10/17/2008

 

 

 

 

 

The City of Bellevue “Parks and Natural Areas” Levy

Is Not Just For Parks

 

Voters should take careful notice that the "Parks and Natural Areas Levy" is not just for parks and natural areas and show policy many Bellevue residents are unaware of.

 

Several items listed in the city promotion note '...new sport...amenities..." and 'Expansion of Crossroads Community Center to Support Youth Performing Arts, A larger, improved facility..."

 

The City of Bellevue has a long history of acquiring and caring for parks and open space.  Recent levies, and possibly also bonds, may have been used for items that are not parks or open space.

 

City of Bellevue staff makes a recommendation of parks levy items to the City Council and the City Council endorses or changes what is proposed.  This is worrisome as these other facilities fall under the umbrella of the Parks and Community Services Department - and other programs in this department may one day be proposed to be funded out of a 'parks and open space' levy, such as affordable housing or welfare programs.

 

The taxpayers have been left out of the discussion, but will be paying the tab. 

This is an issue that should be decided by the residents, not just the Bellevue City Council.

 

 

 

 

10/24/2008

 

No matter what your political convictions are this is eye opener....

 

What a thankless people we are!!!

 

David Letterman on President Bush

 

  

 ' As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark

 

 'The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?

 

 The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?''
 

A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
 

B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
 

C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
 

D.. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
 

E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
 

F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
 

G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
 

H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
 

I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
 

J.. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.
 

K.. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
 

L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
 

M.. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?
 

Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.
 

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
 

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
 

Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain or is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it.
 

The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable' ' discharge after a few days in the brig.
 

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?
 

Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!
 

Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'

 

 David Letterman 

 

 

 

10/27/2008

 

2008 Washington Taxpayer-Related Measures

 

( + ) Initiative Measure No. 985, the Reduce Traffic Congestion Initiative, would open carpool lanes for everyone during non-rush hours and would mandate the synchronization of traffic lights. It would also redirect existing funds (including 15 percent of state sales and use taxes on vehicles, along with certain traffic ticket fines and tolls) to congestion relief. Supporters argue this will direct up to $668.6 million to traffic-reduction programs over the first five years.

 

( - ) Initiative Measure No. 1029, the Long-Term Care Initiative, would require those who work with the elderly and disabled to receive more training and become formally certified. It would apply to people hired after January 1, 2010 and cost $23 million to implement from 2010 to 2012. Critics say this measure would increase out-of-pocket care costs for individuals and families.

 

Measures that could lower taxes or control government are listed with a plus sign ( + ), and measures that could raise taxes or expand government are listed with a minus sign ( - ).

 

While this may not be a comprehensive list of all initiatives, it should provide you with some insight on the key taxpayer issues this election season. This guide is for informational purposes only; it is not intended to provide endorsements or recommendations to voters.

You can read NTU's national 2008 General Election Ballot Guide here.

We hope this information will be helpful as you prepare to vote!

Your NTU Grassroots Action Team

 

6/1/2008

Here is the language of the new Tax initiative

INITIATIVE MEASURE NO. 1030

AN ACT Relating to reducing the assessed value of property; adding a new section to chapter 84.40 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 84.40 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The assessed value of property for all privately owned real property must not exceed the property tax on the same property for the tax year ending December 31, 2008, reduced by thirty percent. The reduction provided in this subsection may not shift property taxes. The regular levies of all taxing districts shall be reduced as necessary to prevent the values exempted under this subsection from resulting in a higher tax rate that would have occurred in the absence of the reduction.

(2) For the purposes of this section:

(a) "Privately owned" means not owned by a county, municipality, other political subdivision of the state, or the United States government; and

(b) "Real Property" means all classes of residential, commercial, developed, and undeveloped real estate, including new construction.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The legislature must adopt implementing legislation to carry out the intent of this act, as necessary.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act takes effect January 1, 2009, and applies to all taxes levied and collected in tax year 2009 and thereafter.

 

You can click on this link to see the initiative petition.

 

2/8/2008

The League of Washington Taxpayers is pursuing this Property Tax Reduction Initiative for the following reasons:

 

1)  Current Property Taxes, in our opinion are excessive and border on being confiscatory.

 
2)  Property Taxes having risen every year depending on the existing law pertaining to Evaluation and Assessments. Tax rates vary also and can be different from year to year.
 
3)  The appeal process is a joke and is exceedingly difficult to go through.
 
4)  Many people are paying more in Property Taxes, yearly, than what their annual mortgage payments were.
 
5)  This means you have the title to your property, but are renting your home fro the government.
 
6)  Our Property Tax Survey confirms that a great majority feel the tax is to high and unfair.

 

 

 

Truer Words Were Never Spoken
                                 

" IT IS NOT THE CRITIC WHO COUNTS:...NOT the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have been done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is covered with dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again....who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails while daring greatly." 

These are the words of the 26th President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt...they were true then and remain true today.  These thoughts, with these words, are what thousands of volunteers in our State of Washington believe, and are willing to work getting signatures on Initiatives, talk to neighbors, friends and fellow workers about the important issues we face today. They write letters, make phone calls. put up yards signs and are involved in a dedicated and time consuming manner. Go thou and do likewise!!!