Weekly Update

Police Department

• A complaint was received concerning juveniles receiving tattoos from an unlicensed operator in the city limits. An investigation identified Sonny James Kelly, 37, as the one responsible for giving tattoos to two juveniles at a residence in Wendy Garden Apartments. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Kelly for his actions.
• Harry Cropper reported that someone had broken the window of his vehicle while it was parked at 718 Sixth Street.
• Charles Preston Collins was issued an Alcohol Citation for possessing an Open Container of Alcohol on Bonneville Avenue.
• Jeffrey Alan Hickman drove his vehicle through the barricades on the Pocomoke River Drawbridge causing $3,000.00 in damages.
• A call was received in the area of 400 Bank Street that Marlon Dewayne Jenkins was threatening to shoot another person. Jenkins drove away but was located by officers and apprehended. He was also found in possession of CDS and CDS paraphernalia. He was placed in the Worcester County Jail under bond.
• A man reported that he had been assaulted by several other men in the area of Young Street. He was transported by Pocomoke EMS to the hospital. The investigation continues.
• Gregory Holden, 511 Cedar Street, reported a burglary of his residence. The back door was damaged but no items were reported stolen.
• Following a traffic stop, Leroy John Hope was arrested on a Wicomico County Warrant.
• David Lewis Lynn, 49, was arrested for DWI on Route 13.
• A bicycle was reported stolen from 618 Walnut Street.
• Worcester County workers located several firearms at the Bunting Road Bridge which is undergoing repairs. They were found to have been stolen two years ago from a residence on Eighth Street. The investigation continues.
• A golf cart at the YMCA was damaged when the cart rolled over. Damage was estimated at $200.00.
• Police warned several property owners to remove abandoned vehicles located on their property or face fines and removal charges.

Public Works

• Work was done on storm drains this week.
• Grass cutting at the lagoons and Waste Water Treatment Plant.
• Repairs made at the Firehouse.
• Repairs made at the EMS Building.

Golf Course

• Crews worked on equipment repairs.
• Gypsum was applied to the greens.
• Repairs were made on the irrigation system.
• Regular grass cutting and weed eating.

Finance Department

• The city received annual Business Taxes from Wal-Mart totalling $111,130.00

Fairgrounds Events

• The Bay Shore Gobblers Chapter NWTF will sponsor a youth event at the Fairgrounds on Saturday, October 6th.

Downtown Association

• The annual Downtown Block Party will be held Saturday (tomorrow), September 29th in front of the Marva Theater as well as inside of the theater. The outside car show begins at 6pm and the Marva will open its doors at 7pm. A Beer Garden and entertainment provided by the Funsters will be on stage. Cost is $10.00.

Are Slots The Answer?

Governor O'Malley wants to move forward with some aggressive new taxes and an increase in gambling in Maryland in order to offset the projected budget deficit. Today on my show, I spent some time talking about gambling as a means of raising revenue in support of government spending.

I do not believe the government should raise revenues from gambling. I mean, consider that the Governor's proposed spending package includes setting aside 6 million dollars a year in support of those suffering from Gambling Addictions. This should raise all of our eyebrows. Traditionally, gambling preys on those who can least afford to lose money in the first place. Is this where we should be trying to find revenue?

Gambling is a limited revenue. There is a limit to the number of folks who will come to casinos to pull the one armed bandits and we will find ourselves in competition with our border states for those same dollars. Surely, other gamblers will be created in Maryland, but is this a good thing?

It is my experience that government is addicted to money and spending. Government never received an increase in spending that it ever gave back. If slots revenues come in as projected at 150 million dollars, it will only take two or three years for the state to absorb this money and then come back for more. More slots, more casinos, and more money for those suffering from Gambling Addictions. More problem families. More poor choices.

Maryland State Government sold the citizens of this great state over twenty years ago on having a lottery system. The sales pitch featured a State Police Helicopter coming to the rescue of a citizen and the lottery was hailed as the answer to providing money for this much needed service. This money would only be used for public safety (medivac services) and education. So after all of these years, what do you think? That money is just another General Fund source that we never even talk about. The same will be true of slots revenue. Eventually, it will simply be absorbed into the General Fund, and other sources will be needed to fund our insatiable appetite for taxes and public spending.

Governor Ehrlich left office with 1.5 billion dollars in surplus which could have been used to off set the budget shortfalls. Instead, this money was spent last year with no thought of today. Now we face a 20% increase in the State Sales Tax and slots. This is the result of legislators unwilling to make some tough decisions and a public that demands their representatives "deliver the goods...or else!"

All of us must change the way we think in terms of what services government should be providing and what we classify as "success" in our legislators.