- I don't know if privatizing SOAR Academy is the answer or not, but I do know that Ryan Griffin's letter has more to do with self-preservation than overall student achievement. And that's fine, but it's important to note this is not an argument in favor of the successes of SOAR, but rather a plea to not lose a job in a tough economic environment.

- Arguably, it's frustrating there's been so much focus on a bill banning texting while driving during the same time period where, you know, there are actual real challenges confronting the state.

- It's not that I'm not sympathetic to changing the existing standards for local taxis, but is achieving a savings of $4,000 to $6,000 enough to really 'reinvest in your fleet' at the end of the day? That just appears to be a rather dishonest rationale for what could very well be a legitimate request, but from a business standpoint it makes no sense. It could arguably ease the financial burden for the individual companies during tough times, but their own projections suggest small savings.

- They're all pretty good projects, to be sure, but that's the problem, isn't it? That said, I concur with Jerry NeSmith in thinking the price tag for a farmer's market pavilion is somewhat high. Given the efforts to renovate the Willow Wood Shopping Center, it's also worth suggesting if this proposal is absolutely necessary. Is is possible to mesh the two projects together, particularly if one of them is going to rely on some potential state funding and private investment.