That is why I said maybe someone can contact this lady Dottery Washington and see if she will agree to a town hall meeting to answers some of our questions.
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Why- cant that someone be you?
The boys and Girls Club pulled out becuase it is dependent upon Volunteers and donations as are most of the Youth Activites and our Fire Service and Rescue Units and Schools.
They could not recruit enough volunteers or donations for those who are concerned about the youth in that type program.
It was as I said earlier- not enough money to go around with all those new hands in the pie.
Charles County has facilities- maybe you need to work with them for the kind of specific program you are looking for.
May I ask what you are looking for that we dont have?
“Why”, I have a child, and I personally take direct offense in your words that I don’t care about our childrens future. You had better be a little more careful about your choice of words.
Regarding this entire thread, I also take offense in your description of the use of the “No” syndrome. I do care about our children. I do care about our county. I do care about our poor. I do care about our teachers. I do care about our law enforecement officers. I do care about our government employees. I do care about our EMT’S. I do care about smart growth in CC. An finally, I do care about taxes that every one of us (including my child and her children in the future) are going to have to pay just because your children need a place to play. I’m sorry but things haven’t changed too much in the real world.
Please excuse me if I refuse to wear my rose-colored glasses for a moment. I suspect this may be an unusual phrase for you to understand. It basically means that things aren’t always as cheerful and happy as you want things to be. High taxes are a reality. The state and county officials are demanding more taxes. These taxes are to pay for necessary health, medical, employment, retirement, public works, and a whole lot of other things.
I am personally offended by you not reading the very first entry on this thread. In this thread, I started by saying that the CC Sportplex advertisement specifically stated that the remaining 23 plus million dollars would be provided by the State and Charles County taxpayers.
You really need to stop being so emotional about this entire issue. If you only took some time to read the comments in this thread, I do believe that you could learn a lot about how some people (such as the great people who are organizing Sportsplex) will take advantage of you. I don’t see their comments on this thread. Do you? Why not? Because they know that their private venture is going to be in trouble if the taxpayers have their say before the CC Commissioners have a vote on the matter.
You are only being told what you want to hear by the Sportsplex investors. They want your money, they do not want to spend their own. Children are very important to everyone on this website. That’s the truth. You may not believe it, but it’s the God’s truth. This is exactly why most of us are so adament about the wasteful use of tax dollars going to bail out potentially failing private ventures.
“Why”, I do admire you for caring so much about your children. But one thing I have learned about America, private investors have absolutely no problem in building facilities such as Sportsplex, as long as it is not their personal money. That way, if the venture fails, they are secure. I do want to see this private venture succeed, but remember, the tax payers should never have to pay for this.
[ Edited: 08 December 2009 08:28 PM by pat knowland]
Community Services has summer camps for the kids at a reasonable cost at most of the Jr Highs in the County. If you have more money- CSM has kids college that is incredible. Their is something for everyone. Sports to Arts to Science. The Capital clubhouse has summer camps.
I must say I do not know about winter break- but probably not as that usually is just a week. Scouts have summer camp as does the Salvation Army for disadvantaged youth and other ‘speciality’ camps down at Camp Merrick.
There also are a couple private summer camps right here in Charles County/
i’m guessing that Why is engaged in some capacity with this organization that is trying to bring the SportsPlex to Charles. whether it be for pay or not, i don’t know. but i believe that Why has a goal of getting out “the word” on this place. there’s no other explanation for his/her empty talking points.
i think this organization realized their mistake by taking out that ad in the Sports section of the Indy back in October. i think this is some sort of so-called grass roots campaign to change the public’s perception.
sorry, but i just see the worst in people. but you’re backing and defending this project with the fervor that only one who will somehow benefit financially from seeing this come into fruition.
As I previously stated, I will not waste any more energy on a useless debate with you. I can clearly see you were born to the party of “No” syndrome.
i’ll take that as a response in the affirmative. thanks!
