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Sunday, July 17, 2016

A Viewer Writes: County Economic Development

Good Morning Joe!!! 

First and foremost I would like to say thank you for actually saying what's in your mind and not going with the majority and the spineless that are SUPPOSED to be leading Wicomico County and Salisbury. My question is and has been why has there not been any re-assessment of the Wicomico County Economic Development position. This has gotten swept under the table long enough and needs to be questioned even if it ruffles a few feathers.

I realize that Dave Ryan is a man of character and integrity, a very soft spoken man but I think the time has come to question exactly what is going on. The 150,000/year salary and the taxpayers of Wicomico County deserve more than what has transpired and the meek forecast.

43 comments:

  1. You can hardly blame Dave Ryan and staff for the economic woes on the Shore, let alone the world. The local problem is the liberal-controlled State House in Annapolis. If we're really a job-friendly state as O'Malley claimed, we would've seen the results during his two terms. But things won't change in MD until more business-friendly conservatives are elected to serve in Annapolis.

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  2. What's up with Kathy Bassett being hired?

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  3. 9:44, You are right and you are wrong.

    You are right in the sense that we have liberal leaders in Annapolis who have in fact made our lives here on the Shore more difficult and have been there for far too long.

    However, here's where you are wrong.

    All it takes is to find a very STRONG LEADER here on the Shore to turn things around. To sit there and simply GIVE UP because of representatives in Annapolis is just a load of crap.

    Unfortunately, that's how the Shore has lost. That is only part of the reason so many can easily point fingers elsewhere instead of our representatives taking charge.

    Let me give you some examples.

    The Eastern Shore is certainly not surrounded by extremely high paying government jobs surrounding Washington, D.C..

    That being said, Shore Leadership must think out of the box and STUDY what we do have and build on just that. For example, when I ran for Mayor of Salisbury I talked about recreating the Riverwalk into something similar to San Antonio Texas. VISION! Close off the Downtown Plaza on Friday and Saturday night and create a Bourbon Street.

    As for the County, I have already proposed taking all the acreage the County owns on the Wicomico River and turn it into a very upscale Campground and Water Park. Bring in small cabins and go to the big hitters like Perdue, (just as an example) and have them build the Water Park. The County can simply take a percentage of sales but private investors can pony up all the money it would cost to develop the Campground. The County would always own the property but if you think this isn't possible, all one has to do is look at how Disney was built. Why do you think there's a GE Carousel in Disneyland. The entire Park is sponsored and built by huge corporations. Disney just takes a percentage of ticket sales.

    The Eastern Shore is unique, yet NO ONE is willing to think OUT OF THE BOX. The special interests have complete control of what is or isn't done around here. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, the faces may change but the politics always stay the same.

    So why do we have so much traffic on Salisbury News, because I am the only one willing to challenge the status quot. The special interests are making millions off of what they have and they WANT inequality, depression and they want you dependent. This way they buy up all the housing and you have to rent from them. They want to buy buildings Downtown for $5,000.00 or a Marina for ONE DOLLAR. It's all going to special interests who have special interest financing the normal Joe could never dream of getting.

    Until someone comes along, recognizing just how much advantage they are taking from you, nothing here will ever change.

    Bob Culver had some great visions for Wicomico County and so did Jake Day. HOWEVER, funny how ALL of that has disappeared. Funny how only a special group of friends are being handed municipal owned properties for next to nothing.

    So stop placing all the blame on our representatives from Annapolis. Look or start in your own back yard and demand accountable change.

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  4. Isn't it the RESPONSIBILTY of Ryan and his staff to initiate economic growth for wicomico county??? We can't just sit around and wait for businesses to come here we obviously don't offer anything enticing to them now. The only thing going are pot and mass chicken farms!! Like a previous post stated this close to the Atlantic ocean and Chesapeake bay there HAS to be a different approach

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  5. 10:33, It amazes me that Ryan is not only a topic, I can't believe the guy is still in that position. Once again, it's all about the elected faces changing but the politics remain the same. Open your eyes people, your elected officials don't want to change a thing. Hence, why they keep the language in the Charter whereas you must be a resident of the County for FIVE years if you want to run for County Executive. Not that it really matters because if you get a guy like me running they'll just rig the election. Even the Daily Times agreed but they couldn't put their finger on HOW.

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  6. I'm sure Ryan's job performance evaluations etc are based on the economic growth and financial well being of the county?? This record would get you fired from any other job but the good ol boy system here in Wicomico county

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  7. Nice guy, known him for years. But how do you go from selling candy to a economic development officer ? Just wondering.

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  8. Joe, your comments are so right. The only people with real vision are ones that have had experiences off the Eastern Shore or true visionaries like a Leighton Moore, and boy could Wicomico use a Leighton Moore.

