New Permits

Marty Kohler and friends have noticed there is a major slowdown in building permits issued for 2009 so far. Gee Marty, the people don't have the extra money to build that garage or to add that room onto the house? Could it be that people are working two $6/hour jobs just to put food on the table and pay the rent because, for job selection in this town, that's the only choices they have? Perhaps the economic development department needs to try a little harder in attracting some new businesses to replace Corson Packaging, Black Clawson, Sorg Paper, Aeronca, Middletown Paperboard and half of AK Steel that have been lost over the years. The city needs to give people opportunities to put a little extra spending money in their pocket for them to think about new building projects and that means- decent paying jobs. If people don't feel secure, they ain't gonna expand. Now we know why Larry Tuttle is driving around writing housing violations- he's not doing new construction inspections.

Since these employees have no work to do why doesn't the city lay them off and save a few of our tax dollars. This is nothing more than "Busy Work".

It's disheartening that 'government knows best bureaucrats' ignored the visionary, cost-effective suggestion of Paul Nagy regarding a practical and attainable strategy to revitalize Middletown using the model that worked so successfully in Atlanta, GA.  So sad that the 'elitists' controlling our community again turned deaf ears on him.