vision2020
Re: Farewell thoughts on Moscow
Just to let you know that I enjoyed Stephen Lyon's comments and concerns about
smaller communities, young people and employment. Utopia's are difficult to
find and maybe Moscow is close. The truth is corporations in America are driving
the small independent businesses out of business.
Many of us born and raised in this area have concerns about the growth of the
universities, too. More students means more homes, more faculty and staff to
support the growth. Is a no growth stagnate university what we wish for? I
don't think so nor do we want to live in a no growth stagnate community. Granted
the fields north of town looked better than mud and mini malls but where do
personal property rights stop and community interest start???
What is the difference between growth and development? Where do these people
come from that wish to "shut" the door so others can not follow them into this
great community? We have a wonderful blend of peoples, cultures and views in
Moscow. As I said, I like reading the views of others and labeling those ideas
as "ranting" or "cranky" is really not necessary.
Bill London wrote:
> John Francis:
> so long and all....
> thanks for the great antidote to the crankiness of Stephen Lyons' rant on
> people concerned about their community's future............BL
>
> John Francis wrote:
>
> > I'm moving to Portland (itchy feet) and would like to say good-bye to my
> > friends here, and offer a few reminiscences of Moscow. I arrived in 1970,
> > and except for two years abroad have been here ever since.
> >
> > Random memories of the '70s: law student Bill Hamlett moonlighting at
> > John's Alley checking IDs; UI undergrad Kenton Bird bringing student press
> > releases into the Idahonian, where I worked under Ted Stanton; Congressman
> > Steve Symms visiting the newsroom, pontificating about how he would never
> > live anywhere but Idaho and the contempt he felt for politicians who went
> > to DC and forgot their roots; Ivar Nelson, who ran Bookpeople, bringing a
> > TV and a keg into the store so we could better enjoy watching Nixon's
> > resignation speech (beer never tasted better than on that day).
> >
> > Like many newcomers, when I first arrived in Moscow I planned to move on
> > soon; it seemed too small and isolated. Gradually fell in love with Moscow,
> > and the area. The difficulty of flying here, and our distance from large
> > cities, we all probably realize now, are actually assets that lessen the
> > deterioration plaguing American cities today.
> >
> > It is that deterioration that I think is Moscow's greatest danger. Over the
> > years we've seen strip development spread along Third Street until it's
> > reached right to the border. That did not have to happen. It almost seems
> > our planners felt that because sprawl was happening elsewhere, Moscow was
> > obligated to make the same mistake. How planners, who have seen the strip
> > malls of Spokane, and have seen sprawl destroy downtown Lewiston, could
> > still okay WalMart, Staples and Applebees is astounding. And Whitman
> > County has aproved strip development from Pullman to the border. So what
> > could have been a green 8-mile parkway of paths, flowers and picnic spots
> > joining Pullman and Moscow, making us the envy of other cities, will become
> > instead a string of urban junk.
> >
> > I hope Moscow takes care of its downtown, and its community anchors like
> > Farmer's Market and the Co-op, and doesn't take them for granted. Neglect
> > them and they can die (remember the Micro). The new Kenworthy and the
> > forthcoming Community Center are encouraging signs.
> >
> > I'll be back from time to time. All the best.
> >
> > John Francis
> >
> > John Francis
> > 311 E 6th St., #2
> > Moscow, ID 83843
> > (208) 883-0105
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