[Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group

[Jeff Harkins]

OK we'll go back on list.

Actually, as I understand it, the story was 
released during the day and published by the DN 
that day and next morning edition of Trib. (this 
is the normal print cycle for news stories from 
the two papers).  I doubt the DN had time to get 
to GMA representatives before press time.  And 
David Johnson does a thorough job vetting a 
story.  Point is: the Trib did not "uncover" 
anything - GMA has made no secret about its 
pro-growth stance.  They have been very open and 
transparent about their mission - ie their 
website.  To infer otherwise seems disingenous to me - just my opinion.

The formation of GMA seems a bright spot to me - 
it should get more folks engaged in the dialogue about our future here.

At 11:30 AM 5/21/2006, you wrote:
>J-
>Actually, the DN ran their story the day before.
>The Tribune story was by far the better one, 
>since the reporter asked some tougher questions 
>and revealed the group's "pro-growth" bias and 
>the group's creation as an antidote to MCA ....
>BL
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:jeffh at moscow.com>Jeff Harkins
>To: <mailto:thansen at moscow.com>Tom Hansen ; 
><mailto:vision2020 at moscow.com>vision2020 at moscow.com
>Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 7:26 AM
>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group
>
>Mr. Hansen,
>
>The London post was a bit misleading.  I am to 
>understand that the GMA provided a press release 
>to both the Trib and the Daily News (probably 
>the Latah Eagle as well) - seems to be accurate 
>since the DNews ran their story on GMA the same day.
>
>At 12:18 PM 5/20/2006, you wrote:
>>Excellent post, Bill.  Thank you.
>>
>>Now that a newly organized community “alliance” 
>>has been created, just what is the mission of this alliance?
>>
>> From the Greater Moscow Alliance website at:
>>
>><http://www.greatermoscow.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=26>http://www.greatermoscow.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=26 
>>
>>
>>“Mission
>>
>>The Greater Moscow Alliance is an organization 
>>comprised of citizens of Latah County who would 
>>like to see the Greater Moscow community 
>>continue to thrive. Our mission is to actively 
>>participate in local decisions to ensure Moscow 
>>and Latah County remains a great place to live, work and do business.
>>
>>The purpose of our organization is to make sure 
>>our collective voice is heard on issues of 
>>importance to the community; and to strategize 
>>in a manner that will effectively represent our goals and vision.
>>
>>In fulfilling our mission, we strive to do the following:
>>
>>1]  Maintain community vitality and support free enterprise.
>>
>>2]  Respect, protect and endorse the rights of private property owners.
>>
>>3]  Maintain awareness of community issues, 
>>their process and status in regards to governmental actions.
>>
>>4]  Educate our members and the community on 
>>ordinances and other issues affecting Moscow 
>>and Latah County and to provide balanced information.
>>
>>5]  Encourage voter participation.
>>
>>6]  Encourage and endorse candidates for local 
>>offices/elections to our members.
>>
>>7]  Encourage healthy growth and promote beneficial economic development.
>>
>>8]  To create balanced, fair treatment of issues.”
>>
>>[I added the numbers]
>>
>>I totally agree with the general intent of this 
>>alliance.  Informing the general public of laws 
>>that affect them (as reflected in #4) is important, however . . .
>>
>>Yes.  This is a political entity, complete with 
>>agendas.  This alliance can discuss healthy 
>>growth, rights of private property owners, and 
>>presentation of balanced information until the 
>>next millennium.  Everybody agrees on those 
>>issues.  Those issues are not truly debatable.
>>
>>The Greater Moscow Alliance (GMA) reveals its 
>>political card in #6 – “Encourage and ENDORSE 
>>[emphasis is mine] candidates for local 
>>offices/elections to our members.”  Suffice it 
>>to say that GMA will only endorse those 
>>candidates that are in lockstep with GMA leadership desires.
>>
>>I will, however, admit that I agree with #8 of 
>>the GMA’s stated mission – “To create balanced, fair treatment of issues.”
>>
>>This brings up another question:
>>
>>Just what are GMA’s positions concerning issues of interest:
>>
>>Their website identifies three key community issues that impact upon Moscow:
>>
>>1)  Thompson rezone
>>
>>2)  New Saint Andrews CUP (Conditional Use Permit)
>>
>>3)  Police Union
>>
>>Yet, when you access that portion of the GMA 
>>website that relates to these three “Issues of 
>>Interest”, all responses are blank:
>>
>><http://www.greatermoscow.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=6&id=16&Itemid=47>http://www.greatermoscow.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=6&id=16&Itemid=47 
>>
>>
>>How is Moscow to interpret that?
>>
>>Your thoughts, Moscow?
>>
>>Tom Hansen
>>Moscow, Idaho
>>
>>
>>
>>"If not us, who?
>>If not now, when?"
>>
>>- Unknown
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>
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