Alturas Park and the URA

["bill london" <bill_london@hotmail.com>]

In April, I sent an email to the mayor, council members and to Vision2020 
announcing that I had applied to be appointed to the Urban Renewal Agency.
In the following paragraph, taken from that message, I explained why I 
sought that appointment:
--
>	I am offering to serve on the commission because I believe in open
>decision-making when it comes to tax money and public programs.  Over the
>last few years, the operation of Alturas Park and the Urban Renewal Agency
>has been closed to public scrutiny.  For example, the City has spent
>$150,000 to take over the Urban Renewal Agency's unpaid debts--and not even
>the City Council was told about it.
>Are Moscow citizens tired of quiet backroom deals?  If I am appointed to 
>the
>commission, my goal will be to keep the process as open as possible, 
>through
>well-publicized open meetings and email reports to interested individuals
>and groups, including Moscow Vision 2020.
>I also want to refocus the work of the Urban Renewal Agency not on paving
>farmland at the edge of town, but on investigating ways in which we can
>revitalize the blighted areas and substandard housing in Moscow.
---
Well, surprise! I was not appointed to the URA.  I learned that on Monday.
One of the two appointments, however, was Duncan Palmatier (patent attorney 
and former Latah County Commissioner).  He shares many of my concerns about 
both the closed nature of the process and the URA's more appropriate focus 
on Moscow's blighted areas.  Duncan promises to send regular postings to 
Vision2020 about these topics.
I look forward to a public discussion of the issues involved.
BL

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