I'm beyond pissed

"505Turbeaux" (505turbeaux) 01/22/2015 at 10:30 • Filed to: None

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and entertaining some commentary. Pretty much there have been 4 major hotels built in my town in the past 10 years, a few of those have been in the past 2 years, and the most recent one obviously didn't spend a night in the city before they built it right next to all the rowdy bars. I am not one for the crazy nightlife, but it is part of my town. Now they are not talking to business owners about it, they !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , who awarded them some years of tax breaks to build in the first place. The city council seems to think the city is Disney World and we are the charming little characters that walk the streets for tourist's amusement. In a friends words "I want to see a political cartoon in the paper with a Lobsterman, a Bartender and a Tug Captain sitting at a table drinking beer saying something like "I don't know man, the old port just feels different somehow." In the next frame it pans out to show that the three are sitting behind a window on fore st. with a crowd of tourists taking pictures through the glass and (councilman) Ed Suslovic as the tour guide." Ed also just commented to the paper the other day - "sees the problem as temporary, with clubs being replaced in the long term by establishments that attract an older, more sophisticated crowd, driven by the neighborhood's rising real estate values."

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Also brought up is these are being built in historic districts where you need a permit to change the color of the paint on your windows, but these guys can raze a whole fucking block and put up whatever they want. Not to mention our cars are fucked because with all the tax breaks flying out the window, there is no money to fix the roads (except for in front and around the hotels, of course)

Am I being protectionist, or does this seem like a valid point? Friends of mine own these bars that are affected, and we still go there. Maybe not till 1am, but don't fuck with the flavor of my town. That is why it is a tourist attraction.

Racescort666 > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 10:33

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These sound like the kind of idiots that build posh houses around racetracks and airports then complain about the noise.

Tohru > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 10:34

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It's simple, get you and your mates together, tear down the hotels, and replace them with historic buildings.

Look up information online about how the Amish do it - you should have it done in a couple days.

Effef > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 10:36

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money + status = fuck you. It does not really matter what you think when some rich company comes in and has enough money and influence to decide what they want to do with an area. They aren't wrong when they say that the affluence will eventually push you out, thats basically what gentrification is, and its happening in every major city in America.

505Turbeaux > Racescort666 01/22/2015 at 10:36

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exactly

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 10:37

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I hate people who move into venues then complain about the noise. These are the same assholes that ruined Brands Hatch.

Justin Hughes > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 10:38

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I'm with you 100%. If they want an upscale atmosphere, go to York or Freeport or Brunswick. Don't mess with a big part of what makes Portland so awesome.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 10:38

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Honestly, a little bit of protectionism at the local level is fine. Trying to build more city than can naturally sustain itself in the off-season is almost always a bad idea - I say this as someone who lives in a town that's very touristy during select summer months and "OOH, THE LEAVES ARE SO PWETTY" months. The really tony business locations have their costs of operation driven quite high, and depending on how realistic the lessor of the land is, some locations are the graveyard of a new business every couple of years.

Bottom line: Tourism is playing with fire and not to be fucked with lightly. It's possible to do properly, but one's own hubris biting back will happen, and often. You want to know what the most successful new business in this town is in the past five years or so? Tractor Motherfucking Supply. Moved in in place of a grocery that went bust, and is going gangbusters based on *local business*. Ignore it to your peril.

ACESandEIGHTS > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 10:41

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I hate developers. Want to ring the town with bullshit midrise shiny chrome and polished wood and overpriced drinks? Go for it. Want to build in the middle of my burg? I hope all your windows get broken.

The one good thing about a hotel going up in the middle of my quiet beach community is that I can put up long-staying friends and relatives for $100/night out of my pocket, and then capitalize on that by meeting them there.

You tell 'em to take that shit to Provincetown, how do you like them apples, ahhhhhhhhhh... Seriously, don't be nice about it. F "business interests."

area man > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 10:42

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That building is a monstrosity.

