There are space restraints, so my and Councillor Fowler's responses are brief when the issues are always more complicated.
I've talked about these issues with hundreds of voters over the last six months. And I have learned a lot....although I have to say, the 'dog sniffing' question has never come up in conversation.
So in that spirit, I thought it would be fun to try to get YOUR responses on this blog. Below are the questions as posed by the Daily News. Hit the comment button and send me your answers. Whether I agree with your answers, I'd be happy to post them as long as they are not slanderous. If you want to be anonymous, you can do so.
Top priority:
QUESTIONS:
-- Do you think there should be more or less than 250 parking spots on the downtown central waterfront?
-- Do you think historic districts -- ones that restrict what people can and cannot do with and to their properties but at the same time help preserve historic structures and help to increase property value -- are good for the city?
-- Would you support a tax override to raise property taxes in order to help fund the school system, which says it needs money or faces more cuts to its staff and services??
-- Is the practice of using drug dogs to sniff out those with marijuana on
2 comments:
-- Do you think there should be more or less than 250 parking spots on the downtown central waterfront? I'm fine with 250 spaces as long as those spaces are no wider than three feet across, then I have a problem. Seriously, although it was just a proposal the NRA deserves credit for showing me what 240 spaces looks like on those dirt lots. Too much in my opinion, particularly on the East Lot. There has to be a better way.
-- Do you think historic districts -- ones that restrict what people can and cannot do with and to their properties but at the same time help preserve historic structures and help to increase property value -- are good for the city? Absolutely. The historic appearance of this town is a resource. It draws people here and makes them come back. I think the Fruit Street District demonstrated that a nice middle ground can be achieved.
-- Would you support a tax override to raise property taxes in order to help fund the school system, which says it needs money or faces more cuts to its staff and services?? If all other avenues are explored, yes. The state isn't going to help. That's a pipe dream. It simply can't. But I disagree with the question being portrayed as a "school issue." It's a community issue so ALL departments must put under the same microscope that the schools are currently under.
-- Is the practice of using drug dogs to sniff out those with marijuana on Inn Street a tactic Newburyport police should be using? Very tough issue. Although I like the results--getting drugs off the street--I just don't see how this is legal. I think forfeiting our civil rights might be too high a price to pay.
* On waterfront parking, I say keep it the way it is. If people are concerned about appearance, and that too many cars or a dirt lot looks poor on appearance, then the tree committee can build trees around the lot so the dirt and cars can't be seen as easily. Frankly, it's more of a nuisance to see the docks there during the winter than cars there the rest of the year.
* Historic districts send a signal that the city cares to preserve the past. There should be more.
* A debt exclusion makes more sense than a tax override, with tax bills as high as they are.
* People are protected under the Bill of Rights to stand where they want. If a police dog is sniffing Deans' crotch on the street, that's no different than a cop walking up to Deans and frisking him for no reason. It stinks of ACLU lawsuits which the city doesn't need.
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