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| Some Folks online have a defeatist, pessimistic outlook on our community---completely and purposely looking past all the good things that are happening currently. I choose to focus on the positives! |
When I was a young man, someone who had a very profound influence in my life once told me "Life is hard and it is for everyone. But if you focus on the negative it is harder. Instead--focus on the positives, think of five things every day for which you feel very fortunate--and it will help you get through the rough days...."
And I took that to heart. And it isn't always easy to do.
But it is something that helps to give a proper prospective--being optimistic instead of pessimistic.
Escambia County and Pensacola have a lot to be optimistic about these days---but you'd never know that reading some online Facebook "chat" sites.... No, no. Nope---to read some garbage and lies on some sites--you'd think our state and our community was no better than Haiti or Afghanistan. It's disgusting what some of these people on line say and the lies they tell. It's revolting. Most importatnly, it's just not accurate---we have a LOT to be happy about if we choose to be (Minute 8:00 of this video).
---We have a brand new bridge over the bay which will be completed next year.
--We had a RECORD tourist season in 2021-----Despite the COVID-19 variant spiking in the late summer/fall.
---Trip Advisor for 2021 named Pensacola Beach as one of the Nation's top Beaches (#15 on the top 25 list!)
---We have record low unemployment, record high home ownership locally.
---Property values have SKYROCKETED for citizens locally over the last 5 years that own property.
---Our area is growing, houses are selling before they are built and existing homes listed are selling in many cases within 7 days for above list prices
---our area has a HISTORIC level of demand for housing (only about a 20 day supply on the market--contrasted with 6-Month's worth in 2008-2009)
---We have recently been advised that ST Engineering is teaming with UPS on job training. We have been awarded Triumph Grants for Massive Job creation at our Airport. OLF-8 is coming online within the next 12 months.
---Wages are going up for nearly every category of job that is available--for those who choose to work
---Escambia County was named the best employer for handicapped employees in the State!
---U.S. News and World Reports for 2021 named our area a TOP TEN city, nationwide, for retirees.
---9-Mile Road 4-Lane Project has been substantially completed
---New Baptist Hospital is half-way completed, it's coming
---Crime rates are down in nearly all categories-with fresh new leadership in the Sheriff's Office and Pensacola Police Department
---COVID-19 is finally starting to diminish and vaccination percentages are inching upwards slowly
---The county has MASSIVELY raised pay for first responders and all of our union employees and non-represented employees
---We are getting the repairs from last year's Hurricane Sally completed, and we dodged the storms this year
--and on and on. We are completing sidewalk and drainage projects monthly throughout the area, a new library is coming on the west side, and lots of great things, to include a new I-10 interchange and lots more jobs at NFCU and OLF-8, are on the way over the next decade.
Yes we know on the national level there are things we need to watch and be concerned with (Inflation, massive spending and borrowing)--but locally and in this State we run balanced budgets and there is plenty to be happy about.
So if you know someone who is anti-social, depressed, obsessed, or just plain cantankerous and onery---knock them out of their stupor, pry them off their keyboards and out of their darkened living rooms, and shake them while telling them "Hey--the sky's not falling!! Things aren't perfect--But things are looking good, though--get out of the house and off the internet--get some fresh air and sunlight and see all the good that is happening!!!!"
Help them out!
8 comments:
Your list is an excellent antidote for folks suffering from a bad case of the mulligrubs. Sometimes even good people lose their moral compass for a time. It doesn't have to be forever.
Step away from the keyboard, warriors. Go on sabbatical; walk in the beautiful woods. ECW founders: consider that it is possible you started from the high-ground more than a dozen years ago, but became a legend in your own minds and ceded the white hat a long time ago. What help is it to the community at large, or anyone in particular, to continue down this dark path?
As year's end approaches, a period of quiet discernment, personal reflection, and a reconnection with what Abraham Lincoln famously called "the better angels of our nature" seems like a hopeful endeavor, if we all but dare.
Great Job! "If I didn't live here already I'd move here.." ;)
“We had a record tourist season in 2021”
Sounds great. Are the great citizens of Escambia County benefiting from our record revenues?
Could you please explain to the great citizens of Escambia County how you are investing our huge windfall?
It frequently feels as though Escambia County is dead broke. And in my view, we have been giving away Pensacola Beach to big private developers.
Let’s use some of our record profits to make infrastructure improvements and to raise the wages and benefits of our county employees.
I’m of the opinion that Escambia should be an extremely wealthy county. We have warm weather and amazing beaches. We have several military bases that inject millions of federal tax dollars into our community.
The Federal Reserve has been increasing the money supply. We have a $1.5 million BP oil spill settlement.
Technological advancements should constantly improve quality of life.
