As I hope most of you know, I was on “AM Salisbury” this morning. It’s getting to be old hat I guess – I’m not even sure anyone at my workplace listened and that’s a shame. Haven’t gotten any other feedback either so maybe I didn’t plug this appearance enough.
But I thought I did okay, I managed to make most of the points I went in to make. As I expected, a lot of the conversation revolved around the Congressional race, particularly Gilchrest vs. Harris. Obviously Bill wanted a bit of a plug for his upcoming interview with Andy Harris, and I thought it was sort of funny when he’s asking me about questions I’d ask Andy. Bill was trying to steal my thunder a little bit but then again it’ll be a month or two before I do my Ten Questions.
I did want to add a little bit to the comment about my feelings about environmentalism. Most of my disagreement with Wayne Gilchrest regarding the field comes from his dogged opposition to drilling in ANWR. Yes, I understand that we may only have a finite supply of oil, but placing our economic fate in the hands of a number of countries who frankly are envious of our freedom and standard of living and would love to put the screws to us makes me very nervous. It’s bad enough that we have to import gasoline because we cannot refine enough to supply our needs, but if a couple of our main suppliers turn off the spigot we’re in a world of hurt thanks to the shortsightedness of people like Gilchrest.
But I also take issue with those who simply place environment over development. Folks, we have a LONG way to go before we’ve paved the Eastern Shore. And in general I also prefer that development take place in areas with established infrastructure but there are times where the economics are advantageous to open up new areas to development (such as Blackwater.) Unfortunately, we have an administration in Annapolis that swings too far in the anti-development direction, even when regulations are followed.
I thought my most effective portion was talking about what I see the role of government as being – expressing part of the philosophy of monoblogue, which is advocating government that is as close to the people as possible. And it was a pretty good sign that we almost stomped the 7:50 break – he did skip one commercial so I guess I got an extra 30 seconds.
So we’ll see what happens and when I’ll be in the next time. I like doing Fridays because it’s my short workday (I only work 7 to 11), thus I can make up the hour pretty easily. Above all, I like getting the opportunity to introduce my website to more people because I’m still looking for another readership peak. It’s been at a pretty decent plateau since the municipal elections (I’ve kept that level of readership even after the elections and budget fight) but I’d like to get another spurt. Might be tough during the summer but I’m going to try to do so anyway.
I hope that you are not suggesting that the area around Blackwater is appropriate for development. Maybe you haven’t been there. In my opinion, it would be like building houses on Assateague Island. We have to stop somewhere. The whole west side of Dorchester County is about six inches above sea level. Hoopers Island is one big flood zone every time they get heavy rain. There is no infrastructure around Blackwater. It is in the middle of nowhere. It is not part of Cambridge or any other town. It would be ridiculous to have dense development in that area. We are lucky the state stepped in to save the day.
I actually felt sorry for you Michael when Bill started getting the best of you on the environment and you started babling. I thought Bill was amazingly calm, but you got pretty rattled.
Let business decide what’s best for the environment? Mother Nature can handle itself? I hope Andee Harris doesn’t share your mindset.
My favorite exchange was when Bill said you are well known in GOP circles and you responded ” well I outta be, I’m on the central committee.”
Quick — anyone — name two members of the Wicomico Republican Central Committee.
Stick to blogging about Ohio politics, Michael — that’s where you’re strongest. More about Marcy Kaptor and Paul Gilmor and Steve Latourette. Spare us the Andy Harris equals Ronald Reagan declarations.
Wayne touting being an environmentalist is a crime. From some of the things he supports, to the non-action to oversee the MDE here in Salisbury in regard to intentional pollution, such as the pipes in the zoo that were uncapped as soon as the MDE left town, consistent raw sewage overflows, the sludge pit. Thanks to Joe some of those problems have been addressed, however one must wonder what else goes on behind the curtain of the grand wizard Barry T. Pillman.
Having had many correspondence with his office via e-mail, myself, was very disappointed that I was personally promised that Wayne would be coming here to take a walk at the sludge pit. I was only asking for some federal help to get the mess cleaned up post haste. He doesn’t follow up on his word in my experience with his office. Therefore, having voted for him three times, he’ll never get this democrat’s vote again. That is unless he’s running against Gary Comegys~!
ShoreThings: Not only did the state “step in to save the day”, they bought a good chunk of the site. So hundreds of acres vanished from the tax rolls. And while I’ve not been to the site, people much more familiar with it approved the idea.
Henry: The humor aspect went over your head. But on a serious note to your comment, people really should know who’s on their party Central Committees…they are the representatives in each county.