Oh, I forgot you are the volunteer investigator who found the SportPlex owner and link Team Benya together without reading the link that Dottery Washington was asking how much the land cost on Team Benya website. Good detective work and now find out more on the above, so we can contact the owner so we can ask them for a town hall meeting!!!!!!!!!!!
well you’re damn right. we should ALL be volunteer investigators. information minutemen, if you will. i don’t know who Team Benya are, aside from reading a representative of that organization posting to this thread.
if this project is to be 100% privately financed, then what need is there for a “town hall meeting”, which you suggest?
this “party of no syndrome” stuff you keep spouting—-tell me: what does that mean? where did you learn that particular catch phrase?
and please answer Barbara’s question without sounding like you’re reading from a PR/Marketing guide put out by the team behind the CC SportsPlex.
but you really seem to be missing the point here. a “town hall” isn’t necessary if this is going to be a private venture. so for example if i wanted to open a restaurant, i don’t have to have a “town hall” to explain myself to the citizenry. if i were going to be taking a grant (ie, taxpayer money) then i’d be expecting a bunch of questions from my “investors”, ie my fellow citizens/taxpayers. of course, i wouldn’t be very much of an entrepreneur then, would i? different conversation, though.
IF there is going to be taxpayer money, then i would certainly hope by the time that it percolates to the top, there are five others in the Commissioner seats who will be able to kick these people to the streets for us. but for now, despite the wishful-thinking-ad-placement, i will assume this will be a 100% private venture until i can be shown otherwise.
and about playing investigator .... yeah, look i hate to break it to you, but the truth is not always evident. newspapers aren’t truthful, politicians aren’t truthful, our governments have good intentions, but are full of good people caught in bad systems—-i know i spent the first half of my career there. hell, even the police can lie and get away with it. so, thank you very much, but i will investigate and question until i’m damn well satisfied—-information wants to be free. and where tax dollars are concerned, well, it’s our money you know.
i hope you’re successful at finding a babysitter for your kids.
please let us know how we can join this grass roots campaign to bring the SportsPlex. i’m sure there are a few Duckers who might like to join the effort. wink, wink!
Why When I state the “No” syndrome maybe it’s to new of a phase that you might not understand, but it mean you are out of touch with the majority. I do not mean anything by it nor was my intent to offend anyone on this blog. I only know what I read on the SportPlex website and no one is taking me for a ride I believe in this venture and I am going to help it succeed
Well, I for one have never heard the term the “No” syndrome; I’m more into the “CommonSense” syndrome which means trying to ferret out information before jumping in feet first whether out-of-touch or not. Having said that, if you are comfortable with the way Ms Washington is approaching the need for a SportsPlex, and, if you are a firm believer in this project (which you are), I’d suggest meeting her and then checking out her Board of Directors. If you’re going to put your time, efforts, and money into this venture, you do want to make sure what you do doesn’t go to waste.
It’s timely that, included with the MD Independent today, is a Parks and Rec Community Activities booklet. There’s a lot of offerings in there for kids of all ages (even us big’uns). Until the SportsPlex is up and running, you might give that booklet a look-see and maybe your kids will find something that’s of interest. Good Luck!
This is a blog for ALL people and for all opinions. If people do not post because we are all ‘no’ people; then they are contributing to the problem- not adding their diverse views to the debate.
I think if people read this blog in its entirety, not just the topic of the moment that they are interested in; they would see the debate raging from all sides of an issue.
Does everything end satisfactorily? No. But sometimes a seed is planted and it grows with other posts.
So Im sorry if you tag us “no’ people- wink. wink.
Im yelled at all the time- or have been in the past for my liberalism and bleeding heart and so to be labeled a ‘no’ person really takes me aback.
I think where we differ is I am a social liberal in my thinking- but am a fiscal conservative.
That means in simple terms: I do not think the Government- being Fereral, State, County, City or Town has the obligation to provide these things for citizens.
Free enterprise- enterpernorship, volunteerism will provide. If the people want it- then by golly, they will support it in all aspects. By using it, and by using it making it profitable to be open and paying its way.
I’m sorry if you think the things offered are not up to standards or are old-fashioned. Volunteer into thefree organizations and bring change.
