Tragically, the city witnessed its sixth homicide recently, as reported in today's Capital.
In the most tasteful way possible, I would like to point out the where of the crime and why that matters.
Much has been made of crime in public housing areas, but we must be careful as to the definition of these areas. Much of the data reported concerns the public housing communities of the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA).
However, this is not the entire picture. There are subsidized communities in Annapolis that are not subsidized by HACA, but instead by the federal government. One such community is Bay Ridge Gardens, where the last 2 homicides have occurred. These communities, as far as I understand, have the same demographics as the HACA communities.
It is AP's belief that for this reason, the 'tale of two cities' (using The Capital's words) crime problem is probably understated, and that the arguments made to hire more police officers and deploy effective community policing is an even stronger one.
It has been reported that last year we saw a record 8 homicides, and this year we are on pace for 9. It is AP's hope that we can be serious about reversing the trend.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Crowning Achievement
A dedicated group of thrill-seekers first started meeting at Ram's Head on Fridays some 20 years ago. Six years ago yours truly was initiated into the youth auxiliary of the Annapolis Sons of the Signers, a name we take pride in for its historical relevance as much as its acronym.
Recently, it was decided by the corporate officers that the group should play a more prominent role in parades, and and a capital budget program was drafted for procurement of fire trucks--the ultimate parade vehicles.
After several years of being the best group in any given parade, The Capital has finally recognized the achievement:
Look closely to see the darlings of the fleet.
Employer Paid Health Insurance: Child of the Liberal Mind
(Crossposted)
Many jobs these days--especially those filled by college graduates--offer health insurance and other benefits as part of a routine compensation package. I would argue that this is not good, and it certainly was not always so.
While the concept of health insurance dates back a few hundred years, employer-paid health insurance is decidedly a 20th century concept. Even then, most Americans did not have health insurance, and the ones that did had insurance only for emergency problems that would result in a permanenent disability.
So, what caused the 'benefits revolution'? A liberal midset!!! In its omnipotence, the government decided to freeze wages during World War II as an inflation fighting measure. Any time the government interferes with a free market, a black market develops. Look no farther than the illicit drug market in the United States to see that the government cannot change the laws of supply and demand--at least not without a sever restriction of freedom.
So what happened when the goverment tried to control the labor market during WW II? A black market for labor developed. Employers, struggling to attract workers, HAD to offer benefits in lieu of pay to find employees, since the benefits were not subject to the wage freezes. And, since wages are subject to employment taxes whereas benefits are paid pre-tax, there is further financial incentive for employers to pay in the form of benefits.
Once the war ended, union collusion ensured that such benefits would remain a permanent part of American business life. It is reasonably fair to say that the philosphies of big government and imperfect markets have paved the way for the health care system as we know it today.
So why are benefits inferior to straight monetary payemt? The answer is restriction of choice. For each employee hired, an employer determines the total compensation (salary and benefits) that the particular employee will receive. Let's say that you are worth $100,000 per year to your employer. Let's further stipulate that your compensation consists of $80,000 in salary, and $20,000 in the form of health insurance that the company pays for you.
As Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman points out, economic freedom is essential to political freedom. In your case, you do not have the choice as to how to spend your $100,000. You get health insurance and $80,000. What if you are a healthy person? You don't smoke, you don't drink, you don't listen to talk radio, etc. Since you are healthier than the average person, you could get health insurance for less than $20,000--let's say $15,000. So, if you received your $100,000 all in the form of cash, you could get health insurance and have $85,000 to spend, not $80,000. As you can see, this process distorts the market result and in some (perhaps most) cases results in an unfavorable outcome.
Time and time again, government policies to control markets result in unintended consequences that affect our lives negatively for years to come.
Many jobs these days--especially those filled by college graduates--offer health insurance and other benefits as part of a routine compensation package. I would argue that this is not good, and it certainly was not always so.
While the concept of health insurance dates back a few hundred years, employer-paid health insurance is decidedly a 20th century concept. Even then, most Americans did not have health insurance, and the ones that did had insurance only for emergency problems that would result in a permanenent disability.
So, what caused the 'benefits revolution'? A liberal midset!!! In its omnipotence, the government decided to freeze wages during World War II as an inflation fighting measure. Any time the government interferes with a free market, a black market develops. Look no farther than the illicit drug market in the United States to see that the government cannot change the laws of supply and demand--at least not without a sever restriction of freedom.
So what happened when the goverment tried to control the labor market during WW II? A black market for labor developed. Employers, struggling to attract workers, HAD to offer benefits in lieu of pay to find employees, since the benefits were not subject to the wage freezes. And, since wages are subject to employment taxes whereas benefits are paid pre-tax, there is further financial incentive for employers to pay in the form of benefits.
Once the war ended, union collusion ensured that such benefits would remain a permanent part of American business life. It is reasonably fair to say that the philosphies of big government and imperfect markets have paved the way for the health care system as we know it today.
So why are benefits inferior to straight monetary payemt? The answer is restriction of choice. For each employee hired, an employer determines the total compensation (salary and benefits) that the particular employee will receive. Let's say that you are worth $100,000 per year to your employer. Let's further stipulate that your compensation consists of $80,000 in salary, and $20,000 in the form of health insurance that the company pays for you.
As Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman points out, economic freedom is essential to political freedom. In your case, you do not have the choice as to how to spend your $100,000. You get health insurance and $80,000. What if you are a healthy person? You don't smoke, you don't drink, you don't listen to talk radio, etc. Since you are healthier than the average person, you could get health insurance for less than $20,000--let's say $15,000. So, if you received your $100,000 all in the form of cash, you could get health insurance and have $85,000 to spend, not $80,000. As you can see, this process distorts the market result and in some (perhaps most) cases results in an unfavorable outcome.
