More than inconvenience

Enough is simply enough: The road projects along Veterans, Whittlesey and Double Churches have snarled traffic for too long. More than enough time has passed to complete them 2 or 3 times over.

Georgia DOT has taken far too long with the work along Whittlesey. A road improvement project less than a mile long drags on over four years with multiple missed deadlines and is still incomplete. In a recent L-E interview, Sam Wellborn - our local State Transportation Board representative — praised GDOT and the project's contractors for their good work. Excuse me? More polite excuses and happy talk.

These projects affect our clients’ businesses: Several have seen sales decline over the past 2-3 years and are struggling to hang on until completion of the Veterans/Whittlesey intersection. The Double Churches project significantly slowed leasing and sale activity of several properties in this area, and was a contributing factor in the recent closing of one.

Additional drive time between meetings is frustrating, but watching your clients and tenants lose money due to inept project management is maddening and inexcusable.

The one project in this area that proceeded efficiently was a recent re-surfacing of Veterans between J.R. Allen and Double Churches. This was a city of Columbus project: It was well-coordinated and staffed, fast-paced, and most work occurred at night during low traffic hours. It's a model for others to follow. Thanks to Donna Newman and Columbus' Dept. of Engineering; I wish you managed ALL of Columbus' road improvement projects.

To our local and state elected officials, please press for accountability. Ask GDOT: Who is responsible, what can be done, and when can we expect results?

Vote blue

I think we are in trouble, Columbus.

I noted a release by Reuters that the Pentagon is abiding by the pressure from the Republicans and Tea Party to reduce overall costs, and the Defense Department has done their part and determined that the Army has 33% surplus capacity.

This could be a huge blow to local well being. Sadly, our political contingent is useless in doing anything positive because they have spent the last eight years throwing stones at Obama.

Remember what your Daddy told you?.”Never hurt the hand that feeds you.” Sure wish Georgia's political leaders would heed such!

Well, looks like Hillary will be be next president and unless we clear the Senate and House of these rock throwers, you can say Columbus is in deep trouble. Folks, these guys can't even get a phone call returned from the White House when trying to plead for help.

We made a serious mistake when we did not elect Michelle Nunn as senator; she immediately has the power to walk into the President’s office and say, ”Leave Georgia alone … Leave Columbus alone.”

Let’s not make the same mistake: This term elect everybody with a “D” in front of their name. We need to take back the House and Senate, for Columbus's pure existence.Turning Georgia would cast a favorable smile from the next President.

Bernie math

I'm looking through Bernie Sanders' tax return. Several things stand out.

1. For a man who has said he doesn't believe in charities, he sure believes in the charitable donation deduction. He claims an $8,350 deduction for "Gifts to Charity."

2. The cash paid to him by the federal government (read -- taxpayers) through his salary and social security benefits: $202,654.

3. Zero for IRA distributions. Because he was over 70.5 years old in 2014, he would have had to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from his IRAs if he had any.

4. Zero for capital gains (losses), $2 in dividends, and $11 in interest.

5. $37,789 deducted for real estate taxes and mortgage interest. That's a mortgage of $3,149/month before principal payments and homeowners insurance.

6. All told, he reduced his tax liability by $17,069 (or 38%) by taking deductions.

This man has not saved a dime for his own retirement (see number 3 above) and has saved so little elsewhere that he only gets a whopping $2 in dividends and $11 in interest (see number 4 above). Meanwhile, he feels he can financially afford a mortgage north of $3,149/month.

Is it any wonder why he is a socialist? He is the definition of dependent on the federal government and, clearly, has no understanding of financial responsibility at all.

God help us if this man gets elected.

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 11:52 AM with the headline "More than inconvenience."