Carl (@stuffcarlsays) > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 10:42

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This is precisely why I came to dislike living in Portsmouth. The whole north end of town, which was unceremoniously flattened in the 1960s for the sake of gentrification, has been under redevelopment since 2009. In place of the presumably asbestos-laden, brutalist industrial buildings that stood for 40 years are a series of hotels that look and feel completely out of place against the contrast of Portsmouth's rich culture and heritage. The tourists and noveau riche who have moved in have successfully had the city shut down events in town that were "too loud" in public parks (cultural stuff - plays, movie nights, concerts), complained about helicopters in the airspace (sandwiched between an active Navy yard and an Air National Guard Station) and generally changed the prevailing atmosphere that was so attractive about the town. I was so happy when a chain called British Beer Company opened, so the tourists would stop coming to my favorite British pub and ordering Bud Light.

505Turbeaux > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/22/2015 at 10:42

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yeah there is a serious disconnect between what investors and the tourists think here. We are still a working waterfront, but everytime someone vacates a waterfront commercial lease, the rent goes up 3x. We have around 30 cruise ships that come in all summer, and 6 large hotels downtown now, and rents are going way up. It is only a matter of time before we lose everything anyone wants to come and see us for...except for the nightlife

505Turbeaux > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/22/2015 at 10:42

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yup, exactly

McMike > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 10:43

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Dumb. Just dumb.

The Hotel has more money for lawyers, so they'll probably win.

And that pisses me off.

505Turbeaux > Carl (@stuffcarlsays) 01/22/2015 at 10:43

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well said. I even know the bar :)

505Turbeaux > McMike 01/22/2015 at 10:43

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me too

505Turbeaux > area man 01/22/2015 at 10:44

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it really is

ttyymmnn > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 10:47

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You're not being protectionist, you are a victim of money talks . I wonder just how much Suslovic is in the pocket of the developer. These developers and politicians can bloviate all day about how they are bringing revenue to the city and creating jobs, but all they are really doing is seeking to enrich themselves. It's depressing, but I don't think there's a whole lot that can be done about it. A couple of years ago, a developer wanted to build a complex of low rent apartments about a mile away. This is not a case of NIMBY, but the complex will add more students to our already grossly overcrowded elementary school, it's in a dangerous location for traffic, etc. The neighborhood got together a letter-writing campaign and fought it tooth and nail, but of course, the decision to build went ahead. When big money developers get politicians in their pocket, we're all screwed. The needs of the few or the one outweigh the needs of the many. Welcome to America.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 10:47

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Awwwwwwwwwwwww I love these historic buildings! So cute! I want to live there. Living here is great, but these old buildings really bring the area down. Lets tear them down and build modern stuff. This sucks. There isn't enough heritage here anymore. Awwwwwwwwwwwww I love these historic buildings! So cute! I want to live there.

Obligatory "Some people just want to watch the world burn"

CalzoneGolem > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 10:49

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Let's go get drunk and take a shit in their lobby.

505Turbeaux > ttyymmnn 01/22/2015 at 10:50

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I dont know if there is any corruption at stake there, but our city council is literally full of idiots. In my district they voted a fucking uneducated artist as a council member. And he has been there for 10 years almost! He is such a loser too on top of it, just had all the time to go around and hand out flyers to vote for him and knock on doors. This is representative of most of the city council

505Turbeaux > CalzoneGolem 01/22/2015 at 10:51

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right now, Ruuskis

Carl (@stuffcarlsays) > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 10:52

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Heading there tonight, as a matter of fact. It's the site of the afterparty for tonight's Digital Portsmouth: The Art of Advertising .

area man > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 10:52

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Ughhhhh its actually making me angry. reminds me of the shit they've done to New London over the years. How could they let this happen.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 10:53

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I think what you need to do is start getting local businesses together and get behind a candidate that will speak for you guys on the counsel and start making it hard for new hotels to come in. I'm guessing you could probably convince the longshoreman's union to help you as this effect them as well.

505Turbeaux > Carl (@stuffcarlsays) 01/22/2015 at 10:54

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excellent man

505Turbeaux > area man 01/22/2015 at 10:55

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Ah New London - what was the name of that awesome divey restaurant by the train tracks. Well that and RIP El and Gee club I have played many times...

ttyymmnn > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 10:56

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I'm not necessarily suggesting that Suslovic (that's a great name for a politician, btw) is corrupt. But any system of representational government that is so beholden to money is bound to be unfair to those who have none. It would be interesting to see how much money the developers have contributed to local political campaigns. They see it as an investment, of course. And it's all perfectly legal, because the Supreme Court, in its infinite wisdom, has deemed money to be Free Speech. So that means that people with lots of money have more free speech than people who have little. It's obscene. Sorry, this is getting into Cigar Lounge territory.

