Don Howell's Blog

We had the vote tonight at Falmouth TM, and it went down to defeat after about 20 minutes of debate. The discussion focussed properly on the efficacy and fairness of the tax, plus the fact that there may be a better way to address this issue by TM vote only, so I voted no.

Monpo brings up the best point of all (and I sure you intended to, wink wink). A so-called local option tax implies that the state is merely ratifying a local tax; it's collected by us and available to us. But remember, we have to send this money to the State in order for them to send it back, right? Well, the Lottery turns out to be a great example.

During the State's last crisis, they just stopped sending the Lottery money generated by each Town back to that Town. (Note: actually, the "formula" the state uses for Lottery disbursements allows at least one Town which does not sell the tickets to enjoy the revenue - a topic for another time).

What makes anyone believe that once the State adopts such a tax that we will even see the money when (not if) they have their next crisis?

They timed this or some kind of
tax increase (on cigs) to take effect on
April fools day here in Boston.
.....that hurt!

I want coffee and Lottery taxed another dollar before they hit cigarettes again. I mean, what the fock??

A similar article is coming up for debate at Falmouth Town Meeting tonight. I listened to both sides at the precinct meeting last week, and I still have an open mind about it.

I will greatly appreciate it if the debate tonight focuses, like your argument here, solely on weighing the substantive pros and cons of the specific tax at issue. If so, I am leaning toward a vote against it, flaming "liberal" that I am in the eyes of many.

However, if too many people get up just to rant about "taxes" in general as a political matter, as one candidate for Selectman did at the precinct meeting, that will surely persuade me not only to vote for the tax but to speak in favor of it as well, just to counter that kind of mindless anti-tax ideology which, like America itself, I've already suffered from way too much in the form of divisive, "conservative" demagoguery on taxes and everything else over the past eight years.

Don

Welcome to the updated version of Oliver Twist..."Legal pickpockets"..

The state legislature will continue to tax with any means possible.

They are exremely creative, and cunning, in squeezing every available penny from those who attempt to earn a profit..
and totally inept in fiscal management.

After the rooms tax is passed, permits and fees will be required for any teenager doing odd jobs such as lawn mowing and lemonade stands..

Far fetched?..maybe..but wouldn't surprise me a bit..

They make Fagin and the Artful Dodger pale in comparison..

as Charles Dickens' characters come alive..

possee

Well, mea culpa, I misunderstood the urgency of the issue as a budgetary matter. Still, especially because this will not in fact lead directly to any increase in taxes, I just cannot sympathize with any absentee who would vote against simply asking the Legislature to o.k. a home rule petition and who would thereby deny TM the right to consider the substantive issue, where they would retain full opportunity as responsible TM members to vote on the issue.

We've always had lower taxes on the Cape than the rest of the state, and becaues of Prop 2 1/2 we have become increasingly behind the increased demands of development on municipal services in our ability to fund them. Anything that will enhance our ability to raise revenues to meet such demands is, in my opinion, something that should have been done twenty years ago.

Richard,
"...maybe I'm wrong about how business is done in Harwich..." Now you're starting to get it!

The rooms tax expansion has been bouncing around for several years. The Article only asked the Legislature to pass it as a Home Rule request. It has no date scheduled for consideration and would need another vote of yet another Town Meeting to actually excercise the Tax. It would have done nothing for the upcoming budget year. It was done this way to make it look like we (the citizens) were asking the legislature to expand these taxes; no one on Beacon Hill has wanted to look like they were imposing new taxes these past two years. Indeed, the story circulating here is that Rep. Peake asked for this to use as leverage in Boston precisely because the Rooms Tax Bill has gone nowhere.

And so you know, many Town employees considered me a good friend because I dealt with them honestly. As no current Selectman has talked of layoffs or an override, this action wasn't designed to help the employees. We just spent $6000 for nothing. Just the way we do things here in Harwich.

