The County Commissioners could be following on the heels
of the Ocean City Mayor and Council in regard to creating some type of
sanctions outlawing the adult video store industry.
It seems the owner of the property most recently home to
the Avalon Market on Route 50 recently had to make a decision, which took into
account finances and morality. It was confirmed this week an adult-themed
business had recently inquired about leasing the space from the Bennett family,
which owns the Harley-Davidson stores on the shore including the one on Route
50 next to Stephen Decatur High School. It appears the family was not
interested in leasing the property to that type of business and we must applaud
and congratulate them on that decision. That choice, of course, is in stark
contrast to the mall owner in north Ocean City who allowed a similar store to
open along Coastal Highway. The big difference here is the Route 50 site is a
prime location, one that has reportedly stirred up a lot of interest from
prospective tenants. Conversely, there’s an abundance of vacant commercial
space available in Ocean City and property owners are anxious to find willing
tenants. When commercial space is being leased for as low as $10 per square
foot in some places in Ocean City, it may be more appropriate to say some
commercial property owners are desperate for tenants.
The mere possibility of an adult store opening at the
high-profile site along the gateway to Ocean City has shaken up the
commissioners to the degree they are reportedly mulling some type of change to
the business license code. Although it appears there’s no chance adult business
will ever happen at this site, at least under the current ownership, the
potential for what could have been is worth noting, and at least some commissioners
seem concerned. That would have been one interesting little intersection with
quite a mix of business. There you would have the adult store sandwiched
between a Wawa convenience store to the west and the proposed Rite-Aid Pharmacy
to the east.
The earlier Daylight Savings Time appears to be a dud as
far as accomplishing its goal of reducing energy levels. Multiple media outlets
have been reporting recently that large power supplies have experienced no dip
in usage as a result of the earlier Daylights Savings Time start this year. It
started three weeks early this year on March 11 and will end one week later.
Congress voted for this change under the auspices it would improve help reduce
energy consumption during the evening hours. However, after the first month or
so, it seems that’s not been the case across the country. In one Reuters
article, Southern Co., among the nation’s largest power companies, reported no
significant change one way or the other. When the move was authorized by
Congress last year, it was expected to be studied extensively after the first
year to see if it truly saved on power.
This week’s story on Tax Freedom Day was interesting as
well as disturbing. It’s a little sickening to know Americans had to work 121
days this year alone to pay Uncle Sam, but just 105 days to earn enough for
food, clothing and shelter combined, according to a respected non-profit
organization. In addition, the same organization reported most Americans worked
79 days to meet their federal tax burden, while they worked just 62 days to pay
for their housing, whether it is a mortgage or rent. Additionally, Americans
work 79 days to earn enough to pay federal taxes and another 32 days to pay
state and local taxes. Perhaps most disturbing is for working people only 20
days of the year are spent doing their jobs for recreation and only two days’
work is devoted to savings.
