Poverty Level In Taylor County
I would like to have a discussion/conversation with others about the census data for our county such as the 22.9% of families living at or below the poverty level in Taylor County. One fourth of the population is approximately 5,000 people living in abject poverty. Where is the prosperity repeatedly harked by county and state leadership that is to come from economic development? Why after repeated attempts to economically develop and multi-millions in tax dollars spent are we still under developed and failing to prosper? The county and state are obviously blowing smoke or else we would not be on the abyss of hopelessness again. How much more money for nothing can we afford to give to the same old ineffective programs and projects? Who is getting rich off these deals and who is getting poor seems to be the only question we have the answered.
Taylor County is stuck in a cycle of ignorance and poverty that goes back for generations and is extremely hard to break. The best bet for escaping poverty is education, but education is undervalued by far too many parents around here--and when it's undervalued by the parents, it's almost guaranteed to be undervalued by their children. Those children grow up in ignorance, then have ignorant children of their own. Add the obscenely high rate of drug use in this area--another multi-generational problem--and the mess gets even worse.
Potential employers see this, and are turned off to Taylor County because they fear they won't be able to hire enough educated, reliable workers if they locate here. This reduces the number of good jobs available, which results in many of our best and brightest students leaving as soon as they get the chance. That means the ones who stay are often, by definition, NOT the best and brightest.
I realize this sounds harsh, and I want to make it clear that there are many great things about Taylor County. I live here by choice. My family lives here by choice. We've lived here for generations.
But the reality is that ignorance abounds, and it continues to be passed down from parents to children. Until that cycle is broken, the poverty situation won't improve. There won't be significant economic development.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6MFN8yiVc0
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Poverty is alive an well for a lot of folks who are less fortunate not to have a big courthouse job, school board job or county-city job. I have been working with a couple of churches to get together Christmas baskets as we did as well for Thanksgiving. We have been talking to the major retailers, Wal-mart-Winn-Dixie-Sav-A-lot about donations. These folks are about give out supporting the needy of our community. How about some of you potentates and charlatans giving to the local churches this weekend to serve food baskets to the needy of our community. Can't guarantee your picture in the paper with all you donated displayed on a table, but you will know in your heart you did the right thing and that is what Christmas is all about!
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i HAD TO MOVE - THE GOVERNMENT OF tAYLOR cOUNTY KEEPS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. i AM IN POVERTY. i'M WAS BLESSED TO HAVE A FEW DOLLARS TO GET OUT. wENT TO 1ST GRADE THERE.The people with government jobs there will soon run everybody out. The town and area is being killed by the local government.
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Being killed by a lot of things...greed, influence peddling, corruption, and assorted potentates and charlatans. They are killing themselves and our community and do not even know it or care.
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Taylor County is being killed by DRUGS!!!!Same people peddling them for years and nothing gets done about it!!!!
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Unfortunately, most of the best and brightest students leave the county,and understandably so, given the lack of jobs. At one time (late 1990's - early 2000's) it looked like Taylor County might break out and economically improve and diversify. Now, given the state budget problems and lack of national business growth, it doesn't look like things are going to change in my lifetime.
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My son voiced this reality when he said to me last year...'you know mom I'll never be able to live in Perry when I graduate from college, there won't be jobs for me'. How sad that we don't have what is needed to draw our young people an their new families back. No new employment, no new entertainment, no new restaurants, etc. How can we change things to draw our children back to Perry? I want to be able to watch my grandchildren grow up (when I have some).
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Require TCDA and other to actually create or retain jobs before they receive any tax-payer funding. The shoutout last week in the local newspaper paper to TCDA and Breer was just an effort to make TCDA appear relevant in today's economy. The 500 workers coming to town will only tax our local law enforcement and others.
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Well the poverty level related children will have a great 2010 when Dyal and company lose the headstart program. Thanks Dyal and company!
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You have to love people that make open ended statements like this. Makes people wonder if this person is a total idiot or just a jerk.
Merry Christmas everyone.
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You are right, these 500 "workers" will keep law enforcement, crack whores, crack dealers and increase the criminal element during their stay in our fair community. I say look at some stats before, during and after their stay for this year and the same time period the prior year.
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The whole economic development ol'boys club in trailer county is a joke. They have not created any meaningful jobs in 10 years! Even is this economy they could help retain jobs, help the exisiting business community and try to make the business climate healthier for exisiting businesses and for new businesses down the road.
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Say y’all…were can I buy myself a job? I really want to spend some money buying a part-time short term low wage without benefits job. I’ll spend good money purchasing a low-wage job that is labor intensive. Come on tell me where to find a job that works me like a borrowed mule.
