The email and press release was a dead giveaway.
County officials sent out an email Tuesday afternoon to alert the media to the fact that “Delaware County Council will make an announcement regarding its 2016 budget tomorrow.”
That could only mean one thing.
No tax hike.I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. I noted in yesterday’s blog that the press availability was almost assuredly to announce that there would be no tax hike included in this year’s budget.
After all, people don’t usually hold a press conference to announce that taxes are going up.
In fact, as we’ve discovered in the past, getting that information from County Council is not always nearly as easy as the news that for the second straight year, Delco residents will not see their county tax bills rise.
Hey, I can’t say I blame them. Still, I don’t remember any press conference a few years back when County Council, which has been all Republican for decades, was staring down the barrel of several years of tax hikes. In fact, I distinctly remember that Council was not especially forthcoming with that information, especially before the November election.
So don’t think for a moment that politics doesn’t play a part in all this.
We are just about a month out from the November election, where three incumbent Republican members of County Council are facing a trio of Democratic challengers.
The GOP trio of John McBLain, Colleen Morrone and Michael Culp will face off against Democrats Christine Reuther, Sharon Booker and Richard Womack.
Council didn’t actually roll out the spending plan yesterday. That’s still being worked on by Executive Director Marianne Grace. But they did announce that they will deliver a fiscal plan that does not hike taxes.
County Democratic Chairman David Landau says it’s all politics, while his counterpart, GOP leader Andy Reilly, dismisses those claims. Me?
Well, consider the fall election season officially open. This is just the opening shot.
I’ll hold my breath waiting for County Council – or for any other ruling body for that matter – to call a press conference to announce they were raising taxes. Somebody call 911.
*AUDRA MCLAUGHLIN HAS BIG PLANS
Yesterday I told you how Delco homegirl Audra McLaughlin, who wowed the judges during her stint on ‘The Voice,’ was looking to make her mark in Nashville and about to get some national exposure by singing the National Anthem on ESPN before the Eagles-Giants game on Oct. 19.
It turns out that’s not all she’s up to.
Staff writer Patti Mengers tracked down this shooting star from Glenolden for an interview. Check it out here.
*FIRST THE TOWNE HOUSE, NOW THE PLUMSTEAD?
The icons continue to crumble in Media.
First we told you that the iconic Towne House restaurant on Baltimore Pike is being sold. The legendary spot in the heart of the county seat – favorited by the powerful and common folks – is being sold by the D’Ignazio family. Developer Eli Kahn, of Downingtown, is not saying exactly what his plan is for the spot founded by the legendary Silvio “Babe” D’Ignazio. Sounds like it could be a mix of retail, residential and perhaps another restaurant.
We were barely able to digest that stunner when we started hearing rumblings about changes at another legendary spot in the county seat.
Word was that the Plumstead Inn on State Street also was being sold.
We contacted the owner, who indicated he is not yet ready to talk about it. But it certainly sounds like the place is changing hands. All of this speaks to the changing face of “Everybody’s Hometown.”
Call it gentrification, or whatever you like, but a lot of the town’s old-time, family-owned businesses are giving way to the new push of “hip,” urbane establishments.
Manayunk west, if you will.We’ll let you know when the deal on the Plumstead is finalized. For now, looks like you still have a few weeks to stop in and knock back a few at one of Delco’s legendary watering holes.
