Column
for March 3, 2005
Hello Governor Jennifer Granholm. I hear she reads
the column. Not specifically this column, but I was told she and her staff scour
the local papers looking for things of interest and probably anytime her name
is mentioned, it would be of interest.
My source also
told me that the Gov. doesn't know if I am for her or against her? If I
am for "cool cities" or against them? So maybe I can make it as clear as
any politician might and say, I am definitely for good things and against bad
things. I am pro common sense and anti dumb stuff. I don't like rasing taxes I
prefer spending less.
I hated it a few years
ago when the Post Office said it was going to raise the price of stamps because
people were mailing less stuff. Now they are saying they want to raise the
price of stamps again. Only now it is because mail volume has increased. Which
is it? We don't have to guess we know it is just more government passing
on the bill for the blank check they wrote and want us to pay.
Our
favorite Governor say she would like to add more liquor licenses to our state,
particularly if that might make our cities more attractive places to live and
work. Now you probably know I play in a band, I work in night clubs most every
night of the week, so I am all for more bars and more drinking, as long as
they hire more bands. But the question is will a few more bars in every town make
them cooler? The State thinks cooler or not it will make more money. The State
budget office expects to collect close to $12 million from liquor license fees
this year alone.
Of that $12 million about $6 million
goes to local law enforcement to pay cops to put the eagle eye on all them cool
people going to these cool places. I suppose there is some money to be made too.
A $1500 drunk driving ticket, $50 a week probation cost and now they have that
first offense licenses plate increases. Not to mention lawyers and insurance costs.
Money, money, money, everyone seems to be making money. But to me, more and more
seems less and less cool.
After last weeks column I
heard from several musicians and bands saying they thought it was very cool we
mention bands in the paper. Barb was hoping someone might now the whereabouts
of local guitar player Jose Riojas?
Joe who
runs
www.G1NBC.TV reads the column on line thinks
the web, ipods, Internet TV and radio are going to be the wave of the future for
bands. Expeclly local bands producing orignal music.
Keep and ear out for Robb Roy, Bluescasters, Mike Katon, Ray Street
Park, Model Citizen, The Sun Messengers, Killer Flamingos and that band called
Benny and the Jets.