Tim Eyman: “Do As I Say, Not As I Do”
It’s a moot point now, since I-1033 has been defeated. But in last Sunday’s Seattle paper, Danny Westneat points out something interesting about Tim Eyman. (Item #13 in his column.)
Tim Eyman borrowed $250,000 when he was pushing for I-1033. That’s how much it cost him to hire all those paid signature-gatherers to get his “grass roots revolt” onto the ballot. And Eyman still hasn’t paid back that money.
I guess it’s more fun to preach about thrift and personal responsibility than to actually practice it.
About some of the local races: I had always thought local issues cut across party lines; that they couldn’t be defined in terms of liberal vs. conservative or Republican vs. Democrat. And until Larry Williams’ letter in the PDN last week, I didn’t know there were two distinct groups vying for “control” of Port Angeles.
Thankfully, he warned us about the four city council candidates who were just outside agitators who hate Port Angeles; and he steered us toward the four Good Candidates.
Similarly, the government affairs committee chairman of the Port Angeles Association of Realtors (who’s also the chairman of the Clallam County Republican Party) has been openly pushing for two of the city council candidates.
We probably won’t know the final election results until Friday; maybe later than that. But today's partial/ “probable” results indicate that two of Larry Williams’ candidates will be heading to the city council, and two won’t. One of the P.A. Association of Realtors’ candidates is likely to go to City Hall, and the other one isn’t.
If there really are two opposite camps fighting over Port Angeles, it looks like neither side won.
Tim Eyman borrowed $250,000 when he was pushing for I-1033. That’s how much it cost him to hire all those paid signature-gatherers to get his “grass roots revolt” onto the ballot. And Eyman still hasn’t paid back that money.
I guess it’s more fun to preach about thrift and personal responsibility than to actually practice it.
About some of the local races: I had always thought local issues cut across party lines; that they couldn’t be defined in terms of liberal vs. conservative or Republican vs. Democrat. And until Larry Williams’ letter in the PDN last week, I didn’t know there were two distinct groups vying for “control” of Port Angeles.
Thankfully, he warned us about the four city council candidates who were just outside agitators who hate Port Angeles; and he steered us toward the four Good Candidates.
Similarly, the government affairs committee chairman of the Port Angeles Association of Realtors (who’s also the chairman of the Clallam County Republican Party) has been openly pushing for two of the city council candidates.
We probably won’t know the final election results until Friday; maybe later than that. But today's partial/ “probable” results indicate that two of Larry Williams’ candidates will be heading to the city council, and two won’t. One of the P.A. Association of Realtors’ candidates is likely to go to City Hall, and the other one isn’t.
If there really are two opposite camps fighting over Port Angeles, it looks like neither side won.
posted by Tom Harper at 6:54 PM
46 Comments:
And Eyman still hasn’t paid back that money.
Hum, I've never asked others for money to back me and my efforts, put up your own money or shut the fuck up I always say.
Good observations, Tom.
I would add that the votes and the apperant outcomes mirror the participatory make up of Port Angeles. 50% "liberal" in some context, amnd 50% "conservative".
That isn't to say I think the majority of Port Angeles is "conservative"; there is a lot of evidence to suggest otherwise. But when it comes to getting off their asses, and getting out to participate in the political processes, the "conservatives" are more likely to be represented in Clallam county.
More money to be made in real estate dealings than liberal political idealisms.
Hey, if they believed in his cause why did he have to pay them too support it? Just wondering.
If they want a tourist attraction in this town I would vote yes on a whorehouse.
How about in the empty building across the street from the Gateway? Ah crap, Victoria already has that up on us, never mind.
But don't forget to vote yes on Preparation H. Ha ha ha.
I have to disagree that two of Larry Williams chosen candidates will likely go on to the Council. I think that, at best, only one of his "Chosen Ones" will actually win this election.
