Three weeks ago city officials were being roundly criticized because businesses in the town were closing.  The officials shouldn't be chasing after new firms to come to town, and the economic development office and program should concentrate on doing something for existing businesses.  These tearful concerns were to to be seen on the "Grapevine" and heard at the coffee emporium, which was rumored to be among the closing casualties.

Never mind that the purpose of economic development is not to save existing businesses by direct subsidy.  Ignore the fact that the purpose is to bring new firms to town, broaden the tax base, and provide a payroll that might make local businesses profitable.  Incidently, the broadened tax base might enable the deliquent city officials to fix a few streets.  Don't tell anyone that. 

What is the alternative to acquiring new businesses?  Why of course, say the critics, it is to shop locally, while they hustle off to Walmart and pay sales tax in another town that was wise enough to acquire new business.  These deeply concerned citizens justify such hypocrisy by saying that Odessa's stores are dilapidated and poorly stocked, because the city officials haven't done anything to help them.  Around and around in circles the dog chases its tail and never catches it. 

One week ago, city officials announced that a new business was coming to town that could create many jobs in Odessa and the surrounding communities.  What did the hypocritical citizens have to say.  Why, of course, they reversed course and cried  that the business was a sham and maybe even a scam.  The city officials would bring disgrace and an overwhelming debt to the citizens. 

Never mind that when investors buy bonds to finance a business, most  of them realize that the return on the investment is not guaranteed, unless it is insured.   Don't mention the fact that wise investors will research the companies behind a bond issue, or have their financial advisors do so.  If the company and its proposal do not appear to be sound, the bonds will not sell.  Before the final details of the agreement are announced, promote the assumption that Odessa will have an overwhelming financial burden.

The city officials should do something about the rundown condition of the town that has put it on a municipal deathbed, but under no circumstances should they do so without the approval of the small segment of the citizenry that has largely been responsible for putting it there.  The officials are damned if they do and damned if they don't.  Odessans are embarked on the only program that has any chance to halt the decline of the town.

weedhopper: 

Thank you for your reply.  Time will tell about the viability of this business.  I think the reassuring factor in the acquisition lies in the fact that the mayor and the city council members laid the foundation for the economic development and brought in two professional people, one to oversee municipal affairs on a daily basis, and one to administer the economic development program. 

Odessa has never had professional leadership.  Former mayors and council members were well-intentioned and had the best interests of the town, as they defined those interests, in mind, but laymen need professional help and guidance to serve the best interests of the citizens in a modern society.

Odessa can be a thriving community and retain the rural values that make small towns pleasant places to live.  With tongue in cheek, we don't want to be Kansas City, we just want to fix our streets.  I read in the paper that Kansas City has complaiints about their streets.

alphanguy:

Thanks for you reply.  The state of the economy can't help but have an effect on the infrastructure and services of towns and cities everywhere.  I suspect that in the years ahead the cost is going to increase, and we may get back to driving on gravel.

How can you say it is expanding the tax base when, as I understand it, the city will own the land until the bonds are paid; ie no taxes to the city, school district, county, fire district, road district, and library, among others.  Will these other taxing entities have a say in this, or the other tax breaks that the city is considering giving to this company?  If there are 3000+ jobs being provided for those in Odessa, Lafayette County and surrounding areas, how many of these people would move to Odessa when they have a commute of less than 30 minutes?

In regard to the product – will it be available to the general public or can the average person purchase this product?  My guess is no.  What would the cost be to a consumer?  Where could it be purchased?  If it can’t be purchased from the company at retail, then there would be no sales tax for the city, park, county or state.  It would be hard to repair streets with no additional property tax or sales tax revenue from this "broadened tax base".

Did you read the article in the Kansas City Star last Friday?  I suggest that you read the article on-line, including the comments posted.  The writers for the Star appear to be skeptical, and there are few comments attached to the article that are NOT skeptical.

If the mayor and board are so sure of this company, why don’t they share what they know with everyone, including those you are calling skeptics?  My guess would be that they have no more knowledge of this company than those individuals who have done research on their own and found NOTHING.

Many people, not necessarily the ones who frequent the “coffee emporium,” are of the opinion that the BIG announcement was nothing but a political campaign rally for the mayor, the state representative and state senator.  Foxboro, you yourself said that if this fails, the city will suffer a little embarrassment; what about having to suffer through another 2 years of the mayor’s bullying if he is re-elected?  As many have found out in the last year, there is nothing that can be done by the citizens to get these people out of office outside of a regular election.

As far as professionals running the city: did anyone do a thorough reference or background check on either of the “professionals” who were employed? Or did anyone check the reasons why either one of the “professionals” were no longer employed by their previous city?

Nocona:

I have heard of the designated hitter in baseball and the designated driver for an evening of carousal.  You seem to be a designated responder.

Your list of did anyone questions does not seem to be  intended to solicit information.  It appears that the questions are intended to impugn.  Nevertheless, your responses are appreciated, even if we don't share the same point of view.  Hang in there and keep trying!

Foxboro,

I speak for no one but myself. My questions are meant to find out information and I would be grateful for the answers.

You suggest that my intent is to impugn. What was the purpose of the forum you started - "Platform Committee Meeting", where you appear to be trying to discredit the other candidates running for office? Is it appropriate for you to make the comments that you do regarding the opposing candidates, but when someone questions the elected officials or their actions, you belittle my (or anyone elses) comments?

I obviously stepped on MODESSA's toes - wow, what a reaction!

Nocona:

We both missed the boat again!  The purpose off the "Platform Committee Meeting" topic was to call attention to the irony in the situation of that meeting.  Those who demand sunshine from others do not supply it when it suits their purposes not to do so.  If the meeting was public, I did not see any prior announcement, nor did I read anything about it in the newspaper, either before or after the event. 

If the candidates were impugned, it was by the fact that they kept the public in the dark.  In other words they didn't let the sun shine on us.  It was a sin greater than those closed sessions of the city council that we read about so often in the Odessan.  The sin was greater because of the fact of those closed sessions are reported in the paper, and the meeting of the platform committee meeting was not.

There is more than a hint of hypocrisy in that fact. 

Do you equate disagreement with belittling?  If so, it is hard to believe that you could be grateful for information. 

Please continue to bellittle or seek information as you see fit.  I always appreciate the humor of your comments and look forward to them.

Foxboro,

Your understanding of the sunshine laws and mine appear to be different.

Nocona & Woody:

Thanks for your replies.  I don't think that the meeting of the platform committee was a violation of the Sunshine Law. nor do I believe the closed meetings of the city council have been violations.  I did mention sunshine several times in a February 24 response to Nocona.  If there was reference to the Sunshine Law, Nocona, that was an inference on your part.  I will try to phrase my comment another way.

Those who seek illumination from others, did not provide it to others.   The lamp has been shined on the suspected misdeeds of others, but withhold the light from my hypocrisy.  Let there be light everywhere, except in my house.

Nocona, you have a choice of three, or perhaps you would like to use your own interpretation of the point I was making, but since to have already missed the boat twice, be careful.  The third time you might catch it.