Local Government
Here’s why Colonial Williamsburg Will Continue to Fail
June 30, 2021
We read stories in the Virginia Gazette and Daily Press about Colonial Williamsburg operating at a loss, year to year, and continuing to want bail out money from taxpayers in the form of the now infamous “Tommy Tax” along with grants from the City of Williamsburg. But what will cause real change within the organization? […]
Virginia’s Executive Order Challenges Right to Assembly
May 2, 2020
This week I was driving past Delaware street in the City of Williamsburg and noticed W&M students celebrating the end of their academic year by gathering on their porch with friends. I also noticed two police officers admonishing them, apparently due to their disobedience to the Governor's Executive Order against assembly. I didn't notice more […]
No Tax Break for Your Closed Business
April 25, 2020
A question was posed at the James City County budget meeting on April 23rd. Can businesses who have been forced to close be given a tax break since they haven't been able to make money? The answer from the County Administrator was "No". In fact, he said, "It's important for the County to continue to […]
Drones Aren’t for Fun Anymore
April 17, 2020
An article in the Daily Press today describes the scene in Jerusalem, one of drones gliding "up toward a high-rise until it reaches an apartment window where a woman waves from inside, proving to police that she is self-isolating after testing positive for the coronavirus. Israel has also approved the use of phone-spying technology that […]
County Government’s Use of Small Business Tax Income Under Scrutiny
April 9, 2020
With an unprecedented pandemic, local governments are struggling to meet the needs of their small business community. In reality, the only thing they are capable of is providing links to other organizations who may be able to help. Even though these government organizations exist mostly due to tax revenue generated by small business in the […]
Dear Governor Northam . . .this is no April Fools Joke
April 1, 2020
Turns out shutting down all non-essential businesses has done nothing but hurt small business owners. Seems as if people don't like being told they have to stay home. In fact, here's what the parking lot of Lowes and Walmart looked like on April 1st, two days after the Executive Order to shelter in place. The […]
CultureFix – The new beneficiary of the Tommy Tax
January 24, 2019
The extra 1% sales tax all residents of the Historic Triangle are now paying may not seem like a lot of money. But to read the actual income produced by this tax is staggering. In an article from the Virginia Gazette: "In December, the Tourism Council approved a $8.5 million budget for 2019. The Tourism […]
It’s Free Money Monday for City of Williamsburg businesses!
December 17, 2018
As reported by the WYDaily, The Williamsburg Economic Development Authority has given away $12,300 of your hard earned money (in the form of tax dollars) to local businesses in order to help them pay for Google Virtual tours of their private businesses. This is in an effort to bolster Google ratings of the City of […]
A tax too far . . .
September 18, 2018
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
September 18, 2018
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 […]
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WJCC Voice covers Williamsburg, James City County and York County in Virginia.