[Lancey Howard]

Thanks for the post. That's encouraging.

[dasboot]

My mother-in-law has operated a guest house in Newport for 30 years, maintaining the 'summer cottage' with proceeds from the business. The state is forcing her into bankruptsy. New fire code (Station House fire fallout....$100,000+ for sprinklers...that don't ruin the historic pinache of the place), building code restrictions that force her into highest-cost restoration, fuel taxes, and property taxes that are, annually, more than the appraised value of my home. The property is valuable...but there's a slim profit margin. Then there's the scammers who claimed injury...insurance cancelled after settlement...new policy at twice the cost. The planning board says she's gotta paint the place every three years.

She's selling, and moving to FL. Some corporation that needs to lose money will buy it. Or a public organization...that pays no taxes, and is covered by state indemnity...or something. More base-loss. Bigger demand on those rubes who remain.

An example of the madness.

[dasboot]

Oh yeah, Lancy...

I worked in Newport last night. I play music in bars.

Newport ...the once party, night-life capitol,...is a ghost-town. Bartenders, waiters, waitresses being laid-off; restaurants closing; just folding in on itself.

No smoking in bars (except state-run places like the dog track...they exempted themselves from their own regs) and zealous enforcement of noise ordinances and no permitting of 2am licensing is just killing everything. The resort town is dying. No fun allowed. Not much to go there for, anymore.