Suggested Merger of PADA, PABA and Chamber of Commerce
At yesterday's meeting of the Port Angeles Business Association, Tim Smith suggested that the PABA, the Downtown Association and the Chamber of Commerce should start working toward an eventual merger of the three groups. An ad hoc committee of six people — two representatives from each organization — would work to address local business issues.
I think it's an excellent idea, but with all the local turf wars going on here, I can't imagine it ever happening.
I think it's an excellent idea, but with all the local turf wars going on here, I can't imagine it ever happening.
posted by Tom Harper at 10:42 AM
36 Comments:
I saw a commentor said Smith didn't actually propose a merger. Is this true?
Of course, interesting to read the Russ quote " We like to think bigger". Yeah, and it shows!
So...Mayor DiGuilio again. And sounds like a VERY VERY VERY divided Council right from the get-go. (FOUR votes???)
As background, and as a reminder, Brad Collins only supported Cherie for Mayor last time because she promised to support him for Mayor next time - which is to say, this time. Obviously that didn't happen, but the backstabbing did start to happen immediately it seems.
I would guess that Cherie was supported by (1) herself, and (2) possibly Sissi, or more likely, easily swayed Pat Downie. Brad would have been supported by (1) himself, and probably (2) Sissi.
This leaves DiGuilio voting for himself, and getting the votes of the new guys - Gase and Whetham.
With DiGuilio in "charge," and in that position owing to the support of Gase and Whetham, we can see the conservative, staff-centric faction really taking charge. With Mister-wants-to-be-popular Pat Downie going along for the ride, there you have your four vote majority to continue to do...NOTHING. Cherie and Brad will probably go along for that ride more often than not as well, leaving poor Sissi as the lone voice of, if not sanity, at least "But wait..."
So yeah, go on and make this a new, improved town Dale "Baba Louie" Wilson. Go ahead and "think bigger" Russ Veenema. Rah-Rah this "new" Council, Port Angeles boosters. Clap and cheer and hope and hope and hope all you like, because the truth is, nothing has changed, and nothing will change.
More of the same. More recycling of rejects. The Clallam County way.
bottom line is: taxpayers are funding too many economic development organizations, consolidation has to be the answer
The article said there are over TWO DOZEN groups here that are supposed to be dealing with "economic development"?!
Really? And, this is what we get??
People, things are fine, just fine. Port Angeles has a fine new (yet experienced!) mayor, and that's fine. If the new city council can't get along, that's their choice, and I'm fine with that. Yessir, fine. Why should the city council be any different from any of the other fine, fine organizations in Port Angeles and Clallam County?
Empty storefronts, you say? I say lots of fine open space! Moronic elected officials you say? I say, hey, those fine people have left lots of room for fine tuning things! It's all part of a plan, I'm sure, and I'm fine with that. Just fine.
The regional economic impact of all of the economic development organizations is that the money the organizations pay to staff and consultants may trickle down to local businesses. Except, of course, the money that goes into the pockets of out of town consultants.
Interesting analysis about City Council, Peter Ripley 2016!!!
I feel for Sissi Bruch, who must be counting the days until her tour of duty is over.
" Moronic elected officials you say? I say, hey, those fine people have left lots of room for fine tuning things!"
Oh! THAT had me rolling on the floor laughing.
Sadly, so true.
Oh, a bit of investigation has been going on. Few at City Hall will look very good.
12:33 - Muchas gracias.
5:36 - Funny.
Yes, downtown streets were DESERTED at 4pm today. I made a note to look next time I went there, and count people, because of comments here and sure enough. Sad.
Surprisingly the poster child of Republican moderation, civility, and "getting along" is going down in flames! Chris Christie reminds me of Port Angeles. Totally ineffective at governing anything other than their own careers or bank accounts, yet no one cares! (or cared, he's toast now - people do care about juicy corruption scandals and this is going to be an especially delicious one illustrating how heartless and petty republicans can be and how counterintuitive it is to entrust them with things like the FUCKING ROADS and INFRASTRUCTURE). Christie is way more rough cut, though, than any of the bloa$%d republicans around here. Way more.
