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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>J-</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Actually, the DN ran their story the day
before.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Tribune story was by far the better one, since
the reporter asked some tougher questions and revealed the group's "pro-growth"
bias and the group's creation as an antidote to MCA ....</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>BL</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=jeffh@moscow.com href="mailto:jeffh@moscow.com">Jeff Harkins</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=thansen@moscow.com
href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com">Tom Hansen</A> ; <A
title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, May 21, 2006 7:26 AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: [Vision2020] Tribune
uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Mr. Hansen, <BR><BR>The London post was a bit misleading.
I am to understand that the GMA provided a press release to both the Trib and
the Daily News (probably the Latah Eagle as well) - seems to be accurate since
the DNews ran their story on GMA the same day.<BR><BR>At 12:18 PM 5/20/2006,
you wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite"><FONT color=#000080
size=2>Excellent post, Bill. Thank you.<BR> <BR>Now that a newly
organized community “alliance” has been created, just what is the mission of
this alliance?<BR> <BR>From the Greater Moscow Alliance website
at:<BR> <BR><A
href="http://www.greatermoscow.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=26">http://www.greatermoscow.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=26</A>
<BR> <BR>“Mission <BR> <BR>The Greater Moscow Alliance is an
organization comprised of citizens of Latah County who would like to see the
Greater Moscow community continue to thrive. Our mission is to actively
participate in local decisions to ensure Moscow and Latah County remains a
great place to live, work and do business.<BR> <BR>The purpose of our
organization is to make sure our collective voice is heard on issues of
importance to the community; and to strategize in a manner that will
effectively represent our goals and vision.<BR> <BR>In fulfilling our
mission, we strive to do the following:<BR> <BR>1] Maintain
community vitality and support free enterprise.<BR> <BR>2]
Respect, protect and endorse the rights of private property
owners.<BR> <BR>3] Maintain awareness of community issues, their
process and status in regards to governmental actions.<BR> <BR>4]
Educate our members and the community on ordinances and other issues
affecting Moscow and Latah County and to provide balanced
information.<BR> <BR>5] Encourage voter
participation.<BR> <BR>6] Encourage and endorse candidates for
local offices/elections to our members.<BR> <BR>7] Encourage
healthy growth and promote beneficial economic
development.<BR> <BR>8] To create balanced, fair treatment of
issues.”<BR> <BR>[I added the numbers]<BR> <BR>I totally agree
with the general intent of this alliance. Informing the general public
of laws that affect them (as reflected in #4) is important, however . .
.<BR> <BR>Yes. This is a political entity, complete with
agendas. This alliance can discuss healthy growth, rights of private
property owners, and presentation of balanced information until the next
millennium. Everybody agrees on those issues. Those issues are
not truly debatable.<BR> <BR>The Greater Moscow Alliance (GMA) reveals
its political card in #6 – “Encourage and ENDORSE [emphasis is mine]
candidates for local offices/elections to our members.” Suffice it to
say that GMA will only endorse those candidates that are in lockstep with
GMA leadership desires.<BR> <BR>I will, however, admit that I agree
with #8 of the GMA’s stated mission – “To create balanced, fair treatment of
issues.”<BR> <BR>This brings up another question:<BR> <BR>Just
what are GMA’s positions concerning issues of interest:<BR> <BR>Their
website identifies three key community issues that impact upon
Moscow:<BR> <BR>1) Thompson rezone<BR> <BR>2) New
Saint Andrews CUP (Conditional Use Permit)<BR> <BR>3) Police
Union<BR> <BR>Yet, when you access that portion of the GMA website that
relates to these three “Issues of Interest”, all responses are
blank:<BR> <BR><A
href="http://www.greatermoscow.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=6&id=16&Itemid=47">http://www.greatermoscow.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=6&id=16&Itemid=47</A>
<BR> <BR>How is Moscow to interpret that?<BR> <BR>Your thoughts,
Moscow?<BR> <BR>Tom Hansen<BR>Moscow,
Idaho<BR> <BR> <BR></FONT><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman, Times"
color=#000080>"If not us, who?<BR>If not now, when?"<BR><BR>-
Unknown</FONT><FONT size=2>
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