Time and time again, government policies to control markets result in unintended consequences that affect our lives negatively for years to come.
Monday, September 3, 2007
2162 Words on Sam Shropshire
I enjoy commenting on letters published by our elected officials, such as this guest column from Ward 7 Alderman Sam Shropshire, because I can try to figure out what they actually mean using only what they say! (The two are never the same.)
No more preamble, let's do this thing.
In 2005, I was elected by the citizens of Ward 7 to serve as their alderman on the Annapolis City Council.
You are off to a fair start, nobody can disagree with you here.
My campaign platform addressed not only crime and public safety, but a spectrum of challenges facing our city: public transportation, smart growth, the environment, affordable housing, education, and other quality-of-life issues. In keeping with the covenant I made with the citizens of Annapolis, I have been fighting hard on all fronts.
I like the word covenant. It makes me think of God and Alderman Sam at the same time. My top 4 covenants in history:
1. The Davidic Covenant.
2. George H.W. Bush's promise of no new taxes.
3. Bill Clinton's oath of office.
4. Alderman Sam's promise to the people.
Good leaders must be able to multitask — to make sound decisions and provide solid answers on a variety of issues important to our community.
Much like good bloggers must provide solid insights on a variety of issues important to their readers. Take note--Alderman Sam qualifies his statement with 'important to our community'.
Concerned about traffic congestion and urban sprawl, I co-sponsored, with then-Alderman Josh Cohen, D-Ward 8, legislation that implemented a moratorium on new development in Annapolis until sound growth practices are in place. I also co-sponsored with Mr. Cohen legislation that has significantly reduced the density of any future condominium or apartment developments along outer West Street.
This does not mean anything. Let me shed some light on the co-sponsorship process.
Step 1: An alderman gets an idea for a bill.
Step 2: That alderman sponsors a bill at a city council meeting, perhaps having done some research on the bill.
Step 3: Any other alderman says the following: "Madam Mayor, I would like to be added as a co-sponsor to this bill."
That's it. You could co-sponsor every bill if you wanted to. Co-sponsoring is in no way a representation of how hard the co-sponsor-er worked on the bill; it is a political process by which aldermen can choose to attach or not attach their name to a particular side of an issue.
I continue to work for a comprehensive growth plan that envisions rail links among Annapolis, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and a possible tram service down West Street to the Historic District.
Great. So you will work to "envision" such a plan. You will not work to "implement" the plan? I suppose that merely imagining a solution is just as good as actually solving the problem. Let's say for a minute that are are planning on building rail links to Baltimore and DC. Where would they go? Is there any place within the city limits that could accommodate such a rail system?
In February 2006, I was the first elected official in Maryland to speak out against the unfair rate increases of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. and Constellation Energy. I have been active in campaigning for re-regulation of BGE and Constellation.
Speaking out against something is not a measure of accomplishment. Every politician spoke out against the BG&E rate hike--"a tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing", as they say.
And if you think re-regulation is the answer, you are out of your mind. Regulation is what got us into the problem in the first place. Why will we be so much more successful re-regulating the industry than we were when we regulated it the first time?
I sponsored a City Council resolution in support of the state’s Clean Air Act, and I spoke at state legislative hearings in support of that bill. It passed in 2006.
Remember earlier in your letter, when you said that "Good leaders must be able to.....make sound decisions and provide solid answers on a variety of issues important to our community"? Well, this resolution was not important to the city of Annapolis community. So what happened---the city council sent a letter to the state that said "Dear Maryland, we support you. Sincerely, Annapolis"???? What a waste of time. I commend Sam the citizen for speaking at these hearings, but it has no relevance to the duties of Alderman Sam.
Last summer, while visiting a slavery museum in Gambia, I saw a prominently displayed advertisement from The Maryland Gazette of Sept. 29, 1767. It proclaimed the arrival of The Lord Ligonier, a slave ship carrying 97 African men, women and children to be auctioned at the Annapolis City Dock. I determined to lead the Annapolis city government in publicly apologizing for its involvement and support of 150 years of slavery and nearly 100 years of segregation.
Does anyone feel better now that the city of Annapolis has apologized for slavery? Did it change the way any of you live your lives? Or was it another waste of time?
The City Council proudly approved the resolution in a 7-0 bipartisan vote, making Annapolis the first American slave port to do so. And just recently the City of London followed our lead!
No comment.
Just kidding!! What would this blog be if it didn't make comments?!
I would be willing to bet that the mayor of London doesn't even know that Annapolis exists. This article specifically mentions Liverpool as a possible example for the London mayor, which would make sense since Liverpool is actually on the same continent and in the same country as London.
And furthermore, for those of you who saw no harm in the slavery apology, listen to this quote from the London article:
The Rev. Jesse Jackson praised the statement, saying Livingstone broke important ground with his remarks. The civil rights leader said apologies should lead to reparations.
Every time the government says it was wrong, especially publicly, people will try and sue to get money for the suffering they have endured. Or the government just gives them money before this even happens. Buckle up--it won't be long before the reparations bandwagon stops in Annapolis.
I work for racial reconciliation in our community as well as radical changes in public housing that will guarantee all residents some semblance of hope and a future.
So you're saying that a good future is currently a hopeless pursuit for public housing tenants? Ultimately, everyone is responsible for their own well being--there is always hope.
As often as possible, I sit down with public housing residents in their homes, sometimes taking along local pastors and thus encouraging faith groups to be more actively involved in serving the needs of these residents.
