last901

Well, here we go (again)

I guess I'll never understand politicians and their rationale for discouraging people of means from living in the city.

http://mynorthwest.com/688774/seattl...me-tax-passes/

Who voted these people in anyway?

Beltfedbob

Seattle and they do truly suck.

Kamran

Are you saying you make more than 1/2 Mil a year?

Or are you saying the guys making $600K a year is not fair and just for them to pay a mere $2,250 a year tax, to avoid raising other taxes where guys making $15/hr have to share and pay?

Troll mode off...

c4cruiser

The City Council members are idiots (especially one certain member). This tax increase is going to go to court and the state Constitution currently prohibits cities from enacting a city income tax. And if it turns out that this does pass legal tests, look for Seattle to go after lower income earners.

Then look for a state income tax down the road. And the Legislature will be smart enough to keep a reduced state sales tax that can easily be raised.

last901

Good point and well put. It's not the actual numbers but, rather the creeping - okay, let's call it socialism- that bothers me. Moreover, I don't feel confident that the city council will allocate the money wisely.

As for the $15 per hour people, many whom now work fewer hours and actually earn less money than before. There's a good example why the City Council don't seem to understand simple economics and the free market.

I'll get back to you on the income issue. I'll need to check my tax returns. I'll send my driver down to my tax attorney's office to pick them up. He likes to drive the new Rolls anyway.

Seriously though, I'm all for an income tax if we get something back in the way of relief somewhere else - like,say, property taxes.

Mufflerbearing

With the recent passage of the Sound Transit 3 measure resulting in my largest property tax increase ever, the letter from the Assesors office last week showing my largest assessment increase ever and the recent tax package passed by our legislature to fund education to the max which said it would result in the largest state property tax increase in history, it looks like the government wants my house more than I do. And I won't even get started on car tab increases.

last901

Yep, I hear you, Pat. I suspect many of us are in the same boat. I am. This entire system and the politics involved could be debated for hours - even days... And other than things like you mentioned, like the license tab fees are probably better addressed in some other forum.

I suppose the fundamental question remaining is what do we all plan to do about it? I thought you lived in Snohomish County? So you managed to get hit by the RTA too?

Speaking of property taxes though, based on my last assessment from the Gummint Assessor's office, my property taxes alone, amortized over 12 months are actually 20% higher than my total mortgage payment when I bought the house.

At least, not living in the city I can take some comfort in knowing my taxes are not being used to paint rainbows on the crosswalks every Gay Pride day. (okay, I'm not homophobic, just an example of the waste of taxpayers' dollars.

Let's move on to Corvettes, open a nice single malt and thank somebody that we're not living under the freeway sheltered by a blue tarp.




.

last901

Sorry, but I just have to ask. Are you speaking of that particular council member who organized the "Pots and Pans Brigade" in support of something long forgotten. The same member who organized the floating protest against the Shell exploration fleet who docked in Seattle on their way to the Arctic? Love the irony in that their kayaks - hopefully not bought at city expense - were made of petroleum based material?

I worry she might eventually become the leader of the same council who not only endorses free (heroin) safe injection zones, but advocates free heroin as well.

God please tell me it was her and that we have more than one crackpot on the City Council.

Okay, Rant over. I'm getting old, frustrated, even angry and realize not enough people give a damn. We vote and...well

Kamran

Unfortunately, I hate to say it, but politicians are only minority individuals, whom we the people picked and voted for. As for ST3, we the people voted for it without reading a single sentence about it, politicians didn't vote for it. There was plenty of reports out there, which people didn't bother to read.

Oh yeah my taxes are going up due to ST3, but I knew about it before voting for it. But ST3 isn't my real problem, my problem is my KC assessor raised my assessment over 30% last year, and again just under 20% this year. ST3 and all orher taxes don't even compare to the increased value assessments.

As for personal tax trickling down the income ladder, that my friend is what our infamous fearless leader calls proudly as "fake news"!

I've been to several meetings including precinct meetings, what drives politicians is what they hear clear and loud. Those on the side line who don't like certain things, it's because politicians never hear from them because they choose to sit on the sideline quietly and complain on random Corvette Forums, hoping someone would hear them!

Don't get me started!?

last901

I guess maybe the Corvette Forum - or any other sort of discourse via the internet, as you imply, - is best for moaning and bitching so no argument there. Too bad that people who attend such meetings don't speak up. They may be asleep from all the preliminary rules of conduct and other matters relating to procedure.

I've been tempted to sit in on our local (Sammamish) council meetings, but I'm not sure that's the heart of the issues that trouble me so much.

Thanks though...

Kamran

Unfortunately most good and decent citizen who prefer stay quiet and not mix it up don't even show up...!