Teenagers are a tough bunch to ‘entertain and keep from being ‘bored’. But why does Govt need to provide this? There are after school programs of all kinds at the High School level. There are key clubs, scouts, ROTC, theater, arts, sports of all kinds, running clubs, biking clubs, ski clubs, environmental clubs, chess clubs, there are volunteer opportunities for teenagers so they can give back as well as mentoring.
What exactly are you needing (SPECIFICALLY) that is not offered?
Why not work as a volunteer at any of these places and make them better or even suggest different things for Dept Of Commun ity Services to be ‘mnore to your liking”.
if you think i’m somehow GOP, i suggest you read the stuff i’ve written here before making *that* judgment. you’d be 100% wrong. i vote in every general election, but i do not affiliate with any party. basically, they both stink. story for another day, however.
now that we’ve gotten that out of the way ... i am very cynical and sarcastic by nature, most of the times a bit acerbic. but there is always a serious message in what i say. of course i do not harbor any ill will toward your children. i mean do you really think i’m a complete animal?
i said what i said because reading and re-reading your posts lead me to the same conclusion: you support this project because you need a babysitter. if i’m wrong, then i’m wrong; this is hardly anything that could be considered a personal attack. a tad judgmental perhaps, but not a personal attack.
back to the topic at hand. i do not support one dime of taxpayer money going to support this. not in the form of grants. not in the form of transfer payments. not in the form of any direct financial support. not in the form of incentives or tax breaks. nothing. no town hall necessary, that’s what websites are for. there is very little useful information on their main site now. i mean they hope to have the fundraising over with in February. how much of their goal have they achieved? they’ve got a lot of pretty pictures and whatnot, but no financials. no board of directors yet. they are supposed to break ground in April; do you know if that will be a reality?
if there are no tax payer funds involved, then i couldn’t care less. i will not be patronizing it in any way shape or form.
I believe there are three issues on the table before us:
(1) Will at least 23 million dollars of CC taxes be used to subsidize this private venture?
(2) Do the CC Commissioners foresee any possibility of CC taxes supporting this possible bailout should this private venture fail?
(3) Are the current Park and Recreation Facilities providing adequate services to our youth? If not, what changes are needed?
We should not be going down the road of using tax dollars to bail out a poor business decision. The Capitol Clubhouse is a case book example. They lost about $500,000 dollars last year from what I am reading. This means $500,000 dollars taken out of monies that could have been used for other programs. The CC Commissioners should have NEVER bailed out the private investors in this project, but they did. They set a very bad precedent for the future, and this is EXACTLY why the people on this blog are very skeptical about funding.
Three of the five CC Commissioners (Cooper, Patterson, Hodge) have responded to my original email regarding their position on this topic (their emails provided earlier in this blog). Graves and Collins did not. Collins, it turns out, is providing personal legal advice to the corporation (?) and will cease doing so before the project comes before the CC Commissioners. It seems Reuben does not want to be perceived as having a conflict of interest. I’m sure this would NEVER happen in CC (wink, wink). Graves is either in denial or he chooses not to address this hot topic because of the upcoming election. In any case, I know it seems that we are being negative by saying this venture will fail, but history supports this conclusion. With so many other financial issues on the table (non-state and non-federal funded Cross-County connector; county employee furloughs; cut-backs in education budgets, etc.), the CC Commissioners have got to stand up and say “NO, ALTHOUGH WE AGREE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BAIL OUT A PRIVATE INVESTMENT VENTURE THAT PROVIDES SERVICES TO OUR YOUTH, WE CANNOT POSSIBLY AFFORD TO USE TAXPAYER DOLLARS AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS BEFORE US”. It takes a lot of backbone for a member in an elected office to say this, and unfortunately, we don’t have a single elected offical in CC who is ready to declare the truth. It’s like “let’s do this and before anyone realizes it, we’ll be home free. Afterall we do have home rule.” This is exactly why this blog is so important. It gives everyone a place to present their concerns.
