Write a letter to the Editor for the Cable Park

forrest · Since 21 Jun 2005 4330 Posts Hood River Hick **CGKA Member**

Hey Everyone,

The Hood River Newspaper has been flooded with anti-cable park letters. Please take the time to write a letter to the editor showing your support, discussing the benefits, and showing that a few loud people can't overcome the will of a majority of Hood River citizens who want this cable park.

http://www.hoodrivernews.com/forms/form.aspx?id=HRNToEditor

You can view letters already written here:

http://www.hoodrivernews.com/ns/letters

soona · Since 27 Sep 2009 72 Posts

Interesting perspective. As someone who is fairly neutral on this issue, and someone who knows a lot of people in Hood River from various walks of life, I'd have to say that it seems like a few very loud people are in favor of it while the majority of citizens - many publicly quiet - are against it. And it's been that way from the start.

Just saying.

forrest · Tue Apr 24, 12 12:23 pm

That's the way it feels from the pro cable park side too. All I really have to go off of is the difference in size of our facebook groups. Pro cable park group is 7 times the size of opposition group. Also, you can't really say we're the loud ones if you've attended ANY of the city meetings, LOL. Talk about high blood pressure on the opposition side, they better be careful or they'll have a stroke.

Anyway, we've made it pretty clear that we want to meet with and understand the reasons against the cable park, even set a meeting time and location, but the opposition was a no-show (Except for Linda, bless her heart, we're lucky to have her in this community). We'll continue to try.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

From what I have heard most of the opposition is making up reasons why they dont like it without actually doing any research to back up their claims. Have heard multiple remarks of amusement park style rides, also about how loud it is going to be. Better for the pro side I guess if the people arguing against it are going to make zero sense.

scooter · Since 23 Apr 2005 99 Posts hood River

Forest, Thanks for the invite and sorry none of us could make it besides Linda. It's been a busy few weeks and most of our free time has gone into stating our legal case.

Friends of the Hood River Waterfront have not had the same amount of time to organize as you here on NWkite.com. Naito brought you guys into the loop long ago and kept the rest of the public out in order to gain and build pro cable park momentum. We are playing catchup. I think it is unwise to suggest that we only have as many supporters in Hood River as we have on Facebook. Our demographic is not a Facebook using people for the most part. Kiters and NWkite.com folks obviously are.

As far as misinformation, we have not focused on the noise factor because I know full well that the cable motor itself is almost silent. That's not an issue for us.

Otherwise, feel free to ask any questions you may have of us here if you like. I will do my best to give you a general idea of our point of view. If you have been to the last 2 City planning commission meetings you probably have a good idea already.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Haha u call yourself friends of the Hood River waterfront?? Your joking right?

Not only do I not have any idea who you are, but I spend the entire summer between teaching at the event site and kiting at the sandbar and I can tell you for sure that you are not a friend of the Hood River waterfront if you dont want the cable park put in. In fact I would call you an enemy to the Hood River water front if you somehow manage to keep that vacant lot as big a piece of shit as it currently is. That area will benefit %1000 percent from the cable.

soona · Since 27 Sep 2009 72 Posts

Inept_Fun,

It really doesn't help the matter to use personal attacks and name-calling against people you don't agree with, not to mention belittling their arguments.

Most of the folks on both sides of this issue stick to constructive comments and arguments, and while the rhetoric can get heated sometimes, nobody involved is going to be impressed by a bullying zealot who can't respond to the arguments on the other side, or respect their proponents.

I don't know who you are either, but I was windsurfing there before there even was an Event Site, much less a sandbar (much less the sport of kiting, for that matter) - there was a "piece of shit empty lot" and a rocky berm, and a piece of plywood we launched from. (Now I'm a kiter, for the record.)

T plant · Since 13 Apr 2012 14 Posts Hillsboro

I am interested in a valid argument against the cable park. So far all I have heard is (1) legal mumbo jumbo which will obviously have to get worked out, but that is hardly an argument against if there is a legal way to bring it about and (2) that it would impede access and view. Which I really dont understand the viewpoint as it seems to me the developement as planned would seem to me have the effect of exponentially INCREASING the amount of people enjoying both. As a frequent summertime visitor the basin is currently not much more than an eyesore imho.

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Its a personal attack on the wakeboarding/kiteboarding community when some random tool comes on here and for some reasons that he is not making clear has a huge issue with an improvement to a local area which I and a lot of friends drive by/see/would like to use on a daily basis. Im sure when you wanted an improvement to the event site some no name unknowledgeable person had something to say about it, in this case, that is scooter.

Its like saying I dont like you just because. Pretty much scooter comes on here, says the cable park is not a good thing, and has absolutely zero valid arguments on why this is.

Please inform me scooter, because i assure you, you will have trouble.

soona · Since 27 Sep 2009 72 Posts

forrest · Wed Apr 25, 12 9:37 am

Okay, simmer it down boys. This is about coming together to make something amazing happen in our community, not about fighting.

Nak · Wed Apr 25, 12 10:00 am

Ian, I'm on your side here, but your attacks on Scooter actually help his cause. You are correct that opponents of the park have not presented any valid arguments--at least not here. Personal attacks are usually the last resort of those who have no facts on their side. You do have the facts on your side, use them. Don't forget, there are far more people reading this thread than posting on it. Some of those readers may be in a position to affect the final decision.

Scooter, I have yet to see you make a single valid argument against the park. I've seen your legal arguments, but those are HOW to fight the park, not WHY. Clearly, you have been unable to convince enough people to oppose the park, otherwise you wouldn't need to resort to legal action.

I posted on the other thread my concerns about the pedestrian path. Naito emailed me very quickly to address my concerns. After discussing the issue with Naito and looking at the plans, I'm thrilled with what we'll have.

The park will have a minimal impact on the very few kayakers and SUPers who use the basin. The park will open the waterfront to a plethora of users, both local and visitors. What is now an eyesore will become a regional attraction. Families will gain a great reason to visit HR, where now there is virtually none.

The basin is an eyesore because no one has an interest in beautifying it. Where are "The Friends of the Hood River Waterfront". Why have you done nothing to transform the basin? Naito will have a real economic incentive to keep the basin attractive and healthy.

Scooter, why do you claim opponents of the park have been silenced here? Have your posts been deleted? No. Have you been banned? No. In fact, your views have been sought out. We want to know your viewpoint. My mind is not closed, I'm happy to hear and consider. I could change my mind, given reason. You present none. Instead, by your own admission, you concentrate on your legal case.

Apparently, you know how to fight a park, but not why. Perhaps it is you who should have an open mind and not fight the park merely because you don't like it. Obviously, Hood River will benefit from this park. Your own inability to make a single valid argument against it proves that.

dancingwind · Since 18 Jul 2007 321 Posts Obsessed

OG · Since 07 Jun 2011 599 Posts Addicted

so is the hotel approved and the cable park isn't?

scooter · Since 23 Apr 2005 99 Posts hood River

Thanks for the questions.

I will be at a gathering hosted by Forest to explain our position on this issue. (Thanks Forest)

We are a diverse group of concerned residents who have many different concerns. I will do my best to explain them so that you can see where we are coming from.

Until then, you can go back and re read all of my posts here and that should just about sum it up.

In general, we oppose giving away our public water way for a development that would exclude public use. It's that simple.

That's my main concern, personally.

We know that the landing will be developed. We just want to make sure that it will benefit all the citizens of Hood River and not just a few.

I hope that you can make the meeting next Wednesday and I can go into a few more specifics.

Take care and have a great week!
Derek

Sella · Wed Apr 25, 12 11:42 am