Ps, forget about the Rolls, I would have just liked to chauffeur you around in the Speedster!

last901

Ah, yes, the Speedster. I guess I'm sort of amazed at the prices these things seem to be bringing at auction. Granted it was the last of the original 901-series Porsches, but they built over 2,000 of the things (800 for the US) and they were little more than a stripped cabriolet with an "emergency top" that they admitted would (allow inclement weather to intrude into the cockpit, or something like that - it leaked) and Turbo bodywork with a regular 911 motor. Of course I suspect you already knew all that.

Arguably, I think they were kind of ugly with the top down. Replacement windshields were $5,000 and there was not as much space for luggage and things as in a Cabriolet.

Do I miss it? Sure I do, and would buy another if I could get one for what I paid for mine. At 200K to $300K I wouldn't even start looking for another one. I liked that car, but I retired and wanted to take some road trips so we got the C6. The Corvette has been a most excellent car for road trips and we've taken several trips over the 11 years we've owned it.

If you want to chauffeur me around in that you can. In fact if you would shave your head, gain about 60 extra lbs and wear loud Hawaiian shirts I could take pictures. I've always wondered how I looked in that car.

Good to hear from you. Can I ride the MV Agusta while you drive my Corvette?

Zorro O

Remember when Washington passed the state lottery it was with the promise it would fund schools and end property taxes for that purpose. It passed and the money went directly to the general fund and disappeared forever. I was driving up Pike a couple weeks ago and missed my turn on Broadway because I was so shocked by the rainbow crosswalks WTF. Seattle does things weekly that makes me glad I moved out of the city.

Kamran

^ you know, Seattle/Capital Hill with their rainbow were very smart. The couple of thousands of dollars they spent on it was a probably one of the best decisions they made. Although it was small scale, they got return on investment by tenfold on the first weekend. I often sit across the street near one of those rainbow crosswalks to have a drink or dinner and watch hundreds of visitors flock the area to take pictures crossing the crosswalk. The tax revenue they generated from all the visitors to come to the area, then drink and eat by far exceeded the cost.

That my friend was a much better investment than any of the sports areana "we" had to pay for to be built so a bunch of young and fit jocks can make millions and millions!

I take the rainbow any day....

Haha, I know what you mean. I'd rather be on the owner/selling end than the buying end of Speedsters. I'd always loved their sport-gangster look! of course, I'd love to buy one, but unfortunately I have more brain than money. Story of my life...

I'm expecting MV to be releasing a new model at the EICMA show in Milan. I'm curious if it will have any Tamburini (RIP) influence.

You ride my MV, if I can drive your Speedster?!?! Unfortunately sold the MV to one of my best friends trying to simplify life, downsize in preparation for what the closer I get to, the farther away it gets from me! Retirement, if it ever comes around??? I still have my retired 1098, which has now turned into a poseur wannabe race bike, frequenting local coffee shops wearing slicks!

Zorro O

Sorry Kamran, I find it hard to think of crosswalks that don't look like crosswalks as a good decision or a good investment, unless you are trying to get people killed and no I don't think that's what you want. Just saying.

Kamran

Colors have been there a while now and no records of increased accidents, other than thousands of smiles they've put on passer by's faces! I hope that's ok?

Nothing wrong with a little color unless we like white stripes because we are of the color white persuasion type! We may be old, but that doesn't mean we have to be grumpy and complain about something an entire neighborhood enjoys for a few thousands dollars while turn our cheeks on what costs 1/2 Bil $$$ and affects everyone.

In any case, it seems to work for the people who live and visit the area and hasn't done anything but bringing a little inexpensive joy to their lives. And I'm perfectly ok letting people live their life as they chose or however it makes them happy.

Zorro O

I'm not complaining, I'm laughing, I don't have to pay for this crap anymore, heck my mayor isn't even a pedophile. But I guess that's just a life he chose and it makes him happy and who am I to judge, just an old grumpy white guy named Zorro.

Kamran

You are a lucky man. I on the other hand am bi-colored! I come from a mixed family. My mom was a woman, and my dad was a man!

last901

Interesting observation, but I'm having a hard time understanding why a bunch or people taking pictures of crosswalks translates into income greater than what the sports teams generate for the city.Unless I don't understand economics.

Regardless, we're kinda getting off topic and we can simply agree to disagree and get back to Corvettes in lieu of MV's and Speedsters. You do seem like you're a smart fellow though and it might be fun to get together sometime and discuss our differences over a good single mal scotch - You buy, of course.

Kamran

I thought the topic was about camels! Did I miss something ...?

I'd be happy to buy you a drink anytime if you are willing to go where men are secure to walk on rainbows?

As long as we agree Speedster is the ultimate vintage Porsche, we can all live happily ever after in this troubled world...where us grumpy people frequent Corvette Forums!!!