Originally Posted by mulligan (Post 974766)

Infrastructure bonds for the Fruitland Park area were issued about a month ago. So much for that rumor.

Originally Posted by Advogado (Post 974572)

The residents will certainly never be liable for any of the IRS issues. Some earlier remarks by Lauren Ritchie notwithstanding, that has never been viewed as a risk by anyone with an understanding of the matter.

To explain a complicated matter in a few words: At least so far, the IRS issues are not directly "with the Villages Developer". Instead, the IRS issues are with the Center Districts, which issued the purportedly tax-exempt bonds and which own a big chunk of our amenities. The risk to Villagers (which may or may not ever materialize) is that the resolution of the IRS issues may impose such a huge cost on those Districts that that they are unable, financially, to continue the amenity system. If that happens, things get dicey.

Originally Posted by ROCKETMAN (Post 974956)

Some people forget laura richie is a not a news reporter but a columnist. All she does is examine issues and writes her opinion, like it or hate it. I actually like to read different opinions on current issues. She does do her homework, i give her credit for that.

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 974987)

Lauren Ritchie has never written anything that I remember that makes The Villages look wonderful. The view of The Sentinel is very different than the slant of The Daily Sun too. And therein lies part of the rub.

Originally Posted by livsea2 (Post 975080)

Well the Villages Sun exisists solely as a marketing tool for the developer... Hopefully the Orlando Sentinel does not... perhaps therein lies the whole rub?

Originally Posted by livsea2 (Post 975080)

Well the Villages Sun exisists solely as a marketing tool for the developer... Hopefully the Orlando Sentinel does not... perhaps therein lies the whole rub?

Originally Posted by eweissenbach (Post 975928)

From the article:
If my email is any indication, residents hate hearing what is behind the curtain at The Villages. As things stand, they play golf and countless other games, are offered nearly limitless recreation choices and have restaurants and shopping that cater to them. For this, they pay what they consider a reasonable monthly fee. Where else, they demand, can they find such a deal?

I just don't get the mentality of,"you are either all for us or you are against us". I would liken it to those people who only read the columnists in the daily sun, or only watch Fox News, or for that matter, only watch MSNBC. If all you are willing to read, listen, or watch is material that confirms your beliefs, without ever challenging those beliefs by looking at another point of view, you are destined to be ill informed on many issues. Ritchie may be overly aggressive in her disdain for the developer, but you should at least examine the evidence to know if she has a point or not. Loving living in TV, is not necessarily inconsistent with being suspicious of some of the developers tactics or motives. Being very fond of the developer (the Morse family of corporations), does not preclude one from opposing or being suspicious of some of their actions. The Villages has apparently not conformed with the intent of the Florida CDD guidelines, by turning over control to residents within eight years, so shouldn't residents be a bit concerned about that?

Originally Posted by eweissenbach (Post 975928)

From the article:

If my email is any indication, residents hate hearing what is behind the curtain at The Villages. As things stand, they play golf and countless other games, are offered nearly limitless recreation choices and have restaurants and shopping that cater to them. For this, they pay what they consider a reasonable monthly fee. Where else, they demand, can they find such a deal?



I just don't get the mentality of,"you are either all for us or you are against us". I would liken it to those people who only read the columnists in the daily sun, or only watch Fox News, or for that matter, only watch MSNBC. If all you are willing to read, listen, or watch is material that confirms your beliefs, without ever challenging those beliefs by looking at another point of view, you are destined to be ill informed on many issues. Ritchie may be overly aggressive in her disdain for the developer, but you should at least examine the evidence to know if she has a point or not. Loving living in TV, is not necessarily inconsistent with being suspicious of some of the developers tactics or motives. Being very fond of the developer (the Morse family of corporations), does not preclude one from opposing or being suspicious of some of their actions. The Villages has apparently not conformed with the intent of the Florida CDD guidelines, by turning over control to residents within eight years, so shouldn't residents be a bit concerned about that?

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 975932)

I don't think you have read Lauren Ritchie as much as I have. She is not using the skills and values that guide most journalists who report issues... in my opinion. I think she is employed by The Orlando Sentinel as a columnist giving her opinions rather than a reporter who prints just facts... She is also not supportive of the views that most of us who live here espouse. We are cheering for the success of a business like the Morses have built. We are mostly moderate to conservative which is not the views of the paper that employs her.

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 975932)

I don't think you have read Lauren Ritchie as much as I have. She is not using the skills and values that guide most journalists who report issues... in my opinion. I think she is employed by The Orlando Sentinel as a columnist giving her opinions rather than a reporter who prints just facts... She is also not supportive of the views that most of us who live here espouse. We are cheering for the success of a business like the Morses have built. We are mostly moderate to conservative which is not the views of the paper that employs her.

Originally Posted by dbussone (Post 975933)

And just because it is presented by a columnist does not make what is written "evidence." Columnists are not reporters. The very nature of their writings is full of opinion. Nothing very "fair and balanced" about that.