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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Mr. Cook,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Please don't get me wrong, I do think that the
survey will objectively measure the communities perception of the parking
problem. I just don't think that perceptions are as important as realities. I
also think that it's a mistake for the city to devote too many resources to a
dimly perceived "subjective and political" problem it can't do much to
resolve anyway. The undeniable facts of the matter are that there are
</FONT><EM>x</EM> <FONT face=Arial size=2>number of business's, <FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><EM>y </EM><FONT face=Arial size=2>no. of parking
spaces, and <FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><EM>z</EM><FONT face=Arial
size=2> no. of potential shoppers. Realistically, which of those variables can
or should the city modify?</FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>g</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>----- Original Message ----- </FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From: "Philip Cook" <</FONT><A
href="mailto:pcook818@adelphia.net"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>pcook818@adelphia.net</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To: <</FONT><A
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>vision2020@moscow.com</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 10:54
AM</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Parking Survey Under
Way</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><BR><FONT size=2></FONT></FONT></DIV><FONT face=Arial
size=2>> Mr. Crabtree,<BR>> <BR>> You are correct that two additional
surveys focusing on customers and employees are planned.<BR>> <BR>> I
disagree with your and Mr. Deco's assertions that the survey nor the surveyors
are objective.<BR>> <BR>> You are correct that the survey is designed to
measure perceptions, but it is designed to measure them objectively. The
measurement of perceptions of downtown parking problems is the goal of the
survey. The data gathered by this survey and the others, along with engineering
data, will help inform the political discussions about management of downtown
parking.<BR>> <BR>> Yes, I serve on the Transportation Commission, but I
also spent much of my graduate academic training and early career designing,
implementing, and reporting the results of surveys. I have observed and
participated in the design of this survey and have seen nothing that leads me to
the conclusion that it will not be objective. I will let you know if something
changes that assessment. Please let me know if you have evidence otherwise,
too.<BR>> <BR>> The time where objectivity is always questionable, and
indeed impossible, is in the interpretation of (objectively gathered) data and
recommendations for changes based on the results. Each of us, regardless of
training, political persuasion, etc., brings our own experiences, beliefs, and
biases to the table when we interpret results and talk about possible policy
alternatives. Questions of what we should do are always political and
subjective; science can only inform the discussion about possible
outcomes.<BR>> <BR>> Your suggestion about a civil engineering project is
illustrative. Engineering data is helpful, but insufficient by itself. Let's say
an engineering study concludes that "85% of all car drivers arriving downtown
between 9:00am and 10:00am found a vacant parking spot within 150 feet of their
desired destination within 30 seconds of beginning their search for a spot."
Objective data, yes. But so what? Is the situation good or bad? Do customers
find that situation acceptable or not? Do business owners? Are there any
management actions the City should take to change the situation? These are all
perception-based questions, and the answers about what should be done are
subjective and political.<BR>> <BR>> As for myself, I'm looking forward to
having at least some objective, systematically-gathered data about downtown
parking to inform the community's discussions, rather than relying on a
hodge-podge collection of personal anecdotes.<BR>> <BR>> Philip
Cook<BR>> <BR>>> Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 09:47:00 -0800<BR>>>
From: "Art Deco" <</FONT><A href="mailto:deco@moscow.com"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>deco@moscow.com</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>><BR>>>
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Parking Survey Under Way<BR>> <BR>>>
Gary writes:<BR>>> <BR>>> " A better approach might be to have an
independent third party obtain some objective data with regard to the parking
situation."<BR>>> <BR>>> That would be a good first step.
Given that data then an unbiased professional survey designer could then design
a survey with unloaded questions, carefully and fairly select the sample space,
and then proceed to determine public and business attitudes/beliefs.
Perhaps the UI or WSU math departments could make this a carefully supervised
graduate statistics student project.<BR>>> <BR>>> Assuming that even
if MacDonald and Steed have any enthusiastic supporters, they would probably
concede that neither is a qualified survey designer/taker. We have just
discussed a poorly constructed survey by Fox News. Let's not waste money
on another questionable effort which will satisfy no one.<BR>>>
<BR>>> Though Gary and I do not have much in common in our world views, I
think we both agree that facts are needed in the discussion of the parking
issue, and I hope that we agree that the different parties to the dispute,
especially the city, are not likely to generate unquestionable data
themselves.<BR>>> <BR>>> W.<BR>>> ----- Original Message -----
<BR>>> From: g. crabtree <BR>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007
6:20 AM<BR>>> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Parking Survey Under
Way<BR>>> <BR>>> <BR>>> My understanding is that there will be
three surveys done. The first for business owners. The second for employees, and
the third for customers.<BR>>> <BR>>> What I see as the glaring
problem with this approach is that a survey will only net you answers to what
people perceive the problem to be. A better approach might be to have an
independent third party obtain some objective data with regard to the parking
situation. Perhaps quietly turn a few civil engineering seniors loose on the
project?<BR>>> <BR>>> g<BR>> <BR>>
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