    However, look what we have sitting in the executive office. Culver and Kenney, who have farming backgrounds and small (failed) business experience and the leach Strausburg, who if really examined, probably ran English's into the ground.

    Culver was given a chance because everyone was sick of Pollitt and the good old boys. His business background, though weak, did give us some hope for major change. What we have gotten is major fail.

    Until someone has enough spine to hire someone who will challenge the status quo, this county will continue to sink further until it truly becomes what Governor Schaefer once called it.

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  9. Isn't Ryan connected to an old Salisbury family through marriage? It is those kinds of people who live in a "protected" class around here. Most of the people in high positions locally would be fired in a corporate world.

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  10. Pollitt upset the Good Ol' Boys and they all ran like a bat out of hell. Pollitt thought he was too big to take down and he learned a very serious lesson.

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  11. Leighton Moore, what a great idea! Maybe Culver should have a conversation with him. He is local, so maybe he wouldn't be so scary plus he has a proven track record of success.

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  12. So Joe, I guess Bob is sucking up to the Good Ol'Boys in hopes of keeping his job. How do you think that will work for him? ROFL

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  13. Joe your comment about a waterpark is a great idea. Wicomico needs to be a destination and not just have a road you take to get to the beach.

    I agree with previous comments about how this county should be really prosperous with its great location. Until we start getting outside money, the current tax base will continue to shrink because those left can't keep up.

    The lack of courage by elected officials and their appointees is very sad for all of us.

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  14. Joe is on target as usual. I think that Joe should run for a State House position representing the Eastern Shore. We need to purge Annapolis of the liberals and get people in there who are both business and Constitution oriented. We need our 2A rights and we need to fix our economy, neither of which are going to happen with the current bunch of dolts that are in office, both local, state and federal.

    Just my two cents.

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  15. How can we have economic growth in Wicomico County when we cant even let a chicken house be built. Nobody wants to put a job here if your going to get nitpicked for every little thing. We need less regulations.

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  16. This may not be the proper place to note that I am embarrassed to say Salisbury is my hometown, but driving down W. main St. yesterday was difficult at best trying to dodge the holes and uneven pavement there, and that isn't the only street I noticed. If Salisbury has money for parks, etc., why don't they have any money to repave the streets, especially heavily travelled ones? I am happy to say we moved out of Salisbury years ago into another state!

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  17. Route 13 business is a state road and it looks like the b-50 twos have flown over at 6 or 7 too many times it's impossible to stay within a three-lane with if you're dodging potholes. It's time for the state to come in and fix it right and not just give Public Works the money to do it on their own because they fail every time they do

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  18. Bobby needs to call Larry. Bobby can't get it done.

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  19. "My question is and has been why has there not been any re-assessment of the Wicomico County Economic Development position."

    That has been my question for a long time. That is why the Council didn't want to support the executive new "ED" position. Why should we the tax payers pay for this twice. The County needs to stop paying for it and if Salisbury wants their own they should get their own.

    I know, I know, Dave Ryan is a nice guy. Yes he is, but can someone tell me what was the last business he brought to Wicomico County. Please do!

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  20. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  21. Anonymous Anonymous said...
    Isn't it the RESPONSIBILTY of Ryan and his staff to initiate economic growth for wicomico county??? We can't just sit around and wait for businesses to come here we obviously don't offer anything enticing to them now. The only thing going are pot and mass chicken farms!! Like a previous post stated this close to the Atlantic ocean and Chesapeake bay there HAS to be a different approach

    July 11, 2016 at 10:33 AM

    Here comes them damn Chicken House haters again. They try to hijack every damn story Joe posts on here and tries to make it a chicken industry crises. They are doing their best to put the chicken industry out of business.

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  22. JoeAlbero said...
    10:33, It amazes me that Ryan is not only a topic, I can't believe the guy is still in that position. Once again, it's all about the elected faces changing but the politics remain the same. Open your eyes people, your elected officials don't want to change a thing. Hence, why they keep the language in the Charter whereas you must be a resident of the County for FIVE years if you want to run for County Executive. Not that it really matters because if you get a guy like me running they'll just rig the election. Even the Daily Times agreed but they couldn't put their finger on HOW.

    July 11, 2016 at 10:44 AM

    You are complaining about giving illegal aliens free tuition after 2 years residency and now you want to change the residency requirement to run for County Executive 1 or 2 years.

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  23. Anonymous said...
    I'm sure Ryan's job performance evaluations etc are based on the economic growth and financial well being of the county?? This record would get you fired from any other job but the good ol boy system here in Wicomico county

    July 11, 2016 at 11:04 AM

    Who does his evaluations and who does he answer to?

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  24. Anonymous said...
    Nice guy, known him for years. But how do you go from selling candy to a economic development officer ? Just wondering.

    July 11, 2016 at 11:24 AM


    Selling candy? What's the story?

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  25. 5:39, Yes, I am. What's the matter, afraid I might run???

