Fate isn’t always a fair companion in life. Just ask my next door neighbors who walked away from their American Dream two weeks ago.
Cristobal, Gilda, their son Randy and Gilda’s younger brother, Kiki, had moved from Tampa to Spring Hill shortly after I moved into my home in July 2005. Both of our homes were investment properties, commissioned by the same attorney employed at a law firm in Hillsborough County.
Between the two homes, the investor made what to most us would be a sizable fortune, but that was pretty much the norm all those years ago, as measured by the economic timeline whereby financial institutions left many Americans with workless days, sleepless nights and shriveled retirement savings.
From the many times that Gilda and I had spoken, I knew that at some point Cristobal’s daughter and granddaughter from a previous marriage would be joining them from their native island country, Cuba, and that to accommodate their arrival Kiki would be seeking a place of his own. So, when I saw the moving truck on that Sunday morning, I assumed that was the case.
It wasn’t until the next day that another neighbor, one who is known for window-snooping from behind closed curtains, brought to my attention there had been multiple trips to and from Cristobal’s house.
That’s when I decided to take it upon myself to maintain what had been their front yard. As I was trimming the green, green grass above the septic tank, Cristobal happened to drive up in the driveway. He gave me the lowdown.
Not surprisingly, they were unable to meet their mortgage obligation. Even two years ago Cristobal had told me of their personal financial challenges due to the downturn in the economy. Among other cost-cutting measures, they had already removed sink hole coverage from their homeowner insurance.
An honest attempt had been made to refinance their home to lessen the burden of the $1600 monthly mortgage payment, but the best the lender could offer was a mere pittance of $63 in savings. Therefore, they had no choice but to walk away from their cherished dream. And yet, Cristobal was his usual cheerful self, perhaps even more so, because a large financial burden had been lifted from their lives.
As renters, their housing expenses will be hundreds of dollars less per month. Minus property taxes and insurance costs, the total savings will be more than just a few thousand dollars a year.
As in their case, with less debt, thus newfound disposable income, some analysts believe previous homeowners may be able to spur spending and help quicken the country out of the recession. But they also acknowledge that, with or without health care reform, medical cost will continue to outpace incomes and, with or without a cap-and-trade policy on carbon emissions, energy costs will also continue to rise. Therefore, people may be more inclined to save rather than spend whatever extra cash they have on hand.
Cristobal and Gilda also know that tuition costs for Randy’s continuing education will only increase over the next four years of college.
So, what used to be their home is empty and will continue to be so for what I imagine will be a very long time. All the upgrades they had made to the home, including an above ground swimming pool and cedar wood decking that Cristobal and Kiki had built, will one day fulfill someone else’s dream.
The inside of the house is a veritable showplace. Impressed with the wall-to-wall, room-to-room ceramic flooring, I commissioned Cristobal, a tile tradesman, and Kiki to replace the unsightly kitchen linoleum and the heavily soiled hallway carpeting in my home with ceramic tile. Of Cristobal’s creation, the tasteful design in the entryway accentuates the complimentary workmanship. With a couple of referrals, I was able to supplement his dwindling income but it only delayed the inevitable.
Cristobal and his family are very familiar with adversity. He came to America with but pocket change, worked day and night at whatever job he could muster to bring the rest of his family to where he started out in Miami. Two years ago this month they became naturalized American citizens.
As simple as it sounds, Cristobal doesn’t dream – he walks in the real world and reality told him to walk away from too costly a dream.
As for myself, I’ll truly miss them. I’ll also be concerned if, when and what type of new neighbors will move in next door. In the meantime, I’ll trim the bushes and mow the front yard. For neighborhood security. For neighborhood property values. For whatever time frame.
And when a peek over the fence shows the pool filled with algae and stagnant water, and creating a health hazard, I’ll contact Code Enforcement to do the rest.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Spurning Impact Fees
The Hernando County Board of County Commissioners seems to have taken a queue from Wal-Mart and unanimously voted to “roll back” impact fees to 2001 levels, a 47% decline from current fees. The preliminary approval will be further discussed during a public hearing on November 10, after which you can be fairly certain that Rollerball ink pens will be in motion with one hundred percent accuracy, albeit with poor penmanship.
