vision2020
Re: mauling the Palouse
BL and visionaries: I firmly believe that these kinds of issues,
especially ones that affect our quality of life and esthetic sense of
community, ought to receive broad community inputs through regular
"town hall" meetings. Failure of people to participate in planning
our commonweal, but leaving it up to small groups sharing common
economic interests, does not serve the public which is impacted by
series of private, behind-closed-doors decisions. It seems however
that there is little or no motivation for people, 80% of whom do not
even bother to vote for city officials, to participate a few hours a
month in sharing ideas and information. Ergo, "elected" officials
understand this and use their mandates accordingly. Where do we go
from here? KM
> Following the destruction of the Palouse Mall shrubbery on Sunday, I
>assume we'll soon be hearing the whining of the mall apologists.
> "Oh, it was just a horrible misunderstanding," they will say. They
>will remind us that the Mall has been such an important part of our
>economy, a supportive member of the local Chamber of Commerce, a good
>neighbor, blah, blah, blah...
> The Mall will offer to settle all this in a business-like manner,
>offering to replace the bushes, and end this little problem.
> I hope that the City Council has the backbone to stand up to the
>Spokane Mall Masters and say NO. The Council should remember that
>destroying those trees and shrubs was a clear and deliberate violation
>of Moscow's ordinances. To avoid detection, the work was done on a
>Sunday morning, without any of the required permits, ignoring their
>earlier commitments to do no work without a public planning process.
> If the Palouse Mall can get away with this, then Moscow's tree
>ordinances are void and empty.
> The Palouse Mall destroyed dozens of mature shrubs and small trees.
>They should not be allowed to replace them with spindly bushes of their
>choosing.
> I urge the City Council to require the Mall to pay for large shrubs
>and trees as well as the hiring of a professional crew to plant and
>nurture those plantings. In addition, the Mall should be fined enough
>to remind them that the rules in Moscow apply to everyone.
> I also urge other Moscow residents to contact the Council and Mayor
>with their suggestions for appropriate punishment for the Palouse Mall's
>deliberate violation of city ordinances and their arrogant destruction
>of some beautiful trees and shrubs.
> Also, I've decided that I can't support the Palouse Mall with any of
>my dollars any more. I called Dahlia Smith, the Mall's marketing
>director, to tell her of that decision and to ask her to pass on my
>complaints to her superiors. I was asked to write that message, so it
>could be shared with the Spokane decision-makers. I complied, with an
>email message to Dahlia at <palmalof@moscow.com>. I'm not shopping
>there any more.
>BL
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