Events and Meetings

Friday, 19 April 2013

• Taxpayer resolution meeting (2020 Hampton St.)
• Bond closing documents received for Airport (2020 Hampton St.)

  

  Mayor Benjamin speaks at the
  dedication of the Isadore Lourie
  Senior Center on 4/18

• Staff meeting (2020 Hampton St.)
• Hand Middle School Foundation event (Wilmot St.)

Thursday, 18 April 2013

• Hon. Isadore Lourie Senior Center dedication (1650 Park Circle)

Wednesday, 17 April 2013

• SC Auditors, Treasurers, Tax Collectors – SCATT meeting (Myrtle Beach)
• SCATT Legislative presentation – speech (Myrtle Beach)
• SCATT Delinquent Tax Collector Issues – on panel (Myrtle Beach)

Tuesday, 16 April 2013

• Taxpayer resolution meeting (2020 Hampton St.)

  

  Sen. Vincent Sheheen speaks at the
  opening event of his campaign for
  Governor of South Carolina.

• Vincent Sheheen for Governor event (Blanding St.)
• The Citadel Alumni Legislative BBQ (Cantey Bldg., State Fairgrounds)

Monday, 15 April 2013

• Richland delinquent property tax notices sent (2020 Hampton St.)
• Junior League meeting (Hampton Trace Neighborhood)

Saturday, 13 April 2013

• Junior League of Columbia “Kids Touch-a-Truck” event (SC State Farmers’ Market)

Friday, 12 April 2013

• Mail perfection software meeting (2020 Hampton St.)

  

  The Junior League of Columbia's
  Touch-a-Truck event was a great
  time for children big and small.

Thursday, 11 April 2013

• Taxpayer resolution meeting (2020 Hampton St.)

Tuesday, 9 April 2013

• Mail perfection software meeting (2020 Hampton St.)
• Nulla Bona Committee notification (2020 Hampton St.)

Things are slower around Easter blessings

Friday, 5 April 2013

• Columbia Luncheon Club (Maxcy Gregg Park)
• Banking services meeting (2020 Hampton St.)

Wednesday, 3 April 2013

• Website review (2020 Hampton St.)

Tuesday, 2 April 2013

• County Council Meeting (2020 Hampton St.) 

  

  The Washington DC Kite Festival is one
  of the greatest events for kids we've found.

  

Saturday, 30 March 2013

• Washington DC Kite Festival (The Mall, Washington, DC)

Friday, 29 March 2013

• Annual tax deed signing (2020 Hampton St.)
• Washington DC Trip

Thursday, 28 March 2013

• Lower Richland Senior Citizens Fun Day (Seawell's, 1125 Rosewood Dr.)
• Banking Services meeting (2020 Hampton St.)

  

  Around 500 hundred senior citizens got
  lunch, information about services they
  may need, and lots of door prizes at
  Seawell's on March 28th.

• Meadowfield Elementary conferences

Wednesday, 27 March 2013

• Taxpayer resolution meeting (2020 Hampton St.)
• Richland County Department Heads meeting (2020 Hampton St.)
• Pamela Adams filing to run for school board (2020 Hampton St.)

Tuesday, 26 March 2013

• Banking services review (2020 Hampton St.)

Monday, 25 March 2013

• DMV mailing agreement (2020 Hampton St.)

Great night ... almost perfect

Last night, my son and I went to the South Carolina v. Citadel baseball game.  "The Ray" is such a great place to watch a game, and the weather in Columbia is just about perfect right now.

I saw some old Citadel friends, but most of the night was a father/son night spent between our seats near the visitors' dugout and the concession stands.  Between us, we ate around twelve pounds of junk food.  And, P staked out the dugout until a cadet tossed him a game ball.

