RedDog Mail

Dog loves to get mail, sort of letters to the editor style. Thanks, LR. Thanks for starting the "cerebral process" of deciding what to do with the $erpentine $treets of Mecca. I've been accused of being a "tree hugger" before, however, a few good swipes with a chain saw will certainly enhance the downtown property, at least those damned roots would be pushing up the sidewalks.

Here's a novel idea, as long as we are going back to straight streets, how about a trolley? It could make the loop from Walnut to say Harvey and from Main over to Washington. Now, that's sure to make a big hit in the "Blues Quarter." Just think of all the tourists that would bring in, not to mention the old geezers who come to Greenville in their "golden years" to retire, just so they could get to the boats and gamble away their Social Security checks. To hell with the Medicare Part D, bet the three months supply of Zocor on Red!

Seriously, Local Reflector has opened the debate on $erpentine $treets, so all of you weigh in. You can see in print here at Red Dog Bites, what you are not likely to see in the DDT. I can take a bit of Groundhog Day. The question is: How big is the politics of this issue and who stands to gain the most from it? Now, certainly, you can't pass up that challenge. Now MPB and NPR are good, but Red Dog will never ask you for a donation. How much better could it get? You report, you decide.. or something like that Faux News Network. Can you believe the "War on Christmas" debate? But that is another topic for another day.

TO: Reddogbites.blogspot.com Readers
Red Dog
Local Media Leaders
Others who value great discussion:

I'll be the first to admit that this commentary is a response to the local paper's editorial saying "take your time to decide downtown's future." I love when they elicit a spark or two in my thinking brain. But, I'm not interested in mailing a letter so I'll post a response here.

Greenville city council, as I stated earlier, did our local democracy no favors by quickly passing the Washington Avenue renovation issue with no discussion. Let's face it, they reached consensus behind closed doors and ensured a super-majority was in place so they could pass an agenda item without a 24 hour public notice. Their political maneuvering was legal and appropriate to the law's letter. But, doesn't it feel sneaky? Yeah - because it IS sneaky and they know it.

When Paul Artman was mayor, council overwhelmingly supported a straightening of the serpentine. Then, the tuesday meeting before work could've begun, they inexplicably changed their minds and kept the serpentine, citing cost overruns with Alexander Street. However, truth be told, political puppet masters of the day personally lobbied for the changes, and since they hold the "change" or $$$, they got what they wanted, which is the status quo.

The community affectionately known as "Old Money Greenville," which doesn't spend downtown, rolled upon the city council chamber with a grand petition. Paper taped end on end, as if a scroll, was unfurled to show overwhelming support for a serpentine design. It wrapped around the room and maybe out the door. The petition's wording was questionable - it never mentioned Washington Avenue being straightened. Their main concern was cutting the trees which were planted there. Some labeled them "historical" while others said it was wasting good trees. They didn't see the irony in the paper trail they created before council. Council paused and didn't fund the first Washington Avenue renovation despite the fact they'd only pay 20% of the tab with federal grants paying for 80% of the work.

Fast forward to Main Street's renovation. That's when the pool of money that would've funded Washington Avenue two years earlier was stripped. Broadway renovations AND the South Colorado Street Extension (through the new DRMC campus land) were back burnered. However, local politics killed the first effort at Washington Avenue renovation. Budget crunches on multiple levels only added nails to the coffin. I believe waiting is risky because grant, or tax, money not spent by cities is liable for seizure by higher legislatures.

The city engineer is well qualified to oversee the straightening of a city street. The biggest issue seems to be whether Washington needs four lanes or two lanes, and that's splitting hairs. Urban Planner? Greenville has Cato Walker and the secret bankroll of investors. Also, that part of downtown has already been drawn up in the Blues Quarter concept and there were few complaints about its actual design and physical description.

Public Meetings - We've been there with little effect. You'll only hear complaining about tree cutting. I guarantee it. Discussion wouldn't revolve around the economic implications for downtown businessowners. Economic impact is THE issue here.

A committee of Greenville leaders - who may we suggest? Longtime Greenville leaders were "leading" as the city was merely stumbling down hill, not rolling down a mountain like a avalanche into obscurity. You're inviting the same old thought and the same old political games by inviting the old players back in the mix. The new class of politicians is learning the game quickly enough and they're smart enough to shutter such civic input (as "well meaning" as it may be).

The first question is does the serpentine encourage economic progress for downtown Greenville?

Question #2 - will straightening the street mean more people (potential customers) will use Washington Avenue?