Position #1: While it is disturbing and disheartening that Larry Little seems to spend so little time here in PA, it's truly frightening that Cody Blevins is doing so well. Blevins is the most obvious of Dick Piling's puppet candidates, and he can barely string a sentence together. If more voters had actually seen him rambling at any one of several forums, I think his numbers would be much, much lower. In any case, at the end of it all, I think Little will have a solid victory.
Position #2: Max Mania was a total unknown a few months ago, yet he still managed to get within a few dozen votes of Edna Petersen in the primary. Currently, he is only 11 votes behind. This absolutely leaves plenty of room for the pro-Mania trend to continue, and give him the 12 extra votes he needs to win. Especially given Edna's high negatives, and the fact that the people of PA voted her off the Council as soon as they could a couple of years ago. This will be close, but, in the end, I think it'll be a victory for Mania.
Race #3: Pat Downie has almost certainly won this race.
Race #4: Currently, Brooke Nelson is ahead just 13 votes. Again, this isn't much of a margin, and could turn around very easily. Of course, the huge, horrible X-Factor here is the accident that killed Brooke's mom and son. How that will affect the vote is difficult to say - making this race a difficult one to call. However, if Betsy Wharton had been a stronger, more productive Council member, this probably wouldn't be so close.
So, as I said, I think it's very likely that three of the four candidates that Larry Williams so warmly warned us about will make it onto the Council.
One last note: It's instructive to note that Brooke and Edna are the two candidates who raised (a lot from outside sources) and spent the most money on this campaign - by far. Yet, at best, they are neck-and-neck with their opponents. This fact, coupled with the likely non-Republican/Realtor sweep this election, leads me to hope and believe that the forces of right-wing lunacy are very much losing their grip on government here.
Or, put another way: What is bad for Dick Piling, is good for Port Angeles.
Several years ago, I had an e-mail exchange with Tim Eyman over the license tab initiative that he sponsored. His replies to me were always littered with misspelled words and shoddy punctuation.
In his final reply he concluded with a sarcastic "Have a good life!"
Despite his appeal as a populist, Eyman is clearly not the sharpest tool in the shed. And he doesn't seem to get that there are long term consequences to his "feels good to the man on the street" initiatives.
There's no joy in Edna-ville to judge by the scowling faces of Edna and her Dead End Kids that we saw on the the front page of yesterday's PDN!
Team Max, if anything, the negative campaign was a turn-off. It really was annoying as HELL to keep reading about Max in the third person. Childish, immature, and rank rookie.
The negative stuff is just dull and boring, and perhaps, "team max" can bring it up a notch, and not be such jerks IF they win? That would be nice.
Well, it is too bad Eyman did not try to enlist volunteers thru Obama's Organizing for America Grassroots (cough) volunteer (cough) site. And the other side pushing for the tax increases - they were pure as the driven snow? They had a free and easy upwelling of support where people came to them begging to help? Nope. It was cities threatening deprivation of essential services (an out and out lie). Basically all government wasters of the citizen's hard earned money who, instead of tightening belts during lean times and judicious spending during feast, they instead insist on YOU sacrificing.
Government: The ultimate do as I sayers. Too bad the guy who wrote that article hasn't the ability or desire to see that.
If Mania wins, based on his campaign, I'm expecting him to be the next Madsen. One hissy fit after another.
"It was cities threatening deprivation of essential services (an out and out lie). Basically all government wasters of the citizen's hard earned money who, instead of tightening belts during lean times and judicious spending during feast, they instead insist on YOU sacrificing."
Really? Just as an interesting exercise, why don't you make a list of everyone employed by the city, county and state in the Port Angeles area you would fire if you were in a position to do so. (Of course, I'm assuming you won't want to be held to such silly things like employment contracts). And, include all the contracts with local companies and other private enterprise, because those are part of the "government waste" you're concerned about. Here in Port Angeles, with the million dollar bridges, Gateway, consulting firms and such, their belts have to be tightened, too, right?
After you make the list of the people you'ld fire, figure out the unemployment benefits, retraining programs, severance pay, etc that would be required. Or, perhaps you see that as "government waste", as well. Okay.
Remember that one of Port Angeles' biggest budget items is salaries.
