Is the Daily Times Trying to Improve?

We all know that the newspaper business has seen better days.  Perhaps this morning’s article in the Daily Times is an indication that our local paper wants to start giving us news rather than op-ed or pablum.  We can only hope.

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A Solution for Downtown?

Does Salisbury really need a downtown?  Sunday’s Daily Times, rather than making an argument for the need, simply assumes it.  I don’t claim to be smart enough to answer that question.  I would love for Salisbury to have a vibrant downtown, but I can’t honestly say that it NEEDS one.

Examples of cities without a viable (or vibrant) “downtown” abound just south of us in Virginia.  Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and (to a lesser extent) Suffolk are all examples of growing, vibrant cities without true “downtown” areas.  In all fairness, this is because these three cities are all products of annexation.  In Virginia there are counties and independent cities.  Modern Virginia Beach is the product of the small city of Virginia Beach annexing Princess Anne County.  Chesapeake was the product of South Norfolk annexing Norfolk County.  Suffolk annexed Nansemond County.   All three are geographically large.  Despite being “cities” each is really divided into distinct areas just as if each had remained a county.

There is another example in the Hampton Roads area that is a little more analogous to Salisbury – Newport News.  While obviously much larger, what was the “downtown” for Newport News has essentially shifted north and west from the “East End” of the city towards the Oyster Point / Kiln Creek section of the city.  This is where businesses, shops, and people moved to.

The adjacent city of Hampton is one example of a community that has been successful in revitalizing its downtown.  However, the cost has been high.

As stated above, I can’t prove that Salisbury needs a vibrant downtown area.  However, I do believe that we should, and can, have one.  The problem is that we won’t have one without leadership and long term vision.  This will never be provided by the likes of Barrie Comegys or a city council led by the likes of Louise Smith.

Here a few suggestions that could yield huge benefits:
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Media Monday – January 19, 2009

Even when the Daily Times manages to do a good job with a subject, they manage to screw it up with their blatant political prejudice.  Case on point – Sunday’s set of articles on Salisbury’s downtown followed by an op-ed that deliberately deflected attention from some of the root causes of downtown’s problems.

What factor is being claimed as a number one problem?  Parking.  Yet, the Daily Times neglects to mention in their op-ed that it is Councilman Gary Comegys (the man who wants to be Barrie Tilghman redux) who has failed to provide any leadership on this issue.

Comegys is the man who demanded that the taxpayers foot the bill for a “parking study” with a foregone conclusion – raise meter rates.  Is this how we’re going to attract more visitors downtown?

According to the Daily Times -

It’s time for mayoral candidates Gary Comegys, Bob Caldwell, and Jim Ireton to make public their visions and start the discussion.

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Martin Luther King Day

Today we honor the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., slain hero of the civil rights movement.

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Lee-Jackson Day

Today we honor the birthdays of Gen. Robert E. Lee and Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson. Honorable sons of Virginia and heroes of the Commonwealth.

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Frank Kratovil Makes First Floor Speech …

… Don’t Do Anything, Hold a Hearing Instead

Rep. Frank Kratovil made his first floor speech.  He supported HR 40, which will require each House committee to hold a hearing four time a year to discuss waste, fraud and abuse.  I’m not even sure if he actually made a speech or just submitted his remarks for the record.

It doesn’t really matter any more than the bill he voted for.  Kratovil and his pals are all about GROWING government, not making it more efficient.  Holding hearings is how the majority LOOKS as if they are doing something.  That keeps you from having to actually ACCOMPLISH something.

Think back two years.  Nancy Pelosi told us that she would clean up government.  This is one we can’t actually blame on Bush or the GOP, since I don’t recall any ACTION by the Democrats for the President to sign or veto.

Frankie may be the new boy on the block, but he’s learning fast.

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Grab Your Wallets, the Legislature’s In Session

The Maryland General Assembly is in session.  Grab you wallets and get ready for the shirt tearing to begin.