Well, I can only assume the "rush" is due to the need to determine what revenues will be available before presenting a budget to the May TM, in order to implement the budget when the new fiscal year begins July 1st. That's what I would assume if this were happening in Falmouth, but maybe I'm wrong about how business is done in Harwich. If so, if there isn't that kind of urgency present, then I would agree why rush? Otherwise, I put the overriding interest of policemen, librarians, teachers, firemen, etc., in knowing whether they will even have a job next year, way ahead of the intererst of a few seasonal residents in saving a few pennies in taxes. Just my sense of proportion -you may disagree.

Richard,
You are quite right, people do have a responsibility to participate in the democratic process. However, there are two flaws in what you say. First, Harwich, Chatham and Brewster have a population containing nearly 40% of citizens over 65 (Orleans' population is not just the oldest population in the state, but in the country). Even though I was the loudest voice for many years prodding Harwich to develp a comprehensive website, I nonetheless know many seniors who don't own a computer or know how to get email. Democracy is not just for the young, the technically proficient, or the clever; everyone is born with those inalienable rights.

One of the hardest things I had to keep remembering was that it wasn't MY government. I was just there to keep an eye on things and to represent. Which brings me to my main point again (one which you continue to miss); there was absolutely nothing urgent on this warrant. Everything could have waited until the May Town Meeting. Instead, we have an oddly timed winter meeting never before experienced in such circumstances. Again, why the rush?

Don: By all means, do it in daylight. And that, today, is easier than ever before thanks to the very medium through which we are now communicating.

Does the Town of Harwich have a website? How difficult would it be to post such things as special town meetings on a website along with other actions signicant to absentee homeowers, and then leave it up to the absentees whether or not to check the website regularly. Also, seasonal absentees could ask to be on a special e-mail list to receive notices. These are things that can maximize transparency at absolutely no cost to either the town or the individual citizens. If any group of absentees, like the snowbirds, can't be bothered to keep abreast of what the town is doing by simply checking a website or e-mail, not to mention just dropping a dime to a neighbor from time to time to catch up on what's happening, or if they then cannot be bothered to leave their beachfront condos to attend an important meeting of which they are or should be aware, then they've got no right to complain.

Richard,
I was a Selectman for six years in the same Harwich we are talking about (two as its chair). I understand what you're saying about tough choices. In fact, our town had a failed override a few years ago and the citizens petitioned for a scaled down choice while I was the Board Chair. I was instrumental in scheduling a Saturday Special Town Meeting in August. The turnout was the largest in modern history with people overflowing to two extra rooms where we had set up TV screens and vote tally personnel. This Town meeting was not due to impending layoffs and was extraordinary by any measure. Due to (and this is being polite) a laid back publicity campaign, many people left in January with little or no awareness of the impending meeting. We didn't put up any signs in Town until a week ago. And this meeting was not to pass urgently needed funding for this year (which, according to these same Town officials, needs no override), but rather to provide impetus in the State Legislature to pass legislation to add to current taxes. I still say: do it in daylight

We have representative Town Meeting in Falmouth, which meets in April and in September. In April we discuss budgetary matters for the coming fiscal year which will begin in July. In September, we discuss zoning and other regulatory changes.

The issues you are discussing here are revenue issues that will have a significant impact on preparing the annual budget, i.e. the level of funding available for town services across the board, which in turn has significant impact on difficult decisions whether to cut back on services by eliminating jobs.

If some "snowbirds" are really concerned by these issues, they can just hop a plane back up here for a few days in February and exercise their duty as citizens to speak at Town Meeting -as opposed to taking potshots in the media at town officials who will have to make difficult decisions at best, with or without these specific revenue enhancers.

I'm more concerned about the jobs of municipal employees, teachers, firemen,etc., year-rounders,than about some snowbird possibily missing a few days in his Winter Haven beachfront condo.

Once again, it appears that the "locals" are attempting to take advantage of the "Snowbirds" and those who choose to rent their homes (perhaps to help make ends meet). This does not serve the community.