Is Escambia County benefiting?
You are correct that we have a lot to be thankful for in Escambia County.
I’m “steamed” that you and commissioners May and Barry, have been “running down” the residents of Pensacola Beach during BCC meetings.
Don’t criticize the tax structure on the beach, sir, when it was you, May, and Barry who were the architects of this convoluted tax system.
At the second budget meeting, Commissioner May claimed that the Bible warned mankind not to build on a barrier island. But simultaneously, May has been reaching for tax dollars to help the residents of district 3 to recover from recent flooding and from Hurricane Sally. And Commissioner May gladly accepts tax revenues emanating from Pensacola Beach.
And how can you, May, and Barry claim to be “in the dark” on lease renewals when you have been county commissioners for the past ten years, and you each have an appointee on the Santa Rosa Island Authority?
Perhaps you are correct when you claim that our citizens are too critical, but I believe that you frequently discount legitimate complaints, as well.
Correction: $1.5 BILLION British Petroleum settlement
Anonymous 3:30--what an awesome perspective, thabnks. Tom Jardine: Of Course all citizens benefit when we have record tourism. When dollars get spent anywhere in the county we generate LOST revenues which benefit all areas of the county no matter where in the county such revenues are generated. I think you understand this, right? And, then there's the 5 pennies on every dollar spent on hotels and short term rentals--the results of which over the last year are larger than ever historically--and the uses of which promote sporting events, support the civic center and ice hockey and ice skating, and support off-season and shoulder season activities for visitors and residents alike like the festivals and Foo Foo fest. Plus, when we have so many visitors coming to our area from all over the place--a large and not insignificant number of these folks eventually come back to stay and/or bring their companies here to locate. It's called synergy Tom. It all works together for the good of a growing, thriving economy. About the tax structure on the beach: no, it is not fixed 100%, but I predict that over the next 12 months or so, with a new chairman, you'll once again see a push to fix it. Then, it will be fixed Tom. :)
Thanks for explaining the definition of “synergy” to me, Mr. Commissioner.
And obviously, I’m very pleased that next year you plan to address the convoluted tax system on Pensacola Beach.
To be honest, the last time you held the Chair (2018), I felt that you allowed Ms. Krumel and her acolytes to turn your meetings into a three-ring circus.
And from my perspective, you managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory when you capitulated to the yellow shirts on the issue of fee simple.
According to Escambia County Property Appraiser, Chris Jones, fee simple would have resulted in millions of dollars in additional annual ad valorem taxes in perpetuity. But perhaps you know more than Mr. Jones.
My understanding is that, currently the leaseholders on Pensacola Beach send $9 million annually to Escambia County and $8 million to the school district, but only receive $4 million back from Escambia County (mostly in the form of public works).
In addition, leaseholders pay $4 million in lease fees which pay for Blue Angel Airshows, trolleys, renourishment of the public beach, etc..
I will share with you that I pay FULL taxes on both my land and my improvements, and an annual lease fee. Is that not enough?
This is the reason why I’m disappointed when I hear you and Mr. May making snide remarks - from the DAIS - disparaging Pensacola Beach leaseholders.
For example; when you, May, and Barry misappropriated a $3.3 million dollar FEMA grant which had been granted for the purpose of Beach renourishment, you said; “I haven’t forgotten about the four million dollars.”
Additionally, I’m disappointed that the commissioners have recently sold a previously unleased 2,744 square foot property located on Casino Beach at 2 VDL for $8,500, then re zoned it to allow for a mixed use condominium complex.
Additionally, the Escambia County commissioners have recently granted a 67% increase in room density to Pensacola Beachside Resort, then you promptly liberated the developers from paying a $325,000 impact fee.
If we should suffer any serious mishaps during the ensuing two-year construction phase of those projects, the great citizens of Escambia County will likely demand an explanation.
It seems to this citizen that you are reducing public access and building a “condo canyon” on Pensacola Beach.
I’m pleased you are promising to correct all of these issues when you are Chair.
I will be watching and I will be (genuinely) rooting for you. I hope you will make Escambia County great.
Apparently, Doug Underhill and Jacqueline Rogers are now advocating for single bid contracts of huge amounts, weighted towards one or two big vendors, without the necessary steps taken as outlined in the state administrative code.
I'll have the documents down at the next meeting and will be happy to walk anyone interested through what actually happened on the Beach Haven debacle.
Hopefully, Doug will see that this is something of a legacy project for him, as we've had so little infrastructure success on the West Side during his tenure. This project is so crucial to the entire sewer system in Navy Point and Beach Haven. Perhaps Lois Benson will be able to speak some reason to him--this is an important project for ECUA, it goes without saying.
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