My money (tax-payer dollars) is right, its shovel ready. I have deep pockets and I will pay big bucks to work so that I can make a little bit of money. Please sign me up for the job creation process that gives all my money to out of state companies, because I want a lousy job.
Hi ho hi ho it’s off to work I go…laughing and laughing
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You want how much money to burn?
Buckeye a limited Partnership or Limited Liability Corporation? Incorporated in Delaware? with ties to Memphis?, receiving biodiesel tax credit after receiving 7+ million dollars from state of Florida to research and develop biodiesel (cellulosic ethanol)?. Sound familiar? Double dipping?
http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2010/01/25/story2.html
The article states the follow quote:
“Within the pulp and paper industry, 2009 could be dubbed as the “black liquor bonanza” after a little known federal tax credit meant to stimulate biodiesel use ended up generating billions in tax credits for an industry struggling through an economic recession, including almost $2 billion in credits for three companies based in Memphis.”
A “bonanza” for an out of state company to receive federal and state tax credits/tax payer dollars all the while operating in the state of Florida. A “little known federal tax credit” is this all coincidental, or is it as it appears and described in good old Taylor County speech “ now ain’t this just all a little too cowinky-dinky. This was planned and well thought out business strategy and just one of many (12 and counting) on a short list of projects and plans which will increase stockholder profits using tax payer dollars.
This pig is split nine ways from Sunday. Last year’s tax and fee increases in the state of Florida to the tune of 2.2 billion dollars make for mighty deep pockets. Whose hand is in your wallet?
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How many of these sweetheart deals can we take?
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Pipe on the ground at Foley equals tax payer dollars to support special interest profits.
Why? Because the pollution in the river can not be moved without adding more water into the system because a dry river bed exposes us to toxic chemical sediment.
In other words our “oh so special interest” can not move the toxic chemical waste water from the plant into pipeline to the gulf without adding water to the river. But never fear our mayor is there to save them by supplying infrastructure grant dollars also known as "shovel ready projects". Our county commissioners are always on the side of special interest, all the while property values fall and private property rights are ignored and tax payer funding keeps on coming. Tax credits, block grant funding, economic development funding, renewable energy funding, and on and on.
I have to ask, why do we continue to take these risks to our health, safety, and prosperity?
The answer is simple we are mis-informed/uninformed and the decisions are being made by those with connections to the above said profits and success of this special interest.
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Remember all the “clean energy” this is how it becomes clean. No rules just right.
AIR PERMITTING EXEMPTION REQUEST
University of Florida Biofuel/Organic Acid Pilot Plant
Located in Perry, Florida
Submitted To: Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Northeast District
7825 Baymeadows Way, Suite B200
Jacksonville, Florida 32256-7577
Submitted By: Golder Associates Inc.
6026 NW 1st Place
Gainesville, FL 32607 USA
Distribution: D. Goff – Ford, Bacon & Davis
D. Feaster – Ford, Bacon & Davis
L. Ingram – University of Florida
K. Heinicka – University of Florida
C. Ashman – Myriant Technologies
C. Thompson – Buckeye Florida, LP
D. Weeden – Buckeye Florida, LP
D. Buff – Golder Associates
P. Cobb – Golder Associates
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"Now the comment about that sucking sound is easily explained. Tax dollars are being siphoned along with natural resources while the “stakeholders” are left holding the bag.
There would be no “stakeholder” if public funding wasn’t used. There would only be stockholders in the equation… if public funding wasn’t necessary or applied for. Are you suggesting that wonderful company you work for is not receiving “corporate welfare in the form of “special needs considerations” or “exemptions of” regulations and law to continue operations?"
This post is from 2007, tell us again about those 40-50 year deals for clean energy. It appears the joke is true.
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"Let's talk about it again, now that P&G/Buckeye is in the corporate welfare line using our tax dollars for consideration for, exemption of, funding from state. Why would a company with all that rich earnings and so good to supply jobs need monies out of the poor box."
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"Rich earnings"? Buckeye isn't exactly rolling in cash.
They recently released earnings for their second fiscal quarter, and their gross margin is down for the six-month period ending December 31st compared to the same period the prior year. Net sales are down $46 million. They owe $290 million to debtors.
Don't get me wrong--the news wasn't all bad for Buckeye; their overall financial situation is better than it was last year at this time. But this isn't a company that's making money hand over fist.