After you've figuired out who you're going to fire, then think of that money (their former sdalaries) that will no longer be spent in the local economy. Port Angeles' economy is doing great, so I know that it doesn't need it's largest employers.
Didn't we go through this conversation recently with that wasteful library system, having cut it's staff in half (Or was it more?) in the last nmber of years, threatening to have layoffs? Zoe, have you voluntarily cut your income by half in the last couple of years?
Now, don't infer that I am an Eyman supporter. Not the case. I just get tired of mindless knee jerk rhetoric. The costs for everything go up, but somehow "government" is supposed to be immune. The cost of gas, food and housing go up, but the employees of the government are not supposed to get any pay increases to stay even with those costs. No, I'm not a public employee, either.
At what point are you going to figure out that without public money flowing into the region, Port Angeles and Clallam County would collapse? There is no self supporting economy in Clallam County.
Can I say it any more clearly than that?
Let me guess Anon windbaggery was subject to government lay off.
Yeah, the government has JUST enough employees. They are the picture of efficiency. Must be the unions.
I'm going to distill this alcoholic apple juice conglomeration I have here today, or blow something up, ha ha ha.
Oh, you poor Dead End Kids. It wasn't supposed to be like this, was it? Edna was supposed to slaughter the "competition" in the primary, probably facing off against against her Mini Me, Peter Ripley, in the general election. A guaranteed slam dunk victory!
Too bad Edna had to face a real candidate. Yes, you know I'm talking about Max Mania the candidate with a vision for this town. A vision that does not include lining his wallet or the wallet of his friends, family and assorted hangers-on, but a vison for everyone, yes those pesky "little people" who care about this town and want to make it a better place.
Too bad, Dead End Kids. Who loves ya?
"Let me guess Anon windbaggery was subject to government lay off."
Assuming you are replying to my post, no, I was never subject to "government layoff". I have been a business owner my entire life, and created jobs for many others in the process. As such, I have always be aware about such things as "costs", "income", and "expenses". Knee jerk rhetoric doesn't pay my bills, unlike the folks at "Fox News".
"Yeah, the government has JUST enough employees. They are the picture of efficiency. Must be the unions."
Without all the government employers in Clallam County, Port Angles would collapse. So, perhaps they DO have just enough to keep this region afloat. Who cares if they are efficient? In the end, they are just vehicles by which the government keeps all this functioning.
Zoe, I'm looking forward to seeing the list of people you would fire, and the savings realized that will solve all the problems of the area. Enough of empty rhetoric, let's see specifics!
Here is a list of the many of the major employers in Clallam County:
Government /Public Employers
Olympic Medical Center (Medical Services):
Full-time: 584
Part-time: 387
Port Angeles School District (Education): 505
Peninsula College (Education):
Full-time: 230
Part-time: 243
Clallam Bay Corrections Center (Reform): 419
Clallam County (Government Services): 407
Sequim School District (Education): 324
Quillayute (Forks) School District (Education): 159
Forks Community Hospital (Medical Services): 254
City of Port Angeles (Government Services): 257
U.S. Coast Guard (Government Services): 180
Makah Tribal Council (Government Services): 165
U.S. Post Office (Government): 145
And, Private Employers:
Wal-Mart (Retail): 425
Safeway (Grocery): 395
Nippon Paper Industries (Pulp & Paper): 242
7 Cedars Casino (Entertainment): 370
K-Ply (Wood Products): 166
First Federal Savings and Loan (Banking): 174
Crestwood Convalescent Center (Medical Services): 100
Costco (Wholesale/Retail Grocery/Service): 165
Sherwood Assisted Living (Skilled Nursing Care): 116
Peninsula Daily News (Media): 98
Interfor Pacific (High-tech Stud Mill): 91
Forks Outfitters (Retail/Hardware/Grocery): 90
Albertson's (Grocery): 90
PORTAC (Lumber & Wood Products): 101
Battelle Marine Science Lab (Scientific Research): 103
Port Angeles Care Center (Nursing Home): 90
Red Lion Hotel/Port Angeles Crabhouse (Hotel/Restaur): 84
Pacific Office Equipment (Retail): 43
QFC (Retail Grocery): 68
Source:
http://www.clallam.org/industry-clusters/major-employers.html
TEAM MAX, knock it off and act like grown-ups. Your thumb to your nose "nanananana" is just so old.