Freshman Commissioner James Adkins was apparently chosen to broach the subject as his timidity inferred an initiation into a fraternity of elitists. His sense of relief for the accomplishment was evident with the quick and easy retreat against the back of his chair. Mr. Adkins proved himself a valuable team player.
Commissioner Rose Rocco charmed in with similar support, pointing out that targeted construction sites would be located in vacant lots and be of little impact to the immediate roadways. But, since when are county impact fees micromanaged? No wonder residents living on lime rock roads are always left in the dust of government spending.
Next up was another rookie player on a roster of write thinking members among the board of Hernando County trustees, John Druzbick. He effectively rolled a punt to veteran Commissioner David Russell who, with statesman-like conduct, gave nods of approval before begrudgingly gave way to Mr. October, Commissioner Jeff Stabins.
Mr. Stabins provided a slideshow pointing out that over the past few years County Commissioners had approved a glut of housing projects beyond the need of a community whose economic sustainability of growth didn’t support responsible planning with low-paying jobs being the mainstay of employment.
A well-crafted segue into the benefits of securing a loan from the county to boost his efforts to continue the Housing Enhancement Loan Program (HELP) was met with resistance but Stabins’ leverage to deliver a consensus vote on the matter of lowing impact fees was very effective and the request will be considered during the November 10 hearing. The $600,000 loan matched the estimated lost revenue from reducing impact fees but the loan would be repaid but the loss of impact fees would be forever.
Calm and collected, community activist Janey Baldwin pointed out the misguided waste of giving away government revenue to the benefit of the select group of self-serving building contractors. Former Planning & Zoning Commissioner Anthony Palmieri was less kind, chastising the Board for considering an option that will benefit very few residents and short-change the county’s need for every source of income available.
Both of these civic-minded residents had made similar comments during the October 6 board meeting when discussion included suspending impact fees altogether. As was then, board members refused to take notice of their concerns.
When the time came to make the motion to schedule a public hearing, Commissioner Druzbick haphazardly attempted to verbalize a motion to put the measure up for a vote, he was prompted with the help of Russell to make residential, mobile home, commercial and industrial impact fees rolled back to 2001 levels. Adkins readily seconded the motion and before you knew it there was a unanimous decision to carry the issue to the next step – the public hearing.
Commissioners repeatedly claimed that Hernando County expenditures are “similar to a 2001 budget” and “we’re living at that level now in 2009.”
Let me display some numbers. The 2010 proposed budget is $324.7M while in 2004 the budget was $279.6M and $51.9M in that often-mentioned year 2001.
Also, from the Hernando County Government official website, “Total General Government Expenditures” were $29.5M (2001), $113.9M (2004) and $147.5M (2008).
And, Property Tax Revenue was $40M (2001), $54M (2004) and $85M (2008), a retreat from $90M in 2007.
Times have changed considerably since 2001 but we, as a nation and a county, cannot resort to living in a past economy. Otherwise, constructions workers would be working at a median hourly wage of $11.57 instead of the $13.71 last year. And Hernando County firefighter-medics earning $47,500 in 2008 would roll back to the 2001 income of $40,000.
Also, take into consideration the rising costs of construction materials.
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) reported that between August and September of this year there were significant price increases in copper (10%), aluminum (2%), and steel (3%). All three products are essential components for the vast majority of construction projects. AGC also predicted by the end of 2009 lumber prices will drop 7% with a 4% increase in concrete and, of major concern to county expenditures, an anticipated 33% increase in the cost of asphalt.
This is not 2001. County revenue is declining as I write and will continue to do for an undetermined period of time. County expenditures will require further budget cuts. Reducing impact fees will serve no purpose to the majority of Hernando County residents.
