Hump-Day Happenings...
Half-way home.....and we're waiting for that weekend. Time for some snippets from around the region, the globe, or wherever else the wind is blowing.

The Man With The Plan - Part 1:
Gov. Mitch Daniels unveiled his property tax proposal last night, and it's got most of the things I said he should do, such as raise the SALES tax 1%. He also plans to hold property taxes at 1% of the home's value and supplement those taxes with the state's surplus (nice to know all that TOLL ROAD money is being put to SOME good use). The entire method of reassessment will be looked at with changes in the offing.
Can we say "about damn time"?
(it IS an election year)
I strongly feel that the "sin taxes" should have been raised as well. And it's a DAMN shame you can't tax STUPIDITY, or this state would be SO far out of the "red", it would take CENTURIES to incur another deficit in ANY city, town, or good old borough. What troubles me is that locally, we STILL have those over THIRTY "entities" that can levy increases, so...where are THEY going to be getting ALL THEIR money when Daniels caps property tax raises lower than in previous years and tells them all that the well's run dry? Wonder how the FWCS will like that...or the ACPL...or the FWIA? This will be interesting to watch. (and keep those out-of-state movers on speed dial...just in case).

The Man With The Plan - Part 2:
Last night also had the mayoral debate between Kelty and Henry, so it was a tossup as whether to watch them or Jeopardy (FYI- Alex won that round). While both men stated much of what we here in Fort Wayne had already heard before, the debate was not so much a debate PER SE, but more like a Q&A session, or as I prefer to call it: "Ask Me Another". A REAL debate would have good to watch. But this IS Fort Wayne.

Absolutely No Plan:
Looks like the UAW is hitting the picket lines again. International Truck employees are out "doing the walk", and Chrysler employees might not be far behind, as they rejected their latest contract proposal (first time since the 80's, btw).

OK...So Here's The Plan:
Southern California wildfires still burn, and with 250,000+ people evacuated, what's the best way to handle this? (remember...it IS California) That's right...do NOTHING (or as little as possible). It's all right, though. The firefighters have decided to let the fire burn itself out, rather than endanger themselves further by attempting to halt it.With the Santa Ana winds subsiding, luck will be shifting to THEIR side of the poker table finally.

You Call THIS A Plan?
A new Mc'Ds opened on the SOUTH side of town recently, and there's nothing really new about that, BUT....what you might not know is that they also got a nice, "healthy" TAX BREAK (not to be confused with their menu). A tax abatement to the tune of $242,812 in property taxes now belongs to them.
And the city worries about having enough tax money to fund city services....pshaw!
Let's mention that this is the THIRD Mc'Ds to go up in this area. There USED to be one on South Anthony near the firehouse (but it closed). And there was the one INSIDE of SOUTHTOWN Mall (which was a nice place, but alas, that closed too when the city ignored this part of town, allowing the mall to close). So now we have a brand-spanking NEW one near Southtowne Centre (there's that damn silent *E* again), and they get a tax BREAK because (in councilman Glynn Hines' words) "It's critical to draw new investment to the city's south side".
Gee, Glynn...what the hell have I been harping about for almost TEN freaking years? And STILL you guys let Southtown Mall crumble back into the good earth. I don't see any tax abatement coming MY way either, because I live down here, and keep MY property looking nice enough to "draw investors" to MY neighborhood (such as REAL HOME OWNERS and not a bunch of section 8 flotsam posing as human beings).
Must be nice, guys.
Wish I could talk out BOTH side of MY mouth.

Now THIS IS A Plan:
Space shuttle Discovery was launched and made orbit yesterday, taking with it another piece of the ISS (International Space Station). basically, it's a bus-sized docking port, and will require FIVE spacewalks to accomplish. This marks the FIRST TIME is history that WOMEN are commanding the shuttle mission as well as the space station.
You go, girls!
It might still be a "man's" world, but SPACE is still UP FOR GRABS.

And there you have it... news from our part of the world and beyond, coming right at you!
...at the Speed of Life!