[Vision2020] Parking Survey Under Way and other NSA Issues
Matt Decker
mattd2107 at hotmail.com
Wed Feb 14 07:04:39 PST 2007
J,
"Get the "school" out of the CBD whose students take up valuable parking
>spaces, that doesn't pay taxes nor contribute to the overall economic
>health
>of the CBD except and ONLY when their church's business' can not provide
>what they are looking for!"
You mean like outside of Moscow or even Latah county. That would solve the
problem right.
Matt
>From: "J Ford" <privatejf32 at hotmail.com>
>To: vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: [Vision2020] Parking Survey Under Way and other NSA Issues
>Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 17:03:05 -0800
>
>Get the "school" out of the CBD whose students take up valuable parking
>spaces, that doesn't pay taxes nor contribute to the overall economic
>health
>of the CBD except and ONLY when their church's business' can not provide
>what they are looking for!
>
>BTW, is anyone outside of Atwood aware of the fact that Idaho Graduate
>Schools will NOT accept NSA's degree or GRE test scores because the
>"school"
>is NOT regionally accredited? It only has accreditation from an
>organization that supports its beliefs and educational goals, which is
>admittedly focused and very narrow
>.
>
>As reported in the Lewiston Trib:
>
>"A student who scored perfect marks on a top graduate school admittance
>exam
>probably can't go to an Idaho university, the president of a Christian
>college in Moscow told the House Education Committee Monday.
>
>His school's 200 students contribute to the community as they pursue
>"classical Christian" studies, said Roy Atwood, president of New Saint
>Andrews College.
>
>Those bright students also score among the top 3 percent in ACT and SAT
>college entrance exams. But once the students get a Saint Andrews diploma,
>Idaho universities won't take them into graduate programs because Saint
>Andrews is not regionally accredited.
>
>"The students are great assets to us while they are here and they'd be an
>asset if they stayed longer," Atwood said.
>
>One student scored perfect 800s on the three major sections of the Graduate
>Record Examination, a standardized test commonly used for admittance into
>English-speaking graduate programs. That student probably will not stay in
>Idaho even if he wants to, Atwood said.
>
>"Our senior with the perfect GRE score could go anywhere in the world, but
>... our state's public universities won't consider their applications
>because we are nationally accredited," Atwood said.
>
>The Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools accredits
>Saint Andrews on a national level. But regional accreditation is nearly
>impossible for religious institutions because of "increasing
>secularization"
>of "hostile" accrediting bodies, Atwood told the Lewiston Tribune.
>
>For instance, Catholic universities have fallen short of regional
>accreditation standards because of the traditional focus on educating men
>for positions of church leadership, Atwood said.
>
>"It really is part of the culture wars," Atwood said.
>
>Last year, the Idaho State Board of Education considered requiring regional
>accreditation for the state's religious schools. The state board dropped
>the
>idea, which would have been disastrous for Saint Andrews, Atwood said. For
>instance, the regional bodies might require standards that espouse feminist
>ideals, a philosophy rejected by Saint Andrews officials, he said.
>
>"Those are the pressures coming to bear on faith-based organizations,"
>Atwood said.
>
>Atwood gave his brief presentation about his college at the invitation of
>Rep. Tom Trail, R-Moscow. Atwood was seeking no state assistance. Rather,
>the college keeps a fair distance from government -- even steering clear of
>federal grant and loan programs. The college has been the center of lively
>community debate because of controversy surrounding the beliefs of the
>school's founders."
>
>
>J :]
>
>
>
>
>
> >From: "g. crabtree" <jampot at adelphia.net>
> >To: <pcook818 at adelphia.net>, <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> >Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Parking Survey Under Way
> >Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 16:53:24 -0800
> >
> >Mr. Cook,
> >
> >Please don't get me wrong, I do think that the survey will objectively
> >measure the communities perception of the parking problem. I just don't
> >think that perceptions are as important as realities. I also think that
> >it's a mistake for the city to devote too many resources to a dimly
> >perceived "subjective and political" problem it can't do much to resolve
> >anyway. The undeniable facts of the matter are that there are x number of
> >business's, y no. of parking spaces, and z no. of potential shoppers.
> >Realistically, which of those variables can or should the city modify?