I voted for you, so shut the F-up, and act like gracious winners (if the final vote shows you are). The mud slinging was the worst part of this campaign...and the third person Max says crap was just barely tolerable.
I can't wait to vote you OUT of office. But, in the meantime, please try and act like adults.
Interesting,thanks.
Anon person responding to me (it would help if you had a name, but I understand your desire to keep your identity hidden) - It would not be up to me who gets fired or what cutbacks would be made. Government is union. How would you like as a small business owner to be dicatated to by a union about whom you may fire and when? How about what benefits you would owe them? How about if complying meant your business would fail?
THAT is the government. That is unions.
You want socialism, I want a free market. I want business that produced and meets demand. You want a nanny state that produces nothing except welfare for the people who cannot seem to ford their way thru the trials and tribulations of real life.
Yes, some government is needed. Most is bloat. One thing I do know is that the bloat is not good, it robs the citizenry and makes for a sad state of affairs all around if it is left to fester and grow uncontrolled.
I often wonder what causes people to be so dependent on the government. What makes them think that the governmetn is the answer to all that ails them. Maybe you can answer that one for me. Why is ingenuity, efficiency, the self made man so scary and anger inducing to your type of folks?
To anyone who is upset or annoyed by anything that, say, Artists for Edna or Team Max posts here...I'm being extremely kind when I say that you're being very, very naive.
If I posted on here and identified myself as, oh, Maria Cantwell, would you believe me? No, probably not. So why on earth do you believe that someone is associated with a particular person or campaign just because they claim they are?
You don't have to be too terribly clever to see how it might (for example) benefit Edna Petersen for Andrew May to log on here and make obnoxious, arrongant pro-Max Mania statements - because he knows such things will make Mania appear obnoxious and arrogant.
Then again, maybe I am Andrew May. The point is, YOU DON'T KNOW. So why you - especially all of you "Anonymous" people here - would get upset over anything anyone says here is beyond me. Again, this is, at best, horribly naive.
Let's try to deal with real issues and real (verified) statements, people. Don't get worked up into a lather over "shocking" comments made here - it only shows how easily duped you are.
Those evil, horrible unions brought you the eight hour work day, the five day work week, hte minimum wage and safety standards in the workplace.
I understand, Zoe, where you, as a good "Conservative", would feel that employers ought to be able to pay people what they please (company script being the best wage), have people work until all hours and in unsafe conditions. The workers should just be grateful for whatever the bosses care to give them and buckle down and work harder.
Your thinking belongs to the late Nineteenth Century. You're a dinosaur and in case you didn't get the memo, your kind is extinct!
" You want socialism, I want a free market. I want business that produced and meets demand. You want a nanny state that produces nothing except welfare for the people who cannot seem to ford their way thru the trials and tribulations of real life."
And " Maybe you can answer that one for me. Why is ingenuity, efficiency, the self made man so scary and anger inducing to your type of folks?"
Zoe, not meaning to sound disrespectful, but are you on drugs, or what? I state that I have been a self employed business person my whole life that has created jobs for many people, and you respond with the above quotes?
I provide a list that shows most of the jobs in Clallam County/Port Angeles are public/government, and you say: "Yes, some government is needed. Most is bloat." Since "most" jobs in Clallam are public/government, most must be "bloat".
Let's go down the list. First is Olympic Medical Center. You think the doctors are "bloat"? Nurses are "bloat"? Surgeons are "bloat? Ambulance drivers? Cleaning staff?
I won't belabour the point.
Because Clallam is mostly public/government employed, do you consider Clallam county to be a socialist state? The US Coast Guard socialists?
Again, you just have empty rhetoric. Not very convincing.
Then again, maybe I am Andrew May.
