We here at the Twisted Tanner got a tad of exposure today in the Salem Evening News. Nelson Benton touched briefly upon an up and coming battle that originated here at the Twisted Tanner. I'll post a link a bit later, as soon my so-called "smartphone" allows me to do so. The story touches upon the posturing taking place by Ted "Boy Wonder" Bettencourt and Dave "The Rat" Gravel as the rezoning talks near. And a quick blurb from the acting mayor stating that he hasn't ruled out another run, funny thing is that if he chose to throw his hat in the ring with Gravel and Bettencourt he probably would not make it through the primary.
Something new that I've heard is that Jim "the grouch" Liacos could have already chosen his guy in this race! Many are starting to speculate that Jim is with the Bettencourt camp and is helping guide young Ted into the spotlight? Recent actions in the council chambers even elude to this, something else to keep an eye on. How about the grouch as Bettencourt's campaign manager?
Now let's not forget about Sean Fitzgerald, there is still a lot of speculation that he could throw his hat into the ring. I've even recently heard that Podunk isn't happy with their new town manager, but you know that you can't believe everything you hear!! So as the world turns here in Peabody, MA we'll have to keep an eye on all of the moves happening and try to piece together the reasons why.
Dean Martin Manning didn't seem too happy last night when she made a motion and was completely shut out, maybe next time she can get the whole Rat Pack to do a song and dance for the rest of the council? A bit more of entertainment may increase viewership of these meetings since most of the time the technical team can not get things straight(last night no sound).
And oh...what about the story of the city purchasing $775k worth of un-usable space? We must be pretty well off to buy land that can serve no future purpose and will no longer generate the property tax income that it has for the past 200 years! Or was that just a backdoor deal that took care of someone in the system? Hmmmm.
Until Next Time,
www.twistedtanner.com
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Guess what was spotted in the girls room!
Never thought that a story from a local eatery would remind me of a movie I once watched on beta max! Yup, that's right PORKY'S..."there was a tallywacker in the girls room!" A story headlining in the recent copy of the Peabody Weekly exposes a story of a "transgender" group being barred from Capone's on Summit street. Personally, I think that a much bigger deal is being made of this than needs be. To me, you carry an I.D. for a reason and if for some reason your I.D. does not match your current image than you deserve to be denied! GET A NEW ONE!As far as the bathroom concern goes..perhaps they should hire Beula Balbricker to do random bathroom checks!
www.twistedtanner.com
Saturday, February 20, 2010
A man with a plan!?
Finally caught up with taxes...phew, now I can spring back into action and get back to my extra-curricular interest ; blogging about Peabody politics.It seems as though Boy Wonder has had enough with Dave Gravel's ruling of the headlines and inspirations for the re-zoning of our downtown! According the the Peabody Weekly , Bettencourt has his own vision of the future of downtown Peabody! And he tends to address the council with his vision during the March 11th City Council meeting. He asked Councilor Gravel his permission to do so...why he asked permission, I will never know?
So could this be simply a reaction to all of the Gravel hype, or just a bargaining chip to make a compromise with the Gravel camp? I'm sure they both have special interest contractors and land owners looking after their better interests! Let's see how this all plays out folks, something tells me that in the end a compromise will be made and Gravel with get his way with Bettencourt dodging a nasty bullet of defeat by that same compromise!
www.twistedtanner.com
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Hmmm
Received an interesting e-mail from former candidate for mayor Russ Donovan, it's contents were the below proposal sent into the mayor's office in regards to making adjustments to the tax rates. Please take the time to give these documents a quick read and let us know what you think!
www.twistedtanner.com
www.twistedtanner.com
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
You get what you ask for!
Looks like one of the original "backers" of the Lattitudes Sports Club build at 190-194 Newbury street is a bit dis-gruntled over something! From what I have been told, the builder/one of the owners of Lattitudes has been dumping trash such as decaying wood, excess broken bricks, cinder blocks and other debris in the land adjacent to her backyard. Actually I believe that it is the same backyard rumored that the developer leveled for her in exchange for her compliance to his plans. I have seen a copy of the agenda for this weeks city council meeting and item "k" on the agenda is her letter to the city council issuing her complaint. You get what you ask for!
www.twistedtanner.com
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Regional Vocational School Hidden Cost #1
As many of the people whom opposed this merger stated "we do not know what the real cost will be", I'm sure this is the first and certainly will not be the last "hidden cost" associated with this mega voc merger that was not included in the city's estimated buy-in figure. 10k is a nominal fee when we are talking about a multi-million dollar educational facility, but these things all add up. Now why is it that we have a school committee packed with people that are supposedly knowledgable of certain facets of the school system, a superintendent of schools, an assistant superintendent of schools, a business manager for the schools...etc; And we still have to go out and spend 10 thousand dollars of taxpayers monies to hire a firm to do research? And of course mayor bozo did not communicate whose budget would be footing the bill!
Let's all try to keep a tab on the "hidden costs" that were not initially in the merger when our illustrious leaders passed it. What was the original amount?....anyone?
Read the story HERE
www.twistedtanner.com
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
New Council Chief talks rezoning...
An updated post from several weeks ago so do not get confused while reading the past comments which will probably jive with the update anyway...The Rat has spoken! Yup, that's right, Peabody's future mayoral candidate has spoken aloud at last weeks city council meeting about the need for the proposed rezoning proposal to resurface. A proposal that will effect all future generations and one that can never be reversed once properties comply. Do we really have that much faith in the current 11 Councillors to allow them to make as big of a decision as this that will impact Peabody forever?
You can click HERE to read a story written in today's Salem Evening News and hear what a few of the councillors had to say. Wouldn't fixing the flooding be the responsible thing to do first? Heck even I would give this vision a chance if I knew that the flooding issues were properly resolved! Maybe Bettencourt will sieze this opportunity and prove that he is the right candidate for the corner office?
