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<DIV><SPAN class=654171116-22052006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>There
was no press release sent to the Latah Eagle about the formation of this
group.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
vision2020-bounces@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com]<B>On
Behalf Of </B>Jeff Harkins<BR><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, May 21, 2006 11:48
PM<BR><B>To:</B> Bill London; vision2020@moscow.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re:
[Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth
group<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>OK we'll go back on list.<BR><BR>Actually, as I
understand it, the story was released during the day and published by the DN
that day and next morning edition of Trib. (this is the normal print cycle for
news stories from the two papers). I doubt the DN had time to get to GMA
representatives before press time. And David Johnson does a thorough job
vetting a story. Point is: the Trib did not "uncover" anything - GMA has
made no secret about its pro-growth stance. They have been very open and
transparent about their mission - ie their website. To infer otherwise
seems disingenous to me - just my opinion.<BR><BR>The formation of GMA seems a
bright spot to me - it should get more folks engaged in the dialogue about our
future here. <BR><BR>At 11:30 AM 5/21/2006, you wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite"><FONT size=2>J-<BR>Actually, the
DN ran their story the day before.<BR>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
....<BR>BL<BR></FONT>
<DL>
<DD>----- Original Message ----- <BR>
<DD>From:</B> <A href="mailto:jeffh@moscow.com">Jeff Harkins</A> <BR>
<DD>To:</B> <A href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com">Tom Hansen</A> ; <A
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> <BR>
<DD>Sent:</B> Sunday, May 21, 2006 7:26 AM<BR>
<DD>Subject:</B> RE: [Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth
group<BR><BR>
<DD>Mr. Hansen, <BR><BR>
<DD>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>
<DD>At 12:18 PM 5/20/2006, you wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite">
<DD><FONT color=#000080 size=2>Excellent post, Bill. Thank
you.<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>Now that a newly organized community “alliance” has been created,
just what is the mission of this alliance?<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>From the Greater Moscow Alliance website at:<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD><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>
<DD><BR>
<DD>“Mission <BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>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>
<DD><BR>
<DD>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>
<DD><BR>
<DD>In fulfilling our mission, we strive to do the following:<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>1] Maintain community vitality and support free
enterprise.<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>2] Respect, protect and endorse the rights of private property
owners.<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>3] Maintain awareness of community issues, their process and
status in regards to governmental actions.<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>4] Educate our members and the community on ordinances and
other issues affecting Moscow and Latah County and to provide balanced
information.<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>5] Encourage voter participation.<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>6] Encourage and endorse candidates for local
offices/elections to our members.<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>7] Encourage healthy growth and promote beneficial economic
development.<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>8] To create balanced, fair treatment of issues.”<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>[I added the numbers]<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>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>
<DD><BR>
<DD>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>
<DD><BR>
<DD>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>
<DD><BR>
<DD>I will, however, admit that I agree with #8 of the GMA’s stated
mission – “To create balanced, fair treatment of issues.”<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>This brings up another question:<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>Just what are GMA’s positions concerning issues of interest:<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>Their website identifies three key community issues that impact upon
Moscow:<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>1) Thompson rezone<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>2) New Saint Andrews CUP (Conditional Use Permit)<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>3) Police Union<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>Yet, when you access that portion of the GMA website that relates to
these three “Issues of Interest”, all responses are blank:<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD><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>
<DD><BR>
<DD>How is Moscow to interpret that?<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>Your thoughts, Moscow?<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD>Tom Hansen<BR>
<DD>Moscow, Idaho<BR>
<DD><BR>
<DD><BR></FONT><BR>
<DD><FONT face="Times New Roman, Times" color=#000080>"If not us,
who?<BR>
<DD>If not now, when?"<BR><BR>
<DD>- Unknown</FONT><FONT size=2> <BR></FONT>
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