So long 2011 Hello 2012

The Mayor is capping 2011 with the final blog of the year. With all the grim economic news, its nice to know the weather over the holidays has been great: no massive storms to hinder visiting, enjoying the recreation available here in the basin. Yes, many of us would like to see some more of the white stuff, but, be patient,it will come.

I would vote for the TRPA approval of the new Homewood Resort project as the best local news of 2011. Without that move, the future of the west shore would be in doubt. As wages stagnate on a broad front, visitors to our area have little incentive to spend with abandon. Housing prices continue their slide and overall real estate is seen as declining further. Perhaps relief will arrive in 2014 or 2015. Even then, all we can hope for is some stabilization or a bottoming out of declines. Until the partisan politics of out elected leaders give way to viable economic policies aimed at job creation, little will change for the middle class.

2012 Election Year
With the GOP candidate still to be identified, the first qtr of 2012 promises to be interesting across a broad swath of America. Primaries are still months away and Obama is salting away millions of donations to plow into his reelection campaign. Iowa caucuses will start on Jan 3rd. These peculiar sessions will only scratch the surface of voters real sentiments. The media and inkstains hope for some revealing trends, but I doubt anything of substance will be discened from results.

So, while celebrating the new year tonight, be grateful for an end to the US involvement in Iraq and the return of many of the troops, even though many just moved down the street to Kuwait to keep an eye on developments in Iraq.
Obama can take credit for this, but now Iran is threatening to close the Straits of Hormuz and close off oil tanker traffic. Good luck with this issue Mr. President!

Have a safe and sane New Year's, see you in 2012!