[Vision2020] Moscow Chamber is public too

[Bill London]

Thanks Linda for the update.
I am very glad to hear that the city no longer makes an annual automatic
donation of $10,000 to the Moscow Chamber.
And I again make the same request of the Council -- until this financial and
ideological cloud is removed from the Chamber -- that my tax dollars not be
used to support it.
BL
ps. For some reason known only to techno-wizards (and thus not to me), my
computer refused to accept the new addresses when I updated my address book
to include the new Council members.  So, this original message went to the
previous council.  sorry.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Linda Pall" <lpall at moscow.com>
To: "bill london" <london at moscow.com>; "joann mack" <jmack at turbonet.com>;
"steve busch" <steveb at moscow.com>; "jack hill" <jmhill at moscow.com>; "jon"
<jon at n-k-ins.com>; "mtethoma" <mtethoma at moscow.com>; "mcomstock"
<mcomstock at ci.moscow.id.us>; "Peg Hamlett" <peg_hamlett at sbcglobal.net>;
"Vision2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Friday, August 27, 2004 12:48 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow Chamber is public too


> Dear Visionaries, Bill and members of the 2001-2003 City Council:
>
> Bill characterizes a budget allocation of $10,000 to the Chamber in the FY
> 2004 budget as "the city of Moscow gave the Moscow Chamber $10,000 as the
> city's regular, annual donation." The FY2004 budget was passed by the
> previous council in 2003. It contained a $10,000 allocation (not a
donation)
> to the Chamber for its work promoting the City of Moscow. I am not privy
to
> the exact agreement or supporting documentation that accompanied that
budget
> decision of the last Council. The records of this would be on file with
the
> City and could be examined.
>
> The present Council has taken a different road already this year in July
> when we considered the budget and in August when we passed it unanimously.
> We have asked that all of our economic development funds (Chamber, LEDC,
> Downtown Revitalization, economic strategic plan dollars, etc.) be united
> under the City Supervisor so that our economic development efforts could
be
> more targeted and coordinated. The Council will be reviewing our role in
> economic development and the opinions of the entire community as to the
> issue of growth and development in the near future.
>
> So,
> (1) No funds have been earmarked for the Chamber in the FY 2005 budget.
> (2) There is no "regular annual donation" other than the dues which the
> city, like many other businesses, pays to join the Chamber. We have in the
> past participated on some chamber projects of particular benefit to the
> City. This year, we're considering our economic development expenditures a
> little differently.
>
> I am only one of six council members, but I would anticipate that we will
> consider allocating our economic development dollars where they will do
the
> most good.
>
> All the best,
> Linda Pall
> Moscow City Council
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "bill london" <london at moscow.com>
> To: "joann mack" <jmack at turbonet.com>; "steve busch" <steveb at moscow.com>;
> "jack hill" <jmhill at moscow.com>; "jon" <jon at n-k-ins.com>; "mtethoma"
> <mtethoma at moscow.com>; "mcomstock" <mcomstock at ci.moscow.id.us>; "Peg
> Hamlett" <peg_hamlett at sbcglobal.net>; "Vision2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> Sent: Friday, August 27, 2004 11:52 AM
> Subject: [Vision2020] Moscow Chamber is public too
>
>
> > The Moscow Chamber of Commerce may be organized as a private non-profit,
> > but it is a public entity in many ways.
> >
> > First, the Chamber represents the city to prospective businesses,
> > families considering moving here, and community visitors.  And more
> > importantly, my tax dollars -- and those of everyone here in Moscow -- 
> > are used to help fund its existence and its programs.
> >
> > In 2004, the city of Moscow gave the Moscow Chamber $10,000 as the
> > city's regular, annual donation.  In response, the chamber is supposed
> > to help with the economic development of our community.
> >
> > What the Chamber board is not supposed to do is give the community
> > another black eye by advancing the Christ Church agenda and lauding
> > Robert E. Lee.  What the Chamber board is also not supposed to do is
> > ignore the concern and input from its members and from the members of
> > this community.
> >
> > I urge the Moscow City Council to cease payments of our tax money to the
> > Moscow Chamber of Commerce until the Chamber board removes this
> > financial and ideological cloud.
> > BL
> >
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>
>