Apoplectic

[WebmasterPete]

Just plain apoplectic.

http://www.disunplugged.com/2009/01/15/i-told-you-so/

 

[nikjd68]

Are you apoplectic because you like ballet ?!?

 

[wildfan1473]

Can you just hear the ranting and raving in that!?!? The tone of voice? I totally can!

Nobody, and I mean nobody, can rant like Pete!

Sticking to the topic, I think the whole thing is just sad.

Oh, well, back to baking cookies

 

[aaronmckie]

I love a good rant just as much as the next guy/gal, but I'm glad you have a week to calm down a bit, Pete!
Terrible news, I'm sorry most your city has to suffer for one building to stay standing (well, to get built).

 

[scrappinmom]

That's just awful....maybe the mayor of Orlando & the governor of Illinois should do lunch - they sound like they'd be great friends.

 

[WebmasterPete]

You know what's really killing me right now - is that the principle's from 5 Orange County schools went to Tallahassee yesterday -hat in hand - begging for them to make concessions in what they cut from the school budget. Really - what does it say about our leaders as human beings, let alone our society at large when a BASKETBALL ARENA is more important than providing a decent education for our children. In an ideal world, the choice would not have to be made, but this isn't an ideal world.

Teachers have a hard enough job - now they literally have to take lamps off thier desks (to save energy) and that's if their lucky enough to not get laid off all together (which is also happening). But a bunch of multi-millionaires that work for a privately owned firm will have a cushy new arena to run around in. Trust me, I'm not a socialist by any stretch of the imagination here - but what's right is right - and this is just plain wrong.

I'm really upset about this. Like "beside myself" upset.

Pete

 

[Honeymooners1021]

I hate to say it does this mean state income tax for the State of Florida just to get basic services??? Personally I would think that Floridians pay enough in property taxes to help out when the tourism industry is taking a fall....

$3000 a year for a 1000 sq foot condo OUTRAGEOUS!

Sorry Pete! I bet if your house catches fire (god forbid) vacationing Diser's would come and put it out with the garden house.

There would be a large # of people visiting their local Psychiatrists if something happend to their beloved Podcast Studio.

Maybe Reedy Creek could expand their emergency services since the parks have reduced hours now...

 

[lttlmc3]

Wow. All I can say is wow. I guess Orlando is okay with having stupid kids. How sad.

 

[BRobson]

It is wrong

Although I am from the UK we too have local councils that have no idea They will build expensive ornimental walls and gardens in our town but wont give a school money to replace broken equipment

I am a classroom assistant who has had her hours cut drastically because the school budget has been slashed. This means that the same sweet little lad that needed my help last year doesn't get help this year

My rant of the week though is also sports related - It is strongly rumoured that an English Football Team are paying £100 million for the transfer of a player and the player will be paid 1/2 million a WEEK - the whole worlds economy is falling apart and yet this can still go on

 

[simonkodousek]

That makes me ferious. Pete, you NEED to do a rant on the next show!!!

 

[LilGMom]

I bet if the house of your beloved Mayor Crotchy were to need fire or police assistance after this he better hope and pray that the people whose budgets he continues to slash don't hold a grudge and take their time getting to him. It is a shame that those in charge have such messed up priorities. Who do they think is going to be the next generation of leaders? The answer is that it will be those very kids that are having their teachers, books, and resources cut.

And the cuts to the schools (for supplies and misc.) will be passed onto the parents of the kids that attend those schools. I have no problem giving money to my kids' school and am fortunate that we can but I really feel for those parents that might not have the extra money to give.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Ugh - flippin' politicians!

But I have to say that I particularly like the tags on your article. Awesome.

 

[jpeka65844]

I'm probably going to get flamed here, but I personally think the whole idea of professional sports is ludicrous to begin with. I am also a teacher (why I'm not going on the Podcast cruise!) who, after 9 years of teaching is making only $1500 more than someone just starting out and that's hardly enough to operate a family on, let alone my Disney habit. I am just disgusted that men get paid MILLIONS of dollars to run around, throw, and hit a ball. Disgusted. Total and utter WASTE of money in my opinion.

I just wish non-profit organizations and other advocacy agencies could raise that kind of money for medical research, educational resources, and social programs.

Blech, blech, and double blech. Pete got me fired up. Now I'm going to have to eat some chocolate to calm down.

 

[mikelan6]

I think Pete should run for office. I nominate Pete for Mayor of Orlando ... or better yet ... Governor of Florida.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Just makes my blood boil.

 

[Cruz Family]

Pete.....you must have a crystal ball!!!!
Just ridiculous!!!!

 

[abish19]

Pete - I completely agree with you on this.

Orange County should budget the same way I do: First the needs, then the wants. We NEED police services, fire protection, and education. A new arena is CLEARLY a want.

Basketball can be fun - a game among friends in the driveway on a Saturday afternoon, good teamwork for the high school kids, etc. But the Orlando Magic (and all other NBA teams, for that matter) should operate as private businesses, use private funds, and keep their greedy hands off our tax dollars! I pay enough in taxes as it is - please don't make me fund frivolous things like this.

Oh, wait - I live in Michigan. No one's building a new arena in my town. Of course, I can give you a list as long as my arm regarding the misuse of taxes in my state!

 

[tinkbutt]

PETE FOR MAYOR!!!!

you are totally right Pete!

 

[wilde_oscar]

This is what happens when cities allow teams to make bad deals to keep them in town. A similar thing happened in Cincinnati making the deal to build the new Bengals stadium. The city is on the hook for millions, the team gets the revenue from the concessions, and any development with in the business zone near the stadium has to have approval from the teams ownership and they get a part of the tax revenue from that business development.

The deal was made, the monies are allocated. Much like the weather you can complain about it, but nothing you can do about it now.

 

[ADP]

I just wanted to chime in and say this problem is not isolated to Orlando. Unfortunately, it's happening in other cities as well.

I can tell you right here in Indy we just built a brand new stadium for football, basketball events, and concerts. The new stadium was paid for mostly by the tax payer. The city and surrounding counties added an additiona 1% to the county restaurant tax. Could Indy have used a financial boost in their school system? Absolutely! Especially, since they plan to close 4 or 5 schools next year. So, imploding a 25 year old stadium to build a larger, new stadium doesn't make much sense to me. Basically, the city bought a luxury while ignoring the need for necessities; like schools, police and fire protection. Is this happening in other cities? Yes...The list keeps growing.

Let me also say I am a sports fan. I watch and enjoy it like many others and I'm willing to pay additional taxes for it. However, not at the cost of necessities. I'd rather see tax dollars spent for necessities first then luxuries second. A pretty simple concept.