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So what are you saying citizen, that this company needs county/state/federal funding to support its loss of earnings. That this company is deep in debt and deserves a bail-out? Or are you saying we are funding a business that is failing to produce profits? Doesn’t sound logical to me, considering how much monies are spent by the company to change government rules/re set criteria/ lower the standard in order to accommodate a loss profit operation.
This company hired an attorney (doesn’t work for peanuts attorney) to file a petition to change/set standards (lower standards) of government regulation (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) for a fee of 15,000 and citizens feeling this is an incorrect action on government’s part to protect the government client (the environment) could do the same if they (citizens) have the money.
Now isn’t that all a bit strange that a government (environmental protection) agency would advocate for a major polluter to allow “considerations for and exemptions of” requirements to operate. It appears to me that FDEP can not find its client (environment, river, springs and citizen) with a wanted poster description and a posse.
The sad part in all of this, is that this is all being done in order to re-locate its problem (which failed to meet standards of government from the beginning) of fifty years and is exempt with rights and powers by law. It is cheaper to hire an attorney to pull a cheap lawyer trick out of a hat than to clean up their nasty act and this is what they have done.
So the next time someone declares “Industry will not harm us b/c government will not allow it” you will know that’s a joke and the joke is on you.
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What I said was what I meant--nothing more, nothing less. Some posters had implied that Buckeye was earning huge profits, and that characterization needed to be corrected.
But speaking in broader terms, I don't see that Buckeye did anything wrong.
So they made use of a federal tax credit. Big deal. This is a tax credit that any company could make use of, if they met the requirements (indeed, multiple other companies did just that). Management has a legal obligation to its shareholders to take opportunities like this, and could in fact be held liable if they DIDN'T. If you have a problem with the way the tax credit works, talk to members of Congress. They're the ones who made the rules--not Buckeye.
And if Buckeye has attorneys working to try to get the state to issue rulings that are favorable to it... Again, big deal. Every publicly-traded company seeks to maximize shareholder value. Buckeye is attempting to do so by minimizing expenses, and they're doing it in a perfectly legal way. Your beef should be with FDEP, not Buckeye.
In Buckeye's annual report, the company notes that it expects to spend $40-$60 million in the coming years to make changes to their Taylor County operations in order to meet environmental regulations--and that's on top of the small fortune they've already spent. That's not chump change for a company this size. At some point, it could just become to expensive for them to do business here.
Do you think we'd be better off if Taylor County's largest employer and taxpayer shut down altogether?
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I got your legal right here, and ain’t it a shame what our government see as lawful.
LAWS OF FLORIDA
CHAPTER 24952-(No.1338)
HOUSE BILL NO. 242
AN ACT Relating to Taylor County, Florida, Determining and Declaring Said County to be a Manufacturing and Industrial Area, Determining and Declaring That it is and will be in the Interest of the Public, the United States of America, the State of Florida, and Taylor County, Florida to Grant to Municipal Corporations, and to Persons, Firms and Corporations Operating Manufacturing or Industrial Plants in Said County the Right and Power to Discharge and Deposit Sewage, Industrial and Chemical Waste and Effluents, or Any of Them, Into the Waters of the Fenholloway River and the Waters of the Gulf of Mexico Into which Said River Flows, Granting Such Rights and Powers.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
Section 1. It is hereby determined and declared that Taylor County, Florida, has become and now is a manufacturing industrial area, and that the manufacturing industry is the principal industry of the people of said county; and it is further determined and declared that it is and will be in the interest and to the benefit of the public, the United States of America, the State of Florida as a whole, as well as for Taylor County, Florida and the people thereof, that the manufacturing industry within said county be enlarged, increased and expanded, and the growth and development of municipal corporations within said county be stimulated and encouraged by the grant of the rights and powers hereinafter specified.
Section 2. That every municipal corporation situated in Taylor County, Florida, and every person, firm or corporation operating any manufacturing or industrial plant in Taylor County, Florida, shall have and is hereby granted the right and is hereby empowered to discharge and deposit sewage, industrial and chemical waste and effluents or any of them into the waters of the Fenholloway River and the waters of the Gulf of Mexico into which said River flows, provided, however, that the navigation of such waters shall not thereby be impeded or obstructed.
Section 3. This Act shall not be construed as limiting or restricting any rights, powers or privileges now existing to discharge or deposit sewage, wastes or effluents into the waters of Taylor County, Florida.
Section 4. That all laws and parts of law in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
Section 5. This Act shall take effect upon becoming law.
Became a law without the Governor’s approval.
Filed in Office of Secretary of State May 5, 1947
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What was that song, by the man in black?
This adaptation of the lyric Folsom Prison Blues… fits this situation.