Freshman Commissioner James Adkins was apparently chosen to broach the subject as his timidity inferred an initiation into a fraternity of elitists. His sense of relief for the accomplishment was evident with the quick and easy retreat against the back of his chair. Mr. Adkins proved himself a valuable team player.
Commissioner Rose Rocco charmed in with similar support, pointing out that targeted construction sites would be located in vacant lots and be of little impact to the immediate roadways. But, since when are county impact fees micromanaged? No wonder residents living on lime rock roads are always left in the dust of government spending.
Next up was another rookie player on a roster of write thinking members among the board of Hernando County trustees, John Druzbick. He effectively rolled a punt to veteran Commissioner David Russell who, with statesman-like conduct, gave nods of approval before begrudgingly gave way to Mr. October, Commissioner Jeff Stabins.
Mr. Stabins provided a slideshow pointing out that over the past few years County Commissioners had approved a glut of housing projects beyond the need of a community whose economic sustainability of growth didn’t support responsible planning with low-paying jobs being the mainstay of employment.
A well-crafted segue into the benefits of securing a loan from the county to boost his efforts to continue the Housing Enhancement Loan Program (HELP) was met with resistance but Stabins’ leverage to deliver a consensus vote on the matter of lowing impact fees was very effective and the request will be considered during the November 10 hearing. The $600,000 loan matched the estimated lost revenue from reducing impact fees but the loan would be repaid but the loss of impact fees would be forever.
Calm and collected, community activist Janey Baldwin pointed out the misguided waste of giving away government revenue to the benefit of the select group of self-serving building contractors. Former Planning & Zoning Commissioner Anthony Palmieri was less kind, chastising the Board for considering an option that will benefit very few residents and short-change the county’s need for every source of income available.
Both of these civic-minded residents had made similar comments during the October 6 board meeting when discussion included suspending impact fees altogether. As was then, board members refused to take notice of their concerns.
When the time came to make the motion to schedule a public hearing, Commissioner Druzbick haphazardly attempted to verbalize a motion to put the measure up for a vote, he was prompted with the help of Russell to make residential, mobile home, commercial and industrial impact fees rolled back to 2001 levels. Adkins readily seconded the motion and before you knew it there was a unanimous decision to carry the issue to the next step – the public hearing.
Commissioners repeatedly claimed that Hernando County expenditures are “similar to a 2001 budget” and “we’re living at that level now in 2009.”
Let me display some numbers. The 2010 proposed budget is $324.7M while in 2004 the budget was $279.6M and $51.9M in that often-mentioned year 2001.
Also, from the Hernando County Government official website, “Total General Government Expenditures” were $29.5M (2001), $113.9M (2004) and $147.5M (2008).
And, Property Tax Revenue was $40M (2001), $54M (2004) and $85M (2008), a retreat from $90M in 2007.
Times have changed considerably since 2001 but we, as a nation and a county, cannot resort to living in a past economy. Otherwise, constructions workers would be working at a median hourly wage of $11.57 instead of the $13.71 last year. And Hernando County firefighter-medics earning $47,500 in 2008 would roll back to the 2001 income of $40,000.
Also, take into consideration the rising costs of construction materials.
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) reported that between August and September of this year there were significant price increases in copper (10%), aluminum (2%), and steel (3%). All three products are essential components for the vast majority of construction projects. AGC also predicted by the end of 2009 lumber prices will drop 7% with a 4% increase in concrete and, of major concern to county expenditures, an anticipated 33% increase in the cost of asphalt.
This is not 2001. County revenue is declining as I write and will continue to do for an undetermined period of time. County expenditures will require further budget cuts. Reducing impact fees will serve no purpose to the majority of Hernando County residents.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
My Wit Without Wisdom
[With regret, the following comments remain intact to demonstrate what a 'windbag' I really am for making multiple, unwarranted assumptions about the supposed intent of the topic discussed in this blog entry. If only I hadn't asked the opinions of others as to what their intepretation of the opening words of Dan DeWitt's column.
