Recent posts

#1

Off-Topic / Re: Random Thoughts

Last post by Scott5114 - Today at 05:11:58 PM

I feel that such a law would have easy loopholes. What counts as "using the property?" Stepping inside the door? Being in the property for a certain amount of time in a day? Using the building for its proper purpose (but then that goes into the weeds as to what "proper purpose" means)? Also, how would the government track that the building is being used or not? I could see privacy issues with that.

I think the idea is good in theory, but in practice I don't think it would work, and I think it could be abused.

Some places have a vacancy tax that kicks in if a property is deemed vacant (I don't know what determines whether a building is vacant enough). The effects that I see from five seconds of random uninformed Googling seem to indicate that while a tax does sharply reduce the number of vacant properties, demand is usually so great anywhere a vacancy tax is implemented that it doesn't really make enough of a dent in it to actually reduce housing costs.

#2

Great Lakes and Ohio Valley / Re: New US 51 - Cairo Bridge

Last post by edwaleni - Today at 05:03:55 PM

https://www.propublica.org/article/hud-demolishes-public-housing-displaces-residents-cairo

It appears the USG, specifically HUD, is getting out of town. After buying out many of the shanty houses of the poor and putting them in a high rise, they just announced they are moving them all out 30 miles away and tearing the high rises down. The mayor was surprised by the decision.

Like I said, something don't seem right.

The former high school sits vacant. The former junior high with a fairly new gym added on is a community center. The grade school is brand new and the junior and high school kids are up in a new building north of town. So its clear the school district still functions, they keep building new buildings!

So if the State is trying to save the town, why does the opposite seem to be in effect?

#3

Off-Topic / Re: Random Thoughts

Last post by Scott5114 - Today at 05:03:53 PM

The closest airport to Daggett, CA is Las Vegas McCarran Int'l Airport.  I don't know about sending him to Vegas at his raging state of mind.

They've got that general aviation airport with the AWOS the Weather Channel used to inexplicably show on their weather maps back in the day. Put him in the back of a Piper Tri-Pacer and send him out there.

Also, it's Reid now, since McCarran was a dirtbag.

#4

Off-Topic / Re: New Oklahoma City Skyscrap...

Last post by Scott5114 - Today at 05:01:22 PM

Just as long as he doesn't manage to hoodwink the city out of TIF money with this nonsense.

#5

Great Lakes and Ohio Valley / Re: New US 51 - Cairo Bridge

Last post by jnewkirk77 - Today at 04:53:37 PM

The first time I drove on US 51 in Cairo about 5 years ago was driving through one of the most depressing communities I have ever encountered. Like Gary, Indiana depressing. I was fortunate to find a decent BBQ place (Shemwell's BBQ). It was the only restaurant I remember seeing open.

Shemwell's is alive and well and still serving up some great BBQ.

However, Cairo has no grocery store. None.

People have to drive to Mounds (north) or cross the bridge to Wickliffe (south) or rely on the 2 food pantry services in town.

There is actually a grocery store that opened about a year ago. It's called Rise Community Market and it is a co-op. https://risecommunitymarket.com/

I'm still hopeful that Cairo has some sort of future. There is a small, committed core of people who are trying. But the rot is so entrenched, it's hard to imagine the future extends out all that far.

#6

Photos, Videos, and More / Re: flickr pages

Last post by CanesFan27 - Today at 04:48:56 PM

From last week -160 photos from Eastern NC - including I-587, Construction work on Future I-42 in Johnston County, I-40/Us 70/NC 540 Toll interchange construction.

Plus, brick roads, one lane bridges, and possibly the oldest road sign in North Carolina

https://www.flickr.com/photos/adamontheroad/albums/72177720316791510/

#7

Suggestions and Questions / Re: Theme Change?

Last post by JayhawkCO - Today at 04:39:35 PM

The forum still displays words and sentences mostly in coherent English. I could care less what color various parts of it are.

Not sure which threads you've been reading...

#8

Suggestions and Questions / Re: Theme Change?

Last post by davewiecking - Today at 04:34:27 PM

The forum still displays words and sentences mostly in coherent English. I could care less what color various parts of it are.

#9

Off-Topic / Re: Random Thoughts

Last post by CoreySamson - Today at 04:33:02 PM

I feel that such a law would have easy loopholes. What counts as "using the property?" Stepping inside the door? Being in the property for a certain amount of time in a day? Using the building for its proper purpose (but then that goes into the weeds as to what "proper purpose" means)? Also, how would the government track that the building is being used or not? I could see privacy issues with that.

I think the idea is good in theory, but in practice I don't think it would work, and I think it could be abused.

#10

Great Lakes and Ohio Valley / Re: New US 51 - Cairo Bridge

Last post by davewiecking - Today at 04:31:41 PM

I thought FEMA was moving Cairo residents uphill to New City, but Wikipedia is silent on that topic.