505Turbeaux > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 01/22/2015 at 10:56

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ha actually this is under way with my best friend. He was going to run a few years back but didn't have the time. Now he is considering it

505Turbeaux > ttyymmnn 01/22/2015 at 10:57

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I probably should have posted this to Cigar Lounge anyhow...

jariten1781 > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 10:58

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I always find it hilarious when looking at reviews of hotels in districts with a night life that people complain about noise. What'd you expect? Go stay at the airport Hampton if you want silence.

It's kind of gobsmacking that a hotel would build there and then bitch about it.

505Turbeaux > jariten1781 01/22/2015 at 10:59

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yeah, literally in the hub of nightlife

ttyymmnn > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 11:00

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Nah. You'll get more traffic here.

thejustache > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 11:00

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So you live up in Portland? I've got a few bluegrass friends up that way, I saw them posting about this yesterday... they seemed pretty upset as well. I don't live there so I don't have much else to add, but that sure seems whack to me.

505Turbeaux > thejustache 01/22/2015 at 11:03

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which Bluegrass band? Jerks?

area man > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 11:04

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Captain's maybe? There are a lot of dives haha

505Turbeaux > area man 01/22/2015 at 11:06

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nah doesnt sound right. It will come to me eventually

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 11:15

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Cool, I'd say he aim for the counsel first. It's easier to get elected there and that way if you get more people on the counsel you have a much easier time changing things.

Hooker > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 11:24

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That is a beyond ugly hotel (Hyatt) in what looks like a beautiful area. I'm with you.

thejustache > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 11:35

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Well I was specifically thinking of my buddy Richard Bicknell who's a banjo player (and firefighter) up that way. I do know of the Jerks though

505Turbeaux > thejustache 01/22/2015 at 11:41

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I have heard the name, but I cannot believe I dont have any mutual friends with him sayeth facebook. If you ever come up to visit come out for a beer!

thejustache > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 12:22

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Will do (assuming there are still places to do that!) I haven't been to Portland in a while actually, although I do pass through once a year on my way up to a bluegrass festival in Brunswick

505Turbeaux > thejustache 01/22/2015 at 12:28

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excellent. My fathers house I will be at for the next few years is in that neck of the woods, so consider it an option to stay at when you come for that. Good way to contact you? If you are on facebook you can find me here

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 13:51

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Reminds me of the locals (especially my relatives) in Estes Park.

505Turbeaux > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/22/2015 at 13:55

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Oh I know Estes Park well. why didnt I know you were out there?

petebmwm > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 13:56

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I don't know why you're upset... here's what i took from this post... Beautiful lancia...words, words, words... back to the lancia.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 13:57

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I only spend a week or two there, I don't have a house there or anything. Relatives live up there. It's a wonderful, albeit very tourist-infested town. Technically I kinda count as one of those tourists.

911e46z06 > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 14:44

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Some assholes just built a hotel right... next... fucking... door to my quiet little retreat in Mexico. You have every right to be pissed. God knows I am.

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2015 at 17:22

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Right in the feels, man.

The quiet, quirky little town that I was born, raised, and currently live in and the adjacent former fishing town are being gentrified slowly. It's one of the few remaining CA coastal towns that hasn't been Santa Barbara'd yet. Lots of people from LA move here, get all NIMBY, and fuck everything up. The candidate statements for our CSD election last year were ridiculous, many of them rich folks "up on the hill". Almost no one has lived here for more than 15 years, and a fucking dog park is a priority. The town is filled with empty lots & is surrounded by open space.

Big water companies bought & privatized our formerly local water utility, and are now openly fucking ratepayers. We have a sewer being built, at monstrous expense because the county dropped the ball on state grants for such things 30 years ago. Property owners (like me) are compelled to pay a $25k assessment via payments tacked onto our property taxes, and pay $5k to hook up to it, plus having to dig & lay the laterals to our homes. It's driving a lot of locals out of town. Speculators & developers are buying up lots left & right in anticipation of the 25 year building moratorium being lifted, at which point any character the town has is out the window. It's been good for my property value, but only because I got lucky & got in at the right time. It's screwing a lot of friends of similar age and family trying to get into the market.

