[Vision2020] Understanding Alturas

[g. crabtree]

Dearest Joan, Please make no mistake. My intent was not to run down our
precious little tech park. I was trying to point out to Hansen that building
another one or expanding the current one by a factor of ten would not hasten
the number of new businesses that would take root there.

Now, to respond to the errors that inevitably occur in your postings...

1. Alturas is the home to one law FIRM. Three lawyers and their staff. A
firm that had occupied a downtown location until recently.

2.The Just Like Home Children's Center is an independent business open to
all members of the community. It is NOT a prerequisite that you be an
employee of an Alturas company.

3. You just happened to neglect to mention two accounting firms that also
recently left downtown area locations to take up residence at Alturas.

Alturas was established in 1990. Here we are in 2006 and the phase one
development in still not completely filled. (note the big empty building at
1187 Alturas Dr.) The phase two development has room for between six and
eight new buildings of a similar size to what's in phase one. (five
buildings) I am fairly sure my wager with Hansen is a safe one. As I have
said before, this is a bet I would be happy to lose. No "running down the
tech park" here.

Regarding  your question about expansion of the business I work for and its
contributions to Moscow's growth. (and overlooking all the stellar economic
achievements provided by the fiscal powerhouse that is J. Opyr) We are a
service company. We exist to meet the needs of the residential and
commercial market. We have been able to meet those needs with the current
number of employees for quite some time. Should the economy of Moscow
flourish, you can rest assured we will expand to cover the increased demands
placed upon us. Without taking advantage of tax payer largess in the
process, (unlike Alturas) I might add.

So, to sum things up, when it comes to facts and where one takes their
"shiny" parts perhaps you should spend more time with your own and less
fantasizing that you're Steve McQueen. While you are at the Mariner's opener
get Carl to point out where the phrase "a swing and a miss" comes from.

Fondly,
G. Crabtree
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joan Opyr" <joanopyr at moscow.com>
To: "Vision2020 Moscow" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Friday, March 17, 2006 4:59 PM
Subject: [Vision2020] Understanding Alturas


>>> ---- "g. crabtree" <jampot at adelphia.net> wrote:
>>>
>>> =============
>>> It looks like Mr. Hansen would have us believe that the answer to all
>>> of this communities problems is to expand Alturas. As is, the park is
>>> as much a home for lawyers and child care centers as it is a home to
>>> high tech companies. I seriously doubt that expanding it to the size
>>> of the proposed super center will result in any significant gains and
>>> to put my money where my mouth is, Tom, I'll bet you $100.00 that
>>> after five years the park will not have filled it's current expansion
>>> with "high tech" businesses much less be in need of additional space.
>>> wa da ya say? I'd love to lose this bet almost as much as I'd love to
>>> take your cash.
>>>
>>> gc
>
>
> Alturas is home to one lawyer and one child care center.  The child care 
> center is not an independent entity but directly related to an existing 
> Alturas business.  It operates as a benefit to employees; it's a 
> perquisite, an inducement, a means of employee retention, like vacation 
> days or life insurance.
>
> I do hate to see people running down the technology park when they are not 
> in full possession of the facts, Gary.  You want to talk about Alturas? 
> Then get your shiny hiney out there and talk to someone like Robin Woods, 
> President of Alturas Analytics and Anatek Labs, and also President of the 
> Latah Economic Development Council.  I'm sure she'd be happy to answer 
> your questions, or you might talk to Comtech-AHA, or Siemens, or EMSI, or 
> CC Benefits.  Alturas will soon be home to another company that I hear has 
> made an offer on one of the new lots.  What's more, I understand that 
> there are about 72 jobs out there -- jobs that weren't there (or in 
> Moscow, period) ten years ago.  Has your business expanded that much in 
> the past decade?  What have you done lately to contribute to the growth of 
> Moscow's economy?
>
> To be fair, I must admit that I have not done my part to help The Lock 
> Shop's business.  Alas, I can't be locked out of my 1976 Chevy Suburban; 
> it's so old, it starts without a key.  I believe the ignition lock is 
> stripped.  And this is why I need a 1968 Mustang Fastback Church of Auntie 
> Establishment love gift.  Please, dear parishoners, give generously.  Give 
> often.  Give money that's not even yours.  I don't mind and, what's more, 
> I offer you complete and utter absolution, no questions asked.  Remember, 
> if you're stealing in the name of religion, it's not really stealing. 
> It's more like indefinite borrowing at zero interest.
>
> The Reverend Joan Opyr/Auntie Establishment
> www.joanopyr.com
>
> PS: I know; I'm way over my posting limit.  Sorry about that.  But it's 
> okay -- I've forgiven me.
>
> _____________________________________________________
> 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
> ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
>