I can't help but think that everything Alderman Sam does is a publicity stunt. What is the purpose of such visits, other than face time? And what is the point of telling us about it? Don't say you are fact-finding, or trying to determine the needs of the people--you know what they are already.
I have been a driving force to provide smoke-free workplaces for Annapolis restaurant and bar employees. That ordinance, which I first put before the Annapolis City Council, encouraged Baltimore city to pass similar legislation. As I joined concerned citizens in speaking before various state committees, the entire state went smoke-free.
Most people would agree that the state smoke free legislation was assured passage after the city of Baltimore passed the legislation--they were not following Annapolis' lead. And as much as I do not enjoy smoke or the smell thereof, I also do not enjoy government telling private enterprise how to run their businesses.
Take the case of bars. Government tells them when they have to close, what type of alcohol they can serve, and if you can or can't smoke. They tell you what temperature the food has to be cooked to, what temperature your refrigerators have to be, and what type of thermometer to buy so you can take the temperatures! They tell you what type of tables you have to buy, and how many inches off the ground you have to store cleaning chemicals. Best of all, they require you to pay to get certified about all these things.
My point is: where does it stop? What's next...no trans fat? No hamburgers? No coca-cola?
Public safety is of great concern to all members of the City Council. When possible, I ride at night with our police in their patrol cars so I can better understand their work.
Aldermen Sheila Finlayson, D-Ward 4; Ross Arnett, D-Ward 8; Classie Hoyle, D-Ward 3; Dick Israel, D-Ward 1, and I have been working on affordable housing for our police. This ad hoc committee has met several times over the past four months, and we will continue to work until all vacant police positions are filled and our new police officers can afford to live inside the city, with police cars parked in their driveways (a definite deterrent to crime).
No more preamble, let's do this thing.
In 2005, I was elected by the citizens of Ward 7 to serve as their alderman on the Annapolis City Council.
You are off to a fair start, nobody can disagree with you here.
My campaign platform addressed not only crime and public safety, but a spectrum of challenges facing our city: public transportation, smart growth, the environment, affordable housing, education, and other quality-of-life issues. In keeping with the covenant I made with the citizens of Annapolis, I have been fighting hard on all fronts.
I like the word covenant. It makes me think of God and Alderman Sam at the same time. My top 4 covenants in history:
1. The Davidic Covenant.
2. George H.W. Bush's promise of no new taxes.
3. Bill Clinton's oath of office.
4. Alderman Sam's promise to the people.
Good leaders must be able to multitask — to make sound decisions and provide solid answers on a variety of issues important to our community.
Much like good bloggers must provide solid insights on a variety of issues important to their readers. Take note--Alderman Sam qualifies his statement with 'important to our community'.
Concerned about traffic congestion and urban sprawl, I co-sponsored, with then-Alderman Josh Cohen, D-Ward 8, legislation that implemented a moratorium on new development in Annapolis until sound growth practices are in place. I also co-sponsored with Mr. Cohen legislation that has significantly reduced the density of any future condominium or apartment developments along outer West Street.
This does not mean anything. Let me shed some light on the co-sponsorship process.
Step 1: An alderman gets an idea for a bill.
Step 2: That alderman sponsors a bill at a city council meeting, perhaps having done some research on the bill.
Step 3: Any other alderman says the following: "Madam Mayor, I would like to be added as a co-sponsor to this bill."
That's it. You could co-sponsor every bill if you wanted to. Co-sponsoring is in no way a representation of how hard the co-sponsor-er worked on the bill; it is a political process by which aldermen can choose to attach or not attach their name to a particular side of an issue.
I continue to work for a comprehensive growth plan that envisions rail links among Annapolis, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and a possible tram service down West Street to the Historic District.
Great. So you will work to "envision" such a plan. You will not work to "implement" the plan? I suppose that merely imagining a solution is just as good as actually solving the problem. Let's say for a minute that are are planning on building rail links to Baltimore and DC. Where would they go? Is there any place within the city limits that could accommodate such a rail system?
In February 2006, I was the first elected official in Maryland to speak out against the unfair rate increases of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. and Constellation Energy. I have been active in campaigning for re-regulation of BGE and Constellation.
Speaking out against something is not a measure of accomplishment. Every politician spoke out against the BG&E rate hike--"a tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing", as they say.
And if you think re-regulation is the answer, you are out of your mind. Regulation is what got us into the problem in the first place. Why will we be so much more successful re-regulating the industry than we were when we regulated it the first time?
I sponsored a City Council resolution in support of the state’s Clean Air Act, and I spoke at state legislative hearings in support of that bill. It passed in 2006.
Remember earlier in your letter, when you said that "Good leaders must be able to.....make sound decisions and provide solid answers on a variety of issues important to our community"? Well, this resolution was not important to the city of Annapolis community. So what happened---the city council sent a letter to the state that said "Dear Maryland, we support you. Sincerely, Annapolis"???? What a waste of time. I commend Sam the citizen for speaking at these hearings, but it has no relevance to the duties of Alderman Sam.
Last summer, while visiting a slavery museum in Gambia, I saw a prominently displayed advertisement from The Maryland Gazette of Sept. 29, 1767. It proclaimed the arrival of The Lord Ligonier, a slave ship carrying 97 African men, women and children to be auctioned at the Annapolis City Dock. I determined to lead the Annapolis city government in publicly apologizing for its involvement and support of 150 years of slavery and nearly 100 years of segregation.
Does anyone feel better now that the city of Annapolis has apologized for slavery? Did it change the way any of you live your lives? Or was it another waste of time?
The City Council proudly approved the resolution in a 7-0 bipartisan vote, making Annapolis the first American slave port to do so. And just recently the City of London followed our lead!
No comment.