It took SEVEN votes to decide who gets to be mayor of this rotten little hamlet, and DiGuilio sees that as a POSITIVE sign??? Uh, no, Dan...It means you are all divided, not united. Nothing will get done. Nothing is the major product produced in Port Angeles.
Good idea, they should all merge.
And then self-destruct.
Hahahahaha
So I was misinformed (thanks, KONP) on the number of votes taken - SEVEN not four. And I was a little off on the breakdown of who-voted-for-who. But still, it doesn't look good. And who has Brad Collins pissed off? Everyone it seems.
Why? Well, the notes from these meeting that the League of Women Voters observer sent out have an interesting tidbit in them. Seems like Collins reported that he had had "discussions" with members of the Victoria City Council about the two bodies taking a joint trip to their Japanese sister cities next year.
Uh, hello Brad? Spending over ten thousand dollars (conservative estimate) to send, say, two Council members and a staff person to Japan for..? And do you really think that the polite folks in Victoria would want to be embarrassed by their poor Port Angeles cousins in front of the Japanese? No way. I assume this was all whirling in your head along with your dreams of being Mayor, but really...When the city is pleading poverty every single day, and raising rates and fees and taxes like there's no tomorrow? And YOU want to go on a city-funded field trip to Japan?
WOW. And thanks to the LOWV for documenting this.
@Anon 12:02
Yes, I see the same thing pretty much every time I drive through downtown. No body. Anywhere.
Yesterday, as I drove through downtown, it was so empty. I wondered how those businesses survive. Seeing the empty storefronts, it is obvious many don't.
The pawn shop owner said he sells stuff on-line. I think that guy with the Japanese comic books does, too.
So, is that what "the answer" for Port Angeles is? Stores that cannot survive with the local population?
Zac (on the PDN) is sorry to see Cherie Kidd not be the face of Port Angeles, because hers is "a nice face." Your icky crushes aside, Zac, what the hell qualifies Kidd to be the face of anything other than inertia and idiocy? Have you ever actually HEARD her speak, Zac? She sounds like a retarded parrot.
Brad Collins...A crook.
Sissi Bruch...As said earlier, counting the days 'til she can bail on this dump.
Dan Gase...So excited to FINALLY be an elected person. Yeah, but Dan...You "won" an uncontested race. That's no accomplishment.
Lee Whetham...Tool.
Pat Downie...Fool.
Dan DiGuilio...Mayor for Life! Which is odd, because his brain is pretty much dead. He'll run the meetings, but don't expect an ounce of creativity or courage out of him.
And there you have it. The Port Angeles City Council, 2014. Looks just like the City Council for the past 10-15 years, really, only without a Max Mania to at least inject a little life or wit into things occasionally.
A brain dead Council for a dead dead dead town.
As far as I'm concerned, Max is Mayor
IF Max had stayed, and IF Max had been elected mayor, then that would have at least symbolized change. With DiGuilio rolling right back into the chair though, all it symbolizes is the continuing decline of Port Angeles.
Pathetic.
2014...A new council, and still they pine for Max Mania. How much better to do as he did, and flee from the blighted city of Port Angeles.
who cares
So, THIS is "The Bog of Blogs"
for "BOTTOM FEEDERS" I keep hearing about.
What a joke.
I remember trying to say something to the City Council during the regular public comment period the last time Danny Boy was mayor.
He was down right nasty.
Who knows, maybe things will be different now. For some reason. Maybe.
7:26 - So, teabaggers read it? Cool! Anything I can do, to help bring out your inner Chris Christie, post here and tell me! I go by "sane person". If I'm not around, others will chime in.
Meanwhile, go fuck yourself.
Oak Street announcement is great news for PA downtown and whole community.
Wonder how the negative minded, bottom feeding bloggers will whine that it is not good news?
Will be entertaining to watch them try.
How cool! A local got a good arts gig in Olympia!
