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No taxation without representation!
Published Monday, October 12, 2009
Our City Council has been wondering why the bulk trash pick-up is not working and why there is trash along neighborhood roads.
I believe it is a quiet rebellion against new fees that are being unfairly levied against the public. We are not to be “taxed without representation,” and this is what the new fees represent in my mind. You know what the colonies did before the Revolution — they simply refused to pay, even though the taxes were not high ones. They refused the Stamp Act and the tax on tea.
In essence, the fee for picking up bulk items — the $20 or $50 — is a new tax on what should be a basic city service like keeping the water running or fixing the roads for which we already pay taxes.
Has the City Council asked any opinion or approval from the public? I know that I have not voted on it!
Recently, the Suffolk News-Herald ran an article stating that there may be surplus funds in the budget this year. Why don’t our community leaders use those funds to have a monthly, free bulk trash pick-up of things like furniture, leaves and tree limbs? Surely that would not stress the city’s budget, even if there weren’t a surplus this year.
As for regular trash pick-up, there should not be an added fee of any amount. Trash pick-up prevents disease and rodents that carry disease. It is a basic service for the health and well-being of the entire community, not to mention improving the appearance of “Surprising Suffolk.”
Fourteen dollars a month — while it may not seem like much — adds up to a tax increase of $168 a year. I think this is worth protesting, as many of us can ill afford the increase in these times of economic hardship.
The city should not levy these fees without input from the community. No taxation without representation!
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Comments
Posted by OD (anonymous) on October 13, 2009 at 5:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Irene, there is no such thing as common sense down on Market Street.
Posted by KNRMCO (anonymous) on October 13, 2009 at 6:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WELL SAID IRENE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE CITY FACTORED INTO THIS SCHEME OF THEIRS, THE ADDITIONAL COST OF REMOVING THE DEBRIS ON THE BACK ROADS THAT PEOPLE ARE PUTTING THERE? NOW THEY HAVE TO SCHEDULE & SEND SPECIFIC CREWS TO REMOVE ALL OF THAT DEBRIS, WHEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER TO REMOVE IT ALONG WITH THE REGULAR TRASH REMOVAL. OR MAYBE THEY JUST PLAN TO LEAVE IT ONTHE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS AN EYESORE! DEBRIS ON COUNTRY ROADS HAS BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE OF MINE FOR YEARS AND THIS TRASH REMOVAL FEE IS NOT HELPING MATTERS!
Posted by bfhirsch34 (anonymous) on October 13, 2009 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now that the landfill is only open til noon on saturday and closed on sundays, its even harder for the working class to get rid of the bulk trash, city leaders need to get something worked out quickly, and fees are not the answer. Or do we want to be known as "Sorry Suffolk"???
Trash pickup should be a city service that is paid for with our property taxes.
Posted by batman (anonymous) on October 13, 2009 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You guys in Suffolk, need a new city council, I can't help but think that when they vote on important issues such as trash removal, they are being swayed to vote the same as Charles. Can anyone add to this?
Posted by donarob (anonymous) on October 13, 2009 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Please let me burst your bubble all. The current City Council is the direct result of the VOTE of the citizens of Suffolk.
The higher government of the Colonial Era was appointed by the King of England. Additionally the Tea Tax was put upon us by the English Government, where we in fact had no representation. However we as a city voted these people into office and in some cases multiple times. Mayor Johnson - 1 term as an elected mayor, 2 terms as a council member. Councilman Barlow – 1 full term + 2 quasi terms, Councilman Brown – 4 consecutive terms, Councilman Gardy – 1 term, Councilman Bennett – 4 consecutive terms, Councilman Barclay – 1 term, Councilman Parr – 1 Term, Councilman Milteer – 8 consecutive. We as a city are reaping the seeds that we have sown as we continue to send them back while at the same time complaining of their actions.
The current actions of the City Council are not new and are in fact the same garbage that was occurring prior to the most recent election. Yet we send them back again and again; 3 terms, 4 term, 8 terms. In 2010 we have the opportunity to replace 4 of the current Council with the remaining 4 in 2012. Let us do so for the sake of our City. Wake Up Suffolk! Let us clean house and install Council Members that will actually listen and represent their constituencies.
Posted by work4pnuts (anonymous) on October 13, 2009 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am with you donarob! I voted for Charles Parr, which is a mistake a look forward to correcting when he comes up for re-election. I have personally heard two councilmen (notice the masculine) who said that this policy was no different than what every city in Hampton Roads does. Unfortunately, someone in the group was from Chesapeake. He corrected them and said that Chesapeake picks up his bulk at the roadside just like normal. While some cities have imposed or intend to impose fees, we the people have a responsibility to make our voices heard or replace those who are too hearing impaired to understand.
Posted by OD (anonymous) on October 13, 2009 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
V O A I V O A I V O A I
VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBENTS
Posted by KNRMCO (anonymous) on October 13, 2009 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I 2nd that EMOTION!!
Posted by hawkeye (anonymous) on October 13, 2009 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I've always tried to keep a nice and trimmed manicured lawn and I can tell you like many other Suffolk neighbors if I don't have curbside service I will do less work in my yard! The last thing I want to have to do after working hard all day in my yard is find a vehicle to load my clippings into and take them to the land fill! and I will not pay more for a service that I feel like I already pay for.
Some people will resort to dumping as form of protest or abandon it due to lack of money to have it picked up, if it is not cleaned up it will only bring other problems. Such as a rise in mosquito populations, then there is the rodant and roach infestations which could bring in deadly diseases we do not want!
I would hope that city leaders would reconsider this decision to try and cut cost in this area because they will be paying out in the long run, by picking abandoned trash up in locations more hazardous like along dangerous roads or in front of the city leaders homes left in protest.
Please quit suprising Suffolk citizens with these kinds of descisions and go back to being the Beautiful City that draws people here who want to work in it, eat in it, shop in it and live in it! Go back to being "Suprising Suffolk" without the suprises!
Posted by KNRMCO (anonymous) on October 13, 2009 at 12:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think that council will do the following:
1> remove the tax now imposed on citizens for "bulk trash removal".
2> and then they will increase our prop taxes to compensate for the removal of the "bulk trash removal fee".
You want to bet it's already in the pipeline?
Gotta go..someone dumped tires on the road here; I've go to call to have them removed!
Posted by OD (anonymous) on October 13, 2009 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Trust the car isnt attached...
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