I could easily have deleted this blog. I could also attempt to run away from the inconsiderations given to one of the most prolific writers whose articles and columns have informed and entertained me for all the years I've lived in Hernando County. But... I could never hide from the fact that my knee-jerk reaction to Dan DeWitt's column didn't end up hitting me squarely in the...]
"If you don't want to read what a blowhard columnist thinks about Brooksville's red-light camera program, at least pay attention to Bill Eppley."
The comment was made in reference to The Rae Way column printed in Hernando Today on October, 7, titled "Red-light cameras generate lots of green, few laughs".
This is the first sentence in an article printed in the Hernando Times on October 9, 2009, aw written by Dan DeWitt.
As a response to the statement, an email has been sent to Paul Tash, President of The St. Petersburg Times:
To:
timespresident@sptimes.com
Mr Tash,
I wish to express my dismay and concern about a column printed on Friday, October, 9th, in Hernando Times.
Dan DeWitt made a simple comment in the column "Is red-light program for safety or income?" that I felt was, at first, amusing but has become of personal concern as to the intent and purpose for writing:
"If you don't want to read what a blowhard columnist thinks about Brooksville's red-light camera program, at least pay attention to Bill Eppley." The full context of the article isn't important.
There can be no doubt the comment was in reference to The Rae Way column, "Red-light camera generate lots of green, few laughs" that was printed in the Wednesday, October 7, edition of Hernando Today.
Mr. DeWitt's calling me "a blowhard" could easily be intepreted as a derogatory remark in reference to my being gay, of which I wrote about in Hernando Today when Amendment 2 was a voter issue. I don't lisp, I'm not limp-wristed. Therefore, no one would otherwise be aware of the fact.
I know this is an assumption on my part, but I imagined words such as "queer" and "faggot" being thought or spoken as the "blowhard" was being typed.
But I cannot assume there should be no concern on my part that homophobic people are in every community and that, as in the case of Matthew Shepard eleven years ago this Monday, October 12, crimes of hate are a reality. I admit this thought is way out their in rightwing field but the possibility cannot be ignored.
What makes me more livid than anything else it that, as a follow up to last Wednesday's column, this week's column will take the topic of red-light running a step further, centering on those who have lost loved ones and the organizations that support stricter laws above a mere traffic citation with a fine that doesn't necessarily change people's driving habits.
Since there are times that my research on subjects lead to thoughts that go beyond the 800 words alloted. So, when the subsequent column is printed, it will appear as though I was baited by Mr. DeWitt's comment.
I'm not the degreed jounalist as a assume Mr. DeWitt is. I have no degree in any field. But, going back three years now, I have submitted letters to numerous newspapers, including the Times, the Tribune, the Tallahassee Democrat, the Miami Herald and most recently, The Baltic Times! It's been fun, more so when I had graduated to having full columns printed in both Hernando Today and Hernando Times.
Jeff Webb was very supportive of my contributions but the interest from Hernando Times ebbed when Jeff retired. Therefore, I devoted my efforts to Bob Nolte and subsequently Chris Wessell who, a few months ago, offered me to have my own column.
Anyway, what I request of you is to remove my name from the Time's website search engine. It's a pity but, by the time you recieve this way-too-long email, I will have canceled my newspaper subscription but will continue to read the Times either through a neighbor's kindness or, primarily on Sundays, purchase newstand issues. The Wall Street Journal will replace the St Petersburg Times for delivery.
The innocent victim to this action is the delivery person. Fortunately, he/she will continue to place The New York Times at my front door.
Please, no apologies from any source. I just want this to be behind me.
Ron Rae
The Rae Way column "Red-light cameras generate lot of green, few laughs" can be viewed at:
http://www2.hernandotoday.com/content/2009/oct/06/red-light-cameras-generate-lots-green-few-laughs/columnists/
[Even now, I'm still tempted to hit the 'Delete' button on the Edit page of this blog. As if I could actually allow self-righteousness to overrule my admission of guilt and sincere remorse for my reactions.]