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  26. Joe said... Bob Culver had some great visions for Wicomico County and so did Jake Day. HOWEVER, funny how ALL of that has disappeared.


    What were the great ideas and what happened to them?

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  27. However, look what we have sitting in the executive office. Culver and Kenney, who have farming backgrounds and small (failed) business experience and the leach Strausburg, who if really examined, probably ran English's into the ground.

    Culver was given a chance because everyone was sick of Pollitt and the good old boys. His business background, though weak, did give us some hope for major change. What we have gotten is major fail.

    ---

    I bet Kenney, Culver and Strausburg are up in their offices whining about this now. Wah, Wah, Wah! They are about as useless as tits on a boar hog.

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  28. Anonymous said...
    How can we have economic growth in Wicomico County when we cant even let a chicken house be built. Nobody wants to put a job here if your going to get nitpicked for every little thing. We need less regulations.

    July 11, 2016 at 1:18 PM

    The environmentalist like Kathy Phillips and the come heres like Margaret Barnes and Gabby whatever her name his are terrorizing the locals with scare tactics and hiring fat slobs like Maria Payan to go to council meetings and cry about your children getting asthma because of chicken dust. You will never be successful with those idiots agitating. They are worse that Black Lives Matters racists.

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  29. Anonymous said...
    This may not be the proper place to note that I am embarrassed to say Salisbury is my hometown, but driving down W. main St. yesterday was difficult at best trying to dodge the holes and uneven pavement there, and that isn't the only street I noticed. If Salisbury has money for parks, etc., why don't they have any money to repave the streets, especially heavily travelled ones? I am happy to say we moved out of Salisbury years ago into another state!

    July 11, 2016 at 1:59 PM

    I could care less about the pot holes, it's the ghetto trash walking the streets and stealing you blind. Then you have the slumlord ghetto housing that everyone has to drive by no matter where they are going. I am embarrassed to say that I own a house in da 'bury.

    Now that you mention it Parks and Recs is the biggest waste of tax dollars next to the BOE. I have 2 kids and I never ever take them to a park and when I ride by them I notice that no one is using them. Quit wasting my money on "Parks."

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  30. Those of you who defend chicken house development think on too small a playing field. You defending developers from as far away as New York, WHY??? You have HAD U should say at one time pristine ocean and bay front land all you had to do is come up with the necessary adult playgrounds for people that have capital to spend and enjoy life the whole time stimulating your local economy what do you want though let's fight for mega chicken house sprawl and medicinal marijuana. This to those outside of your little lower shore is a major red flag and deterrent. As they say YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID!!!

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  31. the parks aren't bad, but if you ever went into a restroom at the parker complex it would make you sick

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  32. economic dept is nonexistent here and will be for a long time

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  33. Ms. Kenney is not a friend of Mr. Culvers. She has a way of using people to get what she wants. She is just like Cathy Bassett when it comes to using people.

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  34. 5:48 Anonymous said:

    I bet Kenney, Culver and Strausburg are up in their offices whining about this now. Wah, Wah, Wah! They are about as useless as tits on a boar hog.

    Reply:

    They are all thin-skinned and vengeful. I'm sure they are trying to figure out how to get even with everybody. That is what small minds do.

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  35. The views expressed in the post are simply not backed by any facts. Facts are powerful and emotions are not.

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  36. Please @9:08 enlighten us on the last major company that came to Wicomico county to do business?? Here is a fact labinal just finishing up property for sale 2,350,000 FACT

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  37. Kenney does not need to be in that office. After all she and her husband lost a greenhouse business then lost many acres that was given to them. Literally stole it from someone who should have had it.
    She is a real snake in the grass.

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  38. Not much to compete with on the lower shore with Danny Thompson in Somerset County who is bringing in harmful development like wind and solar. No wonder property values are in the dump.

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  39. ryans been there forever and I mean FOREVER. what's changed in wicomico? not a damn thing other then lots of lost jobs! way to go davey, your time sucking off the taxpayer was up long ago. wtf doesn't anyone have the power or guts to fire this leech?

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  40. @2:51 exactly!!! This guy has flown under the radar for years and taken no RESPONSIBILTY for his part and his offices' part in wicomico counties decline

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  41. @2:51 exactly!!! This guy has flown under the radar for years and taken no RESPONSIBILTY for his part and his offices' part in wicomico counties decline. 150,000 year for what!??

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  42. Economic development office here has always been a waste of money.

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  43. I worked beside Wicomico County for twenty years. I watched a lot of good people with good ideas get shit canned in this County. Because they are scared you might come up with a good idea. Every thing starts with zoning. An the Appeals Board, certain members People don't sit in the same seat over thirty years for know reason. You either pay out the nose or you get nothing. Or maybe they will try to have you jailed or Bankrupted. I say to you people open your eyes to the Big Picture. Dave Humphreys

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