Why would anyone expect common&fiscal sense from the elected officials?

It does not exist at all, anymore, anywhere..
All of a sudden, to question authority or decisions by lawmakers is a crime...
And these are by the same crowd that thought Bush was a despot...
The tide has turned now..and woe to those who question anything by the elite state,local, and national pols..
They have received their mandate, and you must now bow in subserviance.
or suffer the penalties..
The state has won..

Congratulations.

Your worst nightmare has just begun..
sleep well..

possee

Yeah, but this takes it one step further. We are banking that no one will even know it happened by scheduling it in mid winter. What's next? Are we going to hold the next one at 2:00 am and post it at midnight? If you happen to drve by and notice the lights on, you'll know there's a meeting!

Hey, why cut spending when we can just suck it from the middle class working man and business owner. So much for letting free market capitalism work.

Out and out socialism is the next step....and it's running rampant, locally, statewide, and nation wide.

Embrace it.....the majority voted for it.

Well I can see our experience with NCL in Hawaii of last year was no different. They are absolutely the WORST cruise line we have ever bben on. The ship was filthy dirty, the staff was lazy and disinterested in passengers. Our room was turned down twice in 5 days. When we complained about the cruise we got the "We'll give you $300 off on your next cruise" blow off. Which leads me to tell everyone I know, "NEVER AGAIN WILL I SAIL WITH NCL!!!!"

Hi there...sounds horrific, but I would like to give a little balance...
We have just returned from our second cruise with NCL. The first a 10 day on the brand new Pearl 2 years ago around the Caribbean..the ship was brand new and we we could not fault anything about the whole cruise..we had 9 restaurants to choose from and this was a pleasant change from the obnoxious people we had been seated with for dinner on our previous RC cruise! The outside room was well laid out if compact,and we paid about $2000 for the 10 days, including the onbard $20 / day 'service' fee..but we knew this before going on so it was no shock to us...
After enjoying it so much we took off this weekend for a 3 night cruise to the Bahamas out of Miami on the NCL Sky..and older boat, but still very clean. We know the score and booked our restaurant as soon as we got on and never waited for a table at all. The food was good and the staff all friendly and helpful...the worst part of the mini cruise was the amount of drunk (and I mean wasted) people on board, but we still had a great time..we'd use them again..

Don,
This blog has resonated with me tremendously. You have hit the nail directly on the head. We all have heard the saying that a person's silence can be deafening. When a friend's voice should be heard in support of you and it is not, it speaks volumes of their shallowness.

beautiful, Don. And right on point. WHY AREN'T MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU????

somebunny

I've resigned to servitiude to the great masses calling.
Secretly..
I am trying to find a cash job now to supplement my exorbitant income when the trickle down tax increases reach the 50k mark and below..
Meanwhile..
the ship(formerly known as the USA) is heading towards an iceburg..
while the revelers on board are celebrating..
man the lifeboats!
and hide your assets!
Go quietly into the night or you will be investigated like Joe..shhhhh!
or shunned and excommunicated as the former media reporters were..

Take down your McCAIN signs as you will be targeted for future redistribution and retribution..

and please.. take down that ridiculous stars and stripes!

Love the new logo..though
Seen it on the plane..a prequel to the new regime changes?

I'm not sure if I'll have to repaint my home to match the mandated colors of our new flag...

I believe that I'll vote for the Muslim guy.

Note: I wrote this piece several weeks ago and wanted to share it prior to Nov. 4th (election day) so it would not be framed by a win or a loss.

possee, you know what they say about counting your chicks before they hatch. As far as Mccain supporters quiting while they are ahead? I'd rather go down with the ship than float to safety with Obama supporters.

If you pay taxes, you have a right to complain... even if you not only fail to vote, but if you somehow prevent other people from voting. Get a job at mcDonald's, and try telling a customer that they can't complain becqause they didn't help assemble the Whopper you just had.... they'll have some big Cuban come out of the back and stuff your face into the hot oil.

possee,

I'm here. Just been busy building my bunker. I've stocked food for 8 years but think I'll only need 4 years worth.