Parks and Recreation. I believe the CC Commisioners are out of touch with reality. The Capitol Clubhouse would be a great money maker if it were in Ottawa, but it isn’t. We don’t have a lot of ice hockey players here in CC. Over the past few years we have had a shift in demographics. The studies show that the African American community in CC has significantly grown. The last time I checked we don’t have a lot of Ice Hockey going on in that community. Why do we have a Capitol Clubhouse with a focus on Ice Hockey and not basketball or track and field? I was talking with my daughter the other day and it seems that everything there is about making money. Why not put in 1,000 pinball machines? I would like to think that the Capitol Clubhouse could be converted to something that can be used by today’s youth. A few years ago, I read about a comment that CC Commissioner Gary Hodge made regarding baseball in CC. It seems twenty plus years ago Gary tried to have baseball brought to Charles County. It failed. It seems Gary likes baseball, and now that he is in a position to get a baseball stadium built, he took the lead…at the taxpayers expense. Now we have a baseball stadium that Gary can go to and watch baseball. Is this a wise investment of our tax payer dollars? I sincerely believe that only time will tell that this will be a failing venture that is subsidized by our dwindling tax dollars. The fix…raise taxes so we can give our children nice facilities because we would NEVER want to be associated with the “NO SYNDROME”. And by the time our future CC Commisioners find out that they have to fund “Gary’s Folly”, Gary is off to Annapolis or Capital Hill.
In sum, the CC Commisioners cannot continue to bail out private enterprises. Our tax dollars should go for education, safety, public services, etc. Like it or not “WHY”, the voters in Charles County will someday wake up and say enough is enough and vote the “YES SYNDROME” CC Commisioners who waste our precious taxes on bailing out private investments out of office.
[ Edited: 14 December 2009 08:20 PM by pat knowland]
you could improve legibility of your posts by quoting/attributing correctly. you can use the quote tag like this:
[quote=xcitor] something xcitor said [/quote]
just for what it’s worth. reading posts where you respond directly to someone is difficult to follow if not quoted correctly.
[quote=Why]
You can repeat yourself a hundred times but the fact reminds the same Charles County has not met the needs of the youth or adult entertainment.
and you have been shown a hundred times how this is simply not the case. you can’t just keep repeating it and have it be true. you can’t just say others agree with you and therefore it’s true. where are your data? what are you looking at to come to this conclusion? you keep saying everyone here is from the land of “no”, yet you provide no data to back up your position. a gut feeling is not hard data.
[quote=Why]I pray that private investors give the SportPlex the monies and then the No Syndrome can stop whining about the county taking their taxpayers monies.
this is exactly what needs to happen so the SportsPlex can fail or succeed on its own. that way, no taxpayer money is wasted on a project that’s not needed.
[quote=Why]No, the Park and recreation is not providing adequate services to our youth because no one is interested in them but a few.
your logic is completely inverted in this statement.
i think you’d find a lot more people willing to engage you in a meaningful way, one that’s beneficial to all if you were better prepared for a public dialog on this matter. simply coming here with an attitude of give me, give me, give me, isn’t very productive.
and really, these tax dollars belong to us. it’s our money. every single person here has a right be concerned about how this will play out.
“WHY” from your quote: “You elected them to do what they think is right for the good of Charles County not a few.” My response, I did not elect them. In fact I voted against all of the current Commissioners except Sam Graves. Sam cares about the every day people in the county and has shown that he truly cares about the poor in our county.
The others, well, their voting record clearly indicates that they are for the development of the county, the devastation of the Mattawoman, the slashing of education and service budgets, forced furloughs, and they are all for private interests. That’s probably because that is where the election contributions come from. They don’t give a hoot about those getting their pay cut. Look at their most recent folly….giving themselves a huge pay increase at the expense of our other county employees who are having their pay slashed?
I will go ahead and say this right now…up front and clear…we are living in a county with dramatically changing demographics. Unfortunately, we have a lot of these new voters that are not familiar with the issues in this county. Nor do these new voters know about the long-term consequences of voting for or against a particular issue. FACT: They do not do their homework before the election. They simply vote a straight democratic ticket come election time. Why? Because they want everything given to them. Why work when they can get everything given to them?
