Community Workshop/Discussion - Cable Park - Wed. Night

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

I'd like to invite everyone to come have some meaningful discussions so we can all get a change to understand the full spectrum of concerns. What I'd like to do is have everyone attend, break down into groups of 3 to 5 people, and just have a chat about concerns.

The only rule is you can't group with someone you came with. The idea here is to avoid 3 minutes of grandstanding by anyone person, while learning about the conflicting view on this project to see if we can't find a way to work together. At the end of the meeting we can all have a round table discussion and see what shakes out.

Details, Location, Time/Date:
https://www.facebook.com/events/374508872594934/

Join us on Facebook:
ReCreate Hood River - Official group page of the progression of recreation in Hood River. Intended to organize our thoughts, counter arguments, and public representation regarding recreation proposals/projects in Hood River.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hoodrivercable/

forrest · Wed May 02, 12 11:22 am

Reminder! Please participate in your community!

forrest · Wed May 02, 12 4:34 pm

One last reminder about this meeting. Starts at 6:30PM.

K4L · Since 19 Jan 2009 483 Posts Obsessed

How did the meeting go?

forrest · Thu May 03, 12 4:35 pm

Scooter came, and there were about 10 of us from the pro side. I don't believe Scooter was there on behalf of the opposition, he was just there as himself. Brave man! Smile

The point of the meeting was to bring in the human aspect in all of this, and help bring this community together to discuss the issues. So far all that has happened is Internet bickering, 3 minute grand-stand speeches at meetings, and legal threats. This is not how a community accomplishes ANYTHING.

While we had some great conversations with Scooter, I don't feel like we accomplished anything beyond convincing him to relay a message back that we are amiable and want to strategize about the Waterfront's future together, rather than separate. It's been pretty difficult to convince opposition to meet with us.

Our main point, which wasn't relayed very clear as we were trying not to push ideas on Scooter, I'm typing up here for the record:

The Port is going to develop the waterfront with, or without input from recreational constituents.

If we do this wrong, we'll likely have a Light Industrial complex in Lot 1, which may, or may not include a dredging of the opening to the boat basin and barges coming in and out handling shipping. My biggest fear, leaving us with nothing. Sure, this will be met with opposition but even if the opposition wins, we'll still be left with nothing.

If we do this right, we could have more than just a cable park. We could eventually have a recreation center with indoor (WINTER RECREATION) rock climbing, soccer, skatepark, etc. We could have an established SUP/Kayak beach, complete with concessionaires for renting equipment, and jet skis for rescue.

There are several people working on building a rock climbing gym, one of which was in attendance last night and raised the idea of building his rock climbing gym as part of a larger community recreation center. These are the kind of things that can happen if we work with these recreational entrepreneurs/businesses, instead of light industrialists. This will only happen if we band together and change the direction of the Port.

So, the question is, Shouldn't we band together to work with recreational entrepreneurs/businesses to develop the waterfront into a recreation mecca, rather than an light industrial office park? This is in direct opposition to the way the Port is currently doing business, which is to just work with the highest bidder. Currently we have a high bidder, who ones adjacent land, who also happens to want to develop recreation which is a total win/win situation for this community.

This will not happen without YOUR help. Get involved!

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

edit adding quote

chrissmack · Since 08 Jun 2005 526 Posts portland Addicted

forrest · Fri May 04, 12 9:22 am

Chris, it's a strong desire to not alienate people in my community in the course of a retarded political battle, while trying to come to a solution/5 year plan to improve the waterfront as a community. There is some serious nearsightedness going on here, and I hope to show them that there is a better way.

With regard to the legal situation, I have faith that they'll loose that argument for reasons stated in other threads (Marinas, Industry, etc.). Brent Foster is working with them and his strategy is to tie this thing up in court until the Naito Dev runs out of money. If anyone knows Brent, please have a talk with him as I know he's a long time local and might just be out of touch with what the rest of his community wants.

I hate to say it, but this really is an argument between recreationalists of different types, and in the end if anyone looses, everyone will loose.

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

forrest · Fri May 04, 12 10:18 am

SalmonSlayer, are you purposely posting in code? Just spit it out.

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

While many may be acquainted with the gorge sport of windsurfing, there are signs that a new sport, not as well known but taking just as much wind, is rippling out of the gorge, Astroturfing. An American word used to describe a formal public relation or political campaign by those who seek to create the impression of being spontaneous “grassroots” behavior. Artifical as, say, Astroturf.

The goal in these types of campaigns is to disguise the efforts of the parent organization to manipulate, leaving in its wake an impression of independent public reactions to some sort of social, political or commercial project, event or movement. Those running the ruse, called astroturfers, orchestrate the actions of what appears to be diverse and geographically distributed individuals. The astroturfers do this by both overt (through outreach and awareness events) and covert (spreading disinformation via newsletters, emails, forums and websites) means.{{more}}

Basically, astroturfing is a form of propaganda whose techniques usually consist of a few people attempting to give the impression that mass numbers of enthusiasts advocate some specific cause or agenda, through spontaneously coming to the same conclusion on a certain issue. The one orchestrating it usually has access to money, a means of information dissemination, and a small, tight network of people who are central to the operation. Essential to the ploy is the perception that the groups and organizations are uniting to help the “underdog” who usually is unable to speak for them, or it, self.

When looking at the organizations that have given the illusion that they have spontaneously come together to fight for the beleaguered, and silent on its own behalf, Columbia River
against the “greedy speculators” a pattern slowly emerges. Repeatedly, certain names appear, over and over, and they all appear to lead back to one national, multimillion dollar, advocacy organization.

Blah Blah Blah

Brent Foster
-----------------------------
Sounds a lot like our friends of the hood river waterfront over there....

soona · Since 27 Sep 2009 72 Posts

What is the "one, national, multi-million dollar, advocacy organization"?

That is the key sign of astroturfing - and I don't see it here.

Now, if someone accused Naito of astroturfing, the accusation would merit brief consideration, but I think the proponents here and elsewhere are mostly sincere and independent, and not simply manipulated by Naito (a multi-million dollar developer).

Nevertheless, it appears that Naito really only wants the hotel/commercial development, and has cleverly proposed the cable park to rally support from the kiter dudes, and to distract attention/potential opposition from their main development.

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

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

arthurb · Since 06 Feb 2009 19 Posts Hood River, Oregon

As you discuss the future of Lot 1 (I think that's where this thread started) please note that it is currently zoned "Light Industrial" which would not permit any commercial uses except those auxiliary to an industrial use (e.g, tasting room at a brewery). Building a "real" beach or climbing wall or a taco stand would likely require a zone change by the city, a process which would normally start with the property owner (the Port). A zone change requires planning commission and city council action and state concurrence, including findings that such a change is compatible with our Comprehensive Plan and our 20 year inventory of available industrial land-- it's not a slam dunk.

Infrastructure (e.g. paths) and public facility (e.g. beach) development might seek funding in the Waterfront Urban Renewal Plan. We've just restructured the governance of the Urban Renewal Agency, and will shortly be seeking two citizens to join a board of advisers to represent stakeholders in the waterfront plan.

Anything on Lot 1 other than straight light industrial use will require involvement of the Port, City, Urban Renewal Agency, and motivated citizens. I'm happy to help anyone trying to navigate this process. It's not easy, but it's not impossible. Things like you discuss require long term involvement by people with a broadly compelling vision, a sense for political reality, and willingness to do more than just talk about what "they" should do.

In short, Forrest may not be as crazy as he seems.

consumer · Since 28 Nov 2010 406 Posts banned Obsessed

Sella · Sat May 05, 12 10:00 am