TRAILS: In May, I took my family for an early morning bike ride along the St. John’s Riverwalk. We parked our truck at the trail head located on N. Ben Maddox and commenced our bike ride from there. Various species of plants were identified by explanatory signs along the trail. As we pedaled east along the paved trail, we waved “hello” to a number of walkers and joggers. The weather was perfect, around 70° at 7:00 a.m. Off to the left were citrus groves, and to the right some residential areas. The mighty St. John’s River was dry this time of year. The trail went under the overpasses on Lover’s Lane and McAuliff, such that we didn’t have to stop for street traffic. I noted an oak grove that had grown from saplings planted by one of my scouts, Danny Allen, as an Eagle Scout project over 20 years ago. I also saw a number of benches along the trail that had been installed as Eagle projects by various scouts from Troop 308. The trail was even furnished with “mutt mitts” kiosks along the way for hikers who bring along their leashed dogs. The native vegetation along the trail was well maintained and created a pleasant atmosphere. We passed under the newly installed, lofty SCE power poles and finally arrived at Cutler Park. After stopping for a water break, we turned around and rode back to the Ben Maddox trail head.
I ended up continuing my ride to the west of Ben Maddox to explore the rest of the trail. It ended just before Old Dinuba Highway and the Target Shopping Center. The city continues to accumulate the necessary land parcels such that this trail will eventually end at the River Way Sports Park. This east/west trail is outstanding, and my only regret is that I have not taken advantage of this community asset in the past. There will be other trails connecting to it eventually, including the Santa Fe Trail which heads south to Mooney Grove Park. Also in the works is a new greenway trail further to the east that will follow along the north/south SCE corridor. These trails have been financed for the most part from Measure R funds along with other grants the city has obtained. Kudos to the City of Visalia, the Parks and Recreation Dept. and all who have made these amenities available to the public. While I’m on the topic, double kudos to the Waterways and Trails Committee for supporting National Bike to Work Week in May, and all those who participated.
TAXES: I recently came across an interesting news article entitled The Wealthy Won’t Simply Stand By and Pay Higher Tax Rates by Deroy Murdock. I share with you a few of his observations, along with some of my own. There is mounting evidence that tax payers go where taxes are low. Golf great Phil Mickelson was in the news recently, when he suggested that higher taxes might drive him from his native California to another state with lower taxes. He stated “If you add up all the federal (levies) and you look at the disability and the unemployment and the social security and the state, my tax rate is 62, 63%.” That leaves him with just 37¢ of every dollar that he earns. I’d suggest that we all try adding up the taxes and fees that we’re paying to various governmental entities, those just mentioned, along with property tax, sales tax, school tax, gasoline tax, tolls, business fees, development fees, and so forth. Then you will be able to better gauge what’s left to spend of your hard-earned dollars.
Between 1995 and 2010, $2 trillion in wealth was shifted by people abandoning California, Illinois, New Jersey and other high-tax states and unpacking in low-tax states such as Florida, Nevada and Texas. One-way traffic from New York to Florida is so steady that Harrington Moving & Storage specializes in moving people south. According to a 2008 Princeton study, when New Jersey boosted its top tax rate from 6.35% to 8.97%, thousands left the state and state deficits soon erupted.
When that much money leaves the state, it takes jobs with it. I suspect that most of us know of people and businesses who have left California because they believed it’s too expensive to live and do business here. It should be painfully obvious by now that “income moves to where it is most welcome, tax wise.” It’s death from a thousand cuts as each governmental and taxing entity asks for just a little bit more.
Visalians should consider this when balancing possible higher local taxes versus the level of city services desired.
A FINAL NOTE: I enjoyed the dedication and tour of Kaweah Delta Medical Center’s impressive new helipad. This will be a terrific addition to their downtown campus, and their main parking lot is open again. I saw our friend Janet Robertson at the dedication, great to have her back!
Warren Gubler
Visalia City Councilmember
wgubler@ci.visalia.ca.us
