Saturday’s Conway / Mathias Meeting

Much has already been written about Saturday morning’s Salisbury town hall meeting held by Del. Norm Conway (D-38B) and Del. Jim Mathias (D-38B).  Michael Swartz of Monoblogue provides a very factual, blow-by-blow account.  Julie Brewington of Right Coast Girl weighs in with a little more opinion.  My friend Joe Albero, uncharacteristically, is taking a “can’t we all get along” approach.

There are two things that almost everyone seems to agree on.  One is that we appreciate Conway and Mathias taking time to meet with constituents.  Yes, I know it’s an election year AND that it’s part of their job.  Yet, not every member of the legislature takes the time.  The second thing is that both Conway and Mathias are “good guys”.  I concur.  Wicomico County Exec Rick Pollitt is a “good guy”; so is Councilmen John Cannon and Dave MacLeod.  Councilwoman Sheree Sample-Hughes is a “good person”.  Hell, I’m sure there are even a few people who like Salisbury Councilwoman Louise Smith and Wicomico Councilman Bill McCain.  Regardless, taxpayers need to ask themselves if they can afford to continue supporting these “good guys”.

BIG GOVERNMENT CONSERVATIVES?

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Wicomico Property Rights Under Attack Again

If at first you don’t succeed, try to slip one under the table.  That appears to be the mantra of the likes of Wicomico County councilman Bill McCain and his spendthrift pals.  After losing in the “Great Land Grab” of 2009, McCain and company are looking to have another go.  This time they will claim that the county will lose state funds if they don’t go along.

As usual, the interesting stuff on tomorrow’s council agenda will be in the work session.  Under “MALF Certification”, McCain and his land grabbing buddies will make a pitch to bring back the proposal to steal farmers’ land rights without any compensation.

For the uninitiated (don’t worry, I had to look it up), MALPF stands for the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation.  This body is supposed to compensate farmers for giving up their development rights.  We should note that there is NEVER enough money in MALF to compensate all of the farmers who have their property rights stolen by their state or county governments.  However, that doesn’t stop the mindless Marxists in Annapolis from playing out their little charade.

 

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Why Looters Would Rather Steal From You

Yesterday we ran a post highlighting a proposal by the unholy troika of local / regional enviros, the socialist majority of the Wicomico County Council (led by John Cannon and Bill McCain) and County Executive Rick Pollitt (who is attempting to PUBLICLY straddle the fence as usual).  This legislation would legalize the theft of land from Wicomico County farmers.

In our post we discussed why enviro groups such as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) need to participate in socialist schemes rather than actually solve problems as they claim.  Today I noticed further evidence of this from the Commonwealth.

Oyster packers and waterman wish to expand the planting of Asian oysters.  The CBF and other lefty enviros vehemently oppose this.  Their claim is that there could be “unforseen consequences” of introducing a non-native species into the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  I would agree, except that these oysters are STERILE.  They can’t reproduce.  Of course, there may be “unforseen consequences” of the sun rising tomorrow.
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Looters Loose in Wicomico County …

… County Council Proposes Plunder in the “Name of the People”

If you have ever read Frederic Bastiat’s The Law you are familiar with concept of legalized plunder.  If you have ever read Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged you are familiar with the looting class.  If not, I heartily suggest you read them FAST.  THEFT in the name of “public good” has come to our little corner of the world.

Last Tuesday, the Democrat majority of the Wicomico County Council (sorry John Cannon, you no longer qualify as even a “Republican in Name Only”) voted to move forward with legislation that will strip farmers of their property rights.  The council’s proposal would reduce the number of lots which a parcel may be subdivided into.  It also ends the dreaded “cluster provision” which allowed farmers to sell parcels of land for development at greater density by requiring that more open space would be preserved.  The net effect of this proposal is to drastically reduce the value of a given parcel relative to its value if still developable.

Translation – the farmers pay so that certain developers and special interest groups may prosper and the lefty fringe can feel good about themselves.

Council members Gail Bartkovich, Joe Holloway and Stevie Prettyman stood their ground.  If Ag District landowners are to lose value in their greatest asset, they need to be compensated.  Additionally, the legislation itself appears to be seriously flawed.  This doesn’t seem to bother the socialist majority of the Wicomico County Council.

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County Council Moves Forward With Land Theft Bill

The Democrat majority of the Wicomico County Council moved forward today with legislation to strip Wicomico farmers of their property rights.  Council members Gail Bartkovich, Joe Holloway and Stevie Prettyman demanded that their names be removed from the legislation after noting that there was no mechanism to compensate farmers for the proposed land grab.

Moving the legislation to public hearing was approved by council members Bill McCain, Dave MacLeod, Sheree Sample-Hughes, and the council’s newest Dem John Cannon.  Sample-Hughes was at least honest enough to admit that there would NOT be any compensation mechanism in the legislation.

We’ll have a more detailed report tomorrow.  We are also waiting for a response from County Executive Rick Pollitt.  Pollitt has stated on at least two occasions that he would not support a bill that failed to compensate land owners for the loss of development rights.  I’m hoping that he sticks to his guns.

