[Vision2020] Real Economic Value

[Donovan Arnold]

BJ,
   
  All of those jobs are taking more takes than generating. College professors pay lots in taxes too, but their salaries are almost 100% supported by taxes. 
   
  Best,
   
  Donovan

"B. J. Swanson" <bjswan at moscow.com> wrote:
                Yes, Donovan.  Perhaps you should look up the taxes that the high tech companies in Moscow contribute to the community and also look up the wages they pay.  You might be pleasantly surprised.
   
  B. J. Swanson
   
    From: Donovan Arnold [mailto:donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 11:14 PM
To: B. J. Swanson; v2020
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Real Economic Value

   
    BJ,

     

    I fail to understand how anything you mentioned can be defined as growth if it supported by tax dollars. Tax dollars take away from the income of residents, it doesn't add. 

     

    I think Moscow needs some tax generating industry and jobs, not just tax supported jobs. 

     

    Best,

     

    Donovan

"B. J. Swanson" <bjswan at moscow.com> wrote:

    

The idea of high tech jobs being a good fit and economic driver for Moscow is based on the assets and culture we already have to attract and support them.  Assets being the University of Idaho, research dollars, quality of life, arts community, etc.  The high tech jobs bring in new money to support several other jobs within the community and raise the overall standard of living.  Those high paying jobs will support housing, retail and overall good of the community.  Very similar to the economic models of Dr. Richard Florida.

We are not a Seattle, San Francisco or Washington DC, won’t be in the next 100 years and it sounds like we don’t want to be.  Comparing Moscow with 12,000 permanent residents with cities of over 1 million doesn’t work.  We have limited resources.  We are not a blue collar town and don’t have an industrial base to build from. But we are very fortunate to have two major universities nearby and should capitalize on what they have to offer.

At the MCA Smart Growth Forum on Monday night, Robin Woods and David Alexander explained why their companies are in Moscow instead of Seattle or San Francisco.  Sue Hovey and Bev Bafus just said the same thing.  It’s quality of life.  Quality of life is not an interstate, a Wal-Mart or a strip-mine.  It is a sense of community, the arts, walk ability, Farmers Market, parks, open spaces, safety, good schools, Paradise Path/Latah Trail, etc.  
 
Thanks to the current City Council and Mayor, we have a new fiber optic loop funded by a grant, the first new building in Alturas Technology Park Phase II and a proposed Urban Renewal District between the Downtown and the University.  These are certainly not examples of “No-Growth” and “Anti-Business” that the conservative candidates keep touting.  They are also examples of a positive attitude for the future instead of dwelling in the past. 

B. J. Swanson

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