Comments on: Best Of The Region http://christopherhedges.com/2009/01/12/best-of-the-region/ A Fusion of Information, Law, Politics, Persuasion & Entertainment, focused on NW Indiana & beyond Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:08:05 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Christopher C. Hedges http://christopherhedges.com/2009/01/12/best-of-the-region/comment-page-1/#comment-3963 Christopher C. Hedges Thu, 15 Jan 2009 03:33:47 +0000 http://christopherhedges.com/2009/01/12/best-of-the-region/#comment-3963 One of these days, if the Marquette plan is approved and implemented, we should get some nice Lake Michigan access in Lake County. Gary does have a nice beach in Miller (Marquette Park). One of these days, if the Marquette plan is approved and implemented, we should get some nice Lake Michigan access in Lake County. Gary does have a nice beach in Miller (Marquette Park).

]]> By: Buzzcut http://christopherhedges.com/2009/01/12/best-of-the-region/comment-page-1/#comment-3958 Buzzcut Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:08:41 +0000 http://christopherhedges.com/2009/01/12/best-of-the-region/#comment-3958 Steve, if that was the situation in '99 (Valpo taxes were twice that of Indy), that has changed since then. They're a little less in Indy now (maybe 25% less), but that is more than made up for in the COIT. Indy is just stupid at 1.65%. Not to mention their food and beverage tax to pay for the new stadium. Tax rates are not unreasonable, as long as you don't live in North Lake County. And even there, I don't think anybody actually pays those taxes, with all the exemptions and the cap. Regarding the Lake, Gary would be a much different place if the city itself has Lake access, like Chicago does. So I understand where you are coming from there. But there's always the Dunes. There are lots of places to access the Lake. The BP refinery actually has a pretty awesome beach. You can get to it from Whiting park. Supposedly there is no tresspassing there, but there are often surfers there! <abbr><em><abbr><em>Buzzcuts last blog post..<a href="http://bluecountyredstate.blogspot.com/2009/01/does-lake-county-have-unfair-tax.html" rel="nofollow">Does Lake County have an unfair tax advantage in Indiana?</a></em></abbr></abbr></em> Steve, if that was the situation in ’99 (Valpo taxes were twice that of Indy), that has changed since then.

They’re a little less in Indy now (maybe 25% less), but that is more than made up for in the COIT. Indy is just stupid at 1.65%. Not to mention their food and beverage tax to pay for the new stadium.

Tax rates are not unreasonable, as long as you don’t live in North Lake County. And even there, I don’t think anybody actually pays those taxes, with all the exemptions and the cap.

Regarding the Lake, Gary would be a much different place if the city itself has Lake access, like Chicago does. So I understand where you are coming from there. But there’s always the Dunes. There are lots of places to access the Lake.

The BP refinery actually has a pretty awesome beach. You can get to it from Whiting park. Supposedly there is no tresspassing there, but there are often surfers there!

Buzzcuts last blog post..Does Lake County have an unfair tax advantage in Indiana?

