In Thursday's Daily Times, an op-ed by Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt attempts to argue the County Council should not make any hasty decisions about the WCLCB. Unfortunately, Pollitt's arguments are so one sided that they infer a position that he claims not to take - namely keeping the dispensary system intact.
Pollitt opens his argument by applauding "open government". Well, I wouldn't expect Rick to oppose Mom or the flag either. It is irrelevant to the piece, but Pollitt needs to be careful of throwing stones in his "glass house" of transparency. The current handling of future funding for PAC-14 (a subject of a future post) is one example his administration not operating in a transparent manner.
From here on, Pollitt attempts his famous fence-straddling act:
Pollitt then hedges his bet's further. He's against the government being in the liquor business but... We shouldn't make any hasty decisions ...
First of all, this is not an issue of whether the government should be in the liquor business. This is an issue with two primary components:
Pollitt's main argument is that we shouldn't be hasty. He's right. However, I don't remember Pollitt saying that we "shouldn't be hasty" when he was shilling for Gov. Martin O'Malley's tax increases.
The County Council is not being hasty. They are being deliberative. If this matter goes to referendum in November, that is but one step in a multi-year process.
Such a referendum, assuming that it passes, is non-binding. The county government would then need to formally petition the legislature to dismantle the WCLCB. The legislature would have to pass such a measure and then O'Malley would have to sign it. There is plenty of time to explore zoning and other issues.
Pollitt argues that dismantling the current system be revenue-neutral. Yet, that is exactly what the Council is attempting to do with their study committee.
Pollitt is not a stupid man. Therefore, when he argues that we need to prevent "new liquor stores from cropping up on every corner" and that we need to preserve "the integrity of our neighborhoods" we have to infer that his is being disingenuous about wanting to end this antiquated and corrupt system.
Wicomico County's Liquor Licensing Board will ensure that there won't be a liquor store on every corner. Even if they didn't, the market would. Even if the market didn't work, as far too many Democrats seem to believe, the county and municipal governments can insure that the integrity of our neighborhoods are preserved. Of course we can only hope that Salisbury's government would do a better job with this than they do in regulating the city's slumlords.
If Pollitt was genuine about these concerns, why isn't he taking the lead on issues like impact fees and an adequate public facilities ordinance that would have a lasting impact on our county? Instead he is trying to drag the feet of county government on this issue and wailing about the revenue cap the rest of the time.
cross posted at Delmarva Dealings
Pollitt opens his argument by applauding "open government". Well, I wouldn't expect Rick to oppose Mom or the flag either. It is irrelevant to the piece, but Pollitt needs to be careful of throwing stones in his "glass house" of transparency. The current handling of future funding for PAC-14 (a subject of a future post) is one example his administration not operating in a transparent manner.
From here on, Pollitt attempts his famous fence-straddling act:
If the information requested by the County Council of the Liquor Control Board is, in fact, public information, it should be provided fully and immediately. Why add to a climate of acrimony and mistrust by stubbornly clinging to a no-win position?IF? No Rick, there is no "if" about it. The WCLCB is a public agency. As such there finances are open to public scrutiny. Your own county attorney says so.
Pollitt then hedges his bet's further. He's against the government being in the liquor business but... We shouldn't make any hasty decisions ...
First of all, this is not an issue of whether the government should be in the liquor business. This is an issue with two primary components:
Government should not by in ANY business. Government cannot perform most tasks as well as the private sector. If we want government to control the wholesale and retail distribution of controlled substances, such as alcohol, why don't we shut down all of the pharmacies and let government handle that as well?Pollitt is a Democrat and a nice guy. Therefore he would be loathe to address either of the main arguments for dismantling the dispensary system. If he publicly agrees that government should not be in ANY business, he may well be kicked out of his own party. Being a nice guy he doesn't want to address the second argument because it may offend some folks.
