Seems Alexandria's small businesses are rising up in protest against the City's newly-acquired ability to start imposing higher real estate taxes on business and commercial property. (The General Assembly recently passed legislation that permits local jurisdictions to set separate rates for residential and commercial property.) The increased in tax revenue is expected to be earmarked for transportation projects.
The ringleader in the revolt is the Alexandria Taxpayers Union, which recently launched an online petition that has garnered 176 signatures, including some heavyhitters in the business community.
But even bigger guns have now fired a shot in protest. The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce has officially weighed in against a possible tax increase for businesses.
The Growler wonders if there would be even more opposition if the business community knew just how much the City's proposed transportation corridors will cost.
The City's own estimate for its overall transportation needs ranges from $678 to $978 million.
But the draft Master Transportation Plan chapter on funding notes capital costs for transporation just for the three corridors it identified — including the controversial Patrick-Henry Street route in our neighborhood — could range from $115 to $165 million for bus rapid transit (BRT), while light rail could cost the City from $460 to $665 million.
Add the two new infill Metro stations recently proposed by Councilmen Rob Krupicka and Justin Wilson, which are now priced at between $130 and $150 million each, and the final price tag could conceivably reach nearly $1 billion. Recurring annual operating costs for these transportation improvements could run from $81 to $95 million per year.
11 comments:
don't u need job growth and an influx of young professionals to raise taxes high enough to justify this expense.
we have neither
I agree wholeheartedly. The City cannot raise taxes on Alexandria businesses, lest it drive out our unique retailers on King Street, in Del Ray, etc. That is economic suicide, particulary if they intend all the tourists to come from National Harbor. Why would they come here, if all we have to offer is Chipotle, Gap, and other chains?
And speaking of taxes, when will they post our residential assessment notices online???
In the Gazette packet or The Times - I can't remember which - the son of former City Council member Lois Walker bemoaned the loss of the small business bookstore A LIkely Story, while at the same time advocated the arrival of a big box retailer like a Barnes & Noble for the upper King Street corridor. Is it just me, or does anyone else see the problem with big box retailers forcing small retailers out of business in Alexandria? Such is the nature of Alexandria politicos. As far as the tax increase is concerned, a recession does not seem to be the right time to impose higher taxes on the majority of small businesses in Alexandria. Regardless of whether you rent or own, you will be affected by this proposed tax increase either through direct taxation or through pass-through provisions in a lease that make the tenant responsible for any tax increases. It might be better for the city to not impose this tax - and brag about it in the media to attract those businesses affected by higher commercial taxes surrounding counties. The increase in gross receipts taxes would be an enormous boon to the city. This tax will only punish the small businesses who have invested in making a presence in Alexandria, and drive others out of business now that times are tough. Based on the past, I doubt that the City Council would be so progressive and refuse to raise taxes as they are more attracted by short term benefits. But as one of the other comments stated, windowfronts are wrapped in brown paper won't attract people from the Harbor development.
At least we will have our 1150 Resolution 830 units. What jurisdiction wouldn't want those?
"In the Gazette packet or The Times, the son of former City Council member Lois Walker bemoaned the loss of the small business bookstore A LIkely Story, while at the same time advocated the arrival of a big box retailer like a Barnes & Noble for the upper King Street corridor. Is it just me, or does anyone else see the problem with big box retailers forcing small retailers out of business in Alexandria?"
Just look at Del Ray and Mount Vernon Avenue, which is what Old Town and King Street used to be. Would Del Ray be better off with a big box-er like Barnes and Noble or A Likely Story? The answer is obvious, and it's high time the city act to preserve the small business aspect of both corridors rather than driving them out with tax increase schemes.
"Big Box Swindle" by Stacy Mitchell says it all on a number of topics including the effect big box retailers have on the viability of small businesses on Main St.
I bet every small business owner in town has read it or something similar.
Unfortunately, our City Council would still be assessing the science behind global warming if doing so somehow increased the tax base needed to support their failed social experiments.
The result of a do nothing one party Council and a conflicted limosine liberal electorate reminds me of an old adage.
"None of us is as dumb as all of us"?