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Rick Pollitt Wants Your Money … and Your Vote!

Despite the Louise Smith-esque references to “government in the sunshine”, Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt delivered a fine “State of the County” speech on Tuesday.  As was to be expected with such speeches, most of the word count was spent giving thanks to myriad groups and individuals as well as “polishing the apple” – telling all what a great job Pollitt and his folks are doing.  C’mon, it’s an elected office.  What else would you expect?

As predicted, Pollitt devoted a portion of his speech to some shirt tearing over the county’s revenue cap.  You can’t blame a guy for trying.

As an opponent, on principle only, of the cap this would normally not bother me.  Unfortnately, Pollitt’s semi-impassioned plea against the cap is falling on deaf ears in my neck of the woods.  Why?  Pollitt has displayed a complete lack of leadership on the key issues facing the county while showing a willingness to treat the taxpayers as a “revenue source” rather than what they are – hard working men and women who willingly part with their hard earned money and expect good stewardship from their county leaders.
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Media Monday – 081229 A Quasi-Fictitious Year in Review

It seems that Daily Times reporter Greg Latshaw harbors a repressed desire to be a novelist.  Gore Vidal, with his gift for mixing a little historical fact with a lot of fiction, seems to be a key role model.  How else could explain Sunday’s little “Year in Review” piece about the Wicomico County Council?

Not content with his usual mix of biased, selective reporting and “he said, she said” journalism, Latshaw weaves a tale that bears no semblance to the reality that was Wicomico County in 2008.  The tall tales begin with his lead:

In a year that began with a flap over pricey pens, Wicomico County Council members agreed to a landmark development agreement, struck down a police labor code law and thoroughly investigated the area’s liquor wholesaler. (emphasis mine)

The flap wasn’t over pricey pens, but about the proper use of the taxpayers’ money; along with the arrogance of some who actually claimed that the money wasn’t the taxpayers’.  The County Council did not strike down a police labor code law.  They ENACTED a labor code for the Sheriff’s office.  County Executive Rick Pollitt vetoed the bill and his veto was overridden.  As for the dispensary, there wasn’t much of an investigation given that the board members refused to come and answer questions.  Documents were only supplied after they were threatened with court action.
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Wicomico County Council Gives Away YOUR Money …

… Why Not?  It’s Not Like It’s THEIR Money!

On Tuesday the left wing of the Wicomico County Council decided to give away more of the taxpayers’ money by eliminating the amusements tax for the Crown Sports Center.  The same members of the county council (John Cannon, Bill McCain, Dave MacLeod and Sheree Sample-Hughes) who have REFUSED to entertain any meaningful discussion of tax relief for ordinary citizens were quick to provide a handout to a specific local business.

To be fair, I should state that I’m in favor of eliminating the tax – but for everyone.  While I supported a measure to lower the rate to 4.5%, (which failed by a 4-3 vote), I prefer eliminating the tax.  I just want to eliminate it for everyone.  The difference is that I’m not a hypocrite about it.  During the debate over the current year’s budget, McCain stated that:

“(it is) … absurd to cut ANY county revenue source.”

This was a snide reference to Councilman Joe Holloway’s attempt to reduce the burden of the county’s income (or “piggyback”) tax on working Wicomico citizens.  At the time, I chastised McCain by reminding him that tax dollars are NOT “county revenue” but the TAXPAYERS’ MONEY.  While McCain is quick to vote for almost any bit of government spending, particularly if the money is going to his wife and her pals at the Board of Education, McCain simply won’t back any honest attempt to provide a lower, and better, and fairer tax structure for the people who elected him.
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The CBF Wants to Steal Your Land!

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation wants to STEAL YOUR LAND!  No, this is not a joke.  No, this is not “satire”.  The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) wants to take away YOUR property rights … and they expect you to help them do it!

The CBF, along with the Wicomico Environmental Trust (WET) and a host of other well meaning enviro groups, want to down-zone agricultural land outside of the Salisbury “metro-core”.  The result will be a reduction in the value of theses lands.  After they’ve done it to the farmers, we could be next!

Their argument is both simple, and appealing:
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John Cannon Dives in Bed With Dems …

… Ego Far More Important Than Principle or Party

It was my understanding that when this new county council came to office in 2006 that the Republican majority had agreed to rotate the presidency and vice presidency of the county council.  This is fairly standard among local governing bodies.

After one year as President of the Wicomico County Council, John Cannon refused to step aside.  Rather than make a big deal, his GOP “colleagues” didn’t make a fuss.  However, this year there was evidently a decision to make a change.

Outgoing council VP Stevie Prettyman (R-2) nominated Councilman Joe Holloway (R-5).  What did John Cannon (? – At Large) do?  He nominated Councilman Bill McCain (D – At Large).  McCain, whose legendary intellectual acumen has led some to believe he is the bastard child of Salisbury Councilwoman Louise Smith, was elected 4 – 3 with Cannon finally showing his true stripes.  This vote is particularly telling given that Holloway is probably the most fiscally conservative member of the council while McCain is the most profligate spender in the crowd.
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