Screen Gems Atlanta?

Published on: 13th May, 2010 |

They’re building in Atlanta? I thought these guys were broke and needed our “Film Incentives” to survive! What happened to some loyalty for the incentives given from the taxpayers of NC? Maybe next time this “Industry” needs some financial help, tell them to go to Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Barbara Streisand, etc. instead… next time ask these bums to sell a few mansions or Bentleys to save “their Industry”…what suckers we are!

– Curtis Wright

Wilmington Housing Authority Audit/Investigation!

Published on: 13th May, 2010 |

The taxpayers of Wilmington and the U.S. owe Ed Lamica a huge debt of gratitude for his coming forward to expose what his inspections found for years at the WHA. He lost his job and career, and our Wilm. City Council did nothing, and has done nothing, to make things right with Mr. Lamica. The waste, abuse, incompetence I saw in ‘The Public Records’ of WHA is an embarrassment. Shame on us to allow a man’s world to be destroyed, when all he was doing was to act honorably to expose corruption…for us!

LINK

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20100512/ARTICLES/100519831/1155?p=2&tc=pg

– Curtis Wright

The Real Answer to Local Property Crime

Published on: 2nd March, 2010 |

As property crime in the Port City soars out of control (up 19 percent this year alone), Wilmington Police Chief Ralph Evangelous railed to the City Council on Monday about thefts and burglaries.  The Chief said, “We are arresting and re-arresting these people over and over.  The rest of the system is failing us.”

The “rest of the system” to which the Chief refers is the county jail, the courts and the state’s prison and probation systems that turn out criminals as almost as quickly as they are arrested.

Chief Evangelous correctly pointed out that when arrested, property crime suspects typically receive low-bonds, allowing them to re-offend while awaiting trial.  Additionally many cases are “plea bargained,” meaning that numerous offenses result in only one conviction.

The result is what concerns Chief Evangelous the most:  officers may arrest the same person 30 to 40 times.  This means that these repeat-offenders, who are only a small percent of society, commit the bulk of the crime and, thereby, lower the quality of life of all of us.

To make matters worse, numerous prison closings and staff reductions in the N.C. Department of Correction are planned in the future.  The limited prison space, thanks to the General Assembly’s long-time refusal to fund prisons, means that prosecutors are forced to cut deals with criminals.  Weak sentencing laws (thanks again to the General Assembly) also tie judges’ hands, limiting their ability to incarcerate offenders.

So (besides cutting prison space!), what is the General Assembly doing to address a problem that they helped to create?  Get this — Liberals are trying to pass House Bill 1360.  What does it do?  It limits the types of felonies that can lead someone to be given a lengthy sentence as a habitual felon.  (Criminals qualify for habitual felon status after being convicted of a felony on three different occasions.)

In the case of property criminals the proposed law would mean suspects with multiple convictions for felony breaking and entering or breaking into a motor vehicle would NOT be considered habitual felons.  The result?  These criminals would receive lesser sentences.  Who’s the “crime fighter” sponsoring this bill:  Representative Phil Haire, a Democrat.  What is the justification Haire gives for his “Haire-brained” legislation?  Although he can offer no statistics, Haire claims that locking people up for nonviolent offenses isn’t stopping crime.  He misses the obvious – if they are locked up, they are not committing crimes.  Haire also falls back on other arguments from the liberal handbook:  it’s too expensive to lock-up the criminals and incarceration risks turning property offenders into more dangerous criminals.

Chief Evangelous is not buying these liberal excuses.  I don’t think you are and neither am I.  We know the answer to crime and it’s a simple one.  It’s one that I preached when I was Legal Counsel at the State Crime Commission.  We need swift and sure punishment for ALL criminals and a prison cell for everyone who deserves it – property criminals included! As your Senator, I will make no excuses and will hold any and all criminals responsible for their actions.  North Carolina and New Hanover County will be places were criminals walk in fear, not law-abiding citizens.

Don’t stop here! I purposefully made this article short and concise because I don’t want you just to accept my “spin.” Educate yourself by exploring further and by asking and answering your own questions.  See the article that started my inquiry:  “Wilmington police chief says repeat offenders committing bulk of crimes,” http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20100301/ARTICLES/3014007/1015/NEWS0101?Title=Wilmington-police-chief-says-repeat-offenders-committing-bulk-of-crimes

Want to sound off and be heard?  Contact Chief Evangelous at the Wilmington Police Department at 910-343-3600 and Representative Phil Haire at 828-586-1771. Let us know at Carolina Talk Network what you find out!  Email me at Thom@CarolinaTalkNetwork.com.

State Tax Refunds Delayed

Published on: 16th February, 2010 |

As a self-employed taxpayer, I am well aware of the punishment if I am a minute late in paying my yearly state income tax bill — the NC Department of Revenue hits me with an immediate penalty.

However, it doesn’t go both ways.

If you overpay the state, now you’re being told you can expect to wait weeks or months in order to get YOUR refund.

Why?  Our governor and legislative leaders have so mismanaged our financial house that, according to NC Revenue Secretary Ken Lay, the move is necessary to make sure the state has enough cash on hand to pay its bills between now and the end of the State’s fiscal year on June 30.

Isn’t it interesting to observe the disparity between how the state runs its financial house and how you are expected to run yours? The more important question is:  why do we tolerate such poor leadership in our state?  We are overdue for a change.

Don’t stop here! I purposefully made this article short and concise because I don’t want you just to accept my “spin.” Educate yourself by exploring further and by asking and answering your own questions.  See the article that started my inquiry:  “Expect delay for tax refund,” http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/state/story/341560.html

Want to sound off and be heard?  Contact Governor Perdue and let her know what you think by calling her toll free at 800-662-7952.  You can also contact NC Revenue Secretary Ken Lay by calling him toll free at 877-252-3052.  Let us know at Carolina Talk Network what you find out!  Email me at Thom@CarolinaTalkNetwork.com.

Tax Bonanza or Christmas Giveaway

Published on: 12th January, 2010 |

It sounds great — North Carolina tax collectors brought in $427 million in revenues in December.   They accomplished this feat by settling 236 of 300 disputed cases — all with corporate taxpayers.

Clearly, the Department of Revenue felt under the gun — the state was suffering a shortfall of $110 million at the end of November.  It all sounds well and good, until some questions are asked, such as which corporations settled their disputes. Officials could not name the corporations claiming “state law” prohibited the Department of Revenue from disclosing taxpayer information.

When asked how many pennies on the dollar the state accepted in settlement, officials claimed to have focused on “the method of tax that was in dispute, instead of the dollar figure.”  Curious — when it comes to my own personal taxes, the taxman always knows what I owe to the penny.

For those of us who believe that businesses and individuals are overtaxed in North Carolina, it is always a good day when someone’s taxes are cut — as long as the cuts are fair and across the board.  However, in this instance, the Department of Revenue is close-mouthed about whose taxes were cut, if the deductions were fair and who else deserves a break.

The real question is:  Did the Department of Revenue giveaway the farm at Christmas?  We deserve answers.

Don’t stop here! I purposefully made this article short and concise because I don’t want you just to accept my “spin.” Educate yourself by exploring further and by asking and answering your own questions.  See the article that started my inquiry:  “Dispute effort yields a tax bonanza,” http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/269921.html

Want to sound off and be heard?  Contact Revenue Secretary Ken Lay at the NC Department of Revenue by calling him toll free at 877-252-3052.  See if you can get an answer.  You can also let Governor Perdue know what you think by calling her toll free at 800-662-7952.  Let us know at Carolina Talk Network what you find out!

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