RE: Ugly Things Do Not Please

["Tim Hillebrand" <thillebr@moscow.com>]

Robb,
My "criticism" should be taken in the spirit of a suggestion. I have been a
business owner (still am) for many years and I took pride in the building I
owned and made certain its environment was presentable at all times to
attract business to me and to my tenants. I would rather die than expect
volunteers to clean up for me; but if I didn't, I wouldn't have the right to
complain if business went elsewhere. I don't know if you are a business
owner, but if you are, I'd be glad so help you sweep up once in a while, if
you can't manage it. Maybe it would catch on and others would be shamed into
it as well. Doesn't the city have some kind of ordinance requiring business
owners to keep their sidewalks tidy? If not, it should, don't you think.
Best,
Tim


-----Original Message-----
From: W. Robb Parish [mailto:wrparish@moscow.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 1999 8:37 AM
To: Tim Hillebrand
Subject: Re: Ugly Things Do Not Please


It's easy to criticize when you expect others to do all the work.  Perhaps
you would be willing to volunteer your time to help put up lights and clean
up main street while also running your business or doing your full time job.
Why is it that so many people think that the businesses in Moscow are the
only ones responsible for making the city beautiful or for shouldering the
financial burden?  I wonder how may of those criticizing are also business
owners or have spent volunteer time working on the projects they propose.
-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Hillebrand <thillebr@moscow.com>
To: Vision2020 <vision2020@moscow.com>
Date: Wednesday, February 10, 1999 4:57 AM
Subject: Ugly Things Do Not Please


>Rod Nixon is right! But, we can start at home by planting flowers and
>maintaining our yards and removing old junk cars from our properties, and
by
>requiring that no recreational vehicles be visible from the street. Then we
>could get rid of the ugly, blue garbage bins decorating the landscape at
>every opportunity in plain site. How about getting rid of ugly power poles
>and burying overhead wires? What about requiring landscaping for all
parking
>lots? I'm thinking of the the assault on asthetics Third Street represents
>with all the car dealers and obscene signage. When they widened that
street,
>why in the world didn't they bury the power lines? Then there are the main
>street merchants who complain about lack of business, but don't even bother
>to sweep up in front of their stores every morning. Have they no pride?
It's
>like walking in a ghetto sometimes with all the debris. And they don't even
>have enough spirit to put up Christmas lights. Well... Then the city allows
>blue metal buildings to be constructed right on Main Street, and multiple
>dwelling units can be constructed without adequate off street parking so
>that our streets are crowded with parked cars and dangerous to navigate. I
>could go on, but there are so many things we could do to enhance the
>community that don't cost a penny, if people (including merchants) would
>just take responsibility for their own environment first.
>
>Tim Hillebrand
>