[Vision2020] Council Far From Anti-Growth
Art Deco
deco at moscow.com
Wed Mar 15 12:22:27 PST 2006
John, Kit, et al,
We do most of our shopping in Moscow basically except for the following:
1. Costco
2. The Internet for items that are not available here or are very grossly
overpriced. In fact we scan the internet then try to buy or special order
items here.
3. Businesses with poor, rude, and or clueless customer service. We have
had some real horror shows with local businesses.
With regard to 3 above: Perhaps the Moscow Chamber and/or City could
encourage some workshops for businesses that focus on customer service and
encourage all local small businesses to attend.
Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
deco at moscow.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Craine Kit" <kcraine at verizon.net>
To: "John Dickinson" <johnd at moscow.com>
Cc: "'Moscow Vision 2020'" <vision2020 at moscow.com>; "'Donovan Arnold'"
<donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2006 12:05 AM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Council Far From Anti-Growth
> 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
>> > ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
>> >
>>
>>
>> _____________________________________________________
>> 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
>> ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Yahoo! Travel
>> Find great deals to the top 10 hottest destinations!
>>
>> _____________________________________________________
>> 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
>> ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
>
>
> _____________________________________________________
> 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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