Michael gave us some great examples of planning *tools and techniques.* His
slides of well-designed neighborhoods and towns were really inspiring.
Still, it seems to me there's an enormous difference between the planners'
toolbox and the political will to implement major change in how we build our
cities.
In my opinion, it does little good to cite Seattle as an example we might
follow. If Seattle residents are finally trying to prevent spot development
-- more power to them. To me such efforts seem like closing the barn door
after the horse has already left. Small towns like Moscow must figure out
how to prevent sprawl and traffic congestion *before* they happen, before we
make decisions about infrastructure (for example) that can't be reversed.
And that takes a huge amount of political will, not to mention foresight.
(People who have lived here since the 70s remind me that Moscow, like other
small communities, has been through booms and busts. Why should anyone
think this period of growth will last?) I believe it takes so much
political will because there's so much at stake -- so much money to be made
or lost depending on the decisions made now.
Tom Hudson may be right -- perhaps this really is a critical time for
Moscow. Maybe we really do have a window when we might consciously and
collectively decide what we want this town to look like in the future. I
wonder, though, whether we are ready to commit to such a task. We have the
*tools*, but do we have anything close to the spirit? Vision 2020 is still
publically attacked for its "fear mongering" and "anti-growth" sentiments.
If I remember correctly, we were called Nazis by a lawyer for the Cameron
brothers at a hearing in 1995. And on the other side are those who demonize
proponents of any growth whatsoever. Is this the stuff of trust and dialog,
or instead a sign that we are too polarized to talk civilly about our values
and our future?
I am very, very glad that Tom brought Michael to Moscow -- and I couldn't be
happier that Michael is speaking to the EDC and planning commissions today.
We need inspiration and creative ideas. All I'm saying is that we also need
to change how we conduct business. There's no roadmap or toolbox for that
part. It's simply up to all of us.
Food for thought?
--Priscilla Salant
Priscilla Salant
Department of Agricultural Economics
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-6210
(509) 335-7613
(509) 335-1173 FAX