Maybe, then again, maybe I wouldn't be impressed being as Andrew is 'one of them'. Damn good gardener though.
Did you see the thank you she put in the paper? She loves us all and damn those that don't, ha ha ha.
There was no rhetoric, just pointing out the obvious. You say you owned a business, but your words do not match that of a person wanting enterprise. OMC is the government?
I stand my the government is bloated statement. I think most would agree on that unless they favor a giant government, then no amount is too mcu (as you seem to believe.
You want to twist what I say, what can I do? Some government is needed, not too much. Is that hard to wrap your mind around?
I notice not a peep about unions.LOL
I will end the discussion here. What point is it to debate someone who prefers everyone do everything for them? Why argue with the helpless. Pity.
Zoe, if that's her real name, reminds me of Lil Diddy or whatever her name was. The one that was always whining about steaks and fulminating about "Obamy" and "Socialists".
Like Lil Diddy, Zoe is another example of the failure to teach basic civics and government in the schools. Add to their ignorance a heaping helping of victimology and paranoia and you can see the results. Multiply by a few hundred thousand and you've got tea baggers and Glen Beck.
Zoe said: "Government is union. How would you like as a small business owner to be dicatated to by a union about whom you may fire and when? How about what benefits you would owe them? How about if complying meant your business would fail?"
No rhetoric there! LOL!
Zoe seems to be opposing employee benefits. No health care? Overtime compensation? Minimum wages? Vacation time? Maternal/paternal leave time? Of course, I can see where these are bad things for an employer to have to provide. And, I'm sure Zoe doesn't think the government or taxpayers should pay or provide for these things, so, employees just don't deserve or need any of them. Am I getting this wrong?
Businesses having to comply with things that cost them money? You mean like saftey gear? Pollution control? Of course not. That is why so much of the patriotic American "industry" has moved to China.
Talk is cheap, Zoe. You notice that when it comes down to money, US patriotism fades quickly. Most everything on the shelves in stores in the US comes from Commie Socialist China. For the most part, US companies bailed out on their country and countrymen in favour of maximizing the money they could stuff into their pockets.
They had no choice because of unions and high costs in the US, I'm anticipating you to say. Really? How does that play for, say, any industry in Europe or ? Mercedes, Volkswagon, Audi, etc seem to be doing well.
Benefits? I guess the many millions in "bonuses" the US financial companies made don't count. "Private enterprise" didn't have any problems with wiping out the savings of millions of pensioners, or of putting so many small businesses out of business with their financial games for their personal benefit, that resulted in the meltdown! The vacant building in Port Angeles are so because of "private enterprise" and it's lack of patriotism, not "unions" or "government bloat".
Yes. The economic meltdown was created by "private enterprise", and it is taking "government" to fix it.
That kinda sez it all.
"I notice not a peep about unions.LOL"
Hey, nutter, you missed this post:
"Those evil, horrible unions brought you the eight hour work day, the five day work week, hte minimum wage and safety standards in the workplace.
I understand, Zoe, where you, as a good "Conservative", would feel that employers ought to be able to pay people what they please (company script being the best wage), have people work until all hours and in unsafe conditions. The workers should just be grateful for whatever the bosses care to give them and buckle down and work harder.
Your thinking belongs to the late Nineteenth Century. You're a dinosaur and in case you didn't get the memo, your kind is extinct!"
Jeez, read the posts before you post, Eee-jit.
I fully agree about the government structure in this country, it's a piece of crap.
Was her statement about being in business directed at me? Yes, I was in business and if I don't sound like those in town I'm not going to apologize for it. I made it on my own without expecting a lot of help from city or state or national government.
When you hear a business owner whining I suggest you take the time out to see in what style they live.
Anyone that has read the profile of this blogs owner can expect to find just what they find here, disgruntled people.
Lets take another look at that.
A lot of business's go broke - people leave town - town smaller - Billy happy camper.
Go team, rah rah rah. Ha ha ha.
"Anyone that has read the profile of this blogs owner can expect to find just what they find here, disgruntled people."
