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Re: Passenger train proponents: Spend big bucks on proposal

jguthrie7 — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 13:49:50 -0000

Amen!

Re: Passenger train proponents: Spend big bucks on proposal

jguthrie7 — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 13:46:40 -0000

Well, not exactly. But Amtrak subsidies are a line item in the budget. Heavy subsidies to other modes -- air, highway and water -- are hidden away or assessed through a variety of externalities that the ignorant can't seem to get their arms around.

Re: Scranton urges Lackawanna County to spend its big surplus on a tax reassessment

jguthrie7 — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 13:38:44 -0000

More important is the area's lack of interest in attracting good, well-paying jobs. There's not a hint from government development agencies or even the Chambers of Commerce that there's even a hint of interest in getting the economy going so as to generate taxable income from others than the seniors and others who are stuck here.

Re: Scranton urges Lackawanna County to spend its big surplus on a tax reassessment

jguthrie7 — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 13:35:57 -0000

And there are some grossly overtaxed ones as well -- heck, I;m paying more for a 2-Bedroom condo than I paid for a 5-Bedroom in New York City. And at least New York City plows the streets -- Scranton did not ploy my street even once last winter.

Re: Scranton urges Lackawanna County to spend its big surplus on a tax reassessment

jguthrie7 — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 13:33:34 -0000

Well, a proper and honest property tax system would assess every square inch of the county -- and your annual tax bill would reflect how much of your taxes pay for streets and highways and schools and non-profits and government and churches and the rest taxpayers get to subsidize.

Re: Scranton urges Lackawanna County to spend its big surplus on a tax reassessment

jguthrie7 — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 13:30:45 -0000

Not to,ommssioners dn;t want a assessment because they or their cronies are getting some sweetheart deals under the current system, and they don't want to upset those deals.

Re: Crystal Window promises 300 jobs for Lackawanna County

jguthrie7 — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 13:24:38 -0000

I wonder what the salary levels will be like. Remember that the equivalent of minimum wage of 40 years ago is more than $22/hour, So a "ggod job" would be at least double that with benefits. I'm sure the Chamber wouldn't be touting this if these jobs didn't contribute to the community, right? Or did this company decide to locate these jobs here because people are so desperate they'll take what pittance theyed?

Re: Passenger train proponents: Spend big bucks on proposal

jguthrie7 — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 13:57:21 -0000

I see the wealth redistribution crowd defending other modes but decrying rail are out in force again. I suppose if this is an example of NEPA thinking, no one should wonder why taxes are high and service crummy, and no smart young people want to stay here. I suppose one could say there's hope for the nation that the young smart ones are leaving as fast as they can, but it doesn't help anyone who wants to make a home here.

Re: Passenger train proponents: Spend big bucks on proposal

jguthrie7 — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 13:54:45 -0000

So, how do you make I-81, I-80 and I380 self supporting? How do you make the streets of Scranton self supporting for that matter?

Re: Passenger train proponents: Spend big bucks on proposal

jguthrie7 — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 13:53:33 -0000

Indeed -- when it comes to transportation the idea of "free Markets" is off the table. No one pulls their car past thefoot of the driveway who doesn't endorse high taxes, big gummint, central planning and all the rest. But don't remind the ignorant, okay?

Re: Passenger train proponents: Spend big bucks on proposal

jguthrie7 — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 13:51:08 -0000

Ineed, Walter Rich was looking at it for the NYS&W, and CR had dermined that Rich was not about to get it.

Re: Passenger train proponents: Spend big bucks on proposal

jguthrie7 — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 13:49:36 -0000

Why would you build a highway that can't support itself? Why would you build an airport that can't support itself?

Re: Transportation, rail officals due at NYC train forum

jguthrie7 — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 13:55:58 -0000

The Times Tribune should do some enterprise reporting and send one or two out to Salt Lake to compare to NEPA. Some perspective as to differences might put the "We'll attract a new minimum-wage paying industry with tax breaks (who'll flee when tax breaks cease) and call it "Economic Development."

Re: Transportation, rail officals due at NYC train forum

jguthrie7 — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 13:55:09 -0000

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the fact that millenials -- especially the entrepreneurial types who are creating lots of wealth are not into the car culture. And buses (especially the expensive transit joke that **is** COLTS are not going to attract modern earners. field trip to see how Salt Lake is doing might be in order -- since opening their regional Light Rail System, they've attracted lots of young people -- particularly millenials -- and soared to the fourth fastest-growing tech area in the nation. Yhey'e getting rich in no small measure because of Light Rail, while here, the politicos are content to tax seniors to death.
Salt Lake also has popular Amrak Service -- and even with the odd hours of the California Zephyr, attracts lots of youn peole making the trip to San Franciso and back.

Re: Transportation, rail officals due at NYC train forum

jguthrie7 — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 13:49:22 -0000

Indeed, the railroad exists to the landfill site, but it needs considerable rehabilitation. and getting trash from NY/NJand Southeastern PA is pretty easy. I suspect that's why RB&N was interested in bidding for the LRA tracks, but as we know, it's Scranton so a No-Bid deal is much better than the highest bidder.

