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Show THE ZEPHYR JULY 1990 terms of the plan. New businesses opened In town, but they weren't manufacturing firms. They were restaurants and shops and tourist related art and gift shops. Shellenberger Is blamed for not doing Ms Job. Just as Bette Stanton from the county's economic development effort Is blamed for not doing her Job. Future economic development directors snd staff will be blamed. But the fault Is misplaced. The entire focus on economic development Is skewed. Rather than approach what we have here and what we can do to make It better, we create a wish llsL We wish we had light Industry. We wish we had a diversified economy. But a tent manufacturer Is not going to move to town because we want him to. A sleeping bag sewing plant will not appear In town because we vote for one. Businesses will set up here for the same reason they always have In the past Because they can make money. The minerals companies came because they could make profits. A motel chain will move In here because It can rent rooms. Manufacturers choose locations because that location Is the best possible one for that business. Lower labor costs, cheaper materials, higher profit margins. Moab cannot supply those benefits, with the exception of a cheap labor force, and It defeats the purpose of bringing In high paying Jobs If we are working for low wages. In the final analysis, were left with one argument for why a business should come to Moab. Ifs a nice place. And In the board rooms where decisions are made, that doesn't cut It With the exception that those Industries that have an Interest In "a nice place, not because stockholders want their employees to feel happy, but because a nice place can Increase their profits. T-s- hirt .. IS ANOThCR. WLC0tt MALI'S PAGE 9 NEEDLES OUTPOST Canyonlands National Park - Needles District Located 34 miles west on Hwy 211 General store - snack bar Ice - cold beer - pop Showers - firewood or 259-854- 5 Jeep tours by reservation Gas - propane Camping partial hookups 4x4 rentals Scenic flights Maps - books - information 259-203- 2 TO vtoAfc NIGflfMARe. UNTAtkl Bltfe CAPITOL OP THC WORLD Pete So we are back to tourism. With sll Its drawbacks, It remains the most solid opportunity for development Instead of looking for utopian substitutes, more and more political and civic figures In town are starting to some past opinions of tourism. As a town, we are beginning to dscuss directing what we have Instead of searching for what we don't Instead of accepting as Inevitable the conclusion that service related, tourists Jobs have to be the lowest paid, there Is talk of creating a town that can attract a higher quality (meaning bigger spending) tourist A sign ordinance that will reduce the Main Street clutter Is a major step In that direction, to create an atmosphere to encourage visitors to stroll along the street evenings rather than crawl back to a motel and watch television. The plans for a downtown visitors center and plaza falls right along with the newly emerging program, In creating a central area, a form of tourist profit center. The work to limit the rental of Individual homes to overnight visitors, although primarily motivated by a desire by the city to protect the residential character of neighborhoods, helps to discourage the scattering of the tourist resource. The University of Utah Fine Arts programs, and especially their performing arts add to the growth of a better Industry. can center, The encouragement of more expensive, quality restaurants will lead to better wages for the restaurant staff, putting pressure on others In town who will want to continue the almost criminally low salaries. And that pressure to pay better will spread beyond restaurants, to motels and shops. The tourist Industry will continue to grow In Moab, no matter what we do. But we can at least partially direct that growth toward condttlons that make Itpossfole for residents to make the Investors pay (us) as well as profit & 471 South Main Desert Plaza 259-773- 5 re-exa- cuts nails perms hair color fly rods shampoo sets new hours: 8AM-9P- Mon-Fri8AM-6P- M Sat M BOB BnEBHHananB zeke and maralee francis Four Corners Design (across from the post office) 10TH ANNIVERSARY SALE CARJ4CM MIRANDA 1 HCRCTO NU mid-Jul- y US C&AQRAT6... CARflOlj Im Dave Bierschied and Im running for county commissioner. In order forI me to serve the citizens of Grand County, need to know whats on your mind. If you have an opinion youd like to share with me, a new idea, a complaint, or any suggestion that can help me help our county, please give me a call or drop me a line. Thanks 411 Loveridge Dr. 259-821- 7 Co. WRnT CORNCR. Htou Itf A Help Gs Celebrate WW& MAWCtT A& IAST VfeAR? uf AHouNbf N&W. CHA-CH- A cha! |