The construction of the SPORTSPLEX and LEARNING CENTER is a great idea…if it is strictly privately funded. “WHY”, to quote President George Bush, “Read My Lips”, I WANT THIS PRIVATE VENTURE TO SUCCEED, BUT THIS VENTURE SHOULD NOT INVOLVE A SINGLE CENT OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS, THAT INCLUDES GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND ANY POTENTIAL BAILOUT SHOULD THIS VENTURE NOT BE SUPPORTED BY THE MASSES OF YOUTH THAT YOU CLAIM TO EXIST.
“WHY”, it’s great that you are going around and talking with the youth. Out of curiousity, have you also told them that in a few years when you are working, that a significant portion of your hard-earned monies are going toward taxes that pay for a failing private investment? I doubt that you are saying so.
Finally, my dear friend, purchase a Dictionary and Thesaurus. They contain magificent words and will help you construct a proper sentence.
[ Edited: 15 December 2009 06:05 PM by pat knowland]
“WHY”, thank you for confirming my suspicions. I stated President Bush’s famous phrase only to emphasize my point. I believe it is truly time to say “arrivederci”, as you so eloquently stated. I could care less about “bean counting” the number of posts, “WHY”. As Barbara and others have stated, if you want to keep up with what is going on in Charles County and get all sides of the story, this is a very good blog to visit. You might want to think about expanding your horizons “WHY”. I will no longer engage in this discussion, especially since it’s obvious to the reader that you refuse to accept reality. You really make a lot of assumptions about me. I don’t have twin horns and the last time I checked, my hooves are clean. I have a pretty strong record of caring about our community, my church, and our children, so you really don’t want to go down that road. By the way, I don’t have any grandchildren. Only a teenage daughter, and unlike you, I am concerned about the huge deficit that our County Commissioners are leaving our youth. When you want to engage in a positive and healthy discussion about our county’s future, please let me know. I’ll be happy to educate you about reality.
Arrivederci, sir.
[ Edited: 15 December 2009 08:11 PM by pat knowland]
Why- you seem stuck on this and thats great; but you have to know that when you keep insisting grants- GRANTS ARE OUR TAX MONEY….work with what we have and change it…we have a huge complex that is 1/2 million in the hole each year, because we had to have something positive for the kids to do. Well, if it is not offering what your kids want, meet with PArks and Rec’s and have the teens petition for changes- just like the teen skateboarders did in the past.
You keep insisting that grants will pay for it after private investemnts- again- GRANTS is our tax money.
That is why you are not convincing anyone.
A new business should have a demographic study and needs assessmnents; where is that data? That would at least give you something too back up your opinion.
You can go on about wink, wink- the GOP- No syndrome and on and on: well I dont get any of what you are saying. I am “with it” but I just cannot follow your posts with all that thrown in.
Maybe if you gather your thoughts, write an outline with facts and then post it wwe could have something cohernet to go by.
I was pomdering this over the Holidays- and I am sure it fits into this theme well and by the same reasoning the COunty should build and we would patronize.
I have lived here for over 25 years. In all that time- in fact since the mall was built, it has been announced time and again we would be getting better movie theaters.
Just 2 yrs ago (?)The Mall announced they would redo their movie theater into stadium seating and big screens- becuase PG County at the new Target Shopping Center would be building a new theater with the bells and whistles. This isnt the first time- their was supposed to be a new Center on 301 where the Stardust Motel used to be that one would be built there also.
Seems as soon as competition doesn’t happen- it all goes back to the same dreary ST Charles Cinema.
Well as the mother above stated- she was tired of going out of County for a year or so to entertain her children. Well, I am tired after 20 years of having to travel out of County by an hour or so to get to a decent theater that shows a good selection of movies in a nice clean theater with comfortable seats that all have a view.
Just lately Avatar came out- everyone I knew who had teens traveled way out to get to a 3D screen (it was a 3D movie that is lame without 3D) that was large enough to appreciate the cinematography.
Now I’m sure many of us would go to the movies- Heck if you counted St Marys and Calvert- that makes a big demographic.
So why does not the 3 Counties use our tax money to build Theaters that we want and would not have to travel to use?
I don’t know- maybe Hughesville would buy into it and it could help revitalize the village. It would appeal to all ages groups and so none would be left out.
