So first LCDC uses $30,000 of our tax money to buy public relations advice to try “improve” their image. Now, after the report comes back with specific changes they should make, they don’t seem to be changing a thing. Their response to the professional advice was not to restructure their board or revamp their methods, as recommended. Instead it seems LCDC will use more tax dollars to buy more PR help so that we, the public, will “like” their Ed. Corridor project more. Is this the new system? Don’t make any real changes, just buy PR help so the public will like the misuse of our tax dollars?
You can read the front page headline Press article here: http://www.cdapress.com/articles/2008/08/22/news/news01.txt
What did you expect? Maybe someone on the LCDC board realizes their director isn’t capable of successfully implementing many of the PacWest recommendations, or otherwise performing the public relations and public involvement part of his job. Maybe the director realizes it himself. In my estimation, the less “the public” sees of the LCDC director the better off the LCDC is vis a vis public relations. I think the director’s past attitude towards “the public” makes him a lightning rod for the mistrust of everything LCDC touches. So the LCDC hires someone to do the PR job for them.
Comment by CdACanuck — August 22, 2008 @ 4:33 pm
If Dan is right and the Education Corridor is more about commercial development,than it is about education and LCDC is involved,it will not improve their image with the public.
I’ve run three blogs about LCDC and I think I can say,that the LCDC is
unpopular with the vast majority of the public.Alot of people don’t like them.
I ran a blog called ‘Improving LCDC’s
Image’and it seems the public was stuck on the issue of conflict of Interest;concerning board commissioners who own property in the Lake and River Districts.So,that seems to be an issue that the Idaho state legislature needs to address,
because lCDC projects in the vicinity can boost board members property values.
If they really want to improve their image,they need to IMO (1)have more of an impact on low-income housing (2)have more of an impact on job creation and (3)explain the advantages of having their urban renewal districts around for 24 years and not be just a longterm drain on taxpayers.
Comment by kageman — August 23, 2008 @ 10:39 am
kageman,
You are correct in your assement of the LCDC. If they would just take care of #2 on your list, 1 and 3 would not be necessary. They would probably even take care of themselves just by creating sustainable career level jobs.
#1 People would be able to afford a home.
#3 Businesses might want to build here if they could see the benifit of a workforce in desperate need of employment in NI.
Until the LCDC, city council and/or the chamber (cough cough) of commerce see this as the solution, we will have the other 2 problems.
It seems to me that the city would prefer another Ketchum ID or Aspen CO. They do not want to associate with the “working class”.
Comment by concerned citizen — August 23, 2008 @ 11:35 am
Yes, CC, jobs will help stabilize our local economy. Taxation is a problem, our level is way too high, and without stable, career level jobs, people around here can’t make it.
I’m not sure that LCDC can play a strong part in job creation anymore. The opportunity may have passed. We don’t need more tax subsidized growth, we’re growing on our own. Maybe it’s time to phase out LCDC and return the large tax increment to the city and county, where they belong.
Comment by mary — August 23, 2008 @ 12:15 pm
The LCDC is interested in the appearance of jobs creation, just as it is interested in the appearance that education and public safety are being enhanced. The LCDC exists as the First Unregulated Bank of Idaho to dispense political patronage money to projects likely to affiliate blocks of voters. Using patronage to secure voter loyalty and inserting the “right” people in state, county, and local public offices, the LCDC ensures its commissioners’, their friends’, and their relatives’ financial interests will be protected. It also ensures that friendly public officials will remove anyone who dares question and challenge any actions they deem beneficial. Since the LCDC commissioners are unelected to their URA positions, they are almost untouchable. They are certainly unaccountable to the voters. And that is the way they want to keep it.
Comment by Bill — August 23, 2008 @ 3:04 pm
In other words, Bill, the LCDC exists to bolster the old boys network that has always run Coeur d’Alene.
Comment by Dan — August 23, 2008 @ 3:10 pm
Let me correct that: The LCDC exists to bolster the anti-Hagadone old boys network. In fact, it’s given them fuel to be bold.
Comment by Dan — August 23, 2008 @ 3:10 pm
I wonder why Post Falls URA hasn’t needed to hire a PR flack? Maybe it’s because Post Falls Mayor and City Council are performing the kind of oversight their voters expect from elected officials. Good, honest leadership can prevent many missteps. Good results are self-evident to the public. Bad results require “spin” to look as if they’re good.
Comment by Bill — August 23, 2008 @ 4:20 pm
Hey, Bill, in Post Falls you can go have coffee with the Mayor and ask him anything you want. That’s good, cheap PR, the old-fashioned way!
Comment by mary — August 23, 2008 @ 4:36 pm
We can do the same thing in Coeur d’Alene. We can go to a council meeting and ask the mayor and council anything we want, too. The difference is that in Post Falls, the Mayor and Council will answer you.
Comment by Bill — August 23, 2008 @ 4:55 pm