Plano’s Live Green Expo is expensive propaganda

James Scott says:

Is there anything you like about Plano?

Jesus Valadez says:

lol, I love this guy's stories.

Chris Kidd says:

Scots bitter because it doesnt match up with the neocon agenda of destroying everything in their path or profiting their interest (i.e. big oil, big industry, ect...) That, and Ed Jr. is pretty much right on when it comes to taking care of the earth. We all share this planet Scot, try being a team player ;)

Jason Rice says:

I agree with Scot in asking why things are spent where. I disagree with him on this one, but like I say, just because you agree with it doesn't make it right. Watchdogs are noisy.

AnnMarie Wilson says:

Boy Repub's sure are bitter now aren't they. Suck it up big guy - we're taking over and change (for the good) is here. Feel free to move somewhere more to your liking...

Jason Rice says:

See ya on the way back down, big winner.

Chris Kidd says:

You said it annmarie, they're bent out of shape that nobody cares about their pet causes anymore (big business, pollution, religious oppression, ect..)

Jason Rice says:

::ect.

Fire/Police, education, public art.

I'll see you guys at Live Green?

Scot Walker says:

Yes, because I don't think a $72,000 calendar is a good use of my money, I should be vilified by you people. Ha!

You don't really do your side any favors when all you can muster is "you're a racist" or "you're a neo-con" or "you're bitter". Great logic you have there.

The city budget for Live Green is $161,116. The revenue, so far, is $87,980 to this date, leaving the rest to the tax payers.

Scot Walker says:

"Boy Repub's sure are bitter now aren't they."

As bitter as Liberals during the last 8 years? As bitter as Daily Kos? Huffington Post? I don't think so.

"Suck it up big guy - we're taking over and change (for the good) is here."

You aren't taking over in Collin County. The last election had typical results. Feel free to screw up Dallas County, though. I see you guys are trying to squeeze more money out of the suburbs to subsidize your liberal spending.

"Feel free to move somewhere more to your liking..."

No, it's much better here than where I just moved from, California, because it's a Red county in a Red state. Your policies are doing great in California, aren't they? 10.5% unemployment for the better? 8% income tax for all income over $47K, 6% for over $37K? Why don't you move there, since Liberals run things.

http://collincountyrepublican.blogspo...

Jason Rice says:

I think the fact they bolster even half of it with revenue is danged good and worthy of bragging. Cool. A Half-full glass!

Travis Bush says:

This kind of blogging, (and that's all it is..not journalism), is just baiting. tallscot uses the term "liberal" as if it encompasses anyone who doesn't believe or agree with his version of what a Republican is. It is the same old generalizations that the Bush admin used to lump together terrorists and those who showed any form of dissent. Or who were disruptive on an airplane for that matter.

Texas politics has been ruled by the Republican party for a long time, but someone who had lived here for a while would know that, instead of making it seem like Republicans are some dieing breed around here.

Scott Doyle says:

I particularly love the inevitability of partisan mudslinging in Scot's threads.

*I have sent emails to the city council, mayor and city manager asking them for this figure. I'll report it here if it becomes available to me.*

I immediately thought, "Wonder how loud the collective sigh out of that office was". Anybody know how well Scot's rants are received by peeps who might actually be able to do anything?

Scot Walker says:

"tallscot uses the term "liberal" as if it encompasses anyone who doesn't believe or agree with his version of what a Republican is"

I find the regulars on this thread who can't actually discuss the issues but resort to ad hominem comments to be a bit predictable already.

Republican is a political party. Liberalism is a worldview or philosophy, like conservatism. There are liberal Republicans and conservative Democrats.

"It is the same old generalizations that the Bush admin used to lump together terrorists and those who showed any form of dissent"

Dissent isn't patriotic anymore since Obama has been elected. Haven't you heard?

I don't see what this has to do with Plano taxpayers spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a green "education".

"Texas politics has been ruled by the Republican party for a long time, but someone who had lived here for a while would know that, instead of making it seem like Republicans are some dieing breed around here."

I moved here in 1975, went to school in Richardson, graduated from Berkner High School. I moved to California in 1994 and moved back with a wife and two kids in 2006 because California is a total mess, because of liberal policies.

Does that make me qualified?

