[Vision2020] Downtown Parking

[Bill London]

J-
my thanks for a cogent and persuasive argument.
BL



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James Nelson" <hammered at moscowmail.com>
To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2005 10:33 AM
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Downtown Parking


> Visionaries,
>
> It's safe to say that the city planners meant "primary purpose"
> when they used the word "shopper." This is why Moscow's
> Comprehensive Plan uses the word "principal" in the first stated
> objective for downtown, which says, "Maintain the central business
> district as a principal retail shopping area in Moscow." NSA
> students fill up spaces not to shop, but to sit in class. If they
> incidentally spend money, then well enough. But "incidental"
> shoppers do not visit downtown intending to shop.
>
> Here's a hypothetical: If 18 year old drives downtown and
> fills a parking space at the Jackson St. lot so that he can spend
> the day learning, then the NSA has done well. If the 18 year old
> spends $4 at the drug store on a Pepsi and Mars Bar, then the drug
> store has done okay. But if 150 teenagers with sparse allowances
> fill up the Jackson St. lot for an afternoon and deprive 150
> adults, whose median income exceeds $75,000, of convenient parking,
> then NSA does very well, but downtown businesses have just been
> shortchanged. (Re NSA faculty, however many there may be, I'm sure
> that when they're not boycotting the Daily News, they might drop
> dime at Zumé Bakery.)
>
> I don't know if the parents of NSA students pay their taxes or not.
> But I do know that the majority of NSA students are from out of
> town. So if they pay their taxes, it's not to Moscow.
>
> Mr. Arnold asks, "Are you saying that one group of people is better
> than another group of people because they choose to spend their
> money on education rather than pizza or a movie?"
>
> I answer, No, I'm saying that one group of people fails to meet the
> city's objectives as defined in the Comprehensive Plan while they
> are spending their money on education.
>
> But Mr. Arnold and I do have a point where we agree. He writes,
> "Selective enforcement of the law on the basis or religion is
> discrimination." If the city fails to enforce the zoning code as it
> applies to NSA, then the city would be guilty of reverse
> discrimination, i.e., showing preference to one group of people at
> another's expense. And in this case, downtown business owners who
> have complied with the law would be the wronged parties, as well as
> all citizens of Moscow who obey the law.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> James Nelson
>
>
>
> Visionaries,
>
> I would like to point out errors in reasoning and comprehension in
> Mr. Nelson's stated observations.
> "Ironically, NSA's occupation of the Verizon building has created
> the need for additional downtown parking, not because they bring
> more shoppers to the area, but because they (faculty & students)
> use parking spaces that would otherwise be filled by "shoppers and
> employees." In other words, NSA's presence downtown frustrates
> specific objectives declared by the city planners. (Hopefully most
> people can distinguish between a student shopper and business
> shopper.)"
>
> Well, ironically, NSA's faculty and students do meet the definition
> of shoppers and employees. The employees provide a service to the
> students that they paid for in payments or in advance. I also a,
> willing to bet that the parents of those students that PAY for
> services provided by NSA are also TAXPAYERS. I am also willing to
> bet those capable of sending their children to a private school are
> also paying a higher portion of the taxes than the general
> population of Moscow that supports the roads and public utilities
> in the downtown area.
>
> By saying, "(Hopefully most people can distinguish between a
> student shopper and business shopper.)" Are you saying that one
> group of people is better than another group of people because they
> choose to spend their money on education rather than pizza or a
> movie? Students bring in more than 60% of the money in the county,
> and I believe 80% of the money in the city.
>
> Why isn't anyone bitching about the Chamber of Commerce, DAC, CDHD,
> Goodwill, or the countless number of other services and offices
> upstairs in those buildings that don't sell anything or are
> non-profit? Give me a break! Some people are just targeting the NSA
> because they don't like them. It is that cut and dry. In the past,
> Verizon that was in the same place where NSA is now and that didn't
> count for what is a commercial industry according to City Code
> because it wasn't selling anything, it was just operating there.
>
> Selective enforcement of the law on the basis or religion is
discrimination.
>
> Take care,
>
> Donovan J Arnold
>
> PS the Farmer's Market also takes up downtown parking and is not a
> downtown business, that is against City Code too, should we ban
> that? Oh, wait! It is isn't a religious event so it is OK to
> viiolate the law in this case--selective enforcement, right-o, I
> keep forgetting.
>
> -- 
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