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Show THE NUTSHELL With Steve Russell FROM STEVE & Jim Who makes the call for more major events, more tourism, destination resorts and a year-round economy? What is their motivation? Is it to improve the standard of living of the folks in places like Walnut Lane, where the workers live? Is it to make sure a parent can earn a living wage and support a family on one job? Is it to provide Moab’s kids with the skills they will need to have a productive, meaningful life and maybe some motivation to spend it here? Is it to ensure for the future a selfsustaining, healthy community--and taking the inquiry to the next logical level, a community that might serve as an icon for the good life in the "New West.” Please, business and property owners, share your vision of Moab in 10 years; 20. Give us an idea of where we're going. . As a paradigm for this inquiry, I have chosen the five stages of grief. Stiles RUSSELL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Who wins? Who loses? Denial Moab will not become a commercial strip dedicated to t-shirts and rubber tomahawks. Spanish Valley will not be transformed into the West Valley City of Southeast Utah. Grand County will catch its breath long before the "build-out" of 30,000. San Juan County will cooperate with us rather than unleashing a flood of bad development, polluted water an expensive service and infrastructure needs down grade. We will not kill the goose. Something is wrong. I think I have been very patient waiting for my check from the Jeep Safari or the Rod-Benders or the Hotel and Camp Park folks to come. Everyday, | go out to the mailbox fully expecting the "great and wond’rous benefits" from the tourist economy to the community I keep hearing about to start rolling in. Nothing. Maybe I haven’t lived here long enough... I don’t believe in a class society, but there is an unmistakable schism in this community often illustrated in the public forum sections of the Zephyr and Times Independent. On one hand are the business owners and real estate interests. On the other are folks working for a paycheck and just trying to held on to the possibility of living here. Anger It sure seems like we’re headed in the above direction. Coping Ah, but Moab is still Moab. Full of nice people. Tons of space. It will take a long time to ruin. We don’t have to worry. We didn’t come here to worry. I wonder why we don’t see letters from dishwashers and bed-makers extolling the virtues of a tourist economy... Depression But isn’t there some responsibility here? Probably, but what is it? Got to look out for #1 first, right? Maybe I should be more involved in governmental and community _ affairs. At least take some time to make my views known-—my voice heard. If only I could bring my lifestyle into harmony with my professed values. I need my stuff. I don’t know what to do. I wonder why we don't see letters from the business sector urging caution and restraint... I wonder why we don’t see letters from dishwashers and bed-makers virtues of a tourist economy and the need for more promotion. I wonder why we don’t see letters from the business sector urging restraint, or the development of a clear vision and plan for a sustainable before charging forward with the next best thing. Maybe there are silent both camps that are just too blissed out to bother saying anything... Well, given the recent Chamber of Commerce Horrors, it is now extolling the caution and community majorities in time for the boosters to tell us how and why increased development and promotion of a tourist economy will be good for the long-term health of this community. Let us not deny that there is'a huge amount of evidence throughout the West to the contrary. Pick your “last best place." Maybe Moab can be different. If the Chamber and Pro Moab and community leaders have a vision in this regard, please share it. Make no mistake about this--I want to be wrong. I would love for someone to demonstrate that Moab can continue on its current development path without sacrificing everything that distinguishes Moab from the Aspens and other towns lucky enough to have scenery worth selling. Everyone who has lived here for any length of time has experienced “peak time.” It surely doesn’t make going about one’s business any simpler, nor the price of gas, groceries and essentials any cheaper. The hosts get gored along with the guests. Unless you have a job working for tips, you still make the same lousy service job wages—you just have to work harder and longer to get them. If you're renting, you're probably getting soaked. And what of the highly touted: benefits associated with rising property values? Well, property values do seem to be on the upswing. However, an increase in property value is only good if you have excess property or want to sell. I have no intention of selling unless I intend to move out of Moab, and I’m not moving out of Moab until we get near the build out level, or we succeed in ruining what is still a superb small community way of life. In the meantime though, property owners will have to pay for that inflating property value every year in the form of increased taxes and increased levies for utilities, services, infrastructure and so on. So, at the end of the day, increased property values only directly benefit those who see their property as just another commodity, rather than a permanent home. Acceptance And what difference does it make anyway? The developers hold all the trump cards. The planners and politicians are going to let them have their way. Nothing I could do would make any difference anyway. So why worry: Be happy (always did | like that ie Que sera sera.. Please, business and property owners, share your vision of Moab in ten years. Twenty. Give us an idea of where we're going. ‘The Good Stuff: Faith & Hope Moab is transforming. Right now we're just exchanging one extractive industry for another. Mining ore to mining the pockets of tourists. Both have severe impacts on the land. But I sense that many who have come here with a broader perspective, who Neve fled the evils of overdevelopment, overcrowding and ything— are beginning to see the innate value of this country, the reality of harmony, the possibility of a grounded life with a sense of place and belonging. These people will preserve and protect these values with the zeal of a convert, with the will of a Mama Bear. If such folk devote a substantial amount of time and energy to engage in the process, go to meetings or better yet run for office or board positions, they will prevail, and in the end, everyone will win. The 4th of July: A perfect example of an event that probably didn’t rake in much dough, but was a.wonderful benefit for the community. The organizers, workers, volunteers and participants did a most excellent job. Very cool parade. Y’all done Moab proud. Summer Monsoons: Hallelujah, and pass the umbrella. After a long dry spell, Mother showed off her power and provided us all quite a show. Witnessing natural From Moab Call: ~ 485.259.8099 www.wayoutwesttours.com Backcountry tours _ for the rest of us... Custom car camping trips River shuttles _Full & Half Day Affordable prices and right in the heart of downtown GREEN RIVER! For reservations: 435.564.3406 |