I see them rich folks eating in that fancy dining car, they’re probably sipping brandy and smoking big cigars.
But if they freed us from this hell hole and that RR train was mine, you can bet I’d move it on a little further down the line. Far from Taylor County where people are sick and poor because if you don’t care about us, we don’t need you any more.
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I got a laugh when Michelle Curtis of Buckeye was quoted in the Suwannee Democrat lambasting the bio-plant going into Hamilton County and saying that there was not enough waste to burn. Isn't that what Buckeye is trying to do as well. These career Buckeye hacks have been drinking the Coolaide too long! LOL!!!
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The EPA is holding public hearings in February (Tallahassee) on nutrient levels/ standards as per Clean Water Act and a Federal Judges order to proceed after ten years of stalling. Now ain’t this all just a little cowinky-dinky?
House Memorial 19
WHEREAS, the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States proclaims: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people,” and
WHEREAS, the Tenth Amendment defines the scope of federal power as being that specifically granted by the Constitution of the United States and no more, and
WHEREAS, the limitation of power contained in the Tenth Amendment established the foundational principle that the Federal Government was created by the states specifically to be an agent of the states, and yet currently the states are demonstrably treated as agents of the Federal Government, and
WHEREAS, many federal laws are in direct violation of the Tenth Amendment, and
WHEREAS, the Tenth Amendment ensures that we, the people of the United States of America and each sovereign state in the Union of States, now have, and have always had, rights the Federal Government may not usurp, and
WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution of the United States begins: “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,” and the Ninth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States declares: “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people,” and
WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court ruled in New York v. United States, 112 S. Ct. 2408 (1992), that Congress does not have the authority to simply commandeer the states’ legislative processes by compelling the states to enact and enforce federal regulatory programs, and
WHEREAS, a number of proposals from previous administrations and some proposals now pending from the present administration and from Congress may further violate the Constitution of the United States,
NOW THEREFORE, Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida: That the Legislature claims sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the Federal Government by the Constitution of the United States.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this memorial serves as a notice and a demand to the Federal Government, as our agent, to cease and desist, effective immediately, from issuing mandates that are beyond the scope of these constitutionally delegated powers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all compulsory federal legislation that directs states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties or sanctions or requires states to pass legislation or lose federal funding be prohibited or repealed.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be dispatched to the Pr
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Vote’em out, Vote’em all out.
Now u know how this happened through economic development and Republican sponsors and supporters. No rules, just right. But what the heck its all legal right?
MEMORIAL by Workman and Plakon and Hudson and Dorworth and Ray and Glorioso and Kelly
(CO-SPONSORS) Adams; Adkins; Ambler; Anderson; Aubuchon; Burgin; Carroll; Coley; Crisafulli;
Culp; Domino; Drake; Eisnaugle; Evers; Flores; Ford; Fresen; Frishe; Grady; Grimsley; Hays; Holder;
Hooper; Horner; Hukill; Kreegel; Legg; Lopez-Cantera; Mayfield; McBurney; Murzin; Nehr; Nelson;
O'Toole; Patronis; Patterson; Poppell; Precourt; Proctor; Reagan; Renuart; Rivera; Robaina;
Roberson, K.; Schenck; Snyder; Stargel; Tobia; Van Zant; Weatherford; Weinstein; Williams,
T.; Wood; Zapata
Limiting the Scope and Exercise of Federal Power: Urges Congress to honor provisions of
U. S. Constitution & U. S. Supreme Court case law which limit scope & exercise of federal power.
Effective Date: Not Specified
Last Event: Now in Economic Development & Community Affairs Policy Council
on Thursday, October 01, 2009 11:24 AM
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But not to worry folks, the 1947 law was rescinded in 1960’s. Although no one will tell you that on a dare, because public’s health and safety are to be considered in the actions of manufacturing and industrial waste dumping. Local pollution controls are allowable; County Commissioners have the power to set local pollution controls in order to protect the health and safety of the citizens. If this were not true, why does industry court this group continually? It is sad but we all know who leadership supports.
In fact if you check it out you will find repeated resolutions in support of the 1947 law made by TCBoCC through out the years (1992). One would be hard pressed to find/locate one meaningful action taken by numerous TCBoCC in opposition of 1947 law or to protect or ensure safety of the citizens for which they swore an oath to protect. All resolutions from Taylor County and City of Perry are in support of industry. So now tell me who has the power and who is to blame?
Well now, don’t be too hard on them, after all the majority of county commissioners for 30-40 years have been employees of the (special interest) industry, and have to consider their jobs being in jeopardy. To protect the citizens instead of industry would not benefit them professionally.