Re: Transportation, rail officals due at NYC train forum

jguthrie7 — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 13:44:25 -0000

The plan to widen I-80 through the Delaware Water Gap is slated to cost well over twice the Scranton rail estimate. and only a small fraction will come from gasoline taxes (one reason Congress has to pass a multi-billion dolar highway bill out of general revenues. To be fair, that $551-million for rail is a 20 year old estimate, so it will be quite a bit higher. But then, a rail line from here to NYC vs five miles of two extra lanes throught the DWG is the comparison one needs to make

Re: Transportation, rail officals due at NYC train forum

jguthrie7 — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 13:41:03 -0000

Nope. And even toll roads don't pay for themselves.

Re: Transportation, rail officals due at NYC train forum

jguthrie7 — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 10:24:27 -0000

Mo one used it? Simply untrue. But the EL was being drained by New Jersey Property taxes and Commuter losses. And taxpayer subsidies to other modes gave people that "free lunch" so many crave while killing off private enterprise.

Re: Transportation, rail officals due at NYC train forum

jguthrie7 — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:18:52 -0000

Well, the plan is to widen I-80 through the DWG -- which will make it more economical to use trucks carrying trash through the DWG. How do you like the idea of being stuck behind two of these odiferous monstrosities climbing the mountain toward Tannersville?

Re: Transportation, rail officals due at NYC train forum

jguthrie7 — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:12:55 -0000

Well, letting Louie off the hook from his original promise to use rail shows how corrupt the local politicians are. But the taxpayers will get to subsidize him through beat up roads from all those trucks. Wonder if the Rail Authority peope have been paid off to keep their mouths shut?

Re: Transportation, rail officals due at NYC train forum

jguthrie7 — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:08:22 -0000

Easy -- Everyone likes wealth redistribution schemes that redistribute the wealth of others (or drag the economy down) when it means edistributing that wealth to themselves. If motorists actually paid their full costs of driving (and taxes other than userfees were reduced accordingly) we'd even approach a free market solution. But people -- notably motorists -- love their free lunch.

Re: Transportation, rail officals due at NYC train forum

jguthrie7 — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 13:52:38 -0000

If there had been any hint of competence when it somes to rail activity in Scranton or Lackawanna County, trains would have been running 10-15 years ago. A sign of the sheer incompetence on the subject is that this meeting is being held at Pocono Manor -- far isolated from any public transportation. That shows how clueless Cartwright and his crew are -- in a way for all to see.

Re: Transportation, rail officals due at NYC train forum

jguthrie7 — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 13:48:53 -0000

So, what's the farebox return on I-80? What would we save if 100% of highway casts came out of fuel taxes? That would mean a substantial tax reduction for some people and higher prices at the pump for others. But nobody likes free markets when it comes to their private automobile.

Re: Indiana governor wants changes to religious-objections law

jguthrie7 — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 10:49:41 -0000

Some of us are old enough to remember that "Religious Freedom" was used to enforce racial segregation too. "Good Christians" needing to not serve people who were "Sons of Ham." The "religious Freedom" law being promoted is no different.
And there's the phony-baloney argument that it mirrors federal alw (and laws in some states). That law prohibits governments from interfering in religious observance. The impetous was narcs going after Native Americans using Peyote in Religious Observance as well as government trying to zone out religions they did not favor from building houses of worship based on the {un]popularity of their faith. Laws in other states are similar -- making it illegal, for example, to use Zoning laws to prohibit a Mosque or Synagogue or Mega-Church. There is ZERO comparison (other than name) with the Federal Law or state laws passed previously.
Of course, we live in a nation where Episcopalians, United Church of Christ, Presbyterians, Unitarians and Reform Jews all wed same-sex couples. The idea that a faith group that teaches this is something abhorrent and then wants government to step in to stop it are the people that the a Religious Freedom Act should be aimed at. Of course, demanding government enforce one's own teaching on other faiths is un-American anyway. Churches are free to marry whom they wish and not marry others -- that's what religious freedom is about.

Re: Durkin: Mall at Steamtown has little chance of staying a shopping mall

jguthrie7 — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 12:10:12 -0000

Having first visited Scranton in 1963 and coming back year after year until moving here last year, it's clear than the Scranton Chamber of Commerce is clueless as to what it takes to make a vibrant city. Durkin & Co. should not be taken seriously. It is a shame that the City continues its death spiral, with ever-rising taxes to maintain services (after a fashion) that characterized a much larger city with real commercial value.
I'm not sure city government has any better handle on what it takes to maintain, let alone revitalize and build Scranton. And I'm not persuaded that most of the population cares one whit, save not recognizing the connection between inaction and their higher taxes.
That said, it should be noted that Worcester, Massachusetts demolished its downtown mall and the city has revitalized as a result. Maybe some folk from Scranton should take a field trip to look around.
Many Malls have gone away because there just aren't so many department stores to act a achors anymore. And some ended up laden with debt so getting out of some marginal leases helps the bottom line.
Maybe the Mall needs rethinking -- how about a large, downtown supermarket on the first floor of where Bonton's was? How about a large alk-in health facility on the Second floor? I always loved the Kaiser Facility in NY -- set up like a mall with every imaginiable department set up like stores in a mall -- Internal Medicine, Pscychiatric Care, Radiology, Lab, Ob-Gyn, Dentistry, Pediatrics, and every other department you can think of -- one stop shopping for health care. How about a State Store next to the Supermarket on the first floor (asking the State Store people to think marketing is beyond the pale, I know, but . . )
Move in the County (and City offices that deal with the public every day too -- don't need the others. Generating foot traffic would boost the Mall's Value, and the other smaller store spaces would fill in quickly, I think.