Question #3 - Would a straight boulevard offer an easier travel to and from Mecca...or the Blues Quarter?

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know these answers. But, I concede that labeling any position as "incorrect" is the incorrect thing to do. In fact, I find more confusion in interpreting the intentions of those who support an obviously defunct city street. I've never heard a qualified support of the serpentine. Saving trees, to me, isn't a qualified defense for maintaining an ineffective infrastructure design.

But, nothing will encourage increased public debate unless it's demanded of city council. If they're allowed to sneak this through, it will continue unabated and city council will become as benign as the Washington County Supervisors. The only difference will be the pay scale for such political behavior. And make no mistake, any non-posted agenda item passes with a "super majority" vote according to Robert's Rules of Order (which guide council meetings, thankfully).

I appreciate the locally-themed editorial comment as it inspired me to discuss local issues. Maybe others will discuss it around their coffee tables. Maybe online debate, anonymously, will offer a diversity of viewpoints and possibly (in my case) a qualified defense of maintaining the serpentine design of Washington Avenue.

One way communication is ineffective in many cases - just note city council. It kept chatter to itself and passed a million dollar street renovation and never asked or told anyone they were even considering it.

What do others think, Red Dog? I know you're small but the interaction is the best for relatively quick discussions of relavent issues local, state and sometimes national.

Concluding the Rantings of a Bored Thinker,

Local Reflector

Did LR just call me "small?" Ankle biting is a good attack dachshund technique, I'll have you know! You haven't seen any Badgers on this site, have you? And, Who are you referencing when you say local media leaders? I'd like to know, because I haven't seen any media leadership. Unless "fence riding" is a position of leadership.

READERS:
I will be silenced for a few days to change locations and get new service run. Keep the discussion going. I should be back on line around Tuesday. If you believe the cable guy.

More Commentary

Thanks to Local Reflector for today's commentary:

There can be little debate that when competition is removed from a market place, it often isn't healthy for the community (no pun intended). But, how can anyone argue that Greenville needs two large hospitals? Kings Daughters was "conquered," its staff was offered job transfer terms they really couldn't accept and maintain current living standards and the reality of locally monopolized medicine arose. Would we get better treatment if roles were reversed? Better question - would you trust KDH over DRMC? Many will say "yes" but still head outta town to see a surgeon.

Also, Mississippi isn't paying what it once was under Medicaid reimbursements. Our local hospitals survive on Medicaid patients....put two and two together and it's easy to see a deficit situation. The middle class isn't supporting local medicine. It has no hope of getting better without new facilities, which, of course, aren't financial feasible. I call it a Catch 22.

On the Washington Avenue rehabilitation, city council didn't give democracy a boost by not discussing the straightening of the serpentine. However, they did avoid another silly round of "let's protect it because it's historical....or at least old." To me, a four lane street won't make much sense when the Blues Quarter calls for certain streets to be closed (or does memory fail me?). City leaders could make downtown attractive by paying attention to appearance standards....spray painted and homemade store signs aren't the sign of prosperity. The $1.5 million grant should help refresh a mile or so of Washington Avenue - from the levee heading south. It's decent money for the area we're discussing and the "status quo" isn't acceptable for downtown G'ville. Neither is saying "It's dead and it should stay that way." But, the property owners should be willing to beautify their properties - but they won't. In many ways, Greenville's "money" community is the source of its largest downfall. Yet, these folks are "Rah-Rah" crowd who tell you that you're being negative.

And, to the subject of maintaining a constant presence to truly discuss local, regional, state and national politics. I've laid out my first round of "concrete ideas" or solutions for righting the ship. It is public education reform. Discussion can always be maintained free of charge if someone wants it. Online dialogue is the future and yet it's the past as well. The American colonies used pamphlets, or anonymous, newsletters to spread political debate and encourage unanimity in purpose or discord against British rule. The writings and political positions were solid...still are. Ben Franklin wrote excellently and anonymously for years. So did others back then and our country wouldn't exist without their "blogging" of sorts. Don't think what we've done here is unique - it's traceable three centuries. Yet, apathy reigns and even the gossip groups on Yahoo limp along or now sit dormant.

My dog isn't in the fight but I've considered the political and philosophical winds at some length regarding the region because it's mentally engaging. Maybe there are SO FEW out there sharing the sentiment. That really wouldn't surprise me and rathers fits the mold that's created national stereotypes of the Mississippi Delta region and its hapless civic cheerleading for goals unobtainable without hard work, spirit and a touch of moral standing.

