Same Time Next Year
-
It’s been nearly a year since I wrote about the problems that come from
having 11 bosses who are not on the same page about anything, as well as
suggestion...
2 years ago
February 29, 2008
Allegiant and Blue Man Group
Great story. Imagine if we had Allegiant flying in Blue Men Group for the opening of the Hanover Theatre?
Abandoned Building Ordinance
Click here and then start reading page 141 of 864. This is an existing ordinance that was created after the Cold Storage Building fire. It is a great ordinance and applies attention where needed and should be enforced. Besides securing the building the owner must maintain liability insurance. If a property owner does not comply they can be fined up to $300 per day.
February 28, 2008
Baltimore Plan
The basis of the registration plan below is based on a similar plan from the City of Baltimore. I was able to get some information on the Baltimore Plan. Please note:
a) charitable entities (non-profits)
b) governmental entities that both own and operate the property
are not required to pay the application renewal fee in Baltimore .
a) charitable entities (non-profits)
b) governmental entities that both own and operate the property
are not required to pay the application renewal fee in Baltimore .
Councilor Germain Plan
I am a landlord in the City of Worcester. It is an investment, but unlike any other investment it is a job and I think we do a pretty good job at it. In last week's WoMag, I read about a plan sponsored by Councilor Germain to address "problem properties". From past experience, nothing makes our lives more miserable then abutting run-down properties.
As I read the story, however, the plan proposes levying registration fees against ALL non-owner occupied properties, not just "problem properties". To quote Councilor Germain "it's not going to break the bank for landlords, just make them more attentive to their properties." What if someone is already attentive?
In addition Councilor Germain also wants to have annual inspections of renter occupied apartments. Do we have the staff to inspect every non-owner occupied rental unit, which would have to include all the apartments owned by the Worcester Housing Authority, the colleges and the CDC's?
Punishing all landlords of all non-owner occupied units clearly does not address the "problem properties", but merely drives up the costs for good landlords. How about this for an idea, why don't we simply crack down on existing code violations and enforce the Abandoned Building Ordinance?
Lastly what message does this send to the good landlords in the City of Worcester or potential investors considering buying property in Worcester?
As I read the story, however, the plan proposes levying registration fees against ALL non-owner occupied properties, not just "problem properties". To quote Councilor Germain "it's not going to break the bank for landlords, just make them more attentive to their properties." What if someone is already attentive?
In addition Councilor Germain also wants to have annual inspections of renter occupied apartments. Do we have the staff to inspect every non-owner occupied rental unit, which would have to include all the apartments owned by the Worcester Housing Authority, the colleges and the CDC's?
Punishing all landlords of all non-owner occupied units clearly does not address the "problem properties", but merely drives up the costs for good landlords. How about this for an idea, why don't we simply crack down on existing code violations and enforce the Abandoned Building Ordinance?
Lastly what message does this send to the good landlords in the City of Worcester or potential investors considering buying property in Worcester?
February 27, 2008
Forge Works Farm Fundraiser in Memory of Elias
I have way too much fun with this blog and have met alot of great people, who I have never met? Harry Tembenis is helping with a fundraiser for Forge Works Farm, you can read below in Harry's own words. I believe Harry mentioned the cost was $35, my wife and I will be going and I hope to see some others from the blog.
Bill
OK folks … tired of a dormant downtown? … streets rolling up at 05:00pm? Do you want to breathe life into the downtown area and generate some economic spinoff while helping a worthwhile cause? Then come on down to the Dzian gallery on Water Street on April 19 from 06:00-09:00pm for good food , music , drinks & conversation for a fundraiser in my son’s memory with proceeds going to Ride With Pride at Forge Works Farm
The event will have a Mediterranean/Greek/Middle Eastern feel and will most likely sell out so get your tickets early by calling the gallery or stopping by and picking them up beforehand. Hippotherapy or therapeutic horseback riding therapy was started by Alexander the Great back in Ancient Greece to help recover soldiers wounded in battle. The Germans perfected this type of therapy back in the 1960’s and it is an accepted medical practice in the European community for neurological, behavioral and various physical handicaps. We are blessed to have such a facility such as this available in Central Massachusetts, let alone New England.
This type of therapy helped my son tremendously with his autism and I witnessed it help many children/young adults with cerebral palsy, MS ,Autism, stroke victims, etc. So come on down and help a worthy cause while rubbing elbows with yours truly!