Just kidding!! What would this blog be if it didn't make comments?!
I would be willing to bet that the mayor of London doesn't even know that Annapolis exists. This article specifically mentions Liverpool as a possible example for the London mayor, which would make sense since Liverpool is actually on the same continent and in the same country as London.
And furthermore, for those of you who saw no harm in the slavery apology, listen to this quote from the London article:
The Rev. Jesse Jackson praised the statement, saying Livingstone broke important ground with his remarks. The civil rights leader said apologies should lead to reparations.
Every time the government says it was wrong, especially publicly, people will try and sue to get money for the suffering they have endured. Or the government just gives them money before this even happens. Buckle up--it won't be long before the reparations bandwagon stops in Annapolis.
I work for racial reconciliation in our community as well as radical changes in public housing that will guarantee all residents some semblance of hope and a future.
So you're saying that a good future is currently a hopeless pursuit for public housing tenants? Ultimately, everyone is responsible for their own well being--there is always hope.
As often as possible, I sit down with public housing residents in their homes, sometimes taking along local pastors and thus encouraging faith groups to be more actively involved in serving the needs of these residents.
I can't help but think that everything Alderman Sam does is a publicity stunt. What is the purpose of such visits, other than face time? And what is the point of telling us about it? Don't say you are fact-finding, or trying to determine the needs of the people--you know what they are already.
I have been a driving force to provide smoke-free workplaces for Annapolis restaurant and bar employees. That ordinance, which I first put before the Annapolis City Council, encouraged Baltimore city to pass similar legislation. As I joined concerned citizens in speaking before various state committees, the entire state went smoke-free.
Most people would agree that the state smoke free legislation was assured passage after the city of Baltimore passed the legislation--they were not following Annapolis' lead. And as much as I do not enjoy smoke or the smell thereof, I also do not enjoy government telling private enterprise how to run their businesses.
Take the case of bars. Government tells them when they have to close, what type of alcohol they can serve, and if you can or can't smoke. They tell you what temperature the food has to be cooked to, what temperature your refrigerators have to be, and what type of thermometer to buy so you can take the temperatures! They tell you what type of tables you have to buy, and how many inches off the ground you have to store cleaning chemicals. Best of all, they require you to pay to get certified about all these things.
My point is: where does it stop? What's next...no trans fat? No hamburgers? No coca-cola?
Public safety is of great concern to all members of the City Council. When possible, I ride at night with our police in their patrol cars so I can better understand their work.
All well and good. But let's see some commitment to doing something about it.
Aldermen Sheila Finlayson, D-Ward 4; Ross Arnett, D-Ward 8; Classie Hoyle, D-Ward 3; Dick Israel, D-Ward 1, and I have been working on affordable housing for our police. This ad hoc committee has met several times over the past four months, and we will continue to work until all vacant police positions are filled and our new police officers can afford to live inside the city, with police cars parked in their driveways (a definite deterrent to crime).
Ok, good.
I serve on the city’s Finance Committee and Environmental Matters Committee and am an ad hoc member of the Annapolis Maritime Commission and the Severn River Commission.The Worldwide Authority on English Grammar and Linguistic Usage mandates that the term ad hoc may only be used once per 1000 words. Oh, and all aldermen are on a committee--it comes with the job.
I try to use my influence as an alderman to help in various environmental and nonprofit causes, working with the Annapolis Maritime Museum, Back Creek Nature Park, The Bay Theatre, The Lighthouse Shelter, HAVEN, the ARC of Central Maryland, and the Naval Academy Midshipmen Sponsorship Program. I’m a proud “sponsor dad” of four very dedicated midshipmen.Sponsoring a midshipman has nothing to do with being an alderman in the city of Annapolis. The United States Naval Academy, as you may know from your recent resolutions regarding Midshipman Owens, is property of the United States and is not in the city's jurisdiction. You may also know this because it is not called "The Annapolis Naval Academy".
Recently I concentrated some of my time on prohibiting the retail distribution of plastic checkout bags. These bags do great harm to the environment and our quality of life. This issue has, surprisingly, gotten a lot of national and international media attention, because people around the world are fed up with overconsumption and its adverse effects on the environment.Some of your time was spend on banning plastic bags and the rest of your time was coordinating the media coverage of what you spent that time doing. The last word to describe the national media attention this proposal received is "surprising".
And, to quote a Capital editorial (June 14), “Mr. Shropshire’s proposal could start a debate on littering, recycling and how certain routine shopping decisions affect the environment. In that respect, it could do a lot of good.” And that discussion is already under way—some stores, including Whole Foods, have already stopped using plastic checkout bags.
The discussion goes something like this:
"Should we ban plastic bags?"
"No, we should focus on reusable bags, place recycling bins downtown, and do other things that will have a greater effect."
When my Ward 7 constituents put me in office, they didn’t get an alderman who would simply fill potholes and solve neighborhood parking problems. They got someone who does that and more—someone who cares about their community and will lobby for their causes at every level of government: local, county, state and, if need be, federal.This is crazy. Alderman Sam is not the world liaison for Ward 7; he is on the city council. Those other things are good, but they are not his job.
I firmly believe that being an alderman means sacrificially serving my Ward 7 constituents and all the people of Annapolis — to improve and protect our quality of life. That remains my focus and my commitment.
I like Alderman Sam on a personal level--I have spent time with him, spoke about issues, and he has on several occasions invited the Republican Central Committee to his house for kielbasa and sour kraut (although probably with the expectation that we would decline.)
However, this letter has done nothing to show any real progress that Mr. Shropshire has made on actual city issues. The smoking thing matters, but I think it is fair to say that at best Alderman Sam gave a gentle nudge to a stampeding boulder.
