"Moscow’s Mayor Chaney doesn’t understand"

A letter in today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

I am writing in regard to the article in the Dec. 30 Lewiston Tribune newspaper regarding Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney opposing a proposed shopping center just over the border in Washington. First, she doesn’t want it in her community, now she doesn’t want it in Washington. How far away from Moscow does big business development have to be in order for Chaney to be happy?

It is a loss for the people of Moscow to have a mayor that does not understand, nor will work with, new businesses so they will locate in our community.

The tax and revenue that would be generated from such businesses would help the community in many ways.

Yes, Chaney, the increased tax and city service revenue would pay for the urban services such as street maintenance, sanitation services, snow removal and police, fire, and emergency medical services.

Moscow’s current zero tolerance policy to new development does not only affect businesses coming in to construct large buildings in Moscow, but it also keeps our current businesses from growing and expanding. Instead of looking to the economic benefit (or even compromising), Moscow says “no,” placing the tax and city services burden on the existing businesses and the community.

Kudos to the developer that is pursuing this proposed shopping center and Whitman County Planner Mark Bordsen for seeing the benefits to Whitman County. I just wish Moscow would be able to enjoy the economic benefits of it.

Shelley McLam, Moscow

Of course Chaney doesn't get it. She wants Moscow to be like a Mexican fishing village. Plus, the corridor development represents a direct threat to her and her comrades' agenda. It's not just the loss of tax revenue and new business. Those are concerns for the Chamber of Commerce. No, Chaney and the Politburo fear the Hawkins development because it provides a realistic argument for opening up development in Moscow, particuarly with big-box stores. They would much prefer everyone in Moscow to just remain asleep.