Now the public does not have to climb tall mountains or leap tall building in order to stop this madness. All you have to do is change the make up of the local boards. New members with the citizen’s best interest at heart willing to serve and protect could use this as a road map for change. New board members could at the very least use the power invested in them by the people to negotiate a better deal than always giving away the store to special interest.
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Well, considering that the special interest industry directly or indirectly employs just about all of Taylor County, you'll be hard pressed to find people for local boards who aren't affiliated with them.
You'll also have a tough time finding people who think that taking actions that are bad for Buckeye are good for the people of Taylor County. There's a direct correlation between the success of that company and the success of our county.
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Happy Hearts to all.
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http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/basics.asp#what
What Agent Orange Is
Agent Orange is the name given to a blend of herbicides the U.S. military sprayed from 1961 to 1971 to remove plants and leaves from foliage in Vietnam that provided enemy cover. The name “Agent Orange” came from the orange identifying stripe around the 55-gallon drums in which it was stored.
The U.S. military sprayed other herbicide combinations in the so-called Rainbow herbicides program, identified by the color of their storage drums, including Agent White and Agent Blue. Agent Orange was the blend used most widely.
Ingredients
The Agent Orange herbicide combination contained minute traces of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (also known as TCDD or dioxin), which has been shown to cause a variety of illnesses in laboratory animals.
The two active ingredients in Agent Orange were equal amounts of:
2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)
2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), containing minute traces of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/diseases.asp#veterans
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http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts104.html
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I agree with protection for people abd the environment
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Come out into the Sunshine
The statement of “Taylor County’s largest employer and tax-payer” is an oxy-moron. In the 90’s the workforce was downsized by two-thirds. That is lost jobs and facts are simply, not all employees working for “largest employer” live/are from Taylor County. Another fact is this in the 80’s 90’s when the downsizing happened the “largest employer” increased local contracts for services, and this action brought about the local business community’s support. Its connect-o-dollars and much like the county commissioner abstaining from a vote (coal plant) which would ensure profits to employer on the deal, then turning around and voting on the next “big sweet deal”. Does anyone remember who it was that paid all those ethics complaints attorney’s fees? Hell yea, somebody’s is laughing but it damn sure ain’t me. I don’t care who you are, that’s not funny.
Also our so called “largest tax payer” is the largest drain on infrastructure dollars in fact the return on revenue dollars/refund/rebound is shocking. Check out the transportation dollars at one fifth of the county budget. Then go check out the pot hole patches on Puckett Road and tell me why? Or you can tell me where but tell me something . Another thing what about those tax exemptions, incentives and tax credits for anything and every thing such as hiring new workers, equipment up-grades and improvements, black liquor Bonanza for bio fuel production when the local biofuel plant is in research and development stage. In simple terms there is no biofuel being produce at present only a ground breaking.
Go ahead now and spout out those company buzz-words and promotion propaganda talking points. Lame.
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Well, I'm convinced. Let's shut down Buckeye now. I'm sure Taylor County will be better for it.
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http://www.taylorcountygov.com/pdf/res_and_ords/Fuel_Prices.pdf
Whose quailty of life?
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Connect-o-dollar connect-o-dot.
http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fdcp/dcp/gmw/2008/Brown.pdf
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What do you expect from (1) Morman cult members (2) Wal-mart Retardlicans (3) Assorted mixed nuts of the county. I know in my heart there are more decent honest people in our county than the ilk that we discuss on this blog. It is just a shame we have to tolerate the charlatans and wanna-be potentates of the community. To paraphrase a movie, I see stupid people, and they do not even know that they are stupid. Viva Trailer County!!!!
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And I know in MY heart that we're capable of engaging in higher-quality dialog than this.
I had hoped that the leaders of Taylor County would take this blog seriously, and that it could be used as a way for the community to interact with officials. But as long as we keep up the nasty, adolescent name-calling and ad hominem attacks, that will never happen.
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well just move to your perfect place
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Since our local special interest (buckeye) can not operate without local, state, and federal assistance from our tax dollars and exemptions from rules and laws to make a profit, I ask why we should give assistance. Taylor County is too poor to subsidize industry so a few ner’do well can keep a job.
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Great point! The rich keep getting richer and the poorer keep getting poorer.
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Those with the least amount of money, who are receive monthly checks from the government, food stamps, are spending their money on buying lottery tickets, cigarettes, beer, manicures/pedicures, and outrageous hair extensions and styles. Explain the logic in that.
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