vision2020
Re: Alturas Technology Park
Surely there is an entity that provides oversight on development projects
like this. Any ideas on how taxpayers might obtain an independent review of
the facts surrounding this operation? How is the Park organized and who is
accountable to taxpayers? We all need more information. Mr. Medlin may be
on to something when he suggests a town meeting as long as its not spin
from damage control central.
John
> From: Bob Hoffmann <escape@alt-escape.com>
> To: vision2020@moscow.com
> Subject: Re: Alturas Technology Park
> Date: Friday, December 17, 1999 3:41 PM
>
> At 02:19 PM 12/17/1999 -0900, Greg Brown wrote:
> >The complexity of government requires some general
> >public hand holding. Nothing wrong with that. In fact, I would
> >call it good parenting just as I would call good government one
> >that reaches out and finds creative ways to encourage
> >participation.
>
> Back in Ohio, where I was somewhat interested in local politics, someone
> once asked if the Medina Township Trustees could send a newsletter to the
> residents informing them of local issues. A public official responded
that
> they had investigated the possibility, but the law prohibited them from
> spending taxpayer dollars on such mailings. Other options include the
> officials paying for mailings out of their own pockets, or accepting
> sponsorship/advertising for such newsletters. Do we see the potential of
> the tail wagging the dog here?
>
> This issue ties into issues of quality media, which have also been
> discussed here recently. Isn't it the job of our elected officials to
> govern? And isn't it the role of the media to keep the public informed
on
> major issues? If the media were doing a better job, public participation
> might be better.
>
> Example: In Pullman, the University applied for a state permit to build
a
> new medical waste incinerator. Public notices were posted, as required
by
> law, in newspapers, but the papers did little, if anything, to cover the
> issue until a last-minute effort, organized by word of mouth, was mounted
> by citizens to oppose the facility. Proper media coverage might have
> resulted in hundreds, instead of dozens, of comments to the Department of
> Environment. You'd think with the issues involved--animal & medical
> wastes, an existing facility in violation of the law, a proposed facility
> that would still emit dioxin, furans, radiation, & heavy metals, etc.,
that
> there was a good story there. But it takes effort to investigate such a
> complex issue, and the media interests are arguably beholden to many of
the
> same interests that sway public officials, hence the silence from both
camps.
>
> FYI, an appeal to the incinerator proposal resulted in a settlement that
> should substantially reduce, if not eliminate, highly toxic emissions
from
> the incinerator. Public participation can change things, even in spite
of
> the silence of the media and the governing powers that be.
>
>
> Bob Hoffmann
> 229 East C St., Suite B
> Moscow, ID 83843 USA
> Phone: (208) 883-0642
> Fax: 1-800-683-3799
> http://www.alt-escape.com
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