Hmm. Does Tom only post the comments of disgruntled people? I better find another place to post, as I don't feel very disgruntled. Pretty happy, actually. Sounds like you are, too.
Hmm. Does Tom only post the comments of disgruntled people?
I didn't say that at all, I think that he tries to be balanced and let almost everyone have their say.
Well, except when I get too %&#?@$ cranky. :-)
Have you hugged a hooker today? Hookers need love too.
10:41 AM, November 07, 2009:
I'm not one of those "must destroy evil gubbermints!" type, but I got to say, that survey scares the hell out of me. That seems like it's skewed way too heavy on the government side. Maybe it *is* time to cut back but, like you say, that's going to mess our economy up worst than it already is.
I already knew Walmart and OMC were two of the largest employers here, but... damn. That's crazy how few jobs exist, and they're mostly low-pay. The bottom of the private sector list employees 43 people? Wow.
I wish that list also included totals. How many total public sector jobs versus how many total private. Also, how great a slice do one-man or one-woman operations make up?
I used to be so optimistic about this town. I know it's been shrinking for awhile--you just have to look at the school enrollment to see that--but maybe it's time the city start making the contracting official and finding ways to work with it instead of trying to build it up.
"Anyone that has read the profile of this blogs owner can expect to find just what they find here, disgruntled people."
Hmm. Does Tom only post the comments of disgruntled people? I better find another place to post, as I don't feel very disgruntled. Pretty happy, actually. Sounds like you are, too.
4:20 PM, November 08, 2009
Jackson Smart and Andrew May, note that the above post by a happy person was written at 4:20!
Hahahaha
"I wish that list also included totals. How many total public sector jobs versus how many total private."
Break out your calculator and add up those two columns. I would be interested to see the totals, too.
Here are those same lists and numbers with the verbage removed, just to see a comparison of numbers:
Public/Gov:
584
387
505
230
243
419
407
324
159
254
257
180
165
145
and the private employers:
425
395
242
370
166
174
100
165
116
98
91
90
90
101
103
90
84
43
68
Doesn't even look close, just with a casual glance.
Of course, these numbers are not as of this month, but still. The source IS credible, for Port Angeles.
10:33 PM, November 08, 2009
Thanks. I did do that, and that was pretty horrifying. I should have clarified: all across Port Angeles, not just those select employers. But if a company that hires 43 made the "top list" I'm guessing there's going to be a lot of little businesses that don't hire many. Probably a lot of sole proprietors with 0-2 employees. I'm curious what those add up to.
Well, I knew the economy up here was crap. How can we sustain 19,000+ people? It can't just be by government jobs. OMC of course is self-sustaining, but the rest... I can't imagine there's a big enough tax base here to pay for all those. Is King Co. supporting us?
the real question is how many are on government money...welfare, disability, social security..
Clallam County (US Census 2008 estimate) had 71,021. 13,785 were on disability. 23.2% were 65 or older, 11.9% were below poverty line.
The list provided by a previous poster noted the numbers of government employees....it works out to one government employee for every SEVENTEEN people in Port Angeles (every seventeen man, woman, and child...mind you). How do you think we pay for this...TAXES! (Yeah, I know, my logic is flawed in that I'm dividing the number of govm't workers based on the population of Port Angeles, however, the majority of workers live in Port Angeles.)
Other employment:
There were 2,339 non-farm private employment, 4510 self-employed persons, and 6,000 firms which employed one or more persons. (yes there is SOME overlap in these numbers). The average amount spent, per year, per capita, $9,108, which is about $760.00 per person, per month....for car payments/ food/ credit card/entertainment (how much does smoking and beer cost?)
It's below the state average, and way below the more affluent areas averages (which are more than twice that).
This, obviously, is why businesses can hardly stay open...the locals spend their money on what? Clothing their children, feeding them, and a car payment.
$700 bucks doesn't go that far...as the average American spends an average of $800 a month on food (prepared fast food AND at the grocery store) One Costco run can be $300-400 bucks.