It got late, and we were walking out at the start of the ninth inning - our team was losing 2-5 and all looked lost.  As we reached the exit, two Bulldogs got on base and we stopped to watch in the outfield.  We played catch between batters, and by the end of The Citadel's at-bat, the game was tied 5-5.  We settled into a spot to wait for extra innings, but before we settled in the Gamecocks knocked a solo home run to win the game, 6-5.

It was a great night, and it was one run short of perfect.

Getting more people to pay in

In a recent Freakonomics podcast, they review some of the complications in federal tax collections, as well as some of the things that work to get people to meet their civic obligation.  It is a duty to pay taxes, but it should be easier, not harder.  The podcast is short, fun and makes you think about how easy it can be to make government work by getting government to try to work with (instead of against) the people it serves.

You can access "The Tax Man Nudgeth" here.

A shameful failure

Democrats have usually been compassionate and thorough in the policies addressing our veterans' care when they return from protecting us and our interests around the world.  Apparently, not in this case.  For too many of our veterans, the ability to receive timely care is getting worse by the day – and exponentially worse over the last four years.

This is one of the issues over which people’s faith in government to do anything is rightfully shaken.  When something goes as wrong as this, and all the stakeholders agree to do what is necessary to fix it, the government should be able to demand that a quick remedy can be found. Otherwise, what is government for? 

It is past time to make this a priority for those who have so nobly served us.

Watch this light, informative, and infuriating, Daily Show report here.

Victory for a career politician

It is not redemption for Mark Sanford, but it was another victory.  The former Governor who spent the last twenty years claiming to disdain politics and government, and who actively worked to accomplish nothing as a Congressman or Governor, has succeeded in claiming the GOP nomination to replace Senator Tim Scott. 

I thought Sanford’s brazen neglect, deceit, constant failure, and unbelievable self-absorption meant he couldn’t be a winner – I was wrong.

Somehow the anti-politician who was among the first claiming to push for term limits – and who doesn’t think government service should be used to lead anything – has now been running for political office for a generation.  Isn’t it funny how the guys who complain about government service the most are the ones who try the hardest to grasp it?

Politico reports that the GOP is worried that Sanford might squander a very safely gerrymandered seat.  Read the Alex Isenstadt article here.

On the Go

Saturday, 23 March 2013

Pamela and I with Gov. O'Malley

• SC Democratic Party Issues Conference, West Ashley High School (Charleston)
• Reception for Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Peachtree St. (Charleston)

Friday, 22 March 2013

• Trader Joe's Grand Opening, Forest Drive
• South Carolina Democratic Party Meeting, Vista Starbucks
• Supporter Lunch, Diprato's

Thursday, 21 March 2013

Grand Opening on Forest Drive

• Together We Can Read, Bradley Elementary School, 3032 Pine Belt Rd.

Wednesday, 20 March 2013

• Together We Can Read Kick-off, Eau Claire Print Building 

Tuesday, 19 March 2013

• Fair Labor Standard Act County Review, 2020 Hampton St.
• Banking Services Call, Richland Treasurer's Office

  

  Kick-off Event for Together We Can Read
  

  

Monday, 18 March 2013

• Clerk of Court Banking Meeting, 1701 Main St.

Saturday, 16 March 2013

• St. Patrick's Day Parade, Devine St.
• Hampton Old Woodlands St. Patrick's Day Neighborhood Party 

Thursday, 14 March 2013

• Banking Services Meeting, Richland Treasurer's Office

  

  St. Patrick's Day Parade, 3/16

• Councilman Norman Jackson's State of the County, Lower Richland High School

Wednesday, 13 March 2013

• Chamber of Commerce Leadership Breakfast, Seawell's
• Supporter Lunch, Henry's on Devine

Tuesday, 12 March 2013

• Banking Services Meeting, Richland Treasurer's Office

Monday, 11 March 2013

• Taxpayer Resolution Meeting, Richland Treasurer's Office
• Hon. Barbara Scott Memorial Service, Dunbar Funeral Home

Saturday, 9 March 2013

• NE Democrats Breakfast, Ryan's on Two Notch Rd.