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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Just a couple of points. Everyone is aware of the
old saw "repeat a lie often enough..." Well, droning on about Moscow
"subsidizing" the new development surely falls into this category. Hawkins will
be paying fair market value for the services they receive. Future infrastructure
improvements brought about by increased demand are funded through the monies
collected from rate payers for services and not from general tax revenues. As a
result Hawkins will be paying its own way right on down the
line.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The next point is about the "need" for this
development. This is not a public works project. There does not have to be a
determination of need before an entrepreneur can decide to take a risk with
their own land and assets in hopes of making a profit. I know that there is a
sizable group here in Moscow that thinks that all decisions should be made
collectively but thankfully we have not quite yet reached that unpleasant
point.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Lastly, I have asked this question before but I'll
give it one more shot. Since every anti-development writer has bemoaned the
councils "need to hide their negotiations" what is it that you think has been
kept from us? We have been presented with the final result, all we
missed was the sausage making. Is it your contention that something illegal took
place? If so, then just say it plain. Making vague and insupportable
insinuations is a cheap tool for carving out a weak argument.</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></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>----- Original Message ----- </FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From: "Garrett Clevenger" <</FONT><A
href="mailto:garrettmc@verizon.net"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>garrettmc@verizon.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 12, 2008 4:27
PM</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Subject: [Vision2020] Advanced Real Estate
Question</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><BR><FONT size=2></FONT></FONT></DIV><FONT face=Arial
size=2>> Ted writes:<BR>> <BR>> "there are critical issues regarding
this Hawkins<BR>> development that are not even on the radar in this<BR>>
discussion, such as mitigation of CO2<BR>> emissions related climate change,
and those eventual<BR>> massive economic impacts, and the economic<BR>>
consequences of fossil fuel depletion, as it relates<BR>> to the long term
viability of sprawling suburban<BR>> development, when the fossil fueled
fleet of vehicles<BR>> that deliver to, service and allow consumer access
to<BR>> this development, becomes very expensive to operate."<BR>>
<BR>> <BR>> I reply:<BR>> <BR>> Ted has a really good points here
(and questions<BR>> further in his post)<BR>> <BR>> After being dissed
by the council regarding the noise<BR>> ordinance in such an unscrupulous
way, my tolerance<BR>> for council actions that seem underhanded is "zero."
<BR>> This is something that motivated me to look into the<BR>> Hawkins
deal a bit deeper. Considering the secret<BR>> negotiations and
potential cost to Moscow, this is<BR>> something everybody should look into
before deciding<BR>> one way or the other.<BR>> <BR>> I admit I am
against the mall for my own personal<BR>> reason as I think it's a waste of
resources just to<BR>> sell cheap stuff made overseas (another way
this<BR>> drains on our national economy) Most of the big box<BR>>
stores are making such profit because they exploit the<BR>> labor and
resources of other countries. <BR>> <BR>> I'll provide my argument
against it as fairly as I<BR>> can, but now you know that I have
initial<BR>> philosophical disagreements with it to begin with.<BR>>
<BR>> Hawkins is proposing a 714,000 square foot mall right<BR>> on our
border near the Palouse Empire Mall. They say<BR>> Lowe's is their
anchor store.<BR>> <BR>> The Palouse Empire Mall is 384,000 square
feet.<BR>> <BR>> What I wonder is why people need so much more
mall<BR>> space? How do they figure investing in this thing<BR>>
will bring them profits? According to the Spokesman<BR>> on 2/9, "The
development might cost $60 million to<BR>> $100 million"<BR>> <BR>>
$100 million just to pay it back. They are putting it<BR>> near Moscow
because they want Moscow's business. So<BR>> that potentially is at
least $100 of lost revenue to<BR>> Moscow businesses.<BR>> <BR>> Home
Depot recently withdrew their proposal to build<BR>> in Moscow, and
apparently the potential Lowe's did not<BR>> influence their decision.
>From what I can tell, they<BR>> pulled out because they didn't think Moscow
would pull<BR>> in enough revenue to cover their costs.<BR>> <BR>> So,
if Home Depot feels Moscow is not profitable, it<BR>> makes you wonder why
Lowe's, and the whole Hawkins<BR>> mall, thinks they can actually make this
profitable.<BR>> <BR>> Perhaps the fact that the council voted to
provide<BR>> corporate welfare to the predatory developers on the<BR>>
other side of the border tips the balance in their<BR>> favor. And the
fact that Whitman county is<BR>> subsidizing $9.1 million to pay for the
Hawkins public<BR>> infrastructure.<BR>> <BR>> If you are someone who
supports the mall, I suggest<BR>> you ask yourself, "Is building Hawkins
worth it and<BR>> needed? Do you feel comfortable knowing Moscow
will<BR>> be subsidizing that development, Moscow's competitor? <BR>> Do
you think all the environmental consequences, such<BR>> as water use, land
development (How many tons of dirt<BR>> are going to have to be moved on that
hill to make it<BR>> flat and buildable?) and fuel use really is
necessary<BR>> just to have more stores that more than likely will<BR>>
sell the same things other stores in the region sell?<BR>> <BR>> Finally,
why can't the process be more transparent and<BR>> democracy-friendly?
The fact that the city feels the<BR>> need to hide their negotiations seems
suspicious to<BR>> me.<BR>> <BR>>>From what I can tell, I have even
more reasons to not<BR>> support this mall based on the evidence I've been
able<BR>> to find, and I particularly resent the city making the<BR>>
taxpayers of Moscow subsidize Hawkins.<BR>> <BR>> Sincerely,<BR>>
<BR>> Garrett Clevenger<BR>> <BR>>
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