The average family income is $42,395.00 This is more than 10k less than other parts of Washington!
That means -- one or two incomes total $3,533. per month. Minus house payments (72.7% of people own their own homes) and the high cost of taxes, utilities, and other costs of home ownership, it's easy to see why our monthly "disposable" income is so tight.
We live in one of the poorest counties in Washington. We have a high number of retired (limited income) and disabled amongst us. We have low paying jobs, or are eeking out a living "self employed".
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/53/53009.html
"But if a company that hires 43 made the "top list" I'm guessing there's going to be a lot of little businesses that don't hire many. Probably a lot of sole proprietors with 0-2 employees. I'm curious what those add up to."
Yes, and that applies to a lot of other "government" jobs that don't show up on that list. Like Dept of Health and Human Services, Dept. of Fish and Game, Dept of Natural Resources, etc.
I saw the thread that spoke of the "500 jobs that went un-filled" for months and years here, because the applicants could not pass the drug tests. This is true. One of those employers was Westport, that has (government/taxpayer paid)ongoing job training up at the Lincoln "Skill Center" to try and train enough locals to keep it's employment needs filled. That is "ongoing", for years, for a reason!
More recently, we saw the quotes in the paper from Angeles Composites owner saying he saw problems hiring the few folks he needed.
As long as we are exploring this topic, I would be interested to see, nationwide, what the "public/private" employment ratio really is. Think about any community, and the services needed to keep it all going. Police, jails, medical, street repair, sewers, welfare, etc.
" .. the real question is how many are on government money...welfare, disability, social security..
Clallam County (US Census 2008 estimate) had 71,021. 13,785 were on disability. 23.2% were 65 or older, 11.9% were below poverty line."
THANKS! That info really helps put things in the area in more clear perspective. It is one thing to rant on about "bloat", but very much more interesting to see the reality of the situation.
So, if you subtract the 1/5 of the population that is on disability and presumably not in the workforce, that "one government employee for every seventeen residents" raises the percentages for gov/private employers/employment considerably!
Yes, and HarborWorks will bring even more taxpayer monies to Port Angeles. Hahaha "Free enterprise", all right!
Read an article today and thought of this post...
"The result: In the second quarter of 2009, Americans were getting $79.8 billion more in transfers than they were paying to government, on an annualized basis. That’s about $260 per US resident. The amount was similar (a bit smaller) in the third quarter."
Most of that is because of the financial downtown and the government trying to stop the bleeding. Once the economy picks up, that will go back in balance. But here in Port Angeles? I don't know.
Full article here...
http://features.csmonitor.com/economyrebuild/2009/11/09/post-depression-first-americans-get-more-money-from-government-than-they-give-back/
As we discuss the economic viability of the Port Angeles area, I'm reminded of a report I saw on what the local leadership envisions for the Rayonier site. You can look at this report here:
http://www.ci.port-angeles.wa.us/PDFs/Rayonier/PhaseOneReport.pdf
This shows the degree of reality our leadership is spending time and money on, instead of on the current problems the businmess community have.
On page 23 you will see a map of what is envisioned. Retail, office, mixed use/residential, housing developments, hotel/conference center, light industrial and open space are all included on the site. Elsewhere in the text, you will find that a "high end car dealership" is envisioned as appropriate for the site! Ferrari? Rolls Royce?
On page 22, you will see a list of "Assumptions". # 6 is "Market conditions warrant the new residential, office and light industrial uses." # 7 on the list is: "Build-out and occupancy will be completed rapidly and in phases". Clearly assumptions based on local realities, as all the currently vacant residential and office/retail buildings validate.
#3 assumption is that "Ennis Creek does not pose a flooding risk". (Even though the entire site is in the Tsunami hazard zone!)
As the previous posts have pointed out, the area has real, ongoing problematic demographics for most any private enterprise other than low-end retailers like Walmart and McDonalds. Even Starbucks closed shortly after opening in Port Angeles, and they just sell a cup of coffee!
