Preserving Municipal Waterfronts In Maine For Water-Dependent Uses: Tax Incentives, Zoning, And The Balance Of Growth And Preservation

The latter half of the 1990\u27s saw the nation\u27s wealth expand as in no other time. The stock market hit record highs as investing itself changed shape; no longer was the market a mysterious puzzle known only to those in the business. Until the latter 1990\u27s the stock market was traditionally thought of as the realm of brokers, analysts, investment bankers and the very wealthy. But as the stock market begin to rise, and the potential for wealth became more obvious, everyone from the grandmother down the street to middle school students were learning about the market and diving in to try and make money. The internet helped widen the investment circle as well, as more information became available more easily to the public, investing was made child\u27s play by online brokerage houses. The dotcom frenzy hit the nation and stocks and the stock market became sexy; everyone was investing, and money was being made. As this unprecedented wealth hit the nation, Americans were eager to spend. Throughout 1999 and into the new millennium, Americans were outspending their earnings as they had in no other time in history and the savings rate in America dropped dramatically. The low-point of this trend came in May of 1999, when the savings rate hit a historical low of -1.2%; it was the sixth consecutive month of 1999 that the savings index had been negative. Although the rate had risen slightly by the end of the twentieth century, December\u27s 1.5% rate was still the lowest ever recorded for that month. American earnings for the month rose 3%, but spending had jumped to 8%, a ratio that was indicative of the entire year. As the stock market continues to stay strong in the first half of the new year, there is no expectation that the trend will reverse. Americans continue to feel confident about their present and future financial security as they watch the stock market and see their portfolios grow. New wealth was reinvested in the market, or spent on luxuries and larger homes. One popular investment was the second home (or third, or fourth), a place simply to retreat or spend summers. Popular among locations to invest in that second home was Maine, with miles of shoreline, amazing views, and a reputation for being a state that is relaxed and peaceful. Prices for Maine\u27s shoreline real estate rose along with prices across the nation, but by comparison, many Maine properties were still a bargain. Encouraging investment in second homes were interest rates that were at a twenty year low at the end of the twentieth century; not only was there money available to buy homes, but financing them cost less than ever. As more and more people came to Maine to look for a home by the water, with money available to pay dearly, or outbid other buyers for waterfront homes, prices rose to and beyond the million dollar mark for properties that had previously been valued at less than half that cost. Some older shoreline properties were being bought at a premium, then torn down to make way for new, larger homes, which would keep the assessed value and property taxes high. The effect of these rising shoreline prices on property taxes began to be seen in 1999, and had an outreaching effect not only on neighboring residential property, but also on working waterfront property that shared the shoreline. Because the properties themselves were similar, the sale prices of the surrounding residential properties had to be taken into account when calculating the property taxes on the commercial property under the system by which Maine property taxes are calculated. Part II of this Article will examine the administration of the property tax system of Maine, exemptions to the general property tax, and the current proposal for another exemption. The effectiveness of the current exemptions, as well as the usefulness of the proposed exemption in fulfilling its goals will also be examined. Part III will analyze the history of zoning in the United States, as well as the Federal and State of Maine coastal regulation schemes. Next, this Article will focus on Portland, Maine, and the use of zoning there to preserve the waterfront for water dependent uses. Last, this Article will examine the current situation in Portland, Maine, new developments on the waterfront, and recommendations for battling the new pressures in Portland that are working against the working waterfront

Preserving Municipal Waterfronts In Maine For Water-Dependent Uses: Tax Incentives, Zoning, And The Balance Of Growth And Preservation

The latter half of the 1990\u27s saw the nation\u27s wealth expand as in no other time. The stock market hit record highs as investing itself changed shape; no longer was the market a mysterious puzzle known only to those in the business. Until the latter 1990\u27s the stock market was traditionally thought of as the realm of brokers, analysts, investment bankers and the very wealthy. But as the stock market begin to rise, and the potential for wealth became more obvious, everyone from the grandmother down the street to middle school students were learning about the market and diving in to try and make money. The internet helped widen the investment circle as well, as more information became available more easily to the public, investing was made child\u27s play by online brokerage houses. The dotcom frenzy hit the nation and stocks and the stock market became sexy; everyone was investing, and money was being made. As this unprecedented wealth hit the nation, Americans were eager to spend. Throughout 1999 and into the new millennium, Americans were outspending their earnings as they had in no other time in history and the savings rate in America dropped dramatically. The low-point of this trend came in May of 1999, when the savings rate hit a historical low of -1.2%; it was the sixth consecutive month of 1999 that the savings index had been negative. Although the rate had risen slightly by the end of the twentieth century, December\u27s 1.5% rate was still the lowest ever recorded for that month. American earnings for the month rose 3%, but spending had jumped to 8%, a ratio that was indicative of the entire year. As the stock market continues to stay strong in the first half of the new year, there is no expectation that the trend will reverse. Americans continue to feel confident about their present and future financial security as they watch the stock market and see their portfolios grow. New wealth was reinvested in the market, or spent on luxuries and larger homes. One popular investment was the second home (or third, or fourth), a place simply to retreat or spend summers. Popular among locations to invest in that second home was Maine, with miles of shoreline, amazing views, and a reputation for being a state that is relaxed and peaceful. Prices for Maine\u27s shoreline real estate rose along with prices across the nation, but by comparison, many Maine properties were still a bargain. Encouraging investment in second homes were interest rates that were at a twenty year low at the end of the twentieth century; not only was there money available to buy homes, but financing them cost less than ever. As more and more people came to Maine to look for a home by the water, with money available to pay dearly, or outbid other buyers for waterfront homes, prices rose to and beyond the million dollar mark for properties that had previously been valued at less than half that cost. Some older shoreline properties were being bought at a premium, then torn down to make way for new, larger homes, which would keep the assessed value and property taxes high. The effect of these rising shoreline prices on property taxes began to be seen in 1999, and had an outreaching effect not only on neighboring residential property, but also on working waterfront property that shared the shoreline. Because the properties themselves were similar, the sale prices of the surrounding residential properties had to be taken into account when calculating the property taxes on the commercial property under the system by which Maine property taxes are calculated. Part II of this Article will examine the administration of the property tax system of Maine, exemptions to the general property tax, and the current proposal for another exemption. The effectiveness of the current exemptions, as well as the usefulness of the proposed exemption in fulfilling its goals will also be examined. Part III will analyze the history of zoning in the United States, as well as the Federal and State of Maine coastal regulation schemes. Next, this Article will focus on Portland, Maine, and the use of zoning there to preserve the waterfront for water dependent uses. Last, this Article will examine the current situation in Portland, Maine, new developments on the waterfront, and recommendations for battling the new pressures in Portland that are working against the working waterfront

