Virginia News Source - Where is the manifesto from Ben Krause?

French Mackes - Bankrupting all goverments in the USA

|199.111.115.73 |08-27-2010 08:29:28

I have never read Ben's document.

America is divided. Reconciliation is unlikely.

One party wants higher taxes and more and more government. They seem unconcerned with ever increasing government debt (at local, state and federal levels).

The other party wants lower taxes and less government (services). This party wants to pay off the existing government debt. I belong in this party.

Mike Barrett will personally significantly benefit if the government spends one billion dollars developing un-needed Beach light rail. He has a personal vested interest and as a shrewd businessman he wants to profit from it (at taxpayer expense).

Who would win? Mike Barrett and the Developers.

Who would lose? Taxpayers

Now is the time to stop this un-needed project!

French Mackes
www.votefrench.com

Mike Barrett

|216.54.27.206 |08-27-2010 09:11:14

Thanks again French; as the new default advocate for the VBTA, you are quite provocative.

In the last forum, you advocated for condemning the homes and businesses along I-264 in order to further widen this important corridor. Of course, just ROW acquisition will cost billions and disrupt the lives of residents and the prosperity of displaced businesses.

Contrast that with light rail that will be built on an existing ROW that the City bought for an expenditure of local money of only $10 M, and which will displace no homes or businesses, and will provide more capacity as well.

Thanks French for so capably advocating for the VBTA; it does not surprise me that they support the most disruptive, the most expensive, and the one alternative tha will take the most time to complete. MJB sends!

French Mackes - Oppose Un-needed Beach Light Rail Development

|199.111.115.73 |08-27-2010 09:41:17

If informed experts project ever-increasing traffic/congestion on I-264 in the Beach, then the government should spend taxpayer money to widen I-264 to accommodate the increased traffic and alleviate congestion. I-264 tolls can help fund it.

Why? Because almost all taxpayers own and drive vehicles and will benefit from little to no congestion on I-264. It makes the Beach more attractive.

Un-needed Beach Light Rail Development will not benefit taxpayers. Taxpayers won't ride it. Few would ride it. Most of them now ride buses and pay no income or property taxes.

French Mackes
www.votefrench.com

"Everybody knows Commies love trains!"

Wally Erb - Straw Man?

|68.10.230.6 |08-28-2010 03:54:49

Who is advocating widening 264/64 other than Mr. Barrett. There are myriad of effective ways of reducing congestion as documented in existing studies. It is interesting that now again MJB addressing congestion when he, like Randy Wright, admit that light rail is not a solution, and in fact, increase local congestion at peak hours.

Ben Krause - Mike knows it all

|68.225.42.104 |08-27-2010 09:20:24

It is amazing that Mike knows all about a document listing possible options about what might be done in case of a recession. Unfortunately, Mike cannot brain storm about options and seizes all information to fit into his limited potential to think outside the box. this is rather pathetic. In a case of a severe problem, one must consider ALL options and then make effective and efficient decisions. Mike, might want want to look up the words "effective" and "efficient" and realize that they should apply to ALL governments, not just your real estate development business from which you personally benefit. Here is the 45th challenge, how about a debate about light rail? Still afraid to defend your side of the issue?

Mike Barrett

|216.54.27.206 |08-27-2010 09:37:58

Thanks Ben; I will take that as a no; that is, you won't post the document.

I guess the VBTA inspired ticket of Moss, Erb, DeSteph, and Hedrick would quake in their boots if the manifesto actually appeared in print.

Thanks for letting us know where your priorities lie. MJB sends!

French Mackes - Karl Marx and Mike Barrett

|199.111.115.73 |08-27-2010 10:43:54

Karl Marx wrote the "Communist Manifesto". Here are some quotes from Karl Marx:

"The theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property."

"Democracy is the road to socialism."

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Oppose Mike Barrett's plans for un-needed Virginia Beach Light Rail Development!

French Mackes
www.votefrench.com

"Everybody knows Commies love trains!"

alsaf

|24.253.145.243 |08-27-2010 17:33:37

Mike, the term "fraud" is generally defined in the law as an 'intentional' misrepresentation of material existing facts made by one person to another with full knowledge of its falsity. You have made "dozens" of allegations and misleading statements that are often improperly preceded with the words "fact is" That generals calls for a footnote to support the origin of some childish comments. The last of which was a major claim that the Town Center profited "$3 million dollars" to the General Fund. We asked you to specifically breakout the origin of the $3 million & you suddenly developed a case of amnesia. Now you question Ben to post a manifesto after you have deliberately ignored numerous requests to support countless mistruths.

Ben Krause - Not a manifesto

|68.225.42.104 |08-27-2010 18:01:12

You need to look in the dictionary. Also, my document was mine, not VBTA. If you know so much about my document, tell us all about it.
Hey, if I can find it and I publish it will you agree to a series of debates?
Be brave now COE of Runnymead and President of Visions! That is the 46th debate challenge to you.

Mike Barrett

|216.54.27.206 |08-27-2010 12:41:56

Since the No transportation Chairman for the VBTA, Reid Greenmun, has left the room, I guess French is the new spokesman. So are we to understand that not only does the VBTA oppose light rail, but they support instead the condemnation of ten miles of homes and businesses along I-264 so I-264 can be widened?

Further, since the Commonwealth can't even fix its existing inventory much less build new roads, I guess this will have to be done with local tax funds which will involve billions of dollars.

Contrast that with light rail in the old existing Norfolk Southern ROW. No condemnation, no dislocation of homes or businesses, little disruption during construction, and both state and federal money will likely be available.

So let's sum up; widen I-264, condemn and displace homes and businesses at billions of dollars of cost; or, build light rail on the existing NS ROW, little disruption, no condemnation nor dislocation, at a low cost per mile.

Not even a tough choice. Ligh...

French Mackes - Oppose Beach Light Rail Development!

|199.111.115.73 |08-27-2010 15:34:58

Oppose un-needed Beach Light Rail Development!

It would cost as much as one billion dollars (adjusted for projected inflation).

It could cost every taxpaying Beach family $5,000 to build it and another $500 or more each subsequent year to subsidize it.

Most (overwhelmingly) Beach taxpayers would not ride it.

The very few people who would ride it don't pay income or property taxes and now ride buses instead.

It would primarily benefit developers and corrupt elect politicians bribed to support it.

Its fares would not even pay 10% of its annual operating cost. Don't use taxpayer money to build it!

French Mackes
www.votefrench.com

Mike Barrett

|67.62.94.176 |08-29-2010 10:23:37

I certainly understand Krause's reluctance to publish his manifesto that was sent to John Moss, President of the VBTA, and then a candidate for Mayor. That document doomed Moss's bid for office, and if Ben ever consents to publish it, will doom the VBTA ticket of DeSteph, Moss, Erb, and Hedrick this time around.

Why, because it proposes eliminating or cutting just about every program and service provided in the City of Virginia Beach, from education, to public safety, to libraries, recreation centers, parks, human services, the arts, humanities, museums, economic and tourism promotion activities, and city blue collar workers in every city and school board department.

Frankly, every program and service that our citizens have said they want, Krause and the VBTA will eliminate or cut. This is not just efficiency in government, this is draconian in its scope and reach.

Publish it Ben, so we can all know what you and the VBTA really want.

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