I'll be noticeably absent most of the week. Heading out of town on business. I did vote however.

Buzz has been noticeably absent these last few days..

Perhaps he's mulling over the recent news on AP that most McCain supporters are depressed, overwhelmed, despondent, and not interested in the overall campaign.
On the other hand, Obama supporters are walking the streets smiling, confident, and upbeat..
Guess they're trying to discourage potential McCain voters to give up now while they are ahead..

After all, the coronation is a near slam dunk...

according to some pollsters and 99% of the elite media..

Personally can't wait for buzz's comments on Nov 5th..

Me.I'm a smilin!

Just quit my job and waiting for my federal checks to come rolling in..as promised..

And I'm not even voting for the "great" one!

This is awesome..

Buzz..you should do the same.Just roll over and be happy!
Just think of all the new friends you'll have here..

possee

possee,

Your obersvations are correct, as far as they go. Ironically, McCain has found himself running with $88 million as a cap (because he ran under Federal matching funds), while Obama didn't accept them and stands ready to spend (by most reports) approx. $400 million. That probably means no one will accept Federal matching funds (and their restrictions) the next time out.

As for the local and state elections, they are NOT governrd by Federal cmapign law. That's good news and bad news. The bad news is that these finances can be even murkier. And yes, candidates can take their campaign money and stretch it (legally) in almost unimaginable ways (although my fund is caught up in debt - to me - which will probably never be paid back). As an example, in my race, Peake used money from her campaign account (some of it FROM PAC's) and donated it - not her own money - to other PAC's (like $500 to the Hook Fishermen's Association). That's all legal.

The good news - we can attack this kind of excess at the State level without Federal laws. I believe we need to start somewhere.

Don

Is the influx of unaccountable money from PACS a result of the McCain-Feingold Act?

In other words, PACS can contribute outside of a candidates accountable election funds?

Correct me if wrong, but a candidate reaps campaign funds, and if they lose, that fund stays with them as free cash?
I keep hearing stories, that so many are still drawing from contributions received during election campaigns..

Thanx for your insight.

possee

One final thought,
The intro paragraphs to my posting did not come from me, nor did I include the YouTube video. The quote was from a Globe article. They're not my words, but they do speak to where THEY believe the investigation will lead. THEY assert that the corruption is systemic.

The next quote came from a Herald article pointing out Sal DiMasi's ethics woes. This is the same Sal-pal that Peake has been bragging about having a connection with. He was good enough to host a fundraiser for her in Truro. THEIR reporters are asserting that there is a systemic problem.

I have many Democrat friends. They are ethical, solid people who stand for something. Peake is not among that group. One story illustrates the depth of her committment (because I have seen the same scenario with her over and over); a couple of weeks ago there was a walk in Harwich for Alzheimer's. As my wife's mom died of it, I walked - many R's and D's did. Peake, who was supposed to give an opening speech, showed up at the end with a photographer and proceeded to hug walkers for the camera. She missed the walk.

Vote YES on question 1 and put some money back in your own brazier.

Democrant,
I can't help it if you don't like my issues, but I have them. I have worked to build affordable housing, set up programs for kids, set up a plan (and followed it to its conclusion as a Selectman) to buy some of the largest tracts of open space this Town has ever bought. I televised Town budget meetings with schools, police and fire (never done before, or since) so that the public could see what went on. I have been a member of Masspirg (and before that, NJpirg) for nearly three decades. I have a background prevailing against stiff odds. And I have a background in Economics. I happen to feel that we are about to face one of the biggest recessions (potentially world-wide) in the nation's history. The only recognition my opponent has given this pending calamity is that we might not get as much local aid for a year or two and maybe we should have a hiring freeze! She has never worked with the other side of the aisle. And she's propably mad (as you are) that I wouldn't just sit there and take the smearing she has directed at me just as she did to Shirley Gomes and Aaron Maloy.