]]> By: Chris Sloan http://christopherhedges.com/2009/01/12/best-of-the-region/comment-page-1/#comment-3955 Chris Sloan Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:15:31 +0000 http://christopherhedges.com/2009/01/12/best-of-the-region/#comment-3955 I grew up in Aurora Illinois so getting to and through Chicago wasn’t that big of a deal…was pretty use to it and knew what to expect. I didn’t make my post college living there nor was I politically involved. Graduated and stayed in Valpo in 1985 and after awhile saw the real workings of an administration gone bad, that’s when I began to take notice. Steve & his family really introduced me to Indy. It is really a small/big city if your from Chicago. It's a wonderful model for many of the issues that NWI should adopt...at the very least should look heavily into. I guess I took a more half glass approach to the original question. I’ve always enjoyed the South Bend area, regional airport is what Gary could be…Gary has too many hurdles to get this kind of airport moving. It might just be a better National Guard/cargo airport. This time next year we won’t see any more movement on this issue than today. I’ve always enjoyed being able to get to upper Michigan, Indy, Chicago or Aurora in a single day road trip…that I can handle. Getting to Chicago, Indy, Cleveland, Aurora and alike, you have to go through some pretty rough looking areas. Chicago’s inner city tax hike just put a damper on me wanting to even visit that city anymore. As a side bar, I’m sure there is a perfectly good explanation?...but when your using your IPass/IZoom in Illinois you don’t have to stop (I think this was the original idea), but when your using this in Portage you stop, wait for the toll gate to open, then pass through. Doesn’t this defeat the purpose? That’s frustrating but perhaps there is a good explanation. I've loved living here, I've met some great people, been involved in some great stuff. Guess we can always find some things to change...brick by brick! <abbr><em><abbr><em>Chris Sloans last blog post..<a href="http://inkspotprinter.com/2009/01/13/tony-dungy-a-class-act/" rel="nofollow">Tony Dungy, A Class Act</a></em></abbr></abbr></em> I grew up in Aurora Illinois so getting to and through Chicago wasn’t that big of a deal…was pretty use to it and knew what to expect. I didn’t make my post college living there nor was I politically involved. Graduated and stayed in Valpo in 1985 and after awhile saw the real workings of an administration gone bad, that’s when I began to take notice. Steve & his family really introduced me to Indy. It is really a small/big city if your from Chicago. It’s a wonderful model for many of the issues that NWI should adopt…at the very least should look heavily into. I guess I took a more half glass approach to the original question. I’ve always enjoyed the South Bend area, regional airport is what Gary could be…Gary has too many hurdles to get this kind of airport moving. It might just be a better National Guard/cargo airport. This time next year we won’t see any more movement on this issue than today. I’ve always enjoyed being able to get to upper Michigan, Indy, Chicago or Aurora in a single day road trip…that I can handle. Getting to Chicago, Indy, Cleveland, Aurora and alike, you have to go through some pretty rough looking areas. Chicago’s inner city tax hike just put a damper on me wanting to even visit that city anymore. As a side bar, I’m sure there is a perfectly good explanation?…but when your using your IPass/IZoom in Illinois you don’t have to stop (I think this was the original idea), but when your using this in Portage you stop, wait for the toll gate to open, then pass through. Doesn’t this defeat the purpose? That’s frustrating but perhaps there is a good explanation. I’ve loved living here, I’ve met some great people, been involved in some great stuff. Guess we can always find some things to change…brick by brick!

Chris Sloans last blog post..Tony Dungy, A Class Act

]]> By: Daltonsbriefs http://christopherhedges.com/2009/01/12/best-of-the-region/comment-page-1/#comment-3952 Daltonsbriefs Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:09:29 +0000 http://christopherhedges.com/2009/01/12/best-of-the-region/#comment-3952 Oh my I started something here guys. Let me backtrack a bit. I moved to NW Indiana in 1999 and had to convince my wife that people actually drive through Gary to get to Chicago. My property taxes on my $180,000 home were twice what they would have been in Indy. A permit to build a house was three times higher than Indy and some communities were complaining of needing more cash and wanting to levy "impact fees" In Valparaiso the mayor for 20 years deferred maintenance and the roads and planning were a total mess. In Lake County the political situation landed a few people a year in jail. Now, deep breath, Buzz I agree that the industry is interesting ... I have enjoyed my tours of the facilities. I wish they weren't right on the shoreline. Sloan, we're a darn good location if you put in the Illiana and raise tolls so that the toll is only used by people willing to pay to be in a hurry. We could also sorely use an intermodal rail-road-water exchange. I like the possibilities, and yes Buzz you're right some of the taxes are lower if you disregard other fees. I remember commenting to SLoan years ago that NW Indiana has more parks per capita than anywhere else I've ever lived. <abbr><em><abbr><em>Daltonsbriefss last blog post..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NorthwestIndianaBlogs/~3/k4hdJ3LtmwI/recap-first-nw-indiana-blogger-meetup.html" rel="nofollow">Recap First NW Indiana Blogger Meetup</a></em></abbr></abbr></em> Oh my I started something here guys. Let me backtrack a bit.

I moved to NW Indiana in 1999 and had to convince my wife that people actually drive through Gary to get to Chicago. My property taxes on my $180,000 home were twice what they would have been in Indy. A permit to build a house was three times higher than Indy and some communities were complaining of needing more cash and wanting to levy “impact fees”

In Valparaiso the mayor for 20 years deferred maintenance and the roads and planning were a total mess. In Lake County the political situation landed a few people a year in jail.

Now, deep breath, Buzz I agree that the industry is interesting … I have enjoyed my tours of the facilities. I wish they weren’t right on the shoreline. Sloan, we’re a darn good location if you put in the Illiana and raise tolls so that the toll is only used by people willing to pay to be in a hurry. We could also sorely use an intermodal rail-road-water exchange.

I like the possibilities, and yes Buzz you’re right some of the taxes are lower if you disregard other fees. I remember commenting to SLoan years ago that NW Indiana has more parks per capita than anywhere else I’ve ever lived.

Daltonsbriefss last blog post..Recap First NW Indiana Blogger Meetup

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