Style Weekly
Scott Lewis
Member since Aug 9, 2011
Recent Comments
Re: “Prius Envy: Effort Under Way to Brake Guv’s Hybrid Tax”
I actually bought the bit by the Governor about the tax being fair since hybrid owners pay less gas tax and therefore carry less of a burden for the cost of transportation infrastructure. But finding out that the original plan was to do away with the gas tax altogether but to add the $100 alternative fuel fee anyway makes that claim dubious. That being the case, it would be nice if the Governor would disclose the real reason for the fee. Is it just because the state can raise some revenue and rationalize it because of the lower gas taxes paid by hybrid owners? I'm not so cynical as to think it's just punitive for driving an alternative fuel automobile but in the absence of an explanation that makes sense and is consistent with the facts, it's easy to conclude that is the case.
I actually did the calculations and the new tax structure works out to just about even. There is no real reduction in overall taxes under this plan, only a shifting of what is paid where. But I could be wrong and I'm happy to admit it if someone can demonstrate that that's the case.
Re: “The Roving Eye”
Thank you so much for running this story and sharing these photos. And thank you to Ms. Snow for sharing as well. I love seeing these historic photos of our wonderful city. I too would love to be kept up-to-date on the collection. Perhaps a Facebook page or mailing list for folks who are interested.
Re: “And Now, A Gangnam Style Flash Mob at VCU”
It's awesome that they did this and it's a lot of fun, but do 10-12 people really count as a "mob"? :-)
Re: “Carytown Fresh Market Says No to Food Stamps”
If you support Fresh Market's decision, feel free to express your support. If you disagree, "keep your mouth shut". Nice.
Re: “Into the Fire”
Best of luck to 525. I would love nothing more than to see true urban living in downtown Richmond. I would move there in a heartbeat if the shops, cafes, city markets, etc. find their way onto Grace street. This is a good start. I hope the momentum keeps going.
Re: “Regulated to Death”
I have lived in Richmond for 20 years and I have been the victim of only one violent crime - and it was in the Bottom. I wasn't even at a club in the Bottom, I was only driving through it on my way home after having dropped off a date. I was rear-ended at a stop light by two cars who were drag racing. I was attacked by the occupants of one of the cars, one of whom had a gun. Both drivers blew more than double the legal limit. I was extremely fortunate that there was a cop sitting right beside us at the intersection and saw the entire thing. Had he not been there, I would probably not be here to write this comment now.
If business owners want the city off of their backs, then take responsibility for cleaning up your own neighborhood. Let's be honest about the violence. Yes, poverty is the root cause but in 12,000 years of human civilization, we have not found a way to eradicate poverty, so let's be realistic. You have a business model that attracts, along with law-abiding folks who just want to have a good time, a sizable anti-social element. This being the reality, it has to be dealt with. Waiting until we solve world peace and hunger is ridiculous.
Form a club owners association and rather than getting together to bitch about how unfairly you are being treated, talk about what steps you can take to be more responsible citizens of the city. Educate yourselves on identifying the problem elements and asking them to leave or refusing to serve them alcohol. Ask for help from security and police in removing the trouble-makers from your establishment. Your arguments about the root cause of crime might be valid but they are not why the bottom is a violent place. My neighborhood bars don't have this problem. I've been going out to bars in the fan for 20 years and have seen only 1 fight in that time. It was broken up within seconds of starting and both people were escorted out of the bar. Nobody got shot or stabbed.
Also, bartenders need to be more responsible and stop serving alcohol to folks who are beyond drunk. The guys who attacked me both blew .16 - double the legal limit for driving. The guys themselves are primarily responsible, but the club owners carry some responsibility as well.
Finally, it is not my responsibility as a non-patron and a taxpayer to pay for your neighborhood to be safe. Until you take responsibility for your own business district and your own contribution to the problem, I am happy to see the city regulate and charge fees to businesses so that I don't have to pay for your failure to police your own neighborhood.
At the end of the day, it is about economics. I and my friends are young professionals with lots of disposable income. But as long as the bottom remains unsafe and unclean, and the best the business owners can do is cry about how unfairly the city treats them, I won't be spending any of my disposable income in the bottom.
Other Publications
Re: “Redskins Camp Goes Over Budget, Council Members Angry”
The way I interpret the Mayor's and Mr. Johnson's statements is that they don't feel they need to be accountable to the citizens of the city when the projected cost of the project changes. One also has to wonder what cost over-runs will occur in the future. Will they also conclude they don't need to report those? It may very well be that the project is still profitable, but we already know it will be at least $1.1M less profitable than promised.
The main thing that angers me about the city government is their apparent lack of understanding that they are ultimately accountable to us. A dismissive statement like, "We don't need permission" is absurd and arrogant. Maybe just a poor choice of words, but I'm more inclined to believe it's arrogance, not poor wording.
The Mayor, City Council, and the EDA work for the citizens. The only authority they have is what we temporarily lend to them to work on our behalf.