[Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group
Bill London
london at moscow.com
Wed May 24 10:54:35 PDT 2006
Actually, I welcome the GMA. I think it is about time that group of
pro-growth folks (hey, GMA president Steve Busch described the group as
pro-growth) came out of the closet (or is it the smoke-filled back room?)
and faced the public honestly.
I hope the GMA and the MCA can work together for the benefit of all. For
example, co-sponsoring candidate debates and/or co-sponsoring issue forums.
(please note that I am not a board member of either MCA or GMA and so am
only speaking for myself).
BL
----- Original Message -----
From: "Matt Decker" <mattd2107 at hotmail.com>
To: <london at moscow.com>; <FCS at moscow.com>; <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 8:01 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group
>
> Bill,
>
> Your assumptions of the GMA being dumb growth are about as valid as me
> saying the MCA is no growth. I am willing to give the MCA a chance if you
> will do the same for the GMA, whata say?
>
> MATT
>
> >From: "Bill London" <london at moscow.com>
> >To: <FCS at moscow.com>, <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> >Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group
> >Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 11:24:25 -0700
> >
> >If you are aware of the Dumb Growth model supported by the leadership of
> >GMA
> >in the past, I fail to understand why you expect them to support a new
> >model
> >now.
> >BL
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Mark Seman" <FCS at moscow.com>
> >To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> >Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 1:50 PM
> >Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group
> >
> >
> > > 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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