[Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group

[Bill London]

If you are aware of the Dumb Growth model supported by the leadership of GMA
in the past, I fail to understand why you expect them to support a new model
now.
BL


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Seman" <FCS at moscow.com>
To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 1:50 PM
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group


> Bill,
> You're right that everyone has their own concepts on "positive
> community-minded growth."  I think too many of Moscow's business leaders
> have (and continue to) lined their own pockets without any realistic
notion
> as to what they are doing to & for the community.  I don't know what
> approach GMA is going to have for their concept and they may follow the
same
> lost patterns as other economic development groups, typical local
> developers, and most government entities.  If they are literate enough,
they
> will READ Community, SEE Community needs and UNDERSTAND what Community
> development really is.  I've looked at their website and understand who is
> involved on the Board.  At this point, I don't know what they group-think,
> but time will expose what GMA understands OF the community and does FOR
the
> community.
>
> I hope to see development that is different from what has occured in the
> past, as there is shamefully little past development that has been
> community-minded.  Development, only by it's historic capitalistic nature,
> is developer & economically driven.  That model has give the U.S. the
> souless living & working environments it now enjoys.  But why should the
> financial risk-taker (developer) do anything different to jeapodize
economic
> success?  Very few are willing to work outside of tested models to bring
> better quality.  It might be because of the increased financial risks,
> ignorant public resistance, working through unadaptive ordinances, more
> restrictive processes, or plain disinterest.
>
> There are so many stubborn entrenchments in the existing processes that
need
> change to give positive direction.  To change the model into one that
> naturally INCLUDES community (is community-MINDED), all parties need to
> participate in sharing the risks (and rewards.)  What incentives could be
> implemented to change the model into one that does this?  Financial
> contributions could come from a variety of community sources (Food Co-Op
> model) to dilute risk, the Community could be a partner to identify a need
> and guarantee occupancy & project success, other fractional ownerships
could
> provide incentives for mulitple-owners to attract needed "industry" to
town
> (similar to Alturus, but with greater community-mindedness), there are
many
> options available if parties are open to changning their mindsets.
>
> The problem is not growth itself, the problem is quality(ies).  Quality of
> process, quality of restriction, quality of incentive, and more - all
adding
> up to quality of community.  There are so many good things that Moscow can
> make for itself (some are examples such as you & Keely cite.)  All
Community
> partners government, business, & citizen) need to understanding what they
> have really been doing within the existing processes; understand what the
> Community needs; and all parties need to learn how to get from here to
there
> by changing the processes to make community development work
> collaboratively.
>
> Mark
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bill London [mailto:london at moscow.com]
> Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 10:18 AM
> To: FCS at moscow.com; vision2020 at moscow.com
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group
>
>
> M-
> you wrote (at end of first paragraph below):
> "I don't want growth for growth's sake, I want
> positive community-minded growth and that's why I'm willing to support
GMA."
>
> Everybody says they support positive community-minded growth.  For some
> people, every new business or housing development is "positive
> community-minded growth."
>
> take a look at the GMA website and the list of board members.  These are
not
> supporters of Smart Growth or even community-minded growth.  Bennett,
Mack,
> Comstock et al seem to think that any growth is good.  Yes, they have a
> track record of supporting growth for growth's sake.  Their continuing
> support of Dumb Growth has brought Moscow, for example, the scattering of
> subdivisions around town that do not have parks or bike/pedestrian
> connections to the rest of town.
>
> GMA will be supporting growth for Moscow, that's for sure.  It's the
> positive and community-minded part that is doubtful.
> BL
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark Seman" <FCS at moscow.com>
> To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 9:08 PM
> Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group
>
>
> > Keely,
> > I agree with most all you say.  Moscow's growth needs to be more
positive
> > (proper) and proactive.  I don't necessarily associate growth with being
> > negative, though much has definitely been poorly implemented in the past
> and
> > the process needs to be changed.  Our children are the future and they
> need
> > to be wisely assisted.  School gradutates without oppotunity leave town.
> If
> > the opportunity is not Wal-Mart, what else will Moscow provide?  Moscow
> > needs to actively pursue what it wants to be...what it wants for its
> future.
> > If your list could come to fruition, "what a wonderful world this would
> be."
> > I hope to see it happen.  I don't want growth for growth's sake, I want
> > positive community-minded growth and that's why I'm willing to support
> GMA.
> >
> > Moscow needs to "come together" before it can proactively move forward.
