Pasayten's Methow Valley Bulletin Board

I believe the community needs to recognize that a pool will be largely self-funded. A sales tax option has merit, particularly for operational costs.

There are public and private grant sources out there, as well as philanthropic money. But the bigger the project, the less likely any single source ...

The incoming mayor of Twisp is in a tough spot.
The town has an unsustainable asset and a budget item that has a strong constituency. I think the incoming mayor has the skills to find a solution.
There are not many outside resources (grants) for public swim facilities, much less for big ones. If ...

A fair and reasonable assessment.

It should be clear to everyone involved that an expensive indoor aquatic center has no future in this valley. The same for an un-elected governing body with authority to take on debt and impose taxes.

Going forward folks should be thinking about a modest proposal ...

Intriguing idea.

Assumably there could be exemptions for certain things like groceries, energy, etc. so that the tax is less regressive.

To the extent that smart people can figure out the appropriate exemptions to protect working folks in the valley, a sales tax can result in visitors paying for ...

Please model good, courteous (and lawful) behavior by promptly removing campaign signs. Free speech issues aside, the signs are a blight.

My big sign on Twin Lakes Road came down at daybreak today.

Show some humility. The point has been made.

- Steve Oulman

Initial Returns, November 7, 8:12 p.m.

For the formation of a metropolitan park district 647 29.4%
Against the formation of a metropolitan park district 1,554 70.6%
Total Votes 2,201

This is a majority of votes cast in the election. The measure will not pass.

David -

I agree with this analysis. I agree with most of your observations.

A publicly-financed indoor aquatic center is simply not appropriate for a sparsely-populated, off-the-beaten-path rural community. It is a solution in search of a problem and not a community priority.

Our community ...

It is a relief that this campaign is over. It has been unnecessarily divisive for the community.

What is truly remarkable that one of the proponents' closing arguments is that the community needs a year-round, indoor aquatic center.

I am simply beyond words . . . .

Steve Oulman ...

Ballots are in homes and are being returned. November 7 is a few days away.

What will be the result of Proposition 1?

An emerging field combining public policy and economics suggests that crowd-sourcing or betting markets is a reasonable way to measure public policy outcomes. In other words ...

I choose not to be bitter and to try to engage in a respectful public policy debate.

People pointed out to the MVNews publisher that the newspaper misrepresented facts in a lead story. The paper printed a clarification.

I'm OK with the result. It doesn't mean that I agree with everything printed ...

I appreciate that Don clarified the record.

I stopped by his office a week ago as papers hit the streets, but he was out. I subsequently wrote him to point out that the news story was wrong.

This has been a heated campaign with statements flying back and forth. It's good that our hometown ...

David makes good points. Running a bulletin board is a no-win operation.

We all ought to question the value it provides.

I think I'm done. I'm totally slack-jawed that a post ranting about FedEx package delivery is a thing, but an opportunity to discuss/debate the community's values and future ...

Good for them. Another good strategic move despite the perception that opinions are already baked in.

Justin Porter texted me saying he expected the measure to go down, probably by a lot.

People should continue to write letters to the editor. Be respectful. Point out previous reporting and ...

I posted the following to the MethowNet bulletin board at 5:05 p.m. on Friday. We'll see how long it stays up.

_______________________


I expect that this post will be taken down. When it is, that's kind of my point.

Blocking comment to a thread about Dr. Jennifer Sherman's important book ...

Blocking discussion of an academic topic of importance to our community speaks volumes about who we are and where we are heading.

I say this as a community planner/policy analyst.

Steve Oulman

Well that's a big nothing-burger.

I guess lacking any substantive proposal they are trying to win over people who like going to meetings and want more opportunities in the future.

The proponents of the measure are well-intentioned good people but have not demonstrated any ability to plan, manage ...

Ray -

Don't get your hopes up.

Don has yet to acknowledge or correct the misinformation he published as news this week.

Content of the flyer aside, that is probably the only smart strategic thing they have done throughout the campaign.

At a late date just before ballots are in homes they can say just about anything without a meaningful way to fact check the message.

A letter to the editor is due Monday at 5:00 but ...

The article was wrong about the composition of the district's governing board.

I visited the MVNews office about noon to talk with Don, but he had just stepped out. Here is what I wrote him.


Don -

The paper is barely on the newsstands and people are writing to fact-check the lead article this ...

I am responsible for the $25+ million dollar figure. People should understand how I arrived at it.

Page 43 of the feasibility study says "The projected capital cost for the project is estimated to be $20,085,723 based on 2022 costs." (Note that a preliminary estimate for an 8-figure project is down ...

I remember few details about the 2014 debate over the recreation district. It wasn't hard to get caught up.
Reading this batch of letters to the editor from just prior to the vote, I was taken by how little has changed.

Steve Oulman

______________________________________
Methow Valley News, March ...

The facebook page in question reaches a limited audience, mainly of people who like or follow the page. The posts being discussed here largely prop up the base supporters.

I encourage people to write letters to the editor. Be respectful. Have your facts correct. Point out statements from past ...

I, too, am frustrated by the ever-changing narrative about Proposition 1. It is impossible to have an intelligent conversation in the community since there is no set of shared facts.

I suspect that people are confused. And confused voters typically vote no.

In a short time, voters pamphlets will ...

It's not necessary to unload on Betsy. Maybe she got bad information. I like Betsy having worked with her for many years while a board member of Methow Recycles. I can disagree with her on this issue.

My response to these arguments is threefold --

1. The tax district is permanent. Plenty of other ...

I will contribute.

Don wrote in his August 31 editorial that political ads get a 15% discount.

Steve Oulman