Sincerely,
Harry Tembenis
Bill
OK folks … tired of a dormant downtown? … streets rolling up at 05:00pm? Do you want to breathe life into the downtown area and generate some economic spinoff while helping a worthwhile cause? Then come on down to the Dzian gallery on Water Street on April 19 from 06:00-09:00pm for good food , music , drinks & conversation for a fundraiser in my son’s memory with proceeds going to Ride With Pride at Forge Works Farm
The event will have a Mediterranean/Greek/Middle Eastern feel and will most likely sell out so get your tickets early by calling the gallery or stopping by and picking them up beforehand. Hippotherapy or therapeutic horseback riding therapy was started by Alexander the Great back in Ancient Greece to help recover soldiers wounded in battle. The Germans perfected this type of therapy back in the 1960’s and it is an accepted medical practice in the European community for neurological, behavioral and various physical handicaps. We are blessed to have such a facility such as this available in Central Massachusetts, let alone New England.
This type of therapy helped my son tremendously with his autism and I witnessed it help many children/young adults with cerebral palsy, MS ,Autism, stroke victims, etc. So come on down and help a worthy cause while rubbing elbows with yours truly!
Sincerely,
Harry Tembenis
Mortgage Rates
I feel bad for many of the people who bought houses that they can not afford and now face foreclosure. At the same time when do we start holding people responsible for their own actions?
During my lifetime I have had maybe 10-15 different mortgages. Each time I am given a choice between a lower adjustable rate or a higher fixed rate. Every single time I have gone with the higher fixed rate to lock in a payment and paid extra. Bad enough I know each year my taxes and insurance go up, at least my principal and interest payment stay the same. Again I feel bad for anyone in foreclosure but why should we bail someone out for their bad decisions?
Maybe if the City of Worcester did not give first time low-mod income home owners down payment assistance or "soft" second mortgages, the home-owner in trouble never would have been able to get the 1st mortgage that is now being foreclosed on. I umderstand the gut reaction to help someone, but their is no better teacher then the forces of the free market.
During my lifetime I have had maybe 10-15 different mortgages. Each time I am given a choice between a lower adjustable rate or a higher fixed rate. Every single time I have gone with the higher fixed rate to lock in a payment and paid extra. Bad enough I know each year my taxes and insurance go up, at least my principal and interest payment stay the same. Again I feel bad for anyone in foreclosure but why should we bail someone out for their bad decisions?
Maybe if the City of Worcester did not give first time low-mod income home owners down payment assistance or "soft" second mortgages, the home-owner in trouble never would have been able to get the 1st mortgage that is now being foreclosed on. I umderstand the gut reaction to help someone, but their is no better teacher then the forces of the free market.
February 25, 2008
RKG Housing Study
In 2002 the City of Worcester had a consultant, RKG, do a Housing Study. Take a moment and read the conclusions. Jahn, even you read it, it is only two pages. At the time, it was released the report was attacked and none of the recommendations were followed.
Instead of hiring another consultant to another study, maybe we should dust off the RKG report and read it again? It is pretty scary how right they have been.
Instead of hiring another consultant to another study, maybe we should dust off the RKG report and read it again? It is pretty scary how right they have been.
Michael Bolton
Sent an e-mail and left him a voice mail to the Westover Airport Director. No response to either? no 4th blog interview coming soon.
February 24, 2008
Myrtle Beach
Southern Skyways now flies from 7 secondary airports to Myrtle Beach. Couple that with 6 secondary airports to Myrtle Beach from Myrtle Beach Direct and Myrtle Beach is definately a hot destination.
Lets hope we are talking to both of these airlines.
Lets hope we are talking to both of these airlines.
February 23, 2008
Skybus
Lets all assume for a second that the airline that Mr Nemeth was referring to is in fact Skybus. I had actually thought originally that it was Festival, but the more I think about it Skybus does make more sense and our blogger (Roger) says it is in fact Skybus.
I only hope that they are direct flights and not simply to Columbus, where you transfer. I personally would take a flight from ORH to Florida direct on Skybus, but if there is a stop in Columbus then I would most likely go JetBlue or Southwest.
I only hope that they are direct flights and not simply to Columbus, where you transfer. I personally would take a flight from ORH to Florida direct on Skybus, but if there is a stop in Columbus then I would most likely go JetBlue or Southwest.
February 22, 2008
Destination Worcester
This is the other organization through the Chamber of Commere. They could be very effective, I have no idea. By the looks of the website, however, they started a search on May 17th for a Sports and Events Sales Manager, but some 9 months later the job is still posted.
February 21, 2008
City Mgr Touts Single Tax Rates
I attended an event last night of the Worcester Local First last night at the Beechwood. Check out their website. At the event City Manager O'Brien mentioned the need for a single property tax rate. I do the story no justice, click here for Christina Davis of the Worcester Business Journal summary.
