At last night’s forum for the Mayoral Candidates, sponsored by Urban Salisbury, Mr. Comegys advocated greater involvement by the City (taxpayer funded, of course) in the Downtown Salisbury area. No dollar amounts were mentioned, but he has supported the recent consultant’s recommendation for upscale development along the “North Prong” of the river (between Route 50 and Isabella Street) that has an estimated cost to Salisbury’s taxpayers of millions of dollars.
As Mr. Caldwell observed, given the current economic climate and its effect on future City revenue, it is unlikely that programs of such magnitude are doable. And then there’s the matter of the City’s many other and more pressing needs.
It is obvious that Mr. Comegys is for bigger city government; he has already voted twice to raise Salisbury’s property tax rates, so we can really predict how he would try to budget if he became the mayor.
15 comments:
Heres a suggestion that you dont have to pay a consultant for. Take a bulldozer and plow the plaza smooth from N. Division to Mill St. Sell the chunk of metal that sits in the middle and paint some parking spaces. Now let the businesses return and the traffic flow. My treat at no charge.
Didn't Comegys vote in support of having a food tax, too.
Then local restaurant owners got a couple thousand signatures on a petition against it and Bubba voted against it, after first voting for it.
He's a career employee at state highway -- the ultimate "tax & spend" bureaurocracy.
No surprise there.
I listened to most of it on radio. They all seemed to be kissing up to the downtown business crowd. The City has already dropped too much money in their kettles since Barrie and Bubba were elected. And now they want to spend a whole lot more. I say: NO WAY!
That North prong project is a pet of BPT and of Bubba, since they live in the area. We have far too much to spend now on infrastructure upgrades to play with this kind of costly changes for the very few!
Barrie's soon gone (good riddance), and Bubba Comegys can't be allowed to sneak into the mayor's office.
Of the others, Bob Caldwell is the best bet for good leadership. He may not be able to "politic" as good as Jim Ireton, but he knows more about how to run things the right way.
Anonymous said...
I listened to most of it on radio. They all seemed to be kissing up to the downtown business crowd. The City has already dropped too much money in their kettles since Barrie and Bubba were elected. And now they want to spend a whole lot more. I say: NO WAY!
10:45 AM
They say what the "crowd" sponsoring the forum want to here. Typical of a politcian who wants to get an endorsement or votes.
Gary Comegys also said he doesn't want working class people living downtown those condos that he and Barrie gave an exemption to David Moore were constructed for, and I quote "those with disposable income, professionals" not working class stiffs that pay taxes and do the maintenance for the city in that area.
So I take it that nobody asked "the question?"
No surprise there. You people in Salisbury will come here on Joe's blog and gripe and moan and groan but when you're given the ammunition you need to fight your battles, you ignore it.
Joe has done this many times for you and so have others.
If you're not willing to ask ONE simple question of your candidates for Mayor, in a public forum, then you are in for no changes in your city because you don't know how to stand up and fight.
Good luck to all of you, but you are letting this election go to the very ones you do not want in office (according to all of your posts).
2:06, you mean Bubba wants hoity toity gentrification.
How quaint. As Bubba tries to leave behind his humble beginnings and make the rounds of polite society.
Pig.
My break is over, so hi ho hi ho, it's back to work I go, never to live in a loft downtown.
Anonymous said...
Gary Comegys also said he doesn't want working class people living downtown those condos that he and Barrie gave an exemption to David Moore were constructed for, and I quote "those with disposable income, professionals" not working class stiffs that pay taxes and do the maintenance for the city in that area.
2:06 PM
Well that must have backfired for Bubba and Barrie because those luxury condo's aren't filled. David Moore is a FOB and a POS!
Ok, what is "The" question that should have been asked at the forum supposed to be only about downtown issues?
Inquiring minds want to know.
no one knows more about the city charter than Bob Caldwell... and, he goes to most of the council meetings, unlike the other candidates, not to mention comeeges, who has to go...oops, i mentioned comeegees.
the ? 's are:
Are you for or against...whatever...new police chief, redevelopment of downtown, redevelopment of the north prong of the river Wi, the bricks, the TIF's, a new library, the sale of #2 firehouse, and on & on.
Don't forget, if comeygis gets elected, he wants to appoint his successor on the council...
4:41 --
That would be Lynn Cathcart for sure!
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