I could easily have deleted this blog. I could also attempt to run away from the inconsiderations given to one of the most prolific writers whose articles and columns have informed and entertained me for all the years I've lived in Hernando County. But... I could never hide from the fact that my knee-jerk reaction to Dan DeWitt's column didn't end up hitting me squarely in the...]
"If you don't want to read what a blowhard columnist thinks about Brooksville's red-light camera program, at least pay attention to Bill Eppley."
The comment was made in reference to The Rae Way column printed in Hernando Today on October, 7, titled "Red-light cameras generate lots of green, few laughs".
This is the first sentence in an article printed in the Hernando Times on October 9, 2009, aw written by Dan DeWitt.
As a response to the statement, an email has been sent to Paul Tash, President of The St. Petersburg Times:
To:
timespresident@sptimes.com
Mr Tash,
I wish to express my dismay and concern about a column printed on Friday, October, 9th, in Hernando Times.
Dan DeWitt made a simple comment in the column "Is red-light program for safety or income?" that I felt was, at first, amusing but has become of personal concern as to the intent and purpose for writing:
"If you don't want to read what a blowhard columnist thinks about Brooksville's red-light camera program, at least pay attention to Bill Eppley." The full context of the article isn't important.
There can be no doubt the comment was in reference to The Rae Way column, "Red-light camera generate lots of green, few laughs" that was printed in the Wednesday, October 7, edition of Hernando Today.
Mr. DeWitt's calling me "a blowhard" could easily be intepreted as a derogatory remark in reference to my being gay, of which I wrote about in Hernando Today when Amendment 2 was a voter issue. I don't lisp, I'm not limp-wristed. Therefore, no one would otherwise be aware of the fact.
I know this is an assumption on my part, but I imagined words such as "queer" and "faggot" being thought or spoken as the "blowhard" was being typed.
But I cannot assume there should be no concern on my part that homophobic people are in every community and that, as in the case of Matthew Shepard eleven years ago this Monday, October 12, crimes of hate are a reality. I admit this thought is way out their in rightwing field but the possibility cannot be ignored.
What makes me more livid than anything else it that, as a follow up to last Wednesday's column, this week's column will take the topic of red-light running a step further, centering on those who have lost loved ones and the organizations that support stricter laws above a mere traffic citation with a fine that doesn't necessarily change people's driving habits.
Since there are times that my research on subjects lead to thoughts that go beyond the 800 words alloted. So, when the subsequent column is printed, it will appear as though I was baited by Mr. DeWitt's comment.
I'm not the degreed jounalist as a assume Mr. DeWitt is. I have no degree in any field. But, going back three years now, I have submitted letters to numerous newspapers, including the Times, the Tribune, the Tallahassee Democrat, the Miami Herald and most recently, The Baltic Times! It's been fun, more so when I had graduated to having full columns printed in both Hernando Today and Hernando Times.
Jeff Webb was very supportive of my contributions but the interest from Hernando Times ebbed when Jeff retired. Therefore, I devoted my efforts to Bob Nolte and subsequently Chris Wessell who, a few months ago, offered me to have my own column.
Anyway, what I request of you is to remove my name from the Time's website search engine. It's a pity but, by the time you recieve this way-too-long email, I will have canceled my newspaper subscription but will continue to read the Times either through a neighbor's kindness or, primarily on Sundays, purchase newstand issues. The Wall Street Journal will replace the St Petersburg Times for delivery.
The innocent victim to this action is the delivery person. Fortunately, he/she will continue to place The New York Times at my front door.
Please, no apologies from any source. I just want this to be behind me.
Ron Rae
The Rae Way column "Red-light cameras generate lot of green, few laughs" can be viewed at:
http://www2.hernandotoday.com/content/2009/oct/06/red-light-cameras-generate-lots-green-few-laughs/columnists/
[Even now, I'm still tempted to hit the 'Delete' button on the Edit page of this blog. As if I could actually allow self-righteousness to overrule my admission of guilt and sincere remorse for my reactions.]
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