The rest of the stuff is frills, decorations, and publicity if you ask me. And if Mr. Shropshire has genuine concern for the duties of his office, and for the citizens, he should find more relevant issues, and more productive solutions.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Shropshir-isms
In today's Capital, the Honorable Ward 7 Alderman writes a guest column that tries to persuade us that he has been focusing on a lot of things and not just plastic bags.
(Yesterday I posted on how plastic bags would be coming back, and here they are!!)
The column is fairly long, so I will have to post a comprehensive analysis of its content at a later time, as I do not wish to disrupt my schedule.
For the time being, two quotes jumped out at me:
Recently I concentrated some of my time on prohibiting the retail distribution of plastic checkout bags....This issue has, surprisingly, gotten a lot of national and international media attention.
The word surprisingly should make everyone reading it roll their eyes and want to back-slap Alderman Sam for treating us like we have been eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the last 6 months in lieu of paying attention.
I firmly believe that being an alderman means sacrificially serving my Ward 7 constituents and all the people of Annapolis--to improve and protect our quality of life.
If you can prove how apologizing for slavery meets YOUR OWN CRITERIA that you just laid out, then you have just won yourself another supporter.
More on Alderman Sam upcoming.
(Yesterday I posted on how plastic bags would be coming back, and here they are!!)
The column is fairly long, so I will have to post a comprehensive analysis of its content at a later time, as I do not wish to disrupt my schedule.
For the time being, two quotes jumped out at me:
Recently I concentrated some of my time on prohibiting the retail distribution of plastic checkout bags....This issue has, surprisingly, gotten a lot of national and international media attention.
The word surprisingly should make everyone reading it roll their eyes and want to back-slap Alderman Sam for treating us like we have been eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the last 6 months in lieu of paying attention.
I firmly believe that being an alderman means sacrificially serving my Ward 7 constituents and all the people of Annapolis--to improve and protect our quality of life.
If you can prove how apologizing for slavery meets YOUR OWN CRITERIA that you just laid out, then you have just won yourself another supporter.
More on Alderman Sam upcoming.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Paper or Plastic...We Still Haven't Decided?
If an alien from outer space were to have landed in Annapolis 1 month ago, they could send a report back to the Omicron Galaxy that elected officials on Earth govern by press releases and media quotes. This is because the city council does not meet in August.
But now we are in September, and actual meetings with agendas will take place. And certainly near the top of the agenda will be plastic bags.
To recap, AP's position on this issue is as follows:
-It is not clear whether plastic bags or paper bags are better for the environment.
-Reusable bags would be the best solution.
-This bill does not promote reusable bags, it just bans plastic bags.
-Banning plastic bags is, like, step Z, and we need to take steps A-Y. For example, private industry can work with government and citizens rather than argue with them. (Note: what I have just described is known as the Reverse of the Moyer Approach.)
-Litterers, not plastic bags, are the problem.
Let's use a letter to the editor of The Capital that had the misfortune of not being published. You can see letters that don't appear in the paper here.
I am writing in support of Sam Shropshire’s proposal to ban plastic bag distribution in Annapolis.
You are the only one.
I was thrilled that Annapolis could possibly lead the way in something environmentally inventive, since I usually read with envy about these ideas going on in California.
You sound like a west coast liberal. Although, I kinda' see what you are saying--the city council has spent their time on things that don't really matter, like Midshipman Owens, and you would like to see them lead the way in something relevant. What? You weren't' saying that? Oh well, I tried.
I have used canvas bags for shopping for years, and although I turn them down for small purchases, I still find it impressive how many plastic bags I end up with at home from newspapers, packaging and incidental purchases.
I once turned down a bag for a small purchase at 7-11, only to realize later that I needed somewhere to put my discarded banana peel. As it were, the banana peel remained and created a heck of a sanitation problem. It was embarrassing for everyone involved.
In an interview with a representative of a large grocery store chain, I found it disturbing that the fact that bags can be recycled into materials used to make benches was used as an argument to keep using them. The twisted logic misses the obvious point. The benches came out of desperation to find something to do with all of those bags that we generated.
First of all, the resins created by the recycled plastic bags are useful in a whole lot of things--not just benches.
Second of all, why you hatin' on supermarkets? ('Why you hatin' is slang for 'why do you have a negative attitude towards'. Doesn't it sound cooler?) If they found a way to recycle bags, and can even make money doing it (therefore perhaps hiring more workers or lowering prices), who are you to complain?
And C, benches are very useful. Have you ever needed to bend over to tie your shoe? Have you ever eaten a pretzel at the mall? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you win $1,000,000!! Just kidding--you know we need benches. Here is the list of the top 5 most underrated useful items:
1. an AAA membership
2. ice scraper for your car
3. benches
4. a cell phone case
5. this blog
Another argument raised was that by abandoning plastic bags, purchase and disposal of much thicker trash bag liners will rise, and they are more polluting and aren’t recycled but dumped.
Sounds reasonable (their argument--not your sentence). Point being that we can't possibly know all of the unintended consequences of this (or any other) proposed law.
Kitchen trash bags out of biodegradable materials are a wonderful alternative and already exist. We shouldn't be collecting wasteful plastic bags from stores just because they line our trash cans well. Similarly, I have known people who enjoy getting paper bags so they can neatly store their recycling. Generating trash to store trash doesn’t make sense.
You are right--biodegradable and reusable alternatives are awesome, but Mr. Shropshire's bill has nothing to do with this. It is merely a ban on plastic bags.
People are clever and bright. I refuse to believe this is the best we can do.
JULIE SHAY, Severna Park
I can't wait for September.
