There is this story about the three wise men. One was my dad, another the local banker, and the other I can’t remember. Dad said, &uot;Son, if you really want a pair of skates, save your money till you have enough to buy them.&uot; Now I remember; the other wise man was the merchant who invented &uot;layaway.&uot; Mom could buy a dress or shoes and take it home after she placed the necessary dollars in, a bit at a time, in the hands of the merchant. That system worked well for a few decades.

The method used today is a bit different; you pick out whatever, use it, and pay the credit card issuer back over time with substantial interest. Let me provide an example: Our Suffolk Industrial Authority will pay more than $19,000,000 in interest during the next 30 years to pay off $18,000,000 in revenue bonds funding much of the public share of a Hilton Garden Inn and Suffolk Conference Center. In other words, including the principle and interest it will cost the taxpayers $37,000,000 to pay off $18 million.

I waited for my skates, Suffolk didn’t. However, we are told that the $37,000,000 will be repaid through sales taxes and other revenue sources from the hotel, meaning it is expected to pay for itself. Isn’t that magical? It’s been said it won’t cost us anything. So I expect that when the city recaptures its investment, my share of contribution will be passed back to me, or my heirs. That’s nice. And I suppose the millions the city gave the Cultural Center, it will give more, will also be repaid from sales taxes and other Cultural Center revenues, whatever they may be.

Supposing what I have been told is also correct. You are aware Suffolk is short of affordable housing. If you are not sure what that term means, consider how your own assessments are forever increasing. Estimate how long it will be before you can’t afford to live in your own home. So we are going to do our best at the Fairgrounds along East Washington. It is said that Suffolk is not doing a good job of providing homes for low- income people.

So the city buys up property, builds new houses and apartments they can afford. Simple, but what if the current owners of that property won’t sell except at inflated prices. And the developer/builder follows UDO code to construct. How affordable will those new places to reside cost to rent or buy? If those folks can’t afford what is there now, how can they afford higher costs, no matter how austere the apartments might be? They can’t, so the choice they face is to be subsidized or move on. If they are not subsidized, what have we accomplished? Affordable, perhaps, by new tenants who want to be part of the village

I’ve talked to several young folks who are delighted by the improving ambiance in the &uot;village.&uot; Like new bars and restaurants, the coming cultural center, library, facades on old businesses, etc. But I also hear from many in a snit about the bucks for villagers and tourists. So they are more than a bit concerned about the millions necessary to build and own a parking garage. Many dozens of businesses strung along north main would like to see streetlights. Farmers south of town want to see their land available for sale.

I get the feeling that certain Council members are beginning to wake up. Becoming more concerned about their constituents, those on the fringe. Maybe they are not now so eager to see a few blocks becoming the

&uot;Jewel of the Nansemond.&uot;

But never fear; the village pushers have sucked up about all the dollars they need. Do you suppose we will soon see all downtown traffic aimed at a huge parking garage so drivers can then disembark, board horse drawn carriages and be driven to their destination by gentlemen in top hats?

Hey! That’s not a bad idea. It beats flocks of motorcycles stinking up the streets, 400-watt stereo systems blasting at stoplights, and traffic congestion on Main. Think about it you village gentry, and culture aficionados, let’s treat those beautiful downtown churches with respect. Let’s make our hub more like the ancient area of Williamsburg. Maybe a fort with cannons, fife and drum corps, oxen drawn carts. Aren’t you thinking kinda small?

Robert Pocklington lives in Suffolk and is a regular News-Herald columnist. He can be reached at robert.pocklington@suffolknewsherald.com.