Lots of our little dirt paths & shortcuts, integral parts of the town to me, are being paved & widened. The roads that are being paved have huge fucking holes & metal plates in them, and have for over a year now, which is good for my business, but bad for everyone's cars, including my own. Strut mounts? Ha! And the 2 little dive bars that have been here forever, that I used to play gigs at all the time, seem to be in decline. Not as much live music, crumbling buildings. One of them I'm sure will be the victim of eminent domain because it's on a weird corner of an intersection sticking into the main drag, within sight of the CSD office and Chamber of Commerce. I know I'm sort of being a NIMBY or protectionist in my own way, but I don't like where older & much more well off people with much different priorities & ideas are taking our town.

Time to go get pissed in those bars & rustle the local jimmies, man.

RallyWrench > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/22/2015 at 19:34

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And that are trying to ruin Laguna Seca.

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench 01/23/2015 at 08:28

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holy shit, a 25K assessment?

beyond that man you have it very similar out there as do I. Truly time to get pissed in the bars and start a revolution of sorts

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > 505Turbeaux 01/23/2015 at 09:02

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I'd vote for someone with a sign like that even if it weren't true.

505Turbeaux > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/23/2015 at 09:03

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ha yeah. And it is very true so even more reason. I hope he does run for council in 2016. He has alot going on right now opening a sandwich shop...

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux 01/23/2015 at 10:19

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Yeah. That's how it's being paid for. Nice, huh?

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench 01/23/2015 at 10:24

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There has to be some recourse on that, no?

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux 01/23/2015 at 12:28

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Not really, that's what the CSD & Board of Supes agreed on, and we were facing huge fines if a project didn't move forward so I don't blame them for that part. It had to be paid for. It does suck, but at least it's amortized over 30 years of property tax. Everything went to shit after that. It's the $5000 "hook up" fee and subsequent monthly charges that piss me and everybody else off. The whole project has been a complete shitshow. Legal challenges to location, ground broken, work stopped, project moved, it's now a different, worse, system than we were promised, just fucked.

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench 01/23/2015 at 12:34

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my town informed me yesterday that mine were going up as well, by giving us a "rain tax" on the size of your roof and driveway to pay for a storm drain split (removing it from the pipeline to the treatment plant). So I am already paying in taxes, on a house I dont live in, almost as much as a one bedroom apartment is in downtown, and they pull this crap on us. Meanwhile everyone enjoying a break on their taxes for 10 years to come build a hotel we dont need, are laughing. Ugh

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux 01/23/2015 at 13:04

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Fuckers. They can take our money, but they can NEVER TAKE.... OUR BAAAAARRRRRRRRSSSSSSS!!

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench 01/23/2015 at 13:10

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lol they better not. Although I will let them take all of the shitty pretentious restaurants they want. Here is a quote from my nemesis of a restaurant in this town (chef/owner from "away" in NYC of course)

"We are Westerners living in North America. That cannot be denied. As Westerners, we seek to embody the best in our cultural heritage and rid it of its profound flaws. As chefs of the North Atlantic bioregion, we note our particular debt to the new Nordic food movement.

We are seeking to begin again, not as occupiers this time, but as participants. We hope, belatedly, to learn from the rightful inheritors of this land. We hope to honor the indigenous and the myriad non-humans who have been so grievously harmed by Western culture. We hope to earn their welcome as we seek to build, together, a vibrant, indigenous, wild future."

Oh and he is the self proclaimed "first 100% locally sourced restaurant in the world". Opened this year. Because a restaurant 100 years ago got their tomatoes from brazil and all :)

I want to strangle the owner with a bunch of slim jims for fun

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux 01/23/2015 at 13:56

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Hahahaha you have to be fucking kidding. That's just... I can't even... what? I'd call that guy a profound Western flaw in your bioregion. How does a foofy restaurant in the modern Northeast source everything it does locally in January?

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench 01/23/2015 at 14:32

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magic