A few months back I had to drive down to Norfolk for an appointment. My GPS rerouted me to avoid traffic so I ended up going through the Downtown Tunnel where “Pay-by-Plate” is active. If you do not have an EZ Pass to pay tolls on Virginia Highways, you either pay cash, debit or in […]
Tax Credit, Rental Assistance Endorsed to Reduce Evictions
A new coalition called Campaign to Reduce Evictions (CARE) was formed earlier this year by Christie Marra, a staff attorney with the Virginia Poverty Law Center. This organization is determined to reduce the number of home evictions in the state of Virginia. The New York Times published data collected by Matthew Desmond, Princeton University sociology professor, ranking of […]
A tax too far . . .
I recently traveled to the self proclaimed vacation capital of the world, Orlando Florida. While sitting back in my comfy restaurant chair, thinking about the delicious meal I had just enjoyed, I was presented with the bill. I took a quick look and thought, there must be some mistake. There’s no way this Mecca of […]
What’s good for the goose is good for the hardware store
In the September 15th edition of the Virginia Gazette, Rodrigo Arriaza wrote an article about Peninsula Ace Hardware’s move to the Monticello Shopping Center. I’m glad to see that Ace Hardware is staying close to their original location. But as I read further, Rodrigo states that the Williamsburg Economic Development Authority unanimously approved a $50,000 […]
Why is my child’s school sending me this?
Imagine my surprise when I open my email to find an invitation from my daughter’s high school to attend an event entitled: ““Women Out-Loud! The Gendered Landscape of Islamic Performance”. Wait, what? Yes, our tax dollars are being used to send out blast emails to parents in our school district to attend a lecture / […]
Inciting Racism Where There is None
Dave Ress wrote an article in the Daily Press with the title “Marijuana charges and convictions fall more heavily on black Virginians.” This was the front page story, and this title implies obvious discrimination. But let’s look at the facts as published in the article. The claim: Whites charged with marijuana possession in Virginia are […]