Choose Worcester
Choose Worcester. It is way too early to tell and we all got to give Choose Worcester a chance but I just went on the website and as a business-owner, the first thing I look at is the "services" link.
Everything listed here are programs offered through the Economic Development Office. Some of these programs, specifically the Storefront Improvement and Facade Program I could spend the next week talking about. Listing National Grid as a reason to Choose Worcester???
Bottom line there is nothing original on this website but merely a compilation of other websites information and links back to these other websites. Again it is early but, for now, very unimpressed.
Everything listed here are programs offered through the Economic Development Office. Some of these programs, specifically the Storefront Improvement and Facade Program I could spend the next week talking about. Listing National Grid as a reason to Choose Worcester???
Bottom line there is nothing original on this website but merely a compilation of other websites information and links back to these other websites. Again it is early but, for now, very unimpressed.
Elks Update
Met a guy on the board last night. They had cancelled all events at the Elks and it did look like they were closing. Now they are changing their minds. They are not closing.
February 20, 2008
What other Chambers do
Downtown Main Street program in Nebraska, click here.
Chamber raises 158,000 in travel vouchers to recruit an airline in Salem, Oregon, click here.
Chamber raises 158,000 in travel vouchers to recruit an airline in Salem, Oregon, click here.
Chamber of Commerce
Other then once per year when a letter is written to editor, with a few radio cameo appearances, regarding the dual tax rate. Where is the Chamber of Commerce the other 51 weeks per year?? On a serious note:
- The whole FOG (Fats, Oil and Grease) ordinance that has effected hundreds of eating establishments does anyone have any idea how the Chamber of Commerce feels about this ordinance?
- The airport has anyone ever heard the Chamber of Commerce really come out on this. Sure they will say something like "we support the airport", but what does that mean?
- Take an issue like the Wyman Gordon parcel where a developer wanted a zone change and did not get it, where was the Chamber of Commerce?
- The bedroom fees for new construction are now at $1,320 per bedroom when it was $660 bedroom three years ago, what does the Chamber of Commerce have to say about that?
- Political endorsements from the Chamber?
We desperately need a strong Chamber of Commerce more then ever and we simply do not have one.
February 19, 2008
Who is Armand Carriere?
About three, maybe it was four years ago, I was asked to be on the Mayor's (Murray) task force to look into the PILOT issue. After some thought, I agreed but was very very skeptical.
It started out slow, but due to the leadership of former State Rep Jim Leary. representatives from CEO's for cities and a great group of college students, we put together a solid clear path for the City of Worcester. Let me recommend that you click here and read it. I am very proud of this 24 page concise report.
The recommendations were awesome and capitalized on the successes of other cities that have had the same problems as the City of Worcester. In the end, we had two main recommendations:
It started out slow, but due to the leadership of former State Rep Jim Leary. representatives from CEO's for cities and a great group of college students, we put together a solid clear path for the City of Worcester. Let me recommend that you click here and read it. I am very proud of this 24 page concise report.
The recommendations were awesome and capitalized on the successes of other cities that have had the same problems as the City of Worcester. In the end, we had two main recommendations:
- A structure must be put in place to make the examples laid out by other cities a reality in Worcester. That was done in the form of the Univercity Partnership.
- "Specific reporting requirements and measurement tools must be established and enforced". This was never done!!!!!
As a result nobody has a clue who Armand Carriere is and the efforts of this task force have never been realized. By the way Armand Carriere is the Executive Director of the Univercity Partnership, who was suppose to make our recommendations a reality and our task force a success.
In the end although the process was great, the implemenation of the task force recommendations was awful and I would never waste my time to participate in another task force again. Versus the same PILOT issue coming up every two years at election time, maybe someone should ask about the "specific reporting and measurement tools" regarding the Univercity Partnership to see how we are doing with the recommendations of the task force?
February 18, 2008
Downtown Update
Bancroft Liquors has closed and I heard the Super 88 Supermarket is not coming for the Mayo Group.... Keep a close watch on McFadden's.
Again I just want to emphasize that I take no satisfaction in any business going out of business. As a fellow business-owner I know how hard it is to run your own business and how devastating it must be to close something you work and worry about night and day. I only do this to point out the seriousness of the situation and hope someone takes notice and replaces rhetoric with action.
Again I just want to emphasize that I take no satisfaction in any business going out of business. As a fellow business-owner I know how hard it is to run your own business and how devastating it must be to close something you work and worry about night and day. I only do this to point out the seriousness of the situation and hope someone takes notice and replaces rhetoric with action.
February 17, 2008
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