[Vision2020] Dispel the anti-growth myth

[Steven Basoa]

On Oct 29, 2007, at 8:26 PM, Donovan Arnold wrote:

 >The City Council didn't approve the rezone when I was there. They  
might have changed their mind at a later date.

The city council (during Mayor Comstocks reign) rejected the UI's  
rezone application twice before (apparently) approving it on the  
third attempt.  The reason they rejected it the first time was  
because the representative from the UI was totally inept and clueless  
and could not answer any of the council's questions.  At the same  
meeting I believe they passed the Thompson family's request to annex  
the property across from the cemetery.  The difference in the two  
presentations was amazing.  Shelly Bennett had done her homework,  
presented it well and was able to answer every question thrown her  
way.  The UI representative knew virtually nothing about the UI's  
request and was totally unprepared for the meeting.  For the second  
application, the UI sent one of their VP's who read a letter from  
President White and repeated the same spiel from the first meeting.   
The VP was also unprepared and unable to answer the same questions.   
I wasn't at the third meeting but I assume they finally sent someone  
who actually had a clue.

 >Tidyman's is still in business, just not in Moscow.

I don't know about the Tidyman's chain, but the Moscow store was  
hugely hurt by the arrival of Winco.  I'm guessing that was the main  
reason the Moscow store went under.

 >True, it was the County, not the City, that pulled the trigger on  
Naylor Farms, but I bet you $100 the City would not have ruled any  
differently and would >have carried on the fight against them is they  
got approval from the County.  To a business, it doesn't matter if it  
is the actual city or county killing their >business, it is still  
killing their business when they try to local here. 70% of the county  
is the City.

I really don't see how you can blame the city of Moscow for something  
they might or might not have done.  To tar and feather the city  
council for the Naylor Farm issue is silly.

 >I think sales tax is the problem with the state government,  
especially on food and OTC drugs and education materials. Moscow has  
to high of taxes >because of school levies. I am not saying education  
isn't worth funding well, but there is breaking point for what many  
people on what they can afford to >give and the MSD has long passed it.

I agree with you about the state taxing food and medicine.  And the  
extremely high property taxes, most of which goes to the school  
district.

 >Best,
 >Donovan

In another email Donovan wrote:
"Many local businesses have been pushed out of the Palouse Mall and  
the city has done nothing to protect them."

Yes, the Palouse Mall has kicked out quite a few 'local' businesses  
and replaced them with national chains.  But just what is it that you  
think the city council could have done about that?  How could they  
have protected the businesses?  Personally, I think that what the  
mall did was/is wrong, but as a landlord, I guess that's their  
right.  I don't see how you can drag the city into it.

Take care,
Steven