Wednesday, April 29, 2015

As time runs out, David White once again fails to understand Speck. How very frustrating.


render
noun
1.
a first coat of plaster applied to a brick or stone surface(thanks Mark)

Say what you will about David White, but when it comes to words, the man is capable of no-holds-barred torrents. He's a bright guy who could benefit from an editor -- although people have said the same of me, and they're probably right. The following passage is excerpted from an 857-word reply offered by White to a question at his Facebook campaign page.

Specifically, as the passage attests, it is quite clear that insofar as Speck's downtown street network proposals pertain to ...

desired social impact
economic development and independent local business
quality of life in the neighborhoods

... White simply does not "get" it, and that's regrettable and frankly confusing to me, because something or someone is blocking White's ability to understand that many other plausible planks in his platform might only be enhanced and improved by explicit linkage to Speck's proposals, and yet there is a disconnect.

I keep imagining that White bolts upright out of bed one morning and finally sees the Speck connections, communicates them, and enables me to cast a vote in the Democratic mayoral primary. It keeps not happening, and time is running out. Pardon the self-aggrandizement, but in the fall, you'll have precisely one candidate who favors connecting the dots.


Speck Study: I have stated publicly that I am in favor of a walk-able NA, however, it is not complete. Here are a few things I would like to continue to research and see enhanced on the current study (but not limited to): 1) No cost to implement 2) No engineering application 3) No timeline for implementation 4) Public servants, residents, business, UPS and FedEx were left out of the study. These key players must be asked and deserve a chance to respond before anything is implemented. 5) Another study to the study to the study is now under way for an additional $307K. Total spent to date is $500K. Not necessary spending. This administration has made this so problematic. The community from all corners feels this contamination and negative credibility from HOW this was done. I believe nothing good will come of this situation until a “cooling down” period has happened (let the dust settle), and trust is restored. The city is now being sued by 14 major companies as of this week regarding this issue. IF I am blessed to be our next Mayor, I will have better access to review this potential project, but I will include others to make sure it is done well prior to forcing it on all citizens. A benefit cost analysis would be a good tool to use here.

2 comments:

C.S. Drake said...

I'm sorry, but it would seem that Mr. White does get it rather well. I had previously mentioned that this city would pay for studies to study studies ad nauseum, and in the end would pay more for studies than probably the most effective and straight forward changes would cost.
It is paramount that government representatives view such monumental undertakings from the perspective of all commercial, industrial and residential facets before acting.
Unfortunately, what seems to have started as an idea to strengthen our community has, as usual, created huge rifts between the government, residents, industry and businesses, all after each other in all forms of media, and thru actions, inactions, tort claims, etc.
All rather senseless as the communities all around us continue to grow and here this city sits, bickering.

The New Albanian said...

You have a point here, for sure.