The second major component is one that is particular to Wicomico County. The WCLCB is cheating the taxpayers. While the WCLCB claims to be the friend of the taxpayer, we already know that the Wicomico taxpayer is being cheated out of tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. Every dollar spent on their political advertising is money that should be going to the taxpayer. Why are two board members receiving contracts from the WCLCB? Why is money that ultimately belongs to the taxpayers of Wicomico County going to sundry non-profit groups? If I want to donate to the Boy Scouts, the Leukemia Society, or some social club then I will. Who gave three non-elected appointees the authority to give away the taxpayers' money?
Pollitt's main argument is that we shouldn't be hasty. He's right. However, I don't remember Pollitt saying that we "shouldn't be hasty" when he was shilling for Gov. Martin O'Malley's tax increases.
The County Council is not being hasty. They are being deliberative. If this matter goes to referendum in November, that is but one step in a multi-year process.
Such a referendum, assuming that it passes, is non-binding. The county government would then need to formally petition the legislature to dismantle the WCLCB. The legislature would have to pass such a measure and then O'Malley would have to sign it. There is plenty of time to explore zoning and other issues.
Pollitt argues that dismantling the current system be revenue-neutral. Yet, that is exactly what the Council is attempting to do with their study committee.
Pollitt is not a stupid man. Therefore, when he argues that we need to prevent "new liquor stores from cropping up on every corner" and that we need to preserve "the integrity of our neighborhoods" we have to infer that his is being disingenuous about wanting to end this antiquated and corrupt system.
Wicomico County's Liquor Licensing Board will ensure that there won't be a liquor store on every corner. Even if they didn't, the market would. Even if the market didn't work, as far too many Democrats seem to believe, the county and municipal governments can insure that the integrity of our neighborhoods are preserved. Of course we can only hope that Salisbury's government would do a better job with this than they do in regulating the city's slumlords.
If Pollitt was genuine about these concerns, why isn't he taking the lead on issues like impact fees and an adequate public facilities ordinance that would have a lasting impact on our county? Instead he is trying to drag the feet of county government on this issue and wailing about the revenue cap the rest of the time.
cross posted at Delmarva Dealings
12 comments:
"Government should not by in ANY business."
I guess you propose getting out of the civic center business ASAP too, right?
BC in NC
Not only should the fate of the WCLB be voted on in a referendum when we go to the polls in November; the fate of the Office of the County Executive and Rick Pollitt should be on the same ballot. Nothing has been accomplished since it's creation, other than to increase the cost of government to the taxpayer. People thought things would change when this position was created. What has changed? Nothing! Except there is another layer of government to go through, Under the table pay increases for Pollitt's staff, land deals that were suspect which was only brought to light due to a certain blogger's diligence, He was a big supporter of O'Malley's tax increases and has displayed a determined effort to overturn the tax cap, His fence straddling position on the WCLB issue is the latest. He did not support the best Department head he had in the County by allowing him to resign after having burdened him with the responsibility of three departments. It is difficult enough to manage and run one department let alone three. Sharma's only fault was trusting his senior employee. There are more problems at WCDC than the landfill ever had. Pollitt has done nothing to address that issue which has the potential to cost the taxpayers mega bucks via lawsuits. Oh, I forgot, just like the landfill losses, insurance will cover it. Last I heard, insurance goes up when you have claims, but no problem, the taxpayers will cover the increase.Just how much is it costing the taxpayers to keep the County Executive office anyway? Pollitt's 100k + salary, Ted Shay's 100k+ salary, how many other support personnel salaries, cost of the office space and equipment, and the rehiring of Mat Creamer as the County Administrator at ? dollars? This is not working out people. The WCLB issue is a small thing compared to this one.
"If Pollitt was genuine about these concerns, why isn't he taking the lead on issues"
He is. At least he ran for public office to try to do something instead of hiding behind a blog and slinging mud from a red-house of propaganda. Actions speak louder than words...no matter what spin you put on those words GA.
You guys crack me up. Agree with me. Disagree with me. Just make a cogent argument.
1. The Civic Center isn't a business. It was never intended to be a business. However, it should be operated so that any subsidy is minimized.
This is not something that the private sector can do well. If you want to give up the economic impact of every concert, dog show, Monster Truck event, etc. then fine - petition your elected officials to shut it down.
