
Who is looking-out for the common hard working person? Why not a special housing loan fund for anyone who earns under $42,000 a year?
This is not about just helping teachers, etc., this should be about helping all people with the same housing loan need.
Speaking Of Penny For Pinellas - Have you noticed colorful signs placed before bridges and other projects that received funding from federal, state and lastly, local taxes? Yes, the signs proudly say funding from Penny For Pinellas taxes.
All the project funding?
Heavens no, just a small portion of the "Penny" tax fund. Nevertheless, a "Penny" tax project is whenever the "Penny" tax is used, in whole or in part.
I wonder where the sign is for the Clearwater Beach Roundabout? The Roundabout Fountain and beach roadway? Did I say Roundabout Fountain? Hmmm.
The way I see it, the person or firm that created the slogan "Penny For Pinellas" should receive an award. This slogan for increased taxes has won voter approval since inception. After all, it's only a "Penny" here and a "Penny" there. Not a bad slogan for a tax that is loved by nearly every local government that has a project wish list.
The "Penny" wish list?
Now that is what taxpayers should want to know.
Penny For Pinellas?
Time will tell, but you must admit, the slogan is most creative.
Indian Rocks Beach Trying To Not Pay - It is not certain whether the City of Indian Rocks Beach will prevail in a legal action against the former city manager that reportedly spent about $13,000 of taxpayer funds for questionable moving expenses, etc.
The City recently asked for the money back and there is a question whether the former city manager might repay such city funds allegedly used for moving expenses (in a move he might not have made.)
Return the $13,000?
That is what the officials at Indian Rocks Beach are now saying. However, it makes you wonder where the city officials had been when all of this moving expense and alleged approval of taxpayer funds occurred. Ever since this story was first reported by Gazette writer Leo Coughlin, some city officials seemed surprised to read about the lack of city oversight regarding how the former city manager was using some taxpayer funds. However, the officials are all alert at this time . . . especially since there are upcoming city elections and this matter will certainly be one topic of discussion by all city candidates.
On the other hand, if what the ex-city manager has said is true about his city contract allowing for such expenses, then the taxpayers may not receive a refund. Thus, perhaps the city contract might need "tweeking" and the former city manager did nothing improper.
Speaking Of Rogue Officials - How about the Seminole trailer park official who appeared to be willing to take a $50,000 bribe from a local private developer (John Loder) to help make the development project "move along?"
Seems that Loder was "wired" and helped to show that the park official was allegedly trying to bribe him. Of course, no money changed hands so the prosecution had no firm case to prosecute.
Is this amazing, or what?
The trailer park official?
The story gets even more crazy. The official was interested in running for elected office in Seminole. Yes, this fellow thought he should be running the City of Seminole.
John Loder of Crabby Bill's fame made his case, regardless of money changing hands. It makes you wonder how much time, energy and money was spent in fighting or trying to get the intended development project "off the ground" due to this interesting fellow (hurdle.)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cal.) Asks For Free Use Of Plane - San Francisco's representative Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker, is asking for a large US plane that could transport her and her entourage from California to Washington, for non-stop free taxpayer-paid travel.
The price taxpayers would be required to pay per trip? About $300,000.
It seems that Pelosi is not interested in using the smaller military plane the former House Speaker used after 9/11. The small military plane was recommended to Hastert after 9/11 since the Speaker is second in line for national leadership after the President. Hastert used the small plane. Pelosi wants more, much more.
Pelosi has refused the small military plane and is demanding a large 757-type of plane that would be redone to her travel specifications and designs. Yes, Pelosi would send the bill to the military for payment - that's we taxpayers.
Many people are asking why Pelosi is seeking something much more extravagant than the Republican Speaker. The money Pelosi seeks would cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year. Pelosi, of course, will use the government provided free plane to treat friends and contributors to plane rides to Washington and back to California. Not a bad political deal, some might say.
What about all the campaign talk by Pelosi and her liberal Democrat friends about cutting government waste and helping the common worker?
Not for the new leaders. It will be more of the same old waste, except now people like Pelosi are in charge.
Bush Has Hurt His Party For Years To Come - The Grand Old Party is not so grand. Most folks in the Republican Party believe the last election results were due in part to President Bush's military plan in Iraq plus spending habits of Washington Republicans who were then in charge. Instead of showing fiscal conservatism, Republicans spent taxpayer funds like drunken sailors. Republicans deserved what they got in the last election. Poor leadership in many directions, especially in Washington.
2008?
Democrats are already acting like the Republicans. Government waste is everywhere in Washington. New Speaker Nancy Pelosi has shown that she will spend (waste) more taxpayer funds than Republicans. Further, she has shown, in her own district, that minimum wage laws will have exemptions (for her major campaign contributors.) All-in-all, not much has changed in Washington except locations of the best taxpayer-paid offices and titles.
Bush?
His legacy will be reflected in time. He will likely go down in history as a below-average president, much like Bill Clinton.
Adjustable Rate Loans - From 2002 to 2004 there were many young people who bought homes under adjustable rate loans. Those housing loans typically began at low interest rates, say 2 percent, and appeared to be a great deal until interest rates began to climb (to over 6 percent). Now the banks want their money at higher interest rates, the adjusted interest rate.
The bad news?
It has been reported that about 20 percent of bank loans fall into this category - adjustable rates.
The homeowners?
These young people must now pay loan payments nearly double what they had budgeted. They might find it impossible to pay the new adjusted loan rate.
The banks?
Major banks are preparing for a deluge in default loans (bad loans). One major European bank recently said it will be worse than expected and posted billions in additional reserves for bad loans. Same will be true for U.S. banks.
On A Personal Note - Welcome back Nancy - we've missed you.
Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.