> >
> >g
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Philip Cook" <pcook818 at adelphia.net>
> >To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> >Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 10:54 AM
> >Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Parking Survey Under Way
> >
> >
> > > Mr. Crabtree,
> > >
> > > You are correct that two additional surveys focusing on customers and
> >employees are planned.
> > >
> > > I disagree with your and Mr. Deco's assertions that the survey nor the
> >surveyors are objective.
> > >
> > > You are correct that the survey is designed to measure perceptions,
>but
> >it is designed to measure them objectively. The measurement of
>perceptions
> >of downtown parking problems is the goal of the survey. The data
>gathered
> >by this survey and the others, along with engineering data, will help
> >inform the political discussions about management of downtown parking.
> > >
> > > Yes, I serve on the Transportation Commission, but I also spent much
>of
> >my graduate academic training and early career designing, implementing,
>and
> >reporting the results of surveys. I have observed and participated in the
> >design of this survey and have seen nothing that leads me to the
>conclusion
> >that it will not be objective. I will let you know if something changes
> >that assessment. Please let me know if you have evidence otherwise, too.
> > >
> > > The time where objectivity is always questionable, and indeed
> >impossible, is in the interpretation of (objectively gathered) data and
> >recommendations for changes based on the results. Each of us, regardless
>of
> >training, political persuasion, etc., brings our own experiences,
>beliefs,
> >and biases to the table when we interpret results and talk about possible
> >policy alternatives. Questions of what we should do are always political
> >and subjective; science can only inform the discussion about possible
> >outcomes.
> > >
> > > Your suggestion about a civil engineering project is illustrative.
> >Engineering data is helpful, but insufficient by itself. Let's say an
> >engineering study concludes that "85% of all car drivers arriving
>downtown
> >between 9:00am and 10:00am found a vacant parking spot within 150 feet of
> >their desired destination within 30 seconds of beginning their search for
>a
> >spot." Objective data, yes. But so what? Is the situation good or bad? Do
> >customers find that situation acceptable or not? Do business owners? Are
> >there any management actions the City should take to change the
>situation?
> >These are all perception-based questions, and the answers about what
>should
> >be done are subjective and political.
> > >
> > > As for myself, I'm looking forward to having at least some objective,
> >systematically-gathered data about downtown parking to inform the
> >community's discussions, rather than relying on a hodge-podge collection
>of
> >personal anecdotes.
> > >
> > > Philip Cook
> > >
> > >> Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 09:47:00 -0800
> > >> From: "Art Deco" <deco at moscow.com>
> > >> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Parking Survey Under Way
> > >
> > >> Gary writes:
> > >>
> > >> " A better approach might be to have an independent third party
>obtain
> >some objective data with regard to the parking situation."
> > >>
> > >> That would be a good first step. Given that data then an unbiased
> >professional survey designer could then design a survey with unloaded
> >questions, carefully and fairly select the sample space, and then proceed
> >to determine public and business attitudes/beliefs. Perhaps the UI or
>WSU
> >math departments could make this a carefully supervised graduate
>statistics
> >student project.
> > >>
> > >> Assuming that even if MacDonald and Steed have any enthusiastic
> >supporters, they would probably concede that neither is a qualified
>survey
> >designer/taker. We have just discussed a poorly constructed survey by
>Fox
> >News. Let's not waste money on another questionable effort which will
> >satisfy no one.
> > >>
> > >> Though Gary and I do not have much in common in our world views, I
> >think we both agree that facts are needed in the discussion of the
>parking
> >issue, and I hope that we agree that the different parties to the
>dispute,
> >especially the city, are not likely to generate unquestionable data
> >themselves.
> > >>
> > >> W.
> > >> ----- Original Message -----
> > >> From: g. crabtree
> > >> Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 6:20 AM
> > >> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Parking Survey Under Way
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> My understanding is that there will be three surveys done. The first
> >for business owners. The second for employees, and the third for
>customers.
> > >>
> > >> What I see as the glaring problem with this approach is that a survey
> >will only net you answers to what people perceive the problem to be. A
> >better approach might be to have an independent third party obtain some
> >objective data with regard to the parking situation. Perhaps quietly turn
>a
> >few civil engineering seniors loose on the project?
> > >>
> > >> g
> > >
> > > =======================================================
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> > > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> > > http://www.fsr.net
> > > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > > =======================================================
> > >
>
>
> >=======================================================
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> > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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