Scott Doyle says:

<i>No, it's much better here than where I just moved from, California, because it's a <b>Red county</b> in a <b>Red state</b>. Your policies are doing great in California, aren't they? 10.5% unemployment for the better? 8% income tax for all income over $47K, 6% for over $37K? Why don't you move there, <b>since Liberals run things</b>.</i>

Sure sounds like you're worried about the distinction between political party and general ideology.

Just sayin'!

Scot Walker says:

"Sure sounds like you're worried about the distinction between political party and general ideology"

Arguing semantics is really a waste of time.

Scott Doyle says:

I thought that was the game...

My bad.

Scot Walker says:

No, it's about my tax dollars being wasted on green calendars and Ed Begley Jr. while Plano is cutting the safety department budgets at the same time violent crime is on the rise.

I thought it was pretty cut-and-dry clear.

Scott Doyle says:

SUPPORTING THE GREEN MOVEMENT IS SUPPORTING VIOLENT CRIME AND UNEMPLOYMENT

You heard it here first, folks.

Scot Walker says:

Yep, I'm bitter and have sour grapes because Plano is, in my opinion, wasting a lot of my money. Either that, or because my opinion is different than yours. :)

Sander Wolf says:

stick to the news here. it looks like an interesting event. cover it as such.

commentary like this shouldn't be mingled with the news on the site.

Scot Walker says:

Bill,

Having a conservative opinion puts a big red target on my head.

I'm not going to sit down and shut up. Sorry. You are free to comment on my views, or me personally, anonymously or with your real name, and I'm free to reply.

Scott Doyle says:

Man, I hope it's about to go down. If Scot and Bill scrap...getcha popcorn ready!

Chris Kidd says:

I mentioned this same thing previously concerning "conservatives" missing the point of true conservation(See: scots DART rant about crime and money). They seem especially missive of our greatest natural resource, which is mother earth. They fiddle away like nero while the ice caps melt and the skies go dirty with pollution. Frankly scot, I dont care about you or your scene. But, maybe you and your ilk should become more aware of the world around you and not just your small red-tinted universe.

Scot Walker says:

Chris,

Just because I look at the cost and lack of effectiveness of light rail does not mean I think we should throw motor oil in our creeks.

Light rail doesn't make a measurable difference on air quality - period. We covered that in great detail, including how inefficient electric trains are with the majority of the energy (created by polluting power plants) being wasted in transmission, etc.

Richard Nixon created the E.P.A. I think there is common sense protection of our environment needed. Saying conservatives don't care about the environment isn't historically accurate.

There are plenty of private organizations spreading the "green" movement's word. Whatever my personal view of these solutions is, it doesn't matter - I don't believe it's the role of my government to create a $72,000 calendar and have a ~$75,000 Live Green Expo. I believe in low taxation and letting me keep more of my own money so that I may choose which causes I want to donate money, or time, to.

Pavel Lishin says:

Sander: the commentary is pretty clearly labeled as such. Are you afraid that people will confuse what a guy with a dog with a mohawk says with actual reporting?

Travis Bush says:

girlabouttown..thanks for clarifying that for us. It is much appreciated.

Scott Doyle says:

Seems tallscot was just knocked down a peg or two...

Jason Rice says:

girlabouttown

My tax dollars happily at work!

(Ok, technically, lady, it's not my taxes as stated above that pay you, but "My Garbage Fees at work" just doesn't feel as complimentary.)

Travis Bush says:

"Who says TBush gets to pick and choose the bloggers from the journalists?"

I do..:D Maybe it isn't possible to simply report on local politics, but reporting and discussing are two entirely different things IMO. In this case it is much more like blogging, baiting and then engaging your audience. It isn't what I consider journalism, but that's just my two cents.

Scot Walker says:

Yes, Plano got back to me after Pegasus published this article without notifying me and I posted the Live Green Expo budget figures and revenue in this thread.

The issue about fees versus taxes is irrelevant to me. It's six on one hand, half a dozen on the other. I give money to the city via various forms and the city provides services with that money. It's still the tax payers' money. Maybe Plano can lower their "fee" if they have so much money they can spend $72,000 on a calendar.

The increase in the budget over the last two years was 19%, using the figures you gave me.

The issue of police officers versus Live Green Expo is valid. I have corrected my blog on my site.

Chris Kidd says:

Travis, amen brother.