A FOOTNOTE ON DANGEROUS ANIMALS

Much has been said and written by courts and authors on different aspects of the question of liability for injuries by animals, but there remains the task of fitting all these pieces into a complete pattern. The general subject of liability of the possessor of harm-producing animals has been treated on two separate and independent theories: (1) trespass, for injuries by marauding cattle; (2) case, for harms caused by animals other than trespassing cattle. The explanation for the separation of these two bodies of law is in part historical, the possessor of straying cattle being historically so identified with them that their trespass was his own act-- for I am the trespasser with my beasts --and, also, that the interests protected are altogether dissimilar. In cattle-trespass law the interest served is the interest in the exclusive and uninterrupted enjoyment of one\u27s land, and in the law redressing harms caused by animals otherwise than by trespassing cattle the interest is primarily that in personal security and, occasionally, the safety of one\u27s personal property. It is to this latter topic that this study is directed, excluding from consideration the rather well-defined principles of cattle-trespass

Animals on display: principles for interpreting captive wildlife

The goals of modern zoos include education, research, conservation and preservation. As tourism ventures, they also depend upon visitor enjoyment. To achieve these goals with people at leisure requires careful planning and interpretation. The exotic, fascinating and beautiful animals on display often trigger the curiosity, appreciation and respect that zoo staff are seeking to instill in visitors. However, it is important to assist visitors to interpret what they experience through accessible and interesting information. In addition, it is vital to avoid giving visitors incorrect or misleading information through presenting wildlife in a manner that is alien to their natural state. This paper reviews research to develop a set of principles for interpreting and displaying animals in captive environments such as zoos, sanctuaries and wildlife parks

et cetera

Founded in 1953, Et Cetera is an annual literary magazine that publishes the creative writing and artwork of Marshall University students and affiliates. Et Cetera is free to the Marshall University community. Et Cetera welcomes submissions in literary and film criticism, poetry, short stories, drama, all types of creative non-fiction, photography, and art

The Role of the HSUS in Zoo Reform

A report prepared for the Humane Society of the United Stateshttps://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/ebooks/1010/thumbnail.jp

Scholarly Communication and Knowledge Management in American Zoos

The researcher investigated whether frontline, tacit knowledge about zoo animals was captured by zookeepers, curators, researchers, veterinarians, and outside researchers and, if so, whether and how it was transmitted into the scholarly literature. A bibliometric analysis was done of a representative sample of peer-reviewed zoo research articles published between 1973 and 200 I. This was extended to grey literature and acknowledgements statements from the same period to obtain a more global picture. Research participants were evaluated in terms of their contributions (journal articles, conference papers, or acknowledged research assistance). Changes were mapped chronologically and by profess ion. The participation of keepers and curators was of particular interest, as was the role of tacit knowledge and its intergenerational transmission. The role of outside researchers in zoos was examined, as was the use of zoo research by the wider scientific community, as measured through citations by non-zoo authors. Interviews with a cross-section of zoo research personnel completed the portrait of zoo research during these decades. The study found that keepers\u27 university training did not change their status as invisible research assistants and inter professional tensions remained high, despite higher educational levels among keepers and curators. The rise in female research participants was not proportional to the shift from mainly male to mainly female staff over time. Only a tiny percentage of zoo research was heavily cited by outside researchers. Zoo biology showed some signs of becoming an academic discipline, but continued to rely heavily on tacit knowledge. Outside collaborators quickly lost interest in zoos, due to numerous obstacles. The study concluded that an institution\u27s research productivity was a function of leadership, rather than size, budget or number of personnel. Minimizing the role of tacit knowledge in favor of scientific research area hurt the transmission of invaluable oral folklore, particularly among keepers. It was recommended that zoos capture their tacit knowledge base to meet their conservation goals more efficiently and respond more effectively to critics of zoos\u27 scientific approach. Finally, mentoring programs would enable more staff to participate in research and publishing