And news of a new 67,000 square feet marine science center /conf. center with space for retail! 7,000 square feet! Maybe DQ will move there! Then they would be half leased already and that would pretty much pay for the place, just taxes on the malt and shake revenue!
I've had my eye on the spot DQ has for YEARS, sure hope they move!
Karen Hanan appointed to head a state commission??? What has she done here for the last decade, other than scam a nice salary for running a do-nothing arts "organization" here.
Really, this woman is useless. What has she ever done? The fact that Inslee would choose her, of all people, shows that he's an idiot, too. Port Angeles is in terrible, terrible shape - but Washington state is hurrying to catch up.
'So, THIS is "The Bog of Blogs"
for "BOTTOM FEEDERS" I keep hearing about.
What a joke."
Interesting comment. So, this person "keeps hearing about" this blog. Hmmm. Not so bad.
Are we supposed to look at the comments section of the on-line version of the PDN for an example of how it's done?
Or, follow the example of the commenter?
Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
But EVERY decision made by pretty much EVERY governing organization on the Peninsula is retarded.
By all means, give the totally incompetent, do-nothing PADA money! Barb Frederick is WORTH IT!
By all means, pick the head of a do-nothing "arts" organization to head a state arts organization! Karen has done SO MUCH for this town!
By all means, recycle Tim Smith, and Dan DiGuilio and every other loser in town! Why grow or change when there are still plenty of leftovers (Don Perry! Edna Peterson! Sandy Long!) left to go around!
By all means, put the known ethically challenged Karen Rogers in a position to "massage" funds at OMC! Just because she was a crook once (or twice - or thrice) doesn't mean she will be this time!
It would be a great compliment to say that Port Angeles is a totally half-assed town. It's really maybe one-quarter-assed at best. Completely pathetic.
1:48 - Tom is the only blogger here. You made a comment, you didn't "blog".
Hopefully this information makes you feel better, knowing there aren't really that many bloggers in the world, most are just COMMENTERS. They are just comments.
However, if on occasion, I sully the reputation of any of the teabagger obstructionists (republicans) around here, even in one person's mind, you're welcome!
Smith's idea has two groups in the deal.
As of this afternoon, the Chamber is in.
After 30 years, he may finally unite the business groups.
Impressive, but it isn't over yet.
Where's the downtown?
I bet they say noooo waaayyyyyy.
"Smith's idea has two groups in the deal.
As of this afternoon, the Chamber is in.
After 30 years, he may finally unite the business groups."
Well, this is a bit of a mis-understanding. The Chamber is not dissolving. The PADA is not going away or disbanding. Neither is the PABA.
They each have agreed to send two representatives (one being the recycled Jim Haugewwod) to be part of YET ANOTHER of the "economic development" groups in town, now numbering 25!!
So, a "merger" is not exactly correct. Just another group to be controlled by the same people who have been doing all these great things that have gotten us where we are today!
Blah Blah Blah
youre all losers
I've had it with this town! I'm moving to Ashland to be closer to Max!
People can joke about Ashland all they want...But it's a town with essentially the same number of people as Port Angeles, only they draw over 500,000 visitors a year TO TOWN (not THROUGH TOWN like here) and thus it has a booming local economy. Your shitbag house on a small lot might be worth $110,000 here (on a good day), but in Ashland, you could sell just the lot for $200,000. Port Angeles WISHES it had so much to be made fun of.
Oh, Max ... you say the cutest things!
I find it ever so revealing that the troll who always (and I do mean ALWAYS) goes after Max has never, ever offered even one reason to dump on him so much. Not one reason. It's just taunting, schoolyard name-calling.
Sorta seems like the loser knows that Max did a good job, and didn't provide much to be too critical about. Seems like the troll is probably jealous. Seems like the troll loser represents why Port Angeles is stuck, backwards, and a toilet bowl of a town.
I'm noticing a pattern with the Maxi-pad troll. Disrupt any interesting thread with their stupid-ness, hoping it drives people away.
Amazing that Max had such an impact! Can't think of anyone else that has remained in the publics' conversation for so long. Hat's off to the guy.
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