Five Years and going strong

Dave Wissing’s blog “The Hedgehog Report” celebrated it’s 5 years yesterday.  Dave has had an interesting run with his site.  Take a look at his post describing the last 5 years of the Hedgehog!
Congratulations Dave.

The fiscal state of Howard County depends on a few very weathy tax payers?

Did anyone tell Martin O’Malley, Mike Miller, Mike Busch and the rest of the Democrats in the General Assembly before their special session this little fact from Howard County Budget Director Raymond S. Wacks (from the Baltimore Sun, Robey urges Ulman to alter state’s view of county finances):

The county can count on a steady 5 percent to 6 percent annual increase in property tax revenues based on growing home values, but Wacks said income tax receipts can fluctuate, especially if a relatively few very wealthy taxpayers change or delay their payments. [emphasis added]

Really. With new tax increases about to go into effect in less than 24 hours, especially the ones that target those very same wealthy taxpayers, did anyone think it could have a negative effect?

Well, at least Sen. Allan Kittleman and Del. Gail Bates get it:

“Big-money people are leaving to go to Florida,” Kittleman said, explaining that several constituents have told him that they live in Florida part time and might convert to full-time residents.

Bates said the owner of a computer services company told her of doing something similar, if the General Assembly leaves that portion of the sales tax intact.

I though tax cuts “cost money” and raising taxes “made money”? Is Mr. Wacks contradicting the Democratic Party wisdom? Besides, how can the tax receipts from a relatively few taxpayers effect the county to any extent? I’ve could have sworn that I’ve heard elected officials state that the wealthy don’t pay their fair share of taxes.

Mr Robey’s implication that Gov. O’Malley and the state of Maryland will probably reward the fiscally irresponsible Montgomery County (with a projected 70 million dollar deficit by June 30th) will have to be (hopefully) another post.

Which Hillary should we belive, the 1992 or the 2007 version?

Trying to keeping track of the latest attempt to package Hillary (sometimes Rodham) Clinton is as simple as looking at the latest poll and determining what rates as her highest negative. Recently (Dec 19, 2007) she started touring Iowa on a likability tour and even made appearances with her mother and her daughter in the latest attempt to soften her image.

After chatting sympathetically with Hillary Clinton for a moment about the silliness of judging a woman by her hairdo, a television reporter from Columbus, Ohio, zeroed in for the sound bite.

“You know, some people think of you as an inspiring female attorney mother, and other people think of you as the overbearing yuppie wife from hell,” the reporter said. “How would you describe yourself?”

A look of annoyance glittered through Mrs. Clinton’s blue eyes, but she was on a mission to soften her image and show that she has a sense of humor. So she smiled and described herself as a wife, a mother and an activist. Later, on her small campaign plane traveling in Kentucky, she took a bite of an apple and said, “I’m too old to be a yuppie.”

Oops, my fault. That quote is from the 1992 campaign, THE 1992 CAMPAIGN: Candidate’s Wife; Hillary Clinton as Aspiring First Lady: Role Model, or a ‘Hall Monitor’ Type? So, on and off for the last 16 years Hilliary has been trying to soften her image?

Did Margaret “Iron Lady” Thatcher, as she stood shoulder to shoulder with Ronald Regan against the Soviet Union, faced down the British labor unions and sent a naval task force to recapture the Falkland Islands ever feel the need to go on a likability tour? I don’t want a President with an Oprah /Dr. Phil approach to dealing with our problems – I want a President with a steel spine and thick skin that could be the prototype for one of those T3 Terminator models. If after 18+ years people still think your cold and distant, well get over it – running around for a few weeks at a time every few years posing to be warm and fuzzy when your handlers recommend it is not going to change that many peoples’ opinion. (At least I hope not.)

What about the experience that she like to tout. Well, again from the same article in 1992 she said this:

She told reporters again and again that she did not dominate her husband — “He has a real core of toughness”; — that her husband would not offer her a Cabinet post — “That’s not going to happen, and I wouldn’t take it if it did”; — that she would not sit in on Cabinet meetings — “I never did that in Arkansas and I’m not going to start now,” — and that she would not be a pioneer First Lady making radical changes — “I don’t think so; I hope I’m going to be myself.”

But today (via the Sunday Morning Talk Show Roundup at RedState.com):

HILLARY ON TW. On ABC’s This Week, host George Stephanopoulos first talked to his former boss’ wife, Hillary Clinton. Hillary took credit for many things which happened during the Clinton Administration, such as the peace deal in Northern Ireland and keeping the peace with the PRC as a “spokesman in Beijing.” She said that though she did not sit in on all of her husband’s national security meetings and did not have a security clearance, she was privy to “classified information.” (This is a violation of federal law.) [Note: according to the New York Times, she was briefed on classified intelligence before going on some diplomatic trips. Ed C.]

