vision2020@moscow.com: Re: A Victory for Moscow Residents?

Re: A Victory for Moscow Residents?

Prorak Diane (prorak@uidaho.edu)
Tue, 17 Oct 1995 14:52:55 -0700 (PDT)

Greg, I want to say that I appreciate your consciousness raising of this
issue. In the end, I may personally support the business park, but I
really questioned the quiet and questionable way it was done. I
agree that we shouldn't have another Walmart (meaning a big
development that had little public input) slipped into the community.
When decisions are made apparently behind the scenes or with little
public scrutiny, it only increases the pessimism people have about
citizenship. They feel, "well, my vote doesn't count anyway." I think
the community needs to have a discussion on growth and this business park
is a perfect example. What do we want and what don't we want? What are
we willing to subsidize and what aren't we going to pay for? What means
should we use to encourage growth? What about the negative effects of
growth that never seem to get considered in these decisions --
e.g. pedestrians, bicyclists and runners being pushed off formerly
"rural" roads because a housing development didn't have to help upgrade the
road . Maybe with more citizen input, solutions to these
growth problems could be devised.

I grew up in a place where growth was out of control of the citizens and
citizens felt they couldn't do anything about it. And they didn't like
the results. But it only got worse because no one stood up to ask questions.
Thanks for asking the questions.

Diane Prorak
prorak@uidaho.edu

On Tue, 17 Oct 1995, Greg Brown wrote:

>
> Sorry it has taken so long to respond.
>
> On Tue, 10 Oct 1995, Steve Cooke wrote:
>
> > Yes, you are right. The issue I am raising is one of legitimacy and
> > the ability to speak for others. I would prefer to speak for myself
> > and I get uncomfortable when others presume to speak on my behalf.
>
> Apparently, we have some differing perceptions about my post.
> In no way did I intend to speak for others when commenting
> about the business park. In fact, the subject heading
> was very explicit in framing my comment as a question, rather
> than a statement of fact.
>
> I honestly don't know how my consciousness raising about the
> business park is received within the community. If I dismiss
> the local newspaper editor (who supports the plan) and the
> handful of my colleagues who support what I have been saying,
> the representativeness of my views on the business park
> is a crap shoot.
>
> I do, however, believe the community wins when there is
> dialogue about the future. This issue is much too important
> to whiz by as it would have done had I not challenged
> the validity of the intended course of action. The community needs
> to chew on this awhile...we should not be in such a hurry.
>
> Recent letters to the newspaper suggest we need more
> time to deliberate the issue of growth. My action bought
> some time. Nothing more, nothing less.
>
> --
> Greg Brown (gregb@uidaho.edu)
> Computer Services
> Adjunct Assistant Professor, College of Forestry,Wildlife,& Range Sciences
> University of Idaho
> Moscow, ID 83843 (208) 885-2126 Fax: (208) 885-7539
>
>


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