I think the liberals in this town are about to get a taste of the medicine they so desperately want others to take.
Want to study global warming? fine, start taxing someone to pay for it.
Want to keep Resolution 830 units? Fine, start moving units around and raising taxes to support ARHA bailouts.
Want to keep student spending high with little in the way of actual results? Fine, raise taxes to start paying for it.
In the end, through the punishment of the middle and upper class, small businesses, and any other entity that doesnt agree with the "progressive" way, this city's liberal base is ensuring its own destruction.
"The City cannot raise taxes on Alexandria businesses, lest it drive out our unique retailers on King Street, in Del Ray, etc. "
They can and they will. If only to maintain the 3 current pillars of the budget; education, social services, and police.
It isnt hard to figure out how all 3 spending items tie in together.
RE assessments are now online. There is no consistency whatsoever...some went up, some went down; some went up a lot, some went down alot. I plan to appeal; mine is higher now than 2 years ago at the peak!
"windowfronts that are wrapped in brown paper won't attract people from the Harbor development."
Neither will having Big Box stores on King. er, Potomac Mills II.
The next time they call you "racists" when Adkins comes up, ask them how this man could live in a new "townhome with grass" that ruby tucker says is all residents want and need.
Man, 19, Gets 2 Life Terms for Slayings After Dice Game
By Daniela Deane
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 15, 2008; B05
An Alexandria judge sentenced a 19-year-old man yesterday to two life sentences plus eight years for the city's first double homicide in 13 years, saying he should "never walk the streets of this community again."
In imposing the jury's sentence, Circuit Court Judge Lisa Kemler said Darrell Watson of Alexandria committed "one of the most senseless, cold-blooded killings ever seen in this city." She said he showed no remorse for the shootings, which the prosecution said were sparked by a "petty dispute" over a dice game gone bad.
In December, a jury convicted Watson of two counts of first-degree murder in the April 19 deaths of Nathan L. Lee, 31, of Alexandria and Mark A. Collins, 28, of Landover.
Collins and Lee were found lying in the middle of Route 1 between Montgomery and Madison streets just after 2 a.m. Police were called to the scene after residents of a public housing complex reported hearing gunfire.
Alexandria Commonwealth's Attorney S. Randolph Sengel said Watson "simply assassinated" the men "right there on the sidewalk" in front of several witnesses. He said that Collins was executed with one gunshot to the head and that Lee, who tried to flee, was shot repeatedly in the back.
"He opened fire and killed two young men in a matter of seconds," Sengel said, asking the judge to impose the jury's sentence.
Sengel argued that witnesses to the shooting, who had "testified reluctantly," deserved to be reassured that they would never have to face Watson's "wrath or retribution." The prosecution based its case on witness accounts because there was no forensic evidence. Prosecutors argued that Watson was relying on community reluctance to talk to the police to get away with murder.
Although Watson killed two people, Sengel said he did not pursue the death penalty primarily because of Watson's age and the lack of forensic evidence.
Sengel said that Watson had repeatedly been offered city services and "some leniency" after being convicted of carrying a firearm to school in 2003 and twice robbing a store of guns but that he had learned nothing from the experiences.
Defense attorney Gary Smith said Watson was a "severely, emotionally damaged" man with an "obsession with firearms." He said that although the city had offered Watson some services, it had not treated him for his violent streak or gun obsession. Smith argued that because of that, Watson deserved a more lenient sentence. Smith said his client will appeal.
The killings were the first double homicide in Alexandria since March 1994, when two men were killed by rifle shots in the Rosecrest section. The man who fired the shots, Raymond Douglas, called police to his two-story home to tell them where the bodies were.
Relatives of Watson's victims who attended yesterday's hearing heralded the sentence.
"It was well-deserved," said Victoria Lee, Nathan Lee's sister. "He wanted to show how big and bad he was in front of a bunch of people. And he made all the wrong decisions."
Lee said her family misses her brother very much and will never recover from his loss.
"He would give all the females in our family a rose and a card on Valentine's Day," Lee said. "We miss him so much, especially today on Valentine's Day."
Post a Comment