Maybe I didn’t portray what I wanted to say clearly enough, which is the advantage I have sitting here when I can type as fast as I think. What I was trying to say is that there needs to be more of a balance between business and environment – right now environment has the upper hand.
And by the way, I’ve had the “pleasure” of being represented by both Marcy Kaptur and Paul Gillmor. “Saint” Marcy (dubbed because she can do no wrong according to the Toledo Blade) is really deep in the union’s pockets and Paul Gillmor is pretty close to RINO status. But I truly felt sorry for the areas along Lake Erie that were redistricted out of Gillmor’s 5th District and into Marcy’s 9th District. On the other hand, I was real happy for the area that I grew up in where the situation was reversed.
Tim: We’ll have to get you over to the dark side. 🙂
I am curious who the people were that were much more familiar with it. Were they Republicans looking for a talking point against O’Malley. I hope that the information that we will be getting from you about the Republican election candidates will not just be talking points from party headquarters. When you are discussing issues such as Blackwater that hit so close to home, you need to have first hand knowledge of the topic, or you might wind up losing some credibility. It doesn’t bother me that these acres were taken from the tax rolls. What price do you put on an eagle’s nesting area? BTW, Delegate Elmore spells his name P-A-I-G-E.
Well, given my limited knowledge of Blackwater in particular, I was under the impression that most of the regulatory agencies had given the development its blessing until the final one. But stopping a development that had the potential to help the city of Cambridge because of a perceived threat to the Blackwater watershed – that’s a problem with me. I know the state has pages and pages of regulations that govern development in these areas, and that’s their right. I seem to recall as well that the developer was bending over backwards to conform yet the state (with heavy backing from the anti-development CBF) still said no. In fairness, given the real estate market as it became Blackwater being stopped may have been a blessing but the principle was still incorrect in my view.
As for political coverage, I try not to depend on “talking points”, I attempt to find out what a candidate actually says. And if I get a “talking point” you can be sure I’ll add my two cents to it. Just read how I covered the 2006 election with my Ten Questions and forum attendance.
Oh yeah – according to the ticket I received today and the state website, my spelling on Page Elmore is 100% correct.
I stand corrected. There are many articles on the web with the incorrect spelling of Page that left me misinformed. Like you, I should have gone directly to the source. It is like Mt. Hermon Rd. in Salisbury that is often spelled Mt. Herman in publication.
It’s easy enough to throw ad hominem insults around, and these days that seems to be the common practice on the Web, since it empowers people with anonymity. Thus, I am actually surprised to see that nobody here has accused you of wanting to “pull up the drawbridge” as far as new development goes.
Michael, as a Baltimorean who visits the Eastern Shore no more than twice a year, I think that you who reside there are between a rock and a hard place, regarding development.
But it is indisputable that the residential real estate market is oversaturated on most of the shore. A year ago, it was reported that the number of units then offerred for sale in Ocean City represented more than would ordinarily be sold in TWO years. Then recently, it was reported that residential sales in Rehoboth are off 20% this year, compared to last. I saw abandoned construction projects, and at least one commercial strip that has stood unoccupied since its completion more than two years ago.
Now, I realize that Ocean City does not represent the entire Shore. It’s more akin to the way Baltimore relates to the surrounding counties over here: a pimple on the–I think you understand the illusion.
Still, I am boggled when I read things such as that the town fathers in Snow Hill are permitting a development that will add 2,000 houses to the town. According to the most recent census, the town had only 2,409 residents. Assuming that may have increased to 3,000 this new addition will nearly double the population, changing the character of the area irreversibly. Worse, the government is allowing the developer to build a few hundred houses BEFORE he builds the new sewage treatment plant he has signed up to build. So, if he goes belly-up, guess who gets stuck? To my eye, it appears that real estate developers on the Shore are determined to kill the goose that laid the golden egg, and the politicians–who are also in a position to benefit from the process–are abetting them in the process.
I have something to say about ANWR, but that will require a separate posting here.
Stan Modjesky
Gwynn Oak
Actually Michael, in November’s election I did vote for more Republicans than Democrats, or at least 50-50. I’m trying to figure what would be to my advantage, and maybe switch parties in time to make a vote in the primaries, if I think it can make a difference or I feel that strongly about certain candidates, however that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t switch back in time for the general election when I can vote either way. The way politics flip flops these days I guess voters need to know how to flip like a pancake too…….LoL Peace
Well, be my guest and switch parties. It brings me two steps closer to my goal of evening out the numbers between the parties (one less D and one more R.)
Of course, election results speak for themselves – the last Democrat governor or Presidential candidate to carry Wicomico County was William Donald Schaefer in 1986.