> > Part of the process to do this is to develop dialogue, a concensus, and
a
> > plan of action.  Then the plan can be implemented.  It seems GMA wants
to
> be
> > part of that dialogue.  I would like to think that the various
> organizations
> > in Moscow recognize the need for concensus and that they are not
organized
> > just to toot their own horn.  Organizations need to brining their
concerns
> > to the table for discussion, but with the intent of compromise, so a
plan
> > can be developed to move Moscow forward.  The plan can be tweaked along
> the
> > way, but the plan needs to be developed so efforts for implementation
can
> > proceed.
> >
> > I'm not quite sure whether the long-standing question is "When will the
> > dialogue begin?" or "How much longer will it take to get consensus?"
> Either
> > way, Moscow is still far off from having a plan, let alone implementing
> one
> > for its future.  The current model of reaction needs to be replaced with
> > proaction, so for the most part, the answer is known before the question
> is
> > even asked.
> >
> > I know it is tough to get to such a point of agreement, but I see that
as
> a
> > major role of Mayor and Council.  Provide the leadership that gets these
> > steps done so Moscow knows its self well enough to define its general
path
> > to future development.  This process is not solely on the shoulders of
the
> > City either, the community needs to care enough to be involved.
> >
> > Mark
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
> > [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]On Behalf Of keely emerinemix
> > Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 9:47 AM
> > To: thansen at moscow.com; FCS at moscow.com; vision2020 at moscow.com
> > Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group
> >
> >
> >
> > I'd disagree with any group that would usher in big-box stores and a
> > proliferation of strip malls, and I don't think that growth for growth's
> > sake is at all desireable.
> >
> > That said, I'm equally cocerned about people or groups who fail to
> recognize
> > the moral, social and economic difference between the positive benefits
> of,
> > say, a new high school on the fringes of town and a Wal-Mart Supercenter
> on
> > the fringes of town.  The apparent inability of some people to
> differentiate
> > between a temple of gross consumerism and corporate greed and a
> > state-of-the-art, educationally suitable and forward-planned high school
> is
> > almost as vexing as it is frightening.
> >
> > Here's what I want for Moscow:
> > -- Growth that includes homes priced to allow the working poor to build
> > equity and secure a future -- An economy that derives benefit from a
> > financially sound and academically robust university
> > -- School buildings that are equitable across the district in their
> > educational suitability
> > -- Vocational and technological training for our kids who don't have a
> > four-year college in their
> > future, with a commitment to quality education for all of our students
> > -- A healthy, business-oriented downtown;
> > -- A pro-business city government that recognizes that "pro-business"
> means
> > support not for corporate leviathans but for small businesses, with a
move
> > toward securing innovative technological and production companies that
> > provide real jobs;
> > -- A continued atmosphere of support for the arts.
> >
> > The long and short of it is, I guess, that I'd like a hybrid of MCA and
> GMA
> > -- keep out the big box businesses, throw support behind public schools,
> and
> > never confuse the two.
> >
> > keely
> >
> >
> >
> > From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
> > To: <FCS at moscow.com>, <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> > Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group
> > Date: Sun, 21 May 2006 05:49:54 -0700
> >
> > Mark -
> >
> > Although I applaud your community activism, I personally would want to
> know
> > just where an organization stands on issues before I joined it.
> >
> > So far, all the Greater Moscow Alliance (GMA) has accomplished amounts
to
> > nothing more than providing a list of "feel good" mission standards, a
> list
> > of names that comprises its leadership, and a list of "Issues of
Interest"
> > of which they have no stated position.
> >
> > Thoughts, Moscow?
> >
> > Tom Hansen
> > Moscow, Idaho
> >
> > ********************************************
> >
> > "In America, anybody can become president.
> > That's one of the risks you take . . ."
> >
> > - Adlai Stevenson
> >
> > ********************************************
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
[mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
> > On Behalf Of Mark Seman
> > Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 9:20 PM
> > To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> > Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Tribune uncovers new Moscow pro-growth group
> >
> > I might think it to be more important to give Moscow a "proper" tone.
On
> > any particular issue that tone could be perceived as either right or
> left -
> > whichever is needed, as long as it is "proper."  For now I have hope
(with
> > some trepidation) that GMA is willing to help Moscow attain proper
> > prosperity.  To listen and act for the betterment of not only
themselves,
> > but for a greater community good.  I'm signing up for a year to see what
> > happens.  I could just sit back and do nothing, or I could do more, but
> for
> > now I'll just help out a little bit.  In the future, I hope to desire to
> do
> > more.
> >
> > Mark
> >
> >
> >
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>
>
>
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>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
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