So she played a major role in the Clinton Administration, she said.

If elected, though, she promised that her husband Bill would not be allowed in on any meetings and would have no formal role. She promised that she would rely on him only as a wife might rely on her husband.

So he would play no major role in the 2nd Clinton Administration, she said.

Really? We again, again according to the New York Times, from 2007 this time (The Resume Factor: Those 8 Years as First Lady):

But during those two terms in the White House, Mrs. Clinton did not hold a security clearance. She did not attend National Security Council meetings. She was not given a copy of the president’s daily intelligence briefing. She did not assert herself on the crises in Somalia, Haiti and Rwanda.

And during one of President Bill Clinton’s major tests on terrorism, whether to bomb Afghanistan and Sudan in 1998, Mrs. Clinton was barely speaking to her husband, let alone advising him, as the Lewinsky scandal sizzled.

Michael Goodwin (It’s about Hillary, stupid) pretty well sums up my feelings on a third term for Bill:

Even allowing for the historic nature of a first female commander in chief and a male First Spouse, there is much confusion about the nature of Bubba’s role. It can’t be a fifty-fifty deal. There can be only one President, for our friends and our enemies.

Yet the frequency of two campaign messages from them suggests that’s not how they see it. Her “likability tour” features him more than her. He pops off, and news reports the next day are filled with anonymous quotes about how upset the campaign officials are that he’s off message. Is he off message, or is the double message the message? What if he pops off about Russia or China? Would that be the policy, or would we have to wait for her to speak?

So, in 1992 she was down playing her role in a possible Clinton administration and today in 2007 she is taking credit for it. But don’t worry, she is now saying that Bill will not play a major role this time. Really, well at least he probably still has a security clearance, unless he surrendered that along with his law license.

Downtown Columbia “re-vision” released.

As reported in the Baltimore Sun (A downtown re-vision), the revised document that will guide Columbia downtow development has been release. The document (pdf) can be downloaded here . Other information can be found at the HoCo Dept of Planning and Zoning Downtown web page here.

I have just had time to briefly scanned through the document, but this passage on page 2 caught my eye:

Residents desire a vibrant, active downtown full of a diverse mix of uses, expanded transportation options, amenities and attractions, as well as with areas for quiet reflection and appreciation for nature. They also seek a city center that embodies the values and principles that have guided the first 40 years of this community…

It is hard to disagree with the sentiment, but I doubt that when each person reads this statement, what they envision is the same thing. As usual, the devil will be in the details, and if the initial reaction is a guide we will need to wait for GGP to release their master plan modifications proposal next month before those details will be available for public comment.

Howard County Crime

What was crime like in Howard County for 2007 compared to previous years?  It is can be hard to tell because we really do not know how statistics are reported.  For example, in Baltimore City if a crime victim is shot and taken to the hospital and dies their a couple of days later then that particular crime is not reported as a murder.  The accused will be charged with murder later but that kind of reporting really skews the statistics.  So I am told!  Fortunately, Howard County seems to be much more straight forward.

My point being I don’t know what Howard County’s policy is for reporting crime statistics except to say that they use the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.  Even then I don’t know what the requirements are of the UCR.

FBI cautions agencies to report offenses not according to local or state statutes but according to those guidelines provided in the handbook. Most agencies make a good faith effort to comply with established guidelines.

I guess it is an honor system.  By all appearances the Howard County Police Department makes every effort to abide by the UCR.

With that said, the Howard County Police Department also makes crime statistics available on their web site.  It is worth reviewing.  They publish an annual report on budget, personnel, and crime statistics.  Additionally, they have an interactive crime map.  It is a very good service to the citizens of Howard County.

The interactive crime map allows a user to enter an address and get up to date crime information.  It will present a table of statistics compiled from the most recent year, then it allows you the option to see the table displayed graphically in a map.

This is great for community associations, people who want to move to a neighborhood or sell a home, community activists, etc.

Check it out.

Outrageous

I found this link on the Drudge Report.

http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2007/122407Lindorff.shtml

Can you believe this?  This guy looks at a map that shows the (supposed) destruction that would be brought upon the US if the Al Gore version of global warming were to occur.

What does he write about?  The tragedy?  No, he writes “Oh goody.  All the conservative Red States get wiped out!”.  Well Blue America they will have no place to go except to Blue States so make sure you keep your hand on the keys to the kingdom because we want to make sure they have not power left.  How pathetic must one be to not only think that way but write it down and publish it?