Scot Walker says:

"It isn't what I consider journalism"

It's not. I'm not a journalist. Did someone claim I was?

alexander troup says:

Yes,... brother ape...good ugggg...caveman ..gurnt...except....A/T, Indegestion with a hot dog..

Scot Walker says:

Jason, I like your sense of humor. You have a unique style. :)

alexander troup says:

Indegestion with a stripper, called a Preist...A/T,Indegestion with a lemmon..

Scot Walker says:

Ha! :) No problem. Yeah, I'm no journalist. I'm just an opinionated guy in Plano.

Travis Bush says:

First, I will ask why content partners are not verified users? This is merely a question of procedure and not any comment on the content.

Scot, good for you becoming a verified user. As well, it was not my intent to call you a journalist, but merely point out that your commentary was something entirely different. Do I have issues with the Republican party in Texas? "Yes", would be an understatement. Do I rile up when I hear Republican rhetoric? "Hell yes", would be the correct response.

However, it is great to see more diverse views here on Peg, and although I will probably sass you a lot, good to see it all the same.

Jason Rice says:

You may just find Travis's disapproval reaffirming.

I sure do.

Scot Walker says:

"As a citizen of Dallas County it's nice to see part of Collin County paying us back in some small way for the free medical care many Collin County citizens receive from Parkland and that I help subsidize with my tax dollars. Thank you Plano for doing your very small part."

Plano subsidizes Dallas County schools to the tune of $87 million last year alone, for a total of $1.2 billion, because of Robin Hood. You are welcome.

Plano subsidizes Dallas by giving DART ~$60 million every single year for nowhere near $60 million worth of services. You are welcome.

Collin County subsidizes Dallas by giving hundreds of millions in state taxes every single year and getting a tiny fraction in return from the state. You are welcome.

Seriously, why do people think $5.6 million in unpaid bills by a few individuals who live in Collin County equals the hundreds of millions the Collin County governments kick into Dallas every single year? It's hilarious.

Dallas has been leaching the suburbs for decades now.

Scot Walker says:

"Dallas ISD pays into Robin Hood too, but I suppose it's too much to ask that you get your facts straight."

1. I said Dallas County, not DISD.
2. DISD pays a lot less than PISD (almost half), based on the 2006 DISD budget.

So your implication that Plano doesn't pay its share is patently false. Plano pays more than its fair share.

"Plano voted itself into DART and has the option of leaving if they so desire, your gripe isn't with Dallas or any other member city but with the people that run the city you seem so proud of"

You are deflecting. You made a snide comment about Parkland Hospital fees and said, "Thank you Plano for doing your very small part." Plano does a lot more than that.

"However you bend facts, sometimes you're flat out wrong and you attack with the fervor or a hungry pittbull"

I don't bend facts. I used the information I had. Once the city gave me the information, I corrected the blog. I'm not perfect. Nobody is.

What the employee of Plano said doesn't change my opinion, or yours apparently, that Live Green Expo is a waste of tax payer money. The only logic I used that was corrected with her information was the fact that the green propaganda budget is separate from the general budget, so the original comments I made about police were flawed. I deleted them.

"I used to vote Republican but it was those of your ilk that so disgusted me with their "my way or the highway" mantra that I find myself leaning more and more to the left"

Yes, because Nancy Pelosi and Obama are being inclusive and bi-partisan? Ha!

I don't really care about you personally. I'd love it if we could just stick to the topic about Live Green Expo and calendars being something that is not the role of the government. We agree on that. Why fight with me?

"Your biggest problem is that you have no tact and drive away those who otherwise might agree with you in principle on some of the subjects you address"

I respond to the comments - period. I'm not going to write something and then let strangers say inflammatory things or inaccurate things without challenging them. That's the point of a comments thread discussion.

I try to stay civil and not make comments about specific individuals.

Scot Walker says:

I just received a really nice full-color newsletter about Live Green Expo in the mail. Your dollars at work.

RICH GRAHAM says:

Scot, did you get your Plano Calendar?

Scot Walker says:

Yes, I got it a few weeks ago and threw it into the recycling bin. :)

Jason Rice says:

I propose a tithe.

Scott Doyle says:

Dammit Bill! Know your role as the wise one who bothers refuting things I don't care about!!

I concur, we should probably reduce the amount of moons between drinks. Does PN have any user events coming up that I'm not disinvited to?

Jason Rice says:

Didn't they solve all that last November?
I'm so confused.