However, when the fire trucks don't roll, etc. you shouldn't complain.
2. You have some valid points, but if you want to re-amend the charter you better get a lot of signatures fast. I preferred the old system (owing to my Virginia years). However, I also happen to think that Rick is doing an overall good job. I just don't expect to agree with him on everything. Many things I give him a free pass, this is one I won't because the issue is very important to me.
3. Nothing like a good misquote. Where has Pollitt taken the lead on an APFO or on more impact fees?
I also love the notion that unless you run for public office, which I reluctantly did BTW, you somehow give up your right to free speech or petition your elected officials?
Sounds an awful lot like Louise Smith in Barrieland to me.
I feel Mr. Pollitt is an honorable man and we are very lucky that someone of his personal character stepped up to run for the office. We could have Alessi who is a part of this awful situation that we find ourselves in. The WLCB is another issue. Mr. Pollitt needs to take a firm stand on this issue and show the backbone that the people expect from our executive. Because of of the WLCB's determination to not be accountable to anyone, we have a group of people who are out of control. So taxpayers, let Mr. Pollitt hear from you now.
I haven't heard the WLCB say they wouldn't ever give up records - just that they wouldn't give them to liars and grandstanders on a council that has no jurisdiction over the LCB under the existing charter. I think they offered them to the executive's office, which now has jurisdiction.
And the sewer problems you guys are having now... GUYS SERIOUSLY, you need to fix this 1st, before anything else. Don't wait until you have 400,000 gallons spilled on the 4th of July, then another 300,000 spilled on the next 4th of July. And after all that, the only reason this town (Wilmington, NC) fixed - no, started to fix - the problem was because the state fined the city (taxpayers really) and stopped all new building AND upfit permits.
Do you really want to prove ol Gov. Don Schaefer right?
BC
BC -
You should check things out a little more before you attempt to form sentences.
No one in the county government has "jurisdiction" over the WCLCB, EXCEPT that the county council can legislate how much of the Board's profit they are allowed to keep.
While I'm sure you believe that you are being clever, you would be wrong. The WCLCB is a public agency. Therefore, they had better cough up requested information to the council - or anyone else who asks. In fact, that's precisely what they did after their lawyer was made aware of how bad he and the board would look in court if they kept up this foolishness. The manure about the County Executive was just the lawyer's way of trying to browbeat the council some more.
Fortunately, he failed.
At least Rick does agree we shouldn't be in the business. If Rick wasn't in there hmmm just think of the alternative we had? It wouldn't look good on that board or their attorney if the Sheriff's Department has to show up with a warrant for documents and question employees would it? All that needs to be done is establish that a crime has been committed and covered up?
There should be enough inventory in those stores if sold would fill the void of that revenue for at least two years until the rest of the details are worked out to replace the revenue. You don't have to sell it to me G.A., I want to see it gone! It's going to take the "stone's" to get the job done. Keep at'um, good job!
Have the receipts been turned over yet?? I read somewhere that their attorney said he would get it done but I haven't heard that he did. Are they not listening to their attorney now? That would be a good guess.
G.A., you are quite right; it will take just as many signatures to get a referendum to get rid of the Office on the ballot as it did to create the Office in the first place. Rick Pollitt may very well be a nice guy, but let's face it, the experiment did not work.
M.S.
I agree with 833, we're spending more than we're saving, just creating more hurdles. Its easy t get comfy and let things roll off your back. Hell, we knew he wasnt oin to save us any money when he handed out fat raises right off the get-go! The tax cap needs to be written so we can utilize new tax revenue but not off the current residences. We need road maintenence bad, and many other things too. I say re-write the cap or do away with the executive dept.
I'm not gonna throw personal attacks at the council, but based on their backgrounds, and education, or lack thereof (two high school dropouts on county council are the ones asking all the questions of the LCB) I have serious doubts in their ability to make things any better. It's funny how bad all your local governments are according to you, yet you want the council looking into the LCB as much as they can.
BC
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