[Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group
Mark Seman
FCS at Moscow.com
Mon May 22 13:50:16 PDT 2006
Bill,
You're right that everyone has their own concepts on "positive
community-minded growth." I think too many of Moscow's business leaders
have (and continue to) lined their own pockets without any realistic notion
as to what they are doing to & for the community. I don't know what
approach GMA is going to have for their concept and they may follow the same
lost patterns as other economic development groups, typical local
developers, and most government entities. If they are literate enough, they
will READ Community, SEE Community needs and UNDERSTAND what Community
development really is. I've looked at their website and understand who is
involved on the Board. At this point, I don't know what they group-think,
but time will expose what GMA understands OF the community and does FOR the
community.
I hope to see development that is different from what has occured in the
past, as there is shamefully little past development that has been
community-minded. Development, only by it's historic capitalistic nature,
is developer & economically driven. That model has give the U.S. the
souless living & working environments it now enjoys. But why should the
financial risk-taker (developer) do anything different to jeapodize economic
success? Very few are willing to work outside of tested models to bring
better quality. It might be because of the increased financial risks,
ignorant public resistance, working through unadaptive ordinances, more
restrictive processes, or plain disinterest.
There are so many stubborn entrenchments in the existing processes that need
change to give positive direction. To change the model into one that
naturally INCLUDES community (is community-MINDED), all parties need to
participate in sharing the risks (and rewards.) What incentives could be
implemented to change the model into one that does this? Financial
contributions could come from a variety of community sources (Food Co-Op
model) to dilute risk, the Community could be a partner to identify a need
and guarantee occupancy & project success, other fractional ownerships could
provide incentives for mulitple-owners to attract needed "industry" to town
(similar to Alturus, but with greater community-mindedness), there are many
options available if parties are open to changning their mindsets.
The problem is not growth itself, the problem is quality(ies). Quality of
process, quality of restriction, quality of incentive, and more - all adding
up to quality of community. There are so many good things that Moscow can
make for itself (some are examples such as you & Keely cite.) All Community
partners government, business, & citizen) need to understanding what they
have really been doing within the existing processes; understand what the
Community needs; and all parties need to learn how to get from here to there
by changing the processes to make community development work
collaboratively.
Mark
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill London [mailto:london at moscow.com]
Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 10:18 AM
To: FCS at moscow.com; vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group
M-
you wrote (at end of first paragraph below):
"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."
Everybody says they support positive community-minded growth. For some
people, every new business or housing development is "positive
community-minded growth."
take a look at the GMA website and the list of board members. These are not
supporters of Smart Growth or even community-minded growth. Bennett, Mack,
Comstock et al seem to think that any growth is good. Yes, they have a
track record of supporting growth for growth's sake. Their continuing
support of Dumb Growth has brought Moscow, for example, the scattering of
subdivisions around town that do not have parks or bike/pedestrian
connections to the rest of town.
GMA will be supporting growth for Moscow, that's for sure. It's the
positive and community-minded part that is doubtful.
BL
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Seman" <FCS at moscow.com>
To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 9:08 PM
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group
> 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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