But now we are in September, and actual meetings with agendas will take place. And certainly near the top of the agenda will be plastic bags.
To recap, AP's position on this issue is as follows:
-It is not clear whether plastic bags or paper bags are better for the environment.
-Reusable bags would be the best solution.
-This bill does not promote reusable bags, it just bans plastic bags.
-Banning plastic bags is, like, step Z, and we need to take steps A-Y. For example, private industry can work with government and citizens rather than argue with them. (Note: what I have just described is known as the Reverse of the Moyer Approach.)
-Litterers, not plastic bags, are the problem.
Let's use a letter to the editor of The Capital that had the misfortune of not being published. You can see letters that don't appear in the paper here.
I am writing in support of Sam Shropshire’s proposal to ban plastic bag distribution in Annapolis.
You are the only one.
I was thrilled that Annapolis could possibly lead the way in something environmentally inventive, since I usually read with envy about these ideas going on in California.
You sound like a west coast liberal. Although, I kinda' see what you are saying--the city council has spent their time on things that don't really matter, like Midshipman Owens, and you would like to see them lead the way in something relevant. What? You weren't' saying that? Oh well, I tried.
I have used canvas bags for shopping for years, and although I turn them down for small purchases, I still find it impressive how many plastic bags I end up with at home from newspapers, packaging and incidental purchases.
I once turned down a bag for a small purchase at 7-11, only to realize later that I needed somewhere to put my discarded banana peel. As it were, the banana peel remained and created a heck of a sanitation problem. It was embarrassing for everyone involved.
In an interview with a representative of a large grocery store chain, I found it disturbing that the fact that bags can be recycled into materials used to make benches was used as an argument to keep using them. The twisted logic misses the obvious point. The benches came out of desperation to find something to do with all of those bags that we generated.
First of all, the resins created by the recycled plastic bags are useful in a whole lot of things--not just benches.
Second of all, why you hatin' on supermarkets? ('Why you hatin' is slang for 'why do you have a negative attitude towards'. Doesn't it sound cooler?) If they found a way to recycle bags, and can even make money doing it (therefore perhaps hiring more workers or lowering prices), who are you to complain?
And C, benches are very useful. Have you ever needed to bend over to tie your shoe? Have you ever eaten a pretzel at the mall? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you win $1,000,000!! Just kidding--you know we need benches. Here is the list of the top 5 most underrated useful items:
1. an AAA membership
2. ice scraper for your car
3. benches
4. a cell phone case
5. this blog
Another argument raised was that by abandoning plastic bags, purchase and disposal of much thicker trash bag liners will rise, and they are more polluting and aren’t recycled but dumped.
Sounds reasonable (their argument--not your sentence). Point being that we can't possibly know all of the unintended consequences of this (or any other) proposed law.
Kitchen trash bags out of biodegradable materials are a wonderful alternative and already exist. We shouldn't be collecting wasteful plastic bags from stores just because they line our trash cans well. Similarly, I have known people who enjoy getting paper bags so they can neatly store their recycling. Generating trash to store trash doesn’t make sense.
You are right--biodegradable and reusable alternatives are awesome, but Mr. Shropshire's bill has nothing to do with this. It is merely a ban on plastic bags.
People are clever and bright. I refuse to believe this is the best we can do.
JULIE SHAY, Severna Park
I can't wait for September.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Oh, My
The mayor has taken a liking to press releases, which I must admit are a useful form of information. But using the media for political battling is just inappropriate.
Ray Weaver, the Annapolis Public Information Officer, sent a letter to The Capital that was published on Friday. My experiences (2 emails) with Mr. Weaver have been fairly reasonable, which reinforces my belief that this letter can be reasonably interpreted as the mayor's wishes. You would have to work really hard to persuade me that a senior administration official could write a letter like this on his/her own, without the consent of the mayor.
So let's see what Mr. Weaver has to say:
Regarding a Sources Say item about me:
Had you included the entire text of my e-mail, it would have been clear that the city will always respond to salary requests under the guidelines of the Public Information Act.
You left out: "the specific salaries of city employees are indeed fair game under the Freedom of Information Act...please direct your request to the director of human resources and the guidelines of the...statutes."
I am fine with this so far. If they misquoted you, especially if the quotes resulted in a mis-representation, you can and should correct them.
I do not keep the specific salary of every city employee in my files. These are not elected officials. They filled out a job application, sent in a resume and went to work, just like most other Americans.
A brief aside: I am one of the few Americans who did not do this. I have had the good blessing of being gainfully self-employed since college, and I have never had to send a resume or interview for a job. Except when I was 16 years old--I applied for my first job as a busboy, and the Food and Beverage Manager was a no-nonsense type of gal, so maybe that counts.
With identity theft running rampant and personal privacy rights being co-opted every day, city employees are entitled to the same protection as other citizens. It is a short step from someone's salary being in the newspaper to an email box full of span offering them a bunch of ways to spend their money.
Identity theft? We are just talking about name and salary right? You are correct that city employees have the same right to protection, but they have a slightly less right to privacy because they are public sector employees--i.e., they work for us.
I was a reporter for many years, and would be interested in a story about what management at The Capital makes, as compared to the rank-and-file reporters.
Here is where your letter starts to go array. While such a story may be interesting, it is not anybody's right to know because The Capital is a private company. That is to say, they are a non-public company. (Yes, I just said the same thing twice. It is my understanding that repetition increases comprehension and retention.) The Capital management can make as much as they want. If the employees don't like it, they can quit. If enough of them quit, then the management will have to pay themselves less so they can hire more people. And so private enterprise goes.
As I clearly said in my email, "I respect the law, and will certainly insist that the city follow the Freedom of Information laws to the letter."