possee,
There are different kinds of being on the take; some legal, some not. I do not agree, that it has always been this way or that it has to be. When I can be told by several organizations (for whom I have been actively working for years - as opposed to showing up for ribbon cuttings) that they cannot afford to p..s off my opponent because of incumbency, something needs to change. Despite Demo's cranting, I have offered positions. He just doesn't embrace them. I believe we need to send all PAC money through a candidate's OCPF reporting system, too. When it is all said and done, the value of Peake's campaign will likely be 6 figures (for a $50k a year job). Nearly all of her card mailings were paid by the PAC's, not her campaign - so you'll never see their value (at least on the candidate's site). And she'll have spent 10 times what I did. This can be turned around and term limits is a good place to start. Subjecting the legislature to its own Open Meeting Law is another. Giving up only gives us the government we, um, THEY pay for. It's not about voting for the worse of two evils

Don

Unfortunately, the voters look to pols to bring home the bacon..period.
be it construction, roads,jobs, schools,social programs, etc etc..
Then when they are caught taking the payoffs, everyone goes crazy as if this is a rare occurence!
There are some who attempt at the right approach, but they never seem to get the credit due to the ole boy network,and ,unless they play ball with the cronies,well..you get the drift..
Afterall, they have oversight commitees supposedly watching corruption..yeah right!
We do have a system that basically works..
but corruption seems to be prevalent,
and always has been..

Guess we vote for the lesser of all evils..as always.
be it local, state, or national..

There are pols everywhere who do represent their constituents, and unfortunately again, they are smeared by the scoundrels that surround them..

Don- I'm not sure where either of you get the $500 million figure from. To date $600 million has been used from it, but I've seen numbers indicating there had been as much as $2 billion. The point is, it has not been blown through, as per your previous remark.

Ultimately Don, it is the state GOP responsible for that 141 number. When you post something and top it with the Wilkerson thing, as if that has ANYTHING to do with Sarah Peake, it speaks more to a lack of a positive message to offer voters. Try and focus on what your opponent is or is not doing for the district and how you would be able to effectively do things differently. Yeah, I know, sometimes I get crazy ideas

possee,
"...take the time to research your beloved candidates...?"

"...free, unaccountable cash...?"

Hey, maybe you're on to something. Somebody should run for some office and try to offer something different.

Naw, people would just say that you should stick to real issues, cause that's just the way things are.

I always thought that this is the reason why pols want to be elected in the first place..

free, unaccountable cash..

Why the outrage?

It's business as usual.

They've been raiding our wallets forever, continually get reelected, and the populace continually cries afoul?

Perhaps removal of the rose colored glasses, removal of along party line voting, and take the time to research your beloved candidates might improve the lot..

But then again..no..

As long as they keep promising promises...
They only lot in life they improve is their own...

suckers...

This info is ALL relevant....she is BRAGGING about her relationship to these people...with all that is going on, wouldn't most people try to disassociate themselves from corrupt politicians?? I am very uncomfortable that she continues to use her closeness with them, even as they are under investigation.

You need to check the news today. Yes, the governor is proposing to use up pretty much all that is left of the fund (it started at 1.6 billion, but Sarah and I were in agreement about 2 weeks ago that about 500 million was all that was available).
As for the latter point, my opponent courted the relationships with leadership, so much so that Sal (who is indeed under ivestigation - a point you have ignored) hosted a posh fundraiser for her at the Vineyard in Truro. Then there's the issue of all those PAC's. Are you arguing that all is well? Or are you arguing that holding 141 out of 160 seats is healthy (I say that even if they were "R" seats it would unhealthy)? If not, which ones should go in your mind? Should public business be conducted behind closed doors (as it now is in the party caucus held by those 141 members)? And why didn't Rep Peake want to post committee votes on the net? Final thought; the County government (including the Dems) are moving to open up gov't by televising Commissioners' meetings. Whatever party, if you are not committed to openess, you should go.