I really should be doing something more productive, yet I'm not. Forgive me.

Signed,

Local Reflector

Catching Up and Giving Thanks

BlueCatLicks said...
How's things with DRMC? I understand its realized a $1.6 mill deficit over the last 2 months. Hopefully the citizenry will wake up to the fact that grand visions do not equal competence and ask current leadership to move on. After all, health care had been a decent industry in G'ville. Now its rapidly declining (I just heard that the town's best pediatrician is leaving) as I told Local Reflector would happen after DRMC's power trip was energized by Community Health Systems' forethought in devining local sociopolitical trends. It turns out the grass IS greener on the other side of the hill.

I think that I also pointed out the incompetence of the management at DRMC during the Burn Center debate. The number two priority in Greenville is viable health care. The loss of Kings Daughters dealt a major blow to healthcare in the Delta. People who can afford it travel to Jackson, Memphis, or Little Rock to have their surgeries. These are the people who have insurance and can afford to pay. What's left for DRMC are the non-paying or Medicare and Medicaid cases. Hardly enough to justify three campuses in Greenville.

Anonymous said...
Now that Greenville has recived the grant money for Washington ave. You can bet they're going to use it to create the Blues Quarters. You may also look for the possibly of emient domanin being applied on some of these buildings. Cato didn't help Greenville get this grant for nothing. Mayor Hudson praised him to much in the DDT.Greenville needs to get out of the entertainment business and stick with industry.

Whether Mr. Cato owns two or three blocks of downtown Greenville is immaterial. The Blues Quarters is an overworked tourist trap idea that's on the wane. The important question is Will we all feel like Bill Murray in GroundHog Day and keep replaying the serpentine street saga over and over so that nothing gets done? Gimme a break, $1.5 million doesn't buy much concrete. And all the grand plans for the $3.5 Million are just that, this administration's track record for handing out money that's appropriated for public use is pretty dismal.

BlueCatLicks said...
Industry? You mean like Textron? What Greenville needs is to start with a do-over in public education as Red Dog has written about. Without that there is no hope for future prosperity.

Local Reflector said...
I agree with Bluecatlicks on a "re-do" of public education, namely its current structure in face of the area's falling population. Get that straightened out and then industry will surely follow.How?Well, raising standards, above just graduation rates (because administrators can artificially matriculate students to improve statistics) creates a default local population better prepared than the current population of working adults - by and large.You also create stronger public campuses and begin creating a reputation that means parents can send their kids to public school and justify all the "tuition"...er...taxes they're paying. In my opinion, even current private education is a tax of sorts because parents feel compelled to pay it out of necessity of local education. Education reform is THE number one challenge. Think about what a genuinely lower dropout rate means for the Port City....lower crime, better self esteem and a work force that can handle above-menial work and inspire confidence of corporations seeking maximum producation and minimal expenses.By the way, where are all the intellectuals out there? Red Dog's trying to live life somewhere else besides online right now and some of you could surely get a free blog going just for those that care - not necessarily for the mass public.

A do-over is long over due. LR had the right idea a couple of posts back on consolidating the school districts and closing some campuses to consolidate the educational efforts. This is the number one priority for Greenville to recover. Everyone, including private school parents, needs to be working to get the public education system up to a sustainable high level. When people sober up from the Kool-aid hangover, they will realize a failing public school system is what is dragging and keeping Greenville down. As long as we bury our heads the problem doesn't exist. It's unfortunate but true and sadly it is fixable, but no one wants to take it on.

Now on to second words from Local Reflector and to plea with some of you to take up the pursuit of the truth and the cause for public debate in Greenville and the Delta. I know many of you still read this blog daily looking for info. If some of you hadn't sent in guest commentaries or added comments to old posts, there wouldn't have been any discussion over the past six weeks. I haven't really had time to keep up, but thanks to many of you the discussion has not totally stopped. If one of you would start your own local blog, you could at least have current posting and generate some worthwhile discussions. Local Reflector and I both will help you get started and perhaps give you some ideas. If you want to give it a try, just let me know by e-mailing me. It's easy, I promise. I am just finding it difficult now to find the time. Just think of the withdrawal I am having not being able to bad mouth Dumbya and the Thuglicans. Oh, and Merry Christmas! No one ever accused me of having PCness. And I sure am glad that some reader of the DDT thinks it's Liberal Democrats and not Corrupt Republicans that are dragging the country down the tubes. Just shows what your brain on Kool-aid looks like.

Maybe I'm not ready for the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm.

Later...............