Saturday, August 7, 2010
Revitalizing Downtown Salisbury needs to go to the next level
The revitalization of Downtown Salisbury has gone through numerous studies by various groups over the years. There are a variety of opinions on what will work, what has failed, and how to go about it. In my opinion there are several factors that are key in successfully accomplishing this goal.
First, there needs to be an anchor business that will draw people there such as a Trader Joes, Whole Foods or another nationally recognized business. These are two businesses that could really bring people there. Also, secondary anchors such as an Apple Store or Pottery Barn are businesses that will bring people from all over Delmarva here.
Secondly, closing downtown Salisbury to traffic is another key component. This will create an atmosphere such as Santa Monica's Promenade. As a part of this the city should allow restaurants to have more space for outdoor dining and allow food stands in peak traffic time.
Third, create an enterprise zone and tax benefits through the county and city to entice these businesses to come here. It is small price to pay when you are able to help create jobs and boost the economic condition of this area of town. This will also help make it even more desirable to live downtown and help create a strong customer base.
Fourth, I encourage Mayor Ireton to personally contact these companies and invite them to our city with open arms. The Mayor needs to be the economic champion for our city and aggressively approach companies to do business here.
Lastly, bring back the movie theater but make it a multipurpose center. Whether it is independent films, classic movies, concerts, we need entertainment downtown on a consistent basis.
We all recognize the importance of creating a unique image for Downtown Salisbury that will retain her classic charm. Third Fridays is good start and I applaud Mayor Ireton for championing that. It is time we take the next step.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Dr. Richard Davis August Letter to the Editor
Albert Einstein reportedly said that doing the things you've always done the way you've always done them while expecting different results is the definition of insanity.
For a long time we've focused on candidates' ability to raise campaign funds and use those funds to advertise to get name recognition as a way to judge their strength as candidates. They raise and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from other people. Then, when they are elected and go to Washington, we expect them to be careful with our tax dollars, which the IRS collects for them at minimal (if any) effort to themselves.
If you really expect a candidate to be careful with your money, maybe you should look at how he treats it during a campaign. I don't want your money for ads and campaign literature because I think that's wasteful, especially in an economy where money is tight for so many people. If you want to contribute, give money to a local cause of your choice in honor of my campaign, so it will do some good locally in any case.
If elected, I will do my best to take the same approach -- making every effort to limit what money goes to Washington to begin with, keeping money for local and state projects in those areas where it needs to be used. Meanwhile, for name recognition I depend on those who read this and agree with me to spread the word.
Dr. Richard J. Davis
For a long time we've focused on candidates' ability to raise campaign funds and use those funds to advertise to get name recognition as a way to judge their strength as candidates. They raise and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from other people. Then, when they are elected and go to Washington, we expect them to be careful with our tax dollars, which the IRS collects for them at minimal (if any) effort to themselves.
If you really expect a candidate to be careful with your money, maybe you should look at how he treats it during a campaign. I don't want your money for ads and campaign literature because I think that's wasteful, especially in an economy where money is tight for so many people. If you want to contribute, give money to a local cause of your choice in honor of my campaign, so it will do some good locally in any case.
If elected, I will do my best to take the same approach -- making every effort to limit what money goes to Washington to begin with, keeping money for local and state projects in those areas where it needs to be used. Meanwhile, for name recognition I depend on those who read this and agree with me to spread the word.
Dr. Richard J. Davis
Michael Calpino Letter to the Editor
Benjamin Franklin said that no matter what, only two things in life were certain -- death and taxes. There is usually little we can do when our number comes up, but with our taxes, particularly in a representative republic, we should have some say. We all know that at some level, we pay taxes to receive certain benefits from our government: a judicial system, police presence and basic infrastructure.
Of course, we also get an army of overpaid bureaucrats, bridges to nowhere and redundant programs that generate more waste and problems than they solve. We hate to see our money squandered, but it becomes doubly offensive if we are forced to pay "more than our fair share."
The municipal tax differential has come up again, and again, municipal residents are being forced to pay extra for redundant services. The county's excuse to deny them? Any extra money they pay goes into the school district. Why should city residents pay more for the schools than others? Can't our county officials see the inequity of taking more than is required from some taxpayers for any reason?
If the cashier at McDonald's kept your change, wouldn't you be upset? The tax differential is just and right; it should not be dismissed by the county out of hand. We do not exist to serve the insatiable appetite of government and it is wrong to require some to sacrifice more of their flesh to the beast than others.
Michael Calpino
Of course, we also get an army of overpaid bureaucrats, bridges to nowhere and redundant programs that generate more waste and problems than they solve. We hate to see our money squandered, but it becomes doubly offensive if we are forced to pay "more than our fair share."
The municipal tax differential has come up again, and again, municipal residents are being forced to pay extra for redundant services. The county's excuse to deny them? Any extra money they pay goes into the school district. Why should city residents pay more for the schools than others? Can't our county officials see the inequity of taking more than is required from some taxpayers for any reason?
If the cashier at McDonald's kept your change, wouldn't you be upset? The tax differential is just and right; it should not be dismissed by the county out of hand. We do not exist to serve the insatiable appetite of government and it is wrong to require some to sacrifice more of their flesh to the beast than others.
Michael Calpino
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