[Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group

Mon May 22 07:52:25 PDT 2006

I'll let the lack of position statements on GMA's 
website slide as an organizational growing pain 
issue, but I believe it is obvious from the 
testimony on the Thomson rezone where GMA stands 
on that issue as 2/3 of the board members spoke 
in favor of the rezone at either the p&z or 
council hearings.
Stephen Busch, Chairperson
Jim Anderson, Vice-Chairperson
Jim DeMeerleer, Treasurer
Shelley Bennett, Co-Secretary
Dan Carscallen
Marshall Comstock
Bob Hieronymus
JoAnn Mack
Bill Morscheck
Brian Thie
Jerry Weitz
Susan Wilson, Co-Secretary

In a community as small as Moscow, it is 
inevitable that there will be conflicts of 
interest when organizations engage in advocacy. 
As such it is very important to understand how 
personal motives, especially economic motives, 
may relate to an organization's positions.

One example: The Thompson Rezone is listed as an 
Issue of Interest by GMA. What is not listed is 
Shelley Bennett, GMA Co-Secretary, is reported to 
be in line for a $400,000 realtor commission if 
the development is approved. JoAnn Mack's family 
owns the property adjacent to the Thompson's. 
Susan Wilson "continues to be involved in the 
real estate industry while beginning her law 
practice. Her husband of 4 years, Sean Wilson, is 
an Associate Broker with Bennett & Associates 
Real Estate in Moscow."

Mark Solomon

At 9:08 PM -0700 5/21/06, Mark Seman wrote:
>Keely,
>I agree with most all you say.  Moscow's growth needs to be more positive
>(proper) and proactive.  I don't necessarily associate growth with being
>negative, though much has definitely been poorly implemented in the past and
>the process needs to be changed.  Our children are the future and they need
>to be wisely assisted.  School gradutates without oppotunity leave town.  If
>the opportunity is not Wal-Mart, what else will Moscow provide?  Moscow
>needs to actively pursue what it wants to be...what it wants for its future.
>If your list could come to fruition, "what a wonderful world this would be."
>I hope to see it happen.  I don't want growth for growth's sake, I want
>positive community-minded growth and that's why I'm willing to support GMA.
>
>Moscow needs to "come together" before it can proactively move forward.
>Part of the process to do this is to develop dialogue, a concensus, and a
>plan of action.  Then the plan can be implemented.  It seems GMA wants to be
>part of that dialogue.  I would like to think that the various organizations
>in Moscow recognize the need for concensus and that they are not organized
>just to toot their own horn.  Organizations need to brining their concerns
>to the table for discussion, but with the intent of compromise, so a plan
>can be developed to move Moscow forward.  The plan can be tweaked along the
>way, but the plan needs to be developed so efforts for implementation can
>proceed.
>
>I'm not quite sure whether the long-standing question is "When will the
>dialogue begin?" or "How much longer will it take to get consensus?"  Either
>way, Moscow is still far off from having a plan, let alone implementing one
>for its future.  The current model of reaction needs to be replaced with
>proaction, so for the most part, the answer is known before the question is
>even asked.
>
>I know it is tough to get to such a point of agreement, but I see that as a
>major role of Mayor and Council.  Provide the leadership that gets these
>steps done so Moscow knows its self well enough to define its general path
>to future development.  This process is not solely on the shoulders of the
>City either, the community needs to care enough to be involved.
>
>Mark
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
>[mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]On Behalf Of keely emerinemix
>Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 9:47 AM
>To: thansen at moscow.com; FCS at moscow.com; vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group
>
>
>
>I'd disagree with any group that would usher in big-box stores and a
>proliferation of strip malls, and I don't think that growth for growth's
>sake is at all desireable.
>
>That said, I'm equally cocerned about people or groups who fail to recognize
>the moral, social and economic difference between the positive benefits of,
>say, a new high school on the fringes of town and a Wal-Mart Supercenter on
>the fringes of town.  The apparent inability of some people to differentiate
>between a temple of gross consumerism and corporate greed and a
>state-of-the-art, educationally suitable and forward-planned high school is
>almost as vexing as it is frightening.
>
>Here's what I want for Moscow:
>-- Growth that includes homes priced to allow the working poor to build
>equity and secure a future -- An economy that derives benefit from a
>financially sound and academically robust university
>-- School buildings that are equitable across the district in their
>educational suitability
>-- Vocational and technological training for our kids who don't have a
>four-year college in their
>future, with a commitment to quality education for all of our students
>-- A healthy, business-oriented downtown;
>-- A pro-business city government that recognizes that "pro-business" means
>support not for corporate leviathans but for small businesses, with a move
>toward securing innovative technological and production companies that
>provide real jobs;
>-- A continued atmosphere of support for the arts.
>
>The long and short of it is, I guess, that I'd like a hybrid of MCA and GMA
>-- keep out the big box businesses, throw support behind public schools, and
>never confuse the two.
>
>keely
>
>
>
>From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
>To: <FCS at moscow.com>, <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group
>Date: Sun, 21 May 2006 05:49:54 -0700
>
>Mark -
>
>Although I applaud your community activism, I personally would want to know
>just where an organization stands on issues before I joined it.
>
>So far, all the Greater Moscow Alliance (GMA) has accomplished amounts to
>nothing more than providing a list of "feel good" mission standards, a list
>of names that comprises its leadership, and a list of "Issues of Interest"
>of which they have no stated position.
>
>Thoughts, Moscow?
>
>Tom Hansen
>Moscow, Idaho
>
>********************************************
>
>"In America, anybody can become president.
>That's one of the risks you take . . ."
>
>- Adlai Stevenson
>
>********************************************
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
>On Behalf Of Mark Seman
>Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 9:20 PM
>To: vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group
>
>I might think it to be more important to give Moscow a "proper" tone.  On
>any particular issue that tone could be perceived as either right or left -
>whichever is needed, as long as it is "proper."  For now I have hope (with
>some trepidation) that GMA is willing to help Moscow attain proper
>prosperity.  To listen and act for the betterment of not only themselves,
>but for a greater community good.  I'm signing up for a year to see what
>happens.  I could just sit back and do nothing, or I could do more, but for
>now I'll just help out a little bit.  In the future, I hope to desire to do
>more.
>
>Mark
>
>
>
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