This guy has no idea what the US Constitution is.  He will pervert the Constitution to make the case to impeach George Bush.   Then he will pervert the Constitution to )#&# with people who he doesn’t agree with.  He has no respect for his fellow man.  I think he would give voting rights to an illegal immigrant but only if they voted the way he wanted them to vote.

He puts all of this in the context of “Global Warming”, which we all know is simply going to wipe out 1/2 the United States if not the world.  I may be wrong about “Global Warming” and perhaps Hayduke may convince me over a beer.  However, when I read what nuts like this have to say the whole concept just looses all credibility.

Budget and Environment

Ulman stays with ‘green’ plans despite budget worries 

In remarks about the County Enviroment Office:

Originally, a residents commission recommended that the environmental office have up to seven workers. But now, if approved, the office will have one – Joshua Feldmark, who is now director of a 13-member environmental citizens advisory board.   Ulman, Feldmark and Jim Caldwell, the former director of Montgomery County’s environmental agency, said Feldmark can still move the green agenda forward alone, working with existing county employees in various agencies.

That is what should have been proposed in the first place.  Creating a new office is wasteful.  Give Feldmark the authority he needs, support him, and make sure his peers understand his position and authority.

Ken Ulman doesn’t need 13 people to coordinate enviromental policy in the County.  Additionally, Ken Ulman said:

If he could afford one more position, Ulman said, it would be for someone to help get the public involved in learning about environmental issues.

Come on!  Don’t we have a communications office for Howard County that could accomplish that task?  What does he mean by “if HE could afford”.  I hope that is not a direct quote.  He can’t afford anything because it is NOT HIS money.

Hybrid vehicles.  Do they reduce operational expenses enough to offset the increased capital expenses?

Fare Increases

Seems to me that since this is a service offered to a limited number of people that we are due for a fare increase.

 Howard County Transit Costs to Rise

The bus system’s proposed budget for next fiscal year calls for the county to spend $11.4 million — unless additional state or federal funding becomes available — more than doubling the $5.3 million the county spent in fiscal year 2007, which ended June 30. Officials have budgeted $7.9 million in county funds for the system this fiscal year.

Now if Mr. Ulman is truly interested in the quality of life of Howard County citizens (taxpayers) then he should not burden us with these increased cost.  The transit system should institute a fare increase to help defray these new and additional expenses.  They won’t cover it all (it would be nice if they could) so taxpayers will still pick up part of the tab.

The last fare increase occured July 1, 2004.  The base adult fare went from $1.00 to $1.50 one-way.

While expenses continue to rise, including fuel, labor and more frequent stops on some routes, the contributions from federal and state sources have changed minimally. Those sources provided $2.9 million in fiscal year 2007 and $3.2 million this fiscal year. About $3.4 million in federal and state money is budgeted for next year.

When the cost to provide me services goes up then my vendors charge me more (BGE, Oil Heat, Gas Station, Food, etc) I would expect those using the Howard Transit system to do the same.

Baltimore St. Patrick Parade Shamrock 5K Race

Runners and non-runners!

Not only is this among the best 5K races in the Mid-Atlantic it is held right in Baltimore along the Baltimore St. Patrick Parade route.

I ran my first Shamrock 5K in 2007 after I had completed all my parade responsibilities.  It was as much fun as I expected it to be.  The thrill of being cheered on by 75,000 parade spectators ,and the mostly downhill and flat course help make this a great event for runners of all skill levels.  The post party with free beer and snacks help a lot too.

Now if you are interested in running as a team lets get started now.  No one needs to organize anything.  All you need to do is register to run as part of our group.  I am negotiating a group rate and a tee shirt (a different color from the regular color) for those of us who run as part of our group.

In 2007 a Team Challenge was issued:
Register a team (4 or more) and the largest team will win the KELLY Cup, a trophy.  Our goal is to get 20 runners from Howard County to participate.

Interested parties contact me here.

We have two people so far.

If you just want to make an individual effort then:

Registration for the 2008 Parade Shamrock 5K Race is now open. Further details are now available at the Charm City Run website at the following link:

Charm City Run / St. Patrick Parade Shamrock 5K

Early Registration

The race registration fee is only $25 if postmarked by January 1 – otherwise, it goes up to $30, with further increases as the Parade/race date approaches. (Since the Post Office will be closed on New Year’s Day, mail registrations will have to be postmarked on or before Monday, December 31 in order to get the cheap rate.) Runners can also do online registration – just go to the above link and click the “Register Online / go!” button.

Lawsuit Filed to Overturn Tax Increases

Special Session Actions Challenged on Constitutional Grounds

The Minority Leadership in the House and Senate, along with a computer services business owner from Carroll County, filed suit today challenging the constitutionality of legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly during the recently-concluded special session. The lawsuit was filed in Carroll County Circuit Court.