[Vision2020] real economic development in Moscow

[Jeff Harkins]

Joe, I do not appreciate my honesty being called into question simply 
because we disagree on selected issues.  It is a very disingenuous 
tactic that you and your political allies use to obfuscate the 
issues.  It is unbecoming of you and very "anti-intellectual".  I 
would have presumed that you would not resort to such 
behaviors.  Perhaps it is because you have nothing else to offer and 
can only resort to name calling.

If you disagree with me, fine - state your case, I'll state mine - 
and we will move on.

As to the topic we were engaged in, "No Joe", you appear to have a 
significantly different view about our local government.

Let's take a close look at what the council has done (and not done) - 
here is a sampling:

Remember the ice rink decisions - and the impact on the hundreds of 
ice rink users.

Remember the posturing for "no development in the corridor"  - which 
has resulted in significant friction with our neighbors to the West.

Remember the handling of the removal of Mr. Jon Wheaton from his 15 
years of volunteer service on Board of Adjustment.  Local government 
can certainly make changes in positions, but to "fire" a volunteer, 
just because he has a different opinion?

Remember the WalMart and big retail store decisions.

Remember all the rhetoric concerning the development of the 77 acre 
Thompson property - are you proud of how that was handled?

Remember the 3rd Street decisions - and the fact that folks living on 
D St and 6th Street have been waiting for years for their quality of 
life to improve (and their traffic to abate some) - a clear example 
of protect the few and punish the many.

Remember the New Cities Vision - thousands of tax dollars to obtain a 
recommendation that Moscow should have high rise apartments and 
condos in downtown - and oh, downtown visitors should also have an 
unobstructed view of the surrounding countryside.

Remember the fight with the County over who should manage the impact 
zone and the City's position on that - a rather clear end run around 
state protocols.

Remember the effort to bring firearm bans to Moscow - another effort 
to go around state protocols.

Remember the handling of the trees around the Moscow Mall.

Need I mention all the angst over selected religious organizations 
and their occupancy of downtown spaces.

Remember the decisions about whether we could cooperate with Whitman 
County in sharing in development of shared government services 
(utilities, fire, security) in the corridor.

Recall the decision on "living wages"?

Granted, you will no doubt favor the actions that the council took on 
several of these issues (the issues are necessarily philosophical and 
ideological in tenor).  But the fact is that each of these decisions 
casts a cloud on some aspect of economic development.  If you are 
persuaded that their actions were appropriate, then you are espousing 
"anti-growth" and "anti-development" sentiments.  And contributing to 
the view that Moscow is "anti-business" and "anti-growth".


At 07:55 AM 10/25/2007, you wrote:
>The real question, Jeff, is now that BJ has responded to your 
>question will you
>read it and take note of it or will you continue to spread the lie 
>of anti-growth
>just to get some of your friends elected?
>
>I'm betting the latter!
>
>Best, Joe
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 5
>Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 21:15:57 -0700
>From: Jeff Harkins <jeffh at moscow.com>
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] real economic development in Moscow
>To: bjswan at moscow.com, vision2020 at moscow.com
>Message-ID: <200710250416.l9P4GBfJ070204 at mail-gw.fsr.net>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>
>Perhaps Ms. Swanson would provide us with a list of the economic
>development accomplishments of the current city government.
>
>
>=======================================================
>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>                http://www.fsr.net
>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>=======================================================