By Holly Stamper
To the Editor;
I was amused by your editorial titled “Wouldn’t It Be Nice?” Apparently you aren’t paying much attention to all the economic developers that we have around here. They seem to be spending a lot of time telling the local business people how great they (the developers) are. I don’t know how you missed tripping over them at your various “luncheons”. I’m sure we taxpayers have paid for PLENTY of these meals!
You asked, “Wouldn’t it be nice if the resources dedicated to environmental litigation were matched by resources for rebuilding rural economies?”
Your own paper reported that this year’s budget of the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay was $40 MILLION! They are the lead agency around here charged with being our economic savior, and their budget has grown from $300,000 in 1971. I agree it’s a mismatch with citizen groups’ litigation resources (of which I have personal knowledge), but I’m apparently better at the math than you seem to be. Forty Million dollars would support 800 families at a living wage for a year. What we got instead was a lot of grief (proposals for fossil fuel schemes), overpaid economic developers, and a lot of hot air, but NO JOBS! And in addition to the Port we now have the CCDEDC, the SCDC, FONSI, the Enterprise Zone, Urban Renewal, the Foreign Trade Zone, the Business Development Center at the college, and that’s not even counting the State and Federal “economic developers” . . . $10 million here, $10 million there, and pretty soon we’re talking about some real tax money. Pleading poverty for our lack of “economic development” is pathetic and dishonest as well. No wonder Wim de Vriend’s book about economic development in Coos Bay is called “The JOB Messiahs” . . .
The citizen groups at least ASK their members for the money to fight the good fight, and apparently are spending it wisely if we count results. I would call the citizen groups the “Davids” and the publicly funded corporate hacks “Goliath”, and it’s nice to see David win one, once in a while.
,and……………………
no jobs.
But theirs.
Paid for by all the taxpayers.
So are people realizing finally that SCDC etc. are NOT in the business of development to aid the taxpayers of this county, their business is bringing in NON-TAX PAYING companies. Got it? But far as I can see, ORC and LNG has stated, they bring their people with them. And take them when they leave. So in fact MOST of these jobs they promise, are theirs already. Wise up Coos County ! It’s a scam. And if you are a good little boy and take their propaganda to the people, you might even get a chunk of THEIR money for your own private business.
Al can tell you all how it works. Works just fine for Al. Then Al can whine and shine some more about how poor the county is, that is after he takes his cut of course. Then he will come on here and call others who struggle on their own, what dire circumstances this county is in, so they want to cut even more of your jobs. If you work for any public agency, these asshats are after it. Don’t ever forget that.
Gee, left out economic development dept. that spring from all the cities in Coos County, ever city has to have one.
“in addition to the Port we now have the CCDEDC, the SCDC, FONSI, the Enterprise Zone, Urban Renewal, the Foreign Trade Zone, the Business Development Center at the college, and “