Belmont Front Porch

Downtown stakeholders get the skinny on Gastonia’s big plan

At this morning’s First Friday Focus, a Gaston Regional Chamber, regular event, “Big Plan” Palenick, Gastonia’s city manager/chief litigator, presented HIS big plan for Gastonia.

Speaking before a good sized crowd of chamber members and interested others, “BP” noted that many downtown business owners supported the plan “enthusiastically”.

We already know that the city council has swallowed the kool-aid in its desperate attempt to revive a city that lost its relevance when I-85 was completed, and then again when Wal-Mart took over at both ends of town.

It now appears that the libertarian mouthpiece, the Gaston Gazette, is certainly looking more favorably on these plans as well. Their tone and style of writing is disappointing considering their distain for the TIF laws as passed in 2004.

Good luck Gastonia.

Really, we mean it…

February 1st, 2008 Leave a comment Belmont Front Porch, City Council, Community, Downtowns, Economic Development, Entrepreneurs, Gaston County, Gaston Gazette, Gastonia, Invest in Community, Jan Winters, Jim Palenick, NC General Statutes, Networking, News, People, Property Taxes, Tax Increment Financing, TIF belmontfrontporch

Dole and Myrick distancing themselves from Lame Duck President

Senator Elizabeth Dole and US Representative Sue Myrick both appear to be distancing themselves from President Bush and his hum-hum final year agenda for the nation.

Ms. Myrick decided to “…stay home and watch the president’s address on television…” on Monday evening, while Mrs. Dole had a previous engagement to speak in front of a constituent group in NC.

On Thursday morning, both skipped out on Vice President Dick Cheney’s address to a select crowd at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Myrick begging off due the the impending birth of a grandchild, and VP Cheney acknowledging her “priorities”. Kinda gives new meaning to, “I think I have to wash my hair”.

Still trying to curry favor with the administration, boy-politician, Patrick McHenry of the 10th district in NC, commented to the Observer, “the president missed the opportunity to push to make the middle-class tax cuts permanent. It was a good speech — but not bold enough”.

Mr. McHenry surely must realize that the tax cuts were not for the so-called middle class but the top 10% of incomes.

Creating permanence of these cuts, which are not set to expire until the fiscal year of 2010, would further drive a stake into the heart of the true middle class. The rich will not invest in new plants in Cherryville, Hickory, or Shelby. They will continue to buy their cars, remodel their kitchens, and go out to dinner — but not build factories, invest in their stateside employees, or contribute money to the United Way.

February 1st, 2008 1 Comment Belmont Front Porch, Economic Development, Elections, Elizabeth Dole, Funny, Illegal Immigration, IRS, NC Political Candidates, Patrick McHenry, People, Politics, Sue Myrick R-NC, Textile Mill reuse, Textile workers, Travel, US Senator NC, Visitors, Vote belmontfrontporch

Belmont Citizens of the Year

(Gazette photo)

The Belmont, oops, Montcross, Chamber of Commerce bestowed its highest community award to Jack and Gearl Dean Page at its January 24 annual dinner.

We also congratulate the Pages for this award. As friends and neighbors at church and in the community, Jack and Gearl Dean have always been active and engaged in community projects.

Both the Gazette and Gaston/Lincoln section of the Observer wrote very nice stories about the Page’s involvement in a host of community activities.

(Gazette photo)