For a great intro, read Mark Newgent’s post in Red Maryland.  I particularly love his quote from Gideon Tucker:

No man’s life, liberty or property, are safe when the legislature is in session.

If there is any question as to the timeless truth of that statement, merely look to Washington.  With a deficit of over $1 trillion, our incoming President wants to spend more.  The only thing stopping those folks in Annapolis is that pesky little requirement that the state’s budget be balanced.
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Bob Caldwell Announces for Salisbury Mayor …

… Will Voters Do What’s Needed for Change?

Former City Councilman Bob Caldwell has announced that he’s a candidate for Mayor.  Salisbury is in the unique position of having two different, but excellent, candidates in the race – Caldwell and former City Councilman Jim Ireton.

Personally, I wish that only one was running.  They are both friends and men that I respect greatly.  However with both men in the race, supporters of both gentlemen will face some hard choices.

It is possible that both men will survive the primary.  Unfortunately, it is more probable that only one will finish in the top two to face current Salisbury Councilman (and Barrie Tilghman acolyte) Gary Comegys.

While I am sure that supporters of both Caldwell and Ireton will be working passionately for their chosen candidate, they need to ask themselves an important question – Can Salisbury afford another four years of Barrie Tilghman?  That is what you will get with a Mayor Comegys.  Therefore, those that work passionately for Caldwell and Ireton up to the primary must be willing to also work just as passionately for either Caldwell OR Ireton should their first choice not win the primary.

Make no mistake, if Caldwell loses in the primary and his volunteers fail to throw their heartfelt support behind Ireton, Salisbury faces at least four more years of growing bureaucracy, development subsidized by the taxpayer, non-existent economic development, and rising taxes.  The same applies if Caldwell wins and Ireton does not.

The question is a simple one.  Are we working for a better Salisbury, or just to elect “our guy”?

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Greater Salisbury Committee Comes Out of the Closet

They are almost never mentioned in the press.  When discussed among individuals it’s usually in hushed tones.  I’m talking about the Greater Salisbury Committee.

From Salsibury’s Riverwalk to the broadband cooperative, from the Wallops spaceport to the proposed North Prong project, from Salisbury Neighborhood Housing to identifying solutions for our public schools, it’s hard to find an area of our lives that has not been touched by the work of the Greater Salisbury Committee.  I may not agree with every one of their projects.  I’m not sold on the North Prong project yet, and I vocally opposed the creation of the Wicomico Council of Governments.  However, I can agree to disagree.  There is no question that the desire of the GSC is to improve our community.

The GSC probably gets the worst rap on the Eastern Shore.  The vast majority of folks don’t know anything about it.  Of those that do, many believe that it’s part of some grand conspiracy involving Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman (because of her husband’s purported membership).  The truth is that their biggest sin appears to be an unwillingness to toot their own horn a little.

That’s starting to change a little.  The GSC – whose primary objective is civic improvement – is coming out of the closet, going online, and overtly reaching out to the community they serve.
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Frank Kratovil Opens First District Office … on the Western Shore

Remember Frank Kratovil telling us that he was “from the Shore”?  Remember?

Well, your new Congressman has opened up his first District office.  Is it in Worcester County?  Wicomico? Talbot? Queen Anne’s? No.  How about any of the nine counties that make up the Eastern Shore?  No.

Rep. Kratovil has decided to make Harford County his priority.  The boy from Montgomery County who grew up in PG but dared to tell you that he was “from the Shore” has shown where his priorities are.

Why not?  Kratovil thinks that you’re a bunch of hicks anyway.  You elected him once and you’ll elect him again.  But Frank is no dummy.  He knows that he needs to kowtow to that growing population on the Western Shore if he wants to stay on Capitol Hill.

That’s why a Centreville office has no phones or equipment; paying buddies with your tax dollars even though they can’t do any work.  That’s also why you might see a Salisbury office in February.  Frank Kratovil takes care of his own … and they ain’t from the Eastern Shore.

If you think I’m mistaken, do what I did – call his DC office at (202) 225-5311.  They’ll give you a whole song and dance about why.

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