Oh Jack, I See Your Vision Too...

But you just shoot me down with one-line negatory responses when I suggest ideas to create our "modern, safe metropolitan city". Sigh...

Oh My! Having Coffee With Lee Rafferty of Downtown Association

Havin coffee meet Fri 930. Wanna say THANK YOU to Lee for her quick reply and willingness to sit down & discuss their efforts.

Not Nagging For Heck Of It

Ive got this suspicion that many in Clark County think Im just ranting because I can, and Im well aware of the larger than average number of online crackpots here. While I perhaps fall into the crackpot category, i dont post on things I see going on (or not being done) just to whine, bemoan, or condemn.

Rather, I write on what I see around me as a professional social scientist (with MA to prove it) interested in urban issues and life - as they happen where I live. I write in order to highlight things and draw attention of those with influence and power to get changes made. I write in order to start a dialogue about fixing problems and creating a workable city - we arent a bedroom town anymore folks.

I love that some - Councilmember Burkman, Co Admin McCauley, Co Comm Mielke, Andy Silver, Temple Lentz, Jim Mains, Gary Bock, Sen. Rivers, the Library, and Rep. Moeller, among others, take time to respond thoughtfully to my points. This means we as a city and county are working together to at least here eachother out.

I dislike and find it bemusing that others - the Downtown Association, Co Comm Madore, Mayor Leavitt, Clark College, the Vanc City Atty's office, Vanc City Mgr Holmes, and others who I know are aware Im raising up questions about issues we need to look at - either completely ignore me when I ask them direct for their input or accuse me of being a Commie crazy with dangerous "south of the river" ideas. As well as ban me from their public FB pages (Leavitt & Madore).

I believe folks like this think that by pretending Im "not there", my questions will go away. Well, Im not like some crackpots here who "circle jerk" accuse at public comment time. In fact, I think that online critique is just fine for my needs.

However, ignoring me just makes me look into issues Ive raised even more, and keep raising them. In short, I usually dont "go away".

Cmon folks - what yall afraid of? Lets bring your ideas on how to solve issues and make changes for the better into the online light of day. I wont bite. Promise.

Re: If Camas Is Doing It, Why Can't We?

On Mar 12, 2014 12:09 PM, "Shea Michael Anderson" <sheaside@gmail.com> wrote:

Camas has created a thriving and vibrant downtown core that connects seamlessly with its parts. Im standing at 7th and Main in the Couv, looking at a whole block of empty storefronts.

If Camas can do this, why cant we?

Esther Short Commons does not a downtown make.

Im cc'ing the Vanc Dtwn Assoc to this post. Im sure theyre working on it, and would love (and have asked 2x before) for their thoughts and current efforts.

If Camas Is Doing It, Why Can't We?

Camas has created a thriving and vibrant downtown core that connects seamlessly with its parts. Im standing at 7th and Main in the Couv, looking at a whole block of empty storefronts.

If Camas can do this, why cant we?

Esther Short Commons does not a downtown make.

Im cc'ing the Vanc Dtwn Assoc to this post. Im sure theyre working on it, and would love (and have asked 2x before) for their thoughts and current efforts.

The Chronically Homeless in the Couv, and Building Permanent Housing For Them

Like many of you, I listened to Temple Lentz interview Andy Silver, of The Council on Homelessness, and Cmdr Amy Foster, of the Vanc Police, on the issue of the chronically homeless here, including the HUGE COST to the City incurred by them with police calls, ER visits, etc - Cmdr Foster noted than one homeless man racked up $500K in emergency visits in 2013 alone, and she also made clear VPD is triaging their responses, given these folks, around 80 total, are an unaffordable drain on the City budget.

Now I spoke with Andy Silver following Hello Vancouver's piece, and he cleared up a number of issues & questions while also showing he's up to the task of this problem facing our little city on the river. Such solutions he has include Lincoln Place, a proposed permanent housing facility for this population in need, to be built in Hough - my neck o the woods.

He also noted that $ for this facility, around $1.5M, would have to come from private sources - that neither the City nor Vanc Housing Authority had a dime to spare. Now, Im sure thats true at this time. However, I raised the question of why not using funds freed up from the City, and VPD, not having to respond to the costly emergencies this group incurs - a reasonable (to me) idea.

Such a $ amount, if, by Cmdr Fosters estimate, one man has $500K in response costs per year alone, would clearly equal if not exceed the amount sought for Lincoln Place - and perhaps pay for things like reopening a homeless day center, or getting Marshall Community Ctr back to 5 days/week. Or (gasp) paying for porta potties in neglected city parks. Heck, Im assuming that the $ saved in VPD overtime by City could even open neighborhood cop shops (in say Van Mall and Downtown) - as well as beef up patrols on foot/in high crime areas - like 4th Plain corridor. Maybe reopen a fire station.

Andy however told me such reallocation of $ from VPD was a non starter - that Cmdr Foster's argument would be to put the TOTAL amount saved back into VPD, with nothing going towards a perm solution to this problem. Now Im all for a healthy police presence, like most. However, Im not for just dumping all the $ saved back into some sort of VPD "general use" fund at their discretion. Its clear that many parts of the Couv are more safe than ten years ago, while some specific parts are getting worse - meaning VPD needs to be smart about using their savings as responsible stewards of our money - i.e., spend it on good ideas towards permanently reducing crime, like Lincoln Place. Ive been told instead its likely VPD will cry wolf and generate fear among public of "what might happen" if some of their savings go to things like Lincoln Place.

To that end, Im cc'ing Cmdr Foster on this one to ask her why the VPD feels it cant send some of their projected savings (assuming in their budgets Lincoln Place) to pay for this smart crime-reducing idea. Im also cc'ing City Mgr Eric Holmes to get input on why the City cant direct funds to this needed project, bypassing our "weak mayor" City Council to go directly to the top. Im also cc'ing Mr Silver to let him know that I, among many here, think his solution is spot on and to KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT TO GET PUBLIC FUNDING.

Vancouver Park Restrooms - A Civilized Idea

Im not sure why Vancouver, alone among major cities in the area and behind more "livable" towns like Camas, which provides Honey Buckets at minimum at all its parks.

Ive heard tell from folks that the City considers it a "liability issue". Well, I see it as a "livability issue" from here, given folks are peeing in the bushes at my local park - John Ball. Im assuming the City isnt interested in prosecuting public peeing, guessing homeless and others dislike the indignity of peeing and pooping in the shrubs, and Lawd knows no one likes to see someone doing either out of doors.

Im cc'ing Eric Holmes and the City Attorney's Office on this one, given Council has shown in its responses to me on issues they are truly part of a "weak mayor" city. Eric, please get Porta-Potties for John Ball, Arnada, and Carter Parks. Its a health and life quality issue.