[Vision2020] Council Far From Anti-Growth

[Craine Kit]

As someone who is born and raised in Moscow (and been around much  
longer than Area Man), I’ve heard the claim that Moscow is anti- 
business and/or anti-growth for decades. That includes the last 16  
years when we had conservative, Republican mayors. So I don't think  
the labels have any meaning when applied to the current council,  
which only been in charge for a few months.

As long as I can remember, people have gone to Spokane or Lewiston to  
shop. Sometimes it's for a better selection or a better deal. Others,  
it's an excuse to get out of town for a while and see the big city.  
Does that make the city government unfriendly towards business or  
growth?

Perhaps--instead of just claiming unfriendliness due to government or  
regulations--we should ask:

a) Is Moscow really unfriendly or is that just a nasty rumor?
b) If there are factors outside the city that influence the  
perception of friendliness?

I have a suggestion to start a conversation on b). Once-upon-a-time I  
had a conversation with a businessman who had considered locating his  
company in Moscow. He decided not to because--in his words--YOU CAN'T  
GET THERE FROM ANYWHERE.


Kit Craine

On Mar 15, 2006, at 8:51 AM, John Dickinson wrote:

> Visionaries—
>
>
>
> When I talk with businesses about Moscow and friendliness, the  
> conversations are more about where people buy things. I have had  
> several business owners tell me that they thought Moscow was not  
> especially friendly because so many people travel to Lewiston or  
> Spokane to buy a car or use the internet to purchase books, CDs, or  
> clothes. The benefit of either sales or property taxes is dwarfed  
> by the effect of buying local. Being business friendly is a  
> community issue, not simply a government one. Buy something today  
> in Moscow.
>
>
>
> I am sure that no members of our community would like a City  
> Council that rubber stamped everything that came before it. To  
> question proposals is an important function of the council. For  
> example, the proposed development just across the state line is  
> very large. It would essentially double the commercial space in the  
> Moscow area. I don’t believe that growth of this magnitude is  
> planned growth. If we doubled the number of houses in Moscow, or  
> doubled the number of students at UI, or doubled anything overnight  
> – we’d have significant problems.
>
>
>
> I enjoy reading V2020; perhaps the next V2020 social activity could  
> be a shopping spree from one end of town to the other.
>
>
>
> John Dickinson
>
> Your city council member.
>
>
>
> From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020- 
> bounces at moscow.com] On Behalf Of Donovan Arnold
> Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2006 7:38 AM
> To: g. crabtree; Tom Hansen; Moscow Vision 2020
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Council Far From Anti-Growth
>
>
>
> Gary brings up an excellent point! Moscow's city government has  
> been very anti-business. It has opposed businesses wanting to  
> develop in the East, and West. It has opposed Walmart, Home Depot,  
> and other businesses coming into the area. It has done nothing to  
> help many local businesses that are going under. But not only does  
> it oppose businesses in Moscow, it is also fighting efforts for  
> jobs and businesses developing in Latah and in the Pullman/Moscow  
> corridor on the Pullman side.
>
> The only place Moscow allows a business to be located in downtown,  
> which does not have enough parking for many types of businesses, or  
> in an already existing location which is not properly suited for  
> the business.
>
> _DJA
>
> "g. crabtree" <jampot at adelphia.net> wrote:
>
> I think that it's fairly safe to say that when a council meddles  
> wit! h how
> many square feet a business can be, by what percentage it may  
> expand, and
> what sort of a "living wage " it will pay, it's no friend to  
> business. While
> I am reluctantly willing to take Mr. Stout at his word that he's  
> pro growth
> and pro business, I sure haven't seen or heard anything from him or  
> the
> council as a whole that makes me believe it to be the case. To say  
> that
> you're pro business as long as you pay a given wage, sell the correct
> product from the approved country,are just the right size in  
> exactly the
> right location, and are owned by the proper people is to encourage
> development a mile or two across the border in Whitman county.  
> Perhaps those
> are the people our McC(A)ouncil and mayor represents.?
>
> G. Crabtree
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tom Hansen"
> To: "Moscow Vision 2020"
> Sent: Monday, March 13, 2006 4:01 PM
> Subject: [Vision2020] Counci! l Far From Anti-Growth
>
>
> > >From today's (March 13, 2006) Daily News with a special thnks to
> > >Councilman
> > Robert Stout -
> >
> >  
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> ----
> >
> > Council far from anti-growth
> >
> > I have been somewhat surprised by the amount of false information  
> being
> > propagated about the new Moscow City Council's attitude towards  
> growth and
> > development in our community. The mantra describing our efforts  
> seems to
> > be
> > "no growth" and "anti-business". As far as my personal attitude,  
> that
> > couldn't be further from the truth. I recognize the benefits of  
> having a
> > thriving business community and will always foster that. However,  
> I also
> > recognize such things as a living wage, some regulations on  
> business and
> > developments, and supporting growth that protects Moscow's  
> quality of
> > life.
> >
> > When individuals in our community repeat the no-growth rhetoric  
> there is a
> > negative connotation that does not help our community thrive and  
> prosper.
> > The new council has been in office for about 60 days. We have not
> > approved
> > any ordinances that could reasonably be construed as anti- 
> business or
> > no-growth. The concept of the recently passed large retail  
> ordinance has
> > been in the works for quite some time. The premise of this  
> ordinance is
> > not
> > to discourage large retail establishments from locating in our  
> community,
> > but rather bring them in as an equal partner in protecting the  
> quality of
> > life of our city.
> >
> > I was not elected to represent any one interest in this community. I
> > wasn't
> > elected to represent the realtors, the MCA, the chamber of  
> commerce, the
> > University of Idaho community, or downtown business. I was  
> elected to
> > represent our community as a ! whole and make informed and fair  
> decisions
> > that
> > will keep our community economically and socially sustainable. I  
> intend
> > to
> > do that and hope you will join me in my efforts.
> >
> > Robert C. Stout
> > Moscow
> >
> >  
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> ----
> >
> > Thank you, Councilman Stout.
> >
> > Instead of alleging fault where no fault exists, I challenge the  
> people of
> > Moscow to support and evaluate our city council openly and fairly.
> >
> > If it is felt that the council could improve in certain areas,  
> provide
> > constructive criticism. At the same time, if it is felt that the  
> council
> > is
> > performing their responsibilities in an exemplary manner, tell them.
> >
> > It's an old adage, people, and it has worked for limitless  
> generations:
> >
> > "Don't tell me why I can't. Tell me how I can."
> >
> > Seeya round tow! n, Moscow.
> >
> > Tom Hansen
> > Moscow, Idaho
> >
> > "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it  
> to change
> > and the Realist adjusts his sails."
> > - Unknown
> >
> >
> > _____________________________________________________
> > List services made available by First Step Internet,
> > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> > http://www.fsr.net
> > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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> >
>
>
> _____________________________________________________
> List services made available by First Step Internet,
> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> http://www.fsr.net
> mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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>
>
>
>
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> _____________________________________________________
>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>                http://www.fsr.net
>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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