Ok.
You left that out, too.
Ok!
I have been baffled of late by The Capital's turn toward voyeuristic photos of devastated teenagers on the front page and sensational headlines that have little to do with the stories they trumpet.
I have been baffled as to why you would say this.
Then it hit me; the Weekly World News is no longer being published. I can't wait for your story on Elvis fathering Anna Nicole's baby from the grave.
RAY WEAVER, City Public Information Officer, Annapolis
Those last 2 sentences are more out of place than Jim Carey in a serious movie. This is a public official. FOR GOODNESS SAKE! Mr. Weaver serves the public--he comes from the people to represent the people. This quibbling with The Capital has no place.
When it comes to using the media, public officials should be setting the record straight, AND THAT'S IT.
Ray Weaver, the Annapolis Public Information Officer, sent a letter to The Capital that was published on Friday. My experiences (2 emails) with Mr. Weaver have been fairly reasonable, which reinforces my belief that this letter can be reasonably interpreted as the mayor's wishes. You would have to work really hard to persuade me that a senior administration official could write a letter like this on his/her own, without the consent of the mayor.
So let's see what Mr. Weaver has to say:
Regarding a Sources Say item about me:
Had you included the entire text of my e-mail, it would have been clear that the city will always respond to salary requests under the guidelines of the Public Information Act.
You left out: "the specific salaries of city employees are indeed fair game under the Freedom of Information Act...please direct your request to the director of human resources and the guidelines of the...statutes."
I am fine with this so far. If they misquoted you, especially if the quotes resulted in a mis-representation, you can and should correct them.
I do not keep the specific salary of every city employee in my files. These are not elected officials. They filled out a job application, sent in a resume and went to work, just like most other Americans.
A brief aside: I am one of the few Americans who did not do this. I have had the good blessing of being gainfully self-employed since college, and I have never had to send a resume or interview for a job. Except when I was 16 years old--I applied for my first job as a busboy, and the Food and Beverage Manager was a no-nonsense type of gal, so maybe that counts.
With identity theft running rampant and personal privacy rights being co-opted every day, city employees are entitled to the same protection as other citizens. It is a short step from someone's salary being in the newspaper to an email box full of span offering them a bunch of ways to spend their money.
Identity theft? We are just talking about name and salary right? You are correct that city employees have the same right to protection, but they have a slightly less right to privacy because they are public sector employees--i.e., they work for us.
I was a reporter for many years, and would be interested in a story about what management at The Capital makes, as compared to the rank-and-file reporters.
Here is where your letter starts to go array. While such a story may be interesting, it is not anybody's right to know because The Capital is a private company. That is to say, they are a non-public company. (Yes, I just said the same thing twice. It is my understanding that repetition increases comprehension and retention.) The Capital management can make as much as they want. If the employees don't like it, they can quit. If enough of them quit, then the management will have to pay themselves less so they can hire more people. And so private enterprise goes.
As I clearly said in my email, "I respect the law, and will certainly insist that the city follow the Freedom of Information laws to the letter."
Ok.
You left that out, too.
Ok!
I have been baffled of late by The Capital's turn toward voyeuristic photos of devastated teenagers on the front page and sensational headlines that have little to do with the stories they trumpet.
I have been baffled as to why you would say this.
Then it hit me; the Weekly World News is no longer being published. I can't wait for your story on Elvis fathering Anna Nicole's baby from the grave.
RAY WEAVER, City Public Information Officer, Annapolis
Those last 2 sentences are more out of place than Jim Carey in a serious movie. This is a public official. FOR GOODNESS SAKE! Mr. Weaver serves the public--he comes from the people to represent the people. This quibbling with The Capital has no place.
When it comes to using the media, public officials should be setting the record straight, AND THAT'S IT.
Signs: Part 2
AP swears this single, solemn promise to its loyal readers: every time a sign makes the news we will cover it.
(AP has always been fascinated with signs. They have the potential to be very useful--a picture conveys a thousand words, and so forth. They can also go very wrong--graffiti, overgrown trees, and vandals all threaten the viability of the sign franchise. My favorite signs of all time:
1. Watch for immigrants trying to cross the border!
2. A very useful traffic pattern sign. Not too many words, and you understand completely what the sign is telling you.)
And now for this sign. Apparently the city and the Moreland Pkwy Holding Company are involved in a legal dispute regarding who should fix the awful potholes on that street. Businesses on that street, fed up with customers who won't drive to their businesses as a result of the poor driving conditions, have taken matters into their own hands, only to be quelled by the planning and zoning gestapo.
It just strikes me as funny...when the city doesn't want to fix the road, the road belongs to private owners. When the city doesn't like a sign on the road, the road belongs to the city and they can order the sign removed.
This kind of hypocrisy happens all the time with government. I am in the catering business, and I am required to comply with health department regulations. You have to get certified by the health department in order to operate. I have to spend many resources doing this, but if I (God forbid) were to get somebody sick and that person sues me, the health department will not help me at all. If they deem me qualified to receive certification, which they demand, shouldn't they be partially responsible if in fact I was not qualified.
I am using this example to illustrate the nature of governments. So often the government does what is convenient, not necessarily what is fair. Similarly, in many cases our local governments are confrontational. If public sector, and private sector, and citizens all work together--instead of against each other--we could get a lot more done.
So for you workers who know how to pave roads, I will be happy to cater your lunch when you fix Moreland Parkway.
