No New Taxes! - and Misc. Ramblings
OK, when you read that headline, you're probably thinking WHAT? Is Craig flip flopping like you-know-who? No, it's just frustrating hearing all the comments being tossed around about the Jury Pool issue. I thought it would be fun to discuss what's been thrown around lately. I've been consistent in my opinions for the past 3 years - for better or worse. My wife and I really appreciated Jury Pool when our son was growing up. He learned how to swim, enjoyed the pool and park during the summer, and basically had a great time. Jury Pool wasn't why we moved to New Haven, but it was a much appreciated feature. We both feel that the young families living in and moving to New Haven deserve the same opportunity for their children to enjoy wholesome entertainment, exercise and learning how to be safe in the water. And we're willing to "pay it forward" for the future of New Haven kids.
Back to "No New Taxes!" That's the slogan of the Blue Team. They say that they're not against Jury Pool. Actually they're 100% FOR the pool. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt and accept that they believe that. They want the pool but they don't want the current plan. They've stated that the pool could be redone for $2 million dollars or less. I'm not sure when the Blue Team became Aquatics and Construction experts, but I haven't seen an estimate in the past three years from qualified people stating those numbers. The funny thing is - even if the Park Board figured out how to do it for $2 million dollars - where does that money come from? Wouldn't we need a bond to pay for that? Wouldn't that be a new tax? How can you say "No New Taxes" when you're proposing a plan that would raise taxes? Makes me go hmmmm.
OK, let's say the Blue plan will only cost $2 million dollars. It would be silly to add on the interest over 20 years, or the architectural fees, bonding costs, etc. We only do that if we're talking the Yellow plan. Considering that if the Blue Team delays the pool (or forever kills it), it most likely will never be cheaper than right now to build a project. Construction costs are bottomed out. Interest rates are low. If the economy is really turning around like the government has announced, that will induce inflation and higher interest rates. We'll probably never be able to do this project as economically as right now. The results? Less bang for our bucks. The yellow project would increase taxes approximately $14.00 a year for a median priced home in New Haven. The blue plan might cost 1/2 that. So a median home owner could save $7.00 a year. Will that make a huge difference in the economic stability of New Haven families? I'm thinking not.
The Blue Team has been slamming the survey the Park Board put out. Twisting the results every which way but how it simply reads. I guarantee the survey was legitimate, well documented, and statistically conclusive. The Park Board consulted with an expert on how to produce the survey for the most accurate - fair results. My business produced and mailed the survey to addresses randomly provided by a national mailing list company (InfoUSA). About 80% of the households in New Haven were covered. Blue has complained that businesses weren't sent the surveys. That's correct, but a lot of the business owners in New Haven LIVE in New Haven. I've talked with owners of some of the largest business in town, and they've been overwhelming for the plan. Economic Development helps everyone. And the business owners know they'll carry a chunk of the burden. A lot of the comments I've heard about the survey are completely ridiculous and unfounded. Bordering on desperate.
Blue is complaining that the Park Department made the decision to send back a very expensive pump and not open the pool for 2009. It would have been foolish to try and patch the pool any more. Just drive by and look at the way the pool is heaved up and a jungle is starting to grow from the bottom of the pool. Enough is enough and it's silly to keep patching and putting money into something that just isn't going to last. The list of things wrong with the pool had grown to the point of no return. And that's not because it hadn't been taken care of - it's just old.
One good thing that's coming out of this fiasco is neighbors pulling together. Of course there are neighbors who are ready to kill each other too, but I haven't seen people talking to each other this much in the 30 years I've lived here. We started a Save Jury Pool group on Facebook about two weeks ago. As of this afternoon, we had over 450 members. That shows some passion and hopefully it will continue. Activity on this blog, the Facebook group, and on the New Haven Bulletin (www.newhavenbulletin.com) has been fun to read. I hope when it's all over, we can agree to disagree and move the community forward. The Yellow Team means well. The Blue Team means well. We disagree on some things, but we're still New Haven neighbors. Let's try to remember that.
Craig
Back to "No New Taxes!" That's the slogan of the Blue Team. They say that they're not against Jury Pool. Actually they're 100% FOR the pool. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt and accept that they believe that. They want the pool but they don't want the current plan. They've stated that the pool could be redone for $2 million dollars or less. I'm not sure when the Blue Team became Aquatics and Construction experts, but I haven't seen an estimate in the past three years from qualified people stating those numbers. The funny thing is - even if the Park Board figured out how to do it for $2 million dollars - where does that money come from? Wouldn't we need a bond to pay for that? Wouldn't that be a new tax? How can you say "No New Taxes" when you're proposing a plan that would raise taxes? Makes me go hmmmm.
