Daily Press Editorial Staff Continues to Impress

Make it two consecutive days that the Daily Press editorial team has impressed me.  Yesterday they wrote of the recent failure on the part of the GOP.  (See immediate preceding blog post).

Today, they share their criticism of the York County Board of Supervisors / administrator for announcing a real estate tax hike on already financially reeling citizen tax payers.  I could not agree more with their admonishment.

Digby Solomon the publisher and Rebeeca Troyer the Editor of the editorial page both deserve credit and positive acknowledgement for their willingness to provide relevant and provoking commentary that is so unlike the majority of mainstream media outlets.

The societal struggles we currently face are doomed to perpetuate unless leaders of our communities are willing to boldly face the brutal facts of our current situation and bring light to the problems  when they need to be aired.  What Mr. Solomon and Ms. Troyer are doing with their editorials the last two days is nothing short of heroic leadership for their community.  I hope they continue to be a leading voice of reason as it will spark the debates needed to advance the solutions.

Here is their opinion today.  http://www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/dp-edt-yorkbudget-editorial-20120222,0,1773062.story

Zoning and Property Rights

York County, VA is the site of current activity relating to zoning law changes.  Some citizens are objecting.  I have my conerns too.

http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-nws-york-more-zoning-reaction-1122-20111122,0,2934098.story

My elected county representative sent me an email that they (the board) submitted a request to look at repealing some of the restrictions but ultimately the effort stalled.  He cited Houston, TX as being a major city sans zoning laws.  He wrote there is a hodgepodge of varying land uses scattered about in the same areas and that he would not want that to happen in York County.
Looks like Houston is no worse for the wear, but apparently there is sentiment on the part of its locals to want to give up property rights in favor of zoning ordinances.

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“Houston, We Have a (Zoning) Problem” by J. Brian Phillips

http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2009-spring/houston-zoning-problem.asp