(AP has always been fascinated with signs. They have the potential to be very useful--a picture conveys a thousand words, and so forth. They can also go very wrong--graffiti, overgrown trees, and vandals all threaten the viability of the sign franchise. My favorite signs of all time:
1. Watch for immigrants trying to cross the border!
2. A very useful traffic pattern sign. Not too many words, and you understand completely what the sign is telling you.)
And now for this sign. Apparently the city and the Moreland Pkwy Holding Company are involved in a legal dispute regarding who should fix the awful potholes on that street. Businesses on that street, fed up with customers who won't drive to their businesses as a result of the poor driving conditions, have taken matters into their own hands, only to be quelled by the planning and zoning gestapo.
It just strikes me as funny...when the city doesn't want to fix the road, the road belongs to private owners. When the city doesn't like a sign on the road, the road belongs to the city and they can order the sign removed.
This kind of hypocrisy happens all the time with government. I am in the catering business, and I am required to comply with health department regulations. You have to get certified by the health department in order to operate. I have to spend many resources doing this, but if I (God forbid) were to get somebody sick and that person sues me, the health department will not help me at all. If they deem me qualified to receive certification, which they demand, shouldn't they be partially responsible if in fact I was not qualified.
I am using this example to illustrate the nature of governments. So often the government does what is convenient, not necessarily what is fair. Similarly, in many cases our local governments are confrontational. If public sector, and private sector, and citizens all work together--instead of against each other--we could get a lot more done.
So for you workers who know how to pave roads, I will be happy to cater your lunch when you fix Moreland Parkway.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
How To Measure Crime
I took 5 semesters of statistics throughout my academic career, which has caused me great trauma and will probably pay off in the long run for one lucky therapist. But, I have come to realize the value of statistics. It's not the ability to do the formulas, calculate alpha error percentages, or model bell curves--it's the practice of being 'statistically minded'. In other words, when you hear a fact or statistic, it is very valuable to be interested in how the information was calculated and if it indeed is an accurate representation of what you are trying to understand.
For elected officials, knowing the exact nature of a problem is the first step in finding the proper solution. (Think WMD's!) The major issue in the city of Annapolis is the crime, and the elected officials have spent much time--or at least paid much lip service--trying to figure out solutions.
We should take time to ensure we are measuring crime correctly. Just because arrests are going up, doesn't mean crime is getting worse. It could just mean we are getting better at catching the criminals. Similarly, if there are fewer arrests, it doesn't necessarily mean crime is decreasing; it may mean criminals are becoming more elusive.
I suppose the only 'statistic' that ultimately matters is our perception of quality of life. Do we feel safe everywhere in the city? Are we confident drugs are becoming harder to find? Data can be manipulated to say almost anything, and we have to be steadfast in our resolve to continue to fight our problems.
For elected officials, knowing the exact nature of a problem is the first step in finding the proper solution. (Think WMD's!) The major issue in the city of Annapolis is the crime, and the elected officials have spent much time--or at least paid much lip service--trying to figure out solutions.
We should take time to ensure we are measuring crime correctly. Just because arrests are going up, doesn't mean crime is getting worse. It could just mean we are getting better at catching the criminals. Similarly, if there are fewer arrests, it doesn't necessarily mean crime is decreasing; it may mean criminals are becoming more elusive.
I suppose the only 'statistic' that ultimately matters is our perception of quality of life. Do we feel safe everywhere in the city? Are we confident drugs are becoming harder to find? Data can be manipulated to say almost anything, and we have to be steadfast in our resolve to continue to fight our problems.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Facts of Annapolis Life
The one and only sports column I read often makes me laugh, and sometimes the author just punts the column and writes a list he calls "23 more facts, tried and true", or something of this nature.
I too will now use this format, as I realized that you don't have to pay attention to current events, or be timely or particularly insightful.
(This blog is an expert at being only marginally insightful. And since the definition of an expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less, I doubt AP has any claim to legitimacy.)
All you have to do is be relevant, and entertaining. So here is my list, tried and true, of 10 stone cold facts of Annapolis life, listed in reverse order for added drama:
10. People will always feed the seagulls downtown, no matter how many signs say "help keep our downtown beautiful".
9. No restaurant will ever succeed at the Main St./Conduit St. corner across from Chick and Ruth's.
8. Carl Snowden will always have a job.
7. Has anyone seen a market house?
6. Midshipmen are more annoying than they are charming.
5. If more Irish Pubs mean more bagpipe music, then call me Martin O'Malley. Err, maybe a different Irish name.
4. If more growth of government means higher property taxes every year, then call me Ebeneezer Scrooge.
3. It's a good thing they don't broadcast the city council meetings in high-def.
2. Our kids will grow to love crabs, possibly without ever having a crab from the Chesapeake Bay.
1. The city won't get any better unless YOU help.
I too will now use this format, as I realized that you don't have to pay attention to current events, or be timely or particularly insightful.
(This blog is an expert at being only marginally insightful. And since the definition of an expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less, I doubt AP has any claim to legitimacy.)
All you have to do is be relevant, and entertaining. So here is my list, tried and true, of 10 stone cold facts of Annapolis life, listed in reverse order for added drama:
10. People will always feed the seagulls downtown, no matter how many signs say "help keep our downtown beautiful".
9. No restaurant will ever succeed at the Main St./Conduit St. corner across from Chick and Ruth's.
8. Carl Snowden will always have a job.
7. Has anyone seen a market house?
6. Midshipmen are more annoying than they are charming.
5. If more Irish Pubs mean more bagpipe music, then call me Martin O'Malley. Err, maybe a different Irish name.
4. If more growth of government means higher property taxes every year, then call me Ebeneezer Scrooge.
3. It's a good thing they don't broadcast the city council meetings in high-def.
2. Our kids will grow to love crabs, possibly without ever having a crab from the Chesapeake Bay.
1. The city won't get any better unless YOU help.
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