OK, let's say the Blue plan will only cost $2 million dollars. It would be silly to add on the interest over 20 years, or the architectural fees, bonding costs, etc. We only do that if we're talking the Yellow plan. Considering that if the Blue Team delays the pool (or forever kills it), it most likely will never be cheaper than right now to build a project. Construction costs are bottomed out. Interest rates are low. If the economy is really turning around like the government has announced, that will induce inflation and higher interest rates. We'll probably never be able to do this project as economically as right now. The results? Less bang for our bucks. The yellow project would increase taxes approximately $14.00 a year for a median priced home in New Haven. The blue plan might cost 1/2 that. So a median home owner could save $7.00 a year. Will that make a huge difference in the economic stability of New Haven families? I'm thinking not.
The Blue Team has been slamming the survey the Park Board put out. Twisting the results every which way but how it simply reads. I guarantee the survey was legitimate, well documented, and statistically conclusive. The Park Board consulted with an expert on how to produce the survey for the most accurate - fair results. My business produced and mailed the survey to addresses randomly provided by a national mailing list company (InfoUSA). About 80% of the households in New Haven were covered. Blue has complained that businesses weren't sent the surveys. That's correct, but a lot of the business owners in New Haven LIVE in New Haven. I've talked with owners of some of the largest business in town, and they've been overwhelming for the plan. Economic Development helps everyone. And the business owners know they'll carry a chunk of the burden. A lot of the comments I've heard about the survey are completely ridiculous and unfounded. Bordering on desperate.
Blue is complaining that the Park Department made the decision to send back a very expensive pump and not open the pool for 2009. It would have been foolish to try and patch the pool any more. Just drive by and look at the way the pool is heaved up and a jungle is starting to grow from the bottom of the pool. Enough is enough and it's silly to keep patching and putting money into something that just isn't going to last. The list of things wrong with the pool had grown to the point of no return. And that's not because it hadn't been taken care of - it's just old.
One good thing that's coming out of this fiasco is neighbors pulling together. Of course there are neighbors who are ready to kill each other too, but I haven't seen people talking to each other this much in the 30 years I've lived here. We started a Save Jury Pool group on Facebook about two weeks ago. As of this afternoon, we had over 450 members. That shows some passion and hopefully it will continue. Activity on this blog, the Facebook group, and on the New Haven Bulletin (www.newhavenbulletin.com) has been fun to read. I hope when it's all over, we can agree to disagree and move the community forward. The Yellow Team means well. The Blue Team means well. We disagree on some things, but we're still New Haven neighbors. Let's try to remember that.
Craig
What a shame it is that New Haven is being torn apart by what amounts to less than a few packs of cigarettes, a few cups of coffee, and much less than most of us spend for cable or satellite T.V. service or internet access.
Those opposed to the Jury Pool project have criticized city council for making a decision and others for not making a decision. The decision was already made by the council and it was taken out of our hands by the Department of Local Government Finance. The remonstrance has placed it into the hands of the citizens and a further vote for or against the project is a moot point until that procedure is complete.
Both sides are passionate about their positions. That is fine. However, when I hear stories of "bullying" people to sign a particular petiion or drive down the street and see signs not in peoples yards, but in the right of ways, I wonder if the residents of those houses actually hold those views.
If that is the case, it is sad for New Haven and a poor reflection of how democracy is supposed to work and how processes like the remonstrance are to reflect the true will of the people.
If the people fairly decide that Jury Pool should not go forward, that's fine. However, I think it will be a clear sign that we no longer want to be a "community" but a "bedroom community" in the shadow of Fort Wayne. We will be just a "city" and community spirit will be lost.
We have to decide on more than the future of Jury Pool. We have to decide the future view others will hold of the city of New Haven.
In any case, I hope this is soon behind us. We must move on.
Harold E. West
New Haven City Council
District 2
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Mr. West, you have hit the nail on the head. Some of the people against this pool project have spent more time, resources and yes... money fighting this project than they ever would have paid in taxes. We are really talking about pennies. I assure you that the people that are against this project would be against it next month, next year, next decade. The longer this pool area sits idle, the sooner that area will start to decay and become an eye sore... Sunnymede anyone????
Thank you for your honest, educated and concise point of view.
Regards,
Shawn M. Shearer
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6 thumbs way, way, way up!!!
Matt, Kelly and Josey Smith
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Great Your comments are well received and right on the money. Bottom line - we are all together in this - for better or worse, and we all want what is best for the great community of New Haven! Amen!!!!!
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