Hey Westfield, let me give credit where credit is due from the last City Council meeting. First to Councilor Surprise; I very much agree with him regarding the cannabis stores. 1 is for medicinal and 2 others for personal use is a waste of investment. With so many abutting communities, and Conn., disallowing sales; with numerous colleges in the area; and with the fact that, what 20-30% of West Mass. are consumers already. Having a few more won’t hurt; unless you want long lines, and more shipments, more often? For me, still co-related and a concern most expressed: smoking and driving. We need to look at places where people can smoke. It will be a while before you are allowed to smoke cannabis in hookah bars. Rentals will be questionable pre landlord, and neighbor wants. And, cannot smoke in public, then in cars are what is left. How the wording must be, I am not sure; but some of our, more out of the way, parks might be good, especially as at Whitney where it is planned to have snack bars, and the proximity to clubs by walking distance. Look we are going to, also, have competition from MGM in drawing a market. We had better be able to compete with something.
The other positive issue was the reduction in property taxes for seniors. If I can afford my taxes at cerca $20K per year, I disagree with the $55K per year income. If you are bringing in that kind of money, you should be able to pay your taxes. The idea of an increase in work offs, as VIPS, (which is now only a $500 reduction), I think would be better. And, as one councilor said, having more older/skilled people helping as volunteers would be great. The other aspect is that you pay back 6% interest on all taxes that you did not pay when you die, or sell your house. If you are not dead, and you want to downsize, or move to a retirement village, that could cost you a bunch, when you are least able to afford it. And, if dead, and a spouse is not, a burden you should not leave. Or, if both die, stick it to the kids, or whomever inherits? No.
OK, now for a, I cannot help it, comment: Trump and No. Korea. Did he give Kim global celebrity status for nothing in return? He agreed to end our war games, and will look at reducing our forces, and got what in return? This can not be one of those impulse things that Trump is most famous for. And. not one that flattery is the pay back. Our Intel reports that nuke sites are being enhanced. Kim is as ego centered as Trump, and that ego got really inflated by Trump. Even if there is no status change, Kim wins big time as: now a world class player. Another is the tariff war. The market fully admits it is built on greed, and paranoia; it would not take much to panic it, and with their loyalties to themselves, (not a criticism, just a fact) sell, and shift the fortunes. There is no loyalty to God and country, just to wealth and the status it gives.
Oh, someone in the White House referred to Comey as: Machiavellian. Give me a break…This crew of million/billionaires are Machiavellian. The ends justify the means, and the ends are becoming as rich as you can without regard to the impact on others. How gullible do they think you are, that you do not know this already? This is why we had a great depression, little recessions, and the great recession. Wall St.’s slogan should be it is all about the money, again just way that is. Or, maybe as most con artists they depend upon the ignorance of their mark. That, you have assumed (and do recall the comedy definition for the word assumed.) understanding of what is being said, until you wallet is emptied. Then, is not my problem. They go back to old (I believe), W.C. Fields comment…”never give a sucker an even break, and never teach a chump.” But, I do believe that a lot of folks do not understand the words they parrot. Just as, what, 30-40% of Americans could not pass the civics potions of a citizens test…so too not financial/economics test either. Look at the number of people scammed every year, and the amount of debt the average American is in; no wonder the fear that fills their thinking. Hey folks enjoy the better weather, who says New Englanders are not tough, and the best able to adapt? If we can handle the roller coaster weather we can handle most other things too. Brian Hoose, your former Ward 3 City Councilor. Another, OH, before I go. I want to thank all those wonderful and caring people in Ward 3 who offer my dog Ollie, water, as if she is OK, and give her the chance to cross the street. She is now 14 1/2 and can’t move as fast anymore… Thank you, you are awesome and wonderfully good people. [email protected]