Monday, February 1, 2010
Viewer Post
Twisted Tanner,
I am writing you to comment on the mayor’s informational brochure for Peabody residents and taxpayers, which is available at City Hall. While technically correct the brochure obscures the one basic fact: The single-family homeowners are footing Peabody’s increasing real estate tax bill AGAIN!
Using figures from the mayor’s brochure, data available on the city’s web site, and the state web site I have concluded the single-family homeowners are taking the brunt of this year’s (FY 2010) tax increase.
Single-family homeowners as a group are paying over $1.6 million dollars more in taxes than last year with an average of $3273 /single-family. This represents an increase of about $150 per household.
The mayor’s brochure indicates the “the average annual tax bill for residents will be $3110.” The mayor’s average includes condos, 2 and 3 family properties, plus apartment complexes thus hiding the facts that these other residential properties are getting tax cuts!
Condo owners as a group will be contributing $71 thousand dollars LESS this year to the city. That’s about a tax cut of $55 per condo. The condo owner’s average tax bill will be $2287.
Multi-family as a group will be paying more than $200 thousand dollars LESS this year. That’s about a $180 tax cut per building. Their average tax bill will be $3157. That’s TOTAL for 2 or 3 units! That’s less than a single-family tax bill!
Apartment complexes as a group will be paying almost $280 thousand dollars LESS than last year.
Some interesting notes:
The Highlands Apartments on Dearborn St:
This controversial development bought out of the City’s affordable housing requirements and perhaps the water-tower requirement. This property was sold in 8/2007 for about $125million. Yet it’s assessment has been reduced from $64.9million to $50million resulting in a tax cut of more than $78 thousand dollars. I not believe the city ever assessed the property for the $125 million sale price.
Avalon Bay Properties, three properties off Rte. 114 and Prospect St., appear to be getting $68 thousand dollars in tax cuts.
Brooksby Village will be getting a tax cut of more than $90 thousand dollars.
Also another note: These tax changes are applied for fiscal year 2010. So for those of us who have to pay more (the increase), we will pay half in Feb., and half in May. PLUS we will pay more in the later payments. This is why when the tax increase is said to be only $150 we actually pay $225 MORE (paying forward). Of course for the properties getting tax cuts it applies they will be even GREATER than stated!
Anonymous
I believe my calculations are accurate and are based on data obtained from public sources. Any miscalculations are not intentional.
www.twistedtanner.com
I am writing you to comment on the mayor’s informational brochure for Peabody residents and taxpayers, which is available at City Hall. While technically correct the brochure obscures the one basic fact: The single-family homeowners are footing Peabody’s increasing real estate tax bill AGAIN!
Using figures from the mayor’s brochure, data available on the city’s web site, and the state web site I have concluded the single-family homeowners are taking the brunt of this year’s (FY 2010) tax increase.
Single-family homeowners as a group are paying over $1.6 million dollars more in taxes than last year with an average of $3273 /single-family. This represents an increase of about $150 per household.
The mayor’s brochure indicates the “the average annual tax bill for residents will be $3110.” The mayor’s average includes condos, 2 and 3 family properties, plus apartment complexes thus hiding the facts that these other residential properties are getting tax cuts!
Condo owners as a group will be contributing $71 thousand dollars LESS this year to the city. That’s about a tax cut of $55 per condo. The condo owner’s average tax bill will be $2287.
Multi-family as a group will be paying more than $200 thousand dollars LESS this year. That’s about a $180 tax cut per building. Their average tax bill will be $3157. That’s TOTAL for 2 or 3 units! That’s less than a single-family tax bill!
Apartment complexes as a group will be paying almost $280 thousand dollars LESS than last year.
Some interesting notes:
The Highlands Apartments on Dearborn St:
This controversial development bought out of the City’s affordable housing requirements and perhaps the water-tower requirement. This property was sold in 8/2007 for about $125million. Yet it’s assessment has been reduced from $64.9million to $50million resulting in a tax cut of more than $78 thousand dollars. I not believe the city ever assessed the property for the $125 million sale price.
Avalon Bay Properties, three properties off Rte. 114 and Prospect St., appear to be getting $68 thousand dollars in tax cuts.
Brooksby Village will be getting a tax cut of more than $90 thousand dollars.
Also another note: These tax changes are applied for fiscal year 2010. So for those of us who have to pay more (the increase), we will pay half in Feb., and half in May. PLUS we will pay more in the later payments. This is why when the tax increase is said to be only $150 we actually pay $225 MORE (paying forward). Of course for the properties getting tax cuts it applies they will be even GREATER than stated!
Anonymous
I believe my calculations are accurate and are based on data obtained from public sources. Any miscalculations are not intentional.
www.twistedtanner.com
Something New...
On nearly every corner and in every strip mall throughout the Dark City there is a local sandwich shop, a pizza joint, a roast beef place...etc. At the recently renovated North Shore Mall there are new exciting chain restaurants and a large food court. Yet it still seems that the most difficult question is where to eat! Let's face it...there are plenty of options scattered throughout the city, so was it bad food, bad service, or both the last time you visited some of these eateries that makes this decision so tough?
Maybe you all have had great experiences at all of the eateries and would like to share that with us? So positioned to the right side of the blog is a new Peabody Restaurant Review link, help us decide WHAT IS FOR DINNER!
www.twistedtanner.com
Maybe you all have had great experiences at all of the eateries and would like to share that with us? So positioned to the right side of the blog is a new Peabody Restaurant Review link, help us decide WHAT IS FOR DINNER!
www.twistedtanner.com
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