This isn’t a Paul VS Liz issue.
It’s Purely about Accountability
Who can be successful in bringing quality family jobs to the area?
(not minimum wage sales jobs to small retail outlets in downtown)
Who has verifiable results of doing this?
Mr. Erickson has been the leader of the CW Chamber for 7 years. What are your successes?
I recall several years ago there was a group of Chamber people who invested some money and sent out direct mail letters to in an attempt to attract name recognizable restaurants to Camas. My recollection was that it flopped. No interest. Why? Why hasn’t anything been done since?
Who’s job is it to attract and recruit new business, new jobs to this area? Some say it’s the Mayors job, some say the Chambers job, some say the Economic Development Groups job and others say the Port. Maybe it’s all of them.
Who is accountable?
Who can accomplish this task?
Sept. 2 -Primary Election is Certified
3 Comments
August 31, 2007 at 10:15 pm
This issue of “jobs” is very interesting. Liz Pike has stated that her goal is to bring 1,000 jobs to Camas every year for 10 years. That is 10,000 jobs in ten years! She has also stated that she is opposed to considering annexation of the areas outside of the current Camas boundary until every lot in Camas has been built on. It sounds like she is committed to a vision of Camas that is going to look like downtown Tokyo in a few years; lots and lots of people in very little space. Personally, I would prefer to see the City continue its current policy of planned expansion and thoughtful land use.
August 31, 2007 at 11:30 pm
If you look at what has occurred near where I live it is obvious that the tech center on Prune Hill just didn’t happen. There were issues that company executives took into consideration before they came to Camas: 1) Available land that was properly zoned; 2) reliable utilities (water & electricity); 3) talented workers and access to technical & higher education (Clark & WSUV); 4) tax incentives; 5) affordable housing; 6) quality k-12 schools; and 7) tax incentives. Plus, a desirable area to live in with access to recreational areas (river, mountain & ocean). Camas had the land and Nan Henriksen had the vision.
What available land is their left? Possibly the property north of Lacamas Lake. Maybe the land that Nan is trying to develop in the port’s industrial park.
I agree with Watcher, we will need to move Camas’ urban growth boundary to bring in this property to the city limits to make it happen. Green Mountain hopes to get annexed in, but plans for this property is for more residential.
It will take a concerted effort by many groups to make Camas and Washougal more desirable for for new and existing businesses to locate. It’s starts with the current land owners, then city officials in zoning and planning, chamber and exisiting businesses in sharing the praises why they like doing business here, schools preparing for future growth, planning for more parks and recreational opportunities and designing transportation systems to handle the increase flow of traffic (which probably should be the first step).
Frankly, I think Paul Dennis not only has more experience in all of the above, but he also has the technical education and training that helps him better understand the relationships. Further, just look at his list of supporters — they are the key people to make all of this happen. Some how Liz has alienated some very key people and business groups. I don’t think she did it intentially. For me the bottom line is this: I think Liz may have more ambition than what her resume can currently handle.
August 31, 2007 at 11:40 pm
I didn’t mean to say tax incentives twice. Just trying to multi-task here at work.
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