Even though the leadership is trying to bring more taxpayer money into the area, that will be used to pay for consultant studies on the proposal, most anyone can see these ideas are pipe dreams. A selected few will benefit from the contracts for the pointless studies. The local economy cannot support what is already here, much less "high end car dealerships".
I'm torn on Rayonier, I really am. I want that property cleaned up and developed. But, then, I'm looking around at the rest of Port Angeles... you know, the empty "convention center" on Oak, the empty lots on Front and First, the old K-Mart building (or soon the old Wal-Mart building), Lincoln Street, Railroad Ave, the gapping holes in downtown that used to be building and are now makeshift parking lots... I mean, if those haven't been developed in 20+ years, what chance does the Rayonier site have?
Maybe this report is just a "see how much this could boost our economy!" proposal to get grant money to clean the place up, and they have no intention of actually developing the site. Or maybe it really is a way to steer taxpayer money to the realtors. Who knows. I'm pretty sure it won't look like that map for at least 50 years, if ever.
Port Angeles has been shrinking for decades. Choose your battles and work with what you've got.
Yes, the pipe dreams are getting old. The reality is...this is a small town, on a lone, mostly two lane road (several hours from I-5)in a rather remote area, away from an urban center, lacking rail (removed by the powers that be who lacked any vision), lacking any industry (forestry is not what it was a decade ago), lacking an educated work force. It's a beautiful area, only high tech is wary, because the city granted some sweetheart deals regarding the control of the fiber optic in the area.
Meanwhile, the region has more "tourism" and "business" associations than you can easily toss off the pier (without getting a hernia), but NO common goal, focus, or plan.
The old timers, of which BBC has become the blog's poster boy, don't want to cater to tourists, and don't mind the town dwindling to a ghost town. The newbies, recent transplants, and federal witness protection folk think that big plans and pipe dreams are all it takes.
The problem is...we have no common concept of what/who we want to be. This town is going in several directions, backbiting and backroom deals, stupid ideas and schemes on how individuals can get rich quick.
Too many self-serving special interest groups , nothing to unify us.......
Pipe dreams are nice, but the hard reality is...we're a poor community, and getting poorer all the time. Are we going to become a town of petty criminals, or find a way to turn it around?
"Are we going to become a town of petty criminals, or find a way to turn it around?"
The degenerates that can't pass the drug tests are not the ones that are going to turn this ship around, any more than that big crowd of selfserving, backbiting moneygrubbers. Pimps, whores and drug dealers make a good living in a city with any kind of money in it, but Port Angeles doesn't even have that.
Investors only care about maximizing the return on their investments. As Anon 8:09 so correctly pointed out, there have been many opportunities for an even halfwitted investor to try to make a go here during the last go-go real estate boom, but none saw Port Angeles as an even remotely viable risk. And, remember the scale and scope of risk that WAS taken on by these types, that resulted in the real estate/financial melt down?!
Anonymous at 12:29 said " Even though the leadership is trying to bring more taxpayer money into the area"
Are they? How?
" He and She Smith said...
Anonymous at 12:29 said " Even though the leadership is trying to bring more taxpayer money into the area"
Are they? How? "
Did you go to the City website link I provided? If you had, you would have seen part of the effort being undertaken here in Port Angeles by the "select few" to con the State and Federal governments into giving the city/PoPA taxpayers money for their "brownfield remediation" scheme. Without State and Federal funds, the project is going nowhere.
In other communities, with enough people living close enough to patronize the new businesses, such projects (PDAs) can work. But, as we have discussed so much here, that does not exist in Port Angeles. In fact, the scant and shrinking population cannot even support the existing businesses.
And, one can righteously question the logic of creating a new center of commerce at the removed and remote former Rayonier mill site. How will this expenditure of tax money help or contribute to the existing downtown, or any other part of the exisiting business community in Port Angeles? Clearly, it would draw shoppers away to a remote, relatively self contained center commerce.
IF it were to be successful, and "full buildout" were to happen, how would that help struggling businesses elsewhere in Port Angeles? Other than the real estate folks, of course, who will be arranging lease terms.
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