For years, the residents that live in the neighborhoods surrounding downtown Davenport, along with 3rd Ward Alderman Keith Meyer, have complained that downtown gets all the resources, and the rest of the ward is left out. Their point is valid, and the "fringe" around downtown should receive that attention that it deserves.
Today though, I, as a downtown resident, would like my Alderman to realize that while the Third Ward may not consist solely of downtown, his ward DOES INCLUDE IT. However, everything Alderman Meyer does seems to be against a successful downtown. There are numerous examples of this, but the one that inspires this rant is his maneuver to defeat the Downtown Design Guidelines. Here's a link to today's QCTimes article which mentions it; the design standards story is past the parking story.
Alderman Meyer proposed an amendment to the ordinance that makes the design guidelines voluntary. Can someone explain how that would make any sense? Would the East Village be satisfied with design guidelines (yes, they already have them) that have no teeth? If Walmart decides they want to build a 1 story suburban-style store downtown, apparently that's just fantastic. Does Keith even believe we need a downtown? Should it be different than any other commercial district? These guidelines are approved of by downtown businesses, but apparently Meyer knows better than they what's good for them.
With hundreds of new residents moving into downtown, I don't know that Alderman Meyer can continue down this route and expect to continue being elected. In the last election Bill Boom missed a chance to speak to the 80+ residents of the Crescent Lofts, and he lost by 9 votes. Now there are even more downtown newcomers in the 4th Street Lofts, CityView apartments, and Mississippi Lofts. Does anyone think that many people who recently made the choice to live downtown are going to vote for someone that consistently votes against downtown projects and amenities? These are the very reasons many of us moved down here, and the Crescent, 4th, and Mississippi Lofts would not even exist without River Renaissance. Meyer already lost the D-33 precinct 96-70 in 2005, and with over 200 apartments added downtown in the last few years, that 9-vote lead from 2005 is making the 2007 election look like it'll be pretty interesting.
And yes, I tend to rant on Tuesday mornings.
17 comments:
Meyer is a joke, and if not for a historically pathetic turn out, the clown wouldn't be around.
Not sure if Bloom is the answer, but even a return of someone like Danny or Caldwell would be better.
So son, if you don't like the taste of the dishwater, change it. And run...
It only takes, I believe, 17 signatures on a petition to get on the ballot for the 3rd Ward.
For the record though, I almost certainly won't be running this year.
QCI,
Your eyes are starting to turn brown!
QCI:
Shame on you. If you are going to sing Bill Boom's praises you should first check into his allignment with the Quad city Rental Property Assoc. YOu should look into how darn controlling he is. How he will blow with the wind. If we had an alderman who just gace D1 all they wanted (like Boom) then we would be in worse shape then we are. Isn't it obvious to you that your neighborhood is poor and blighted and that is how it shall remain until the power structure wants to how people accountable? Can't you see that we need a major change in leadership (more like Meyer)? A majority that understands urban revitalization. Instead we have Tara Barney approving the half way house in an already poor neighborhood. Worse, we have D1 actively supporting more low income housing (concentrated) like Horizon Homes. This does not help you as a resident of the 3rd ward. It hurts you.
Umm, let me get this straight. Because you live in a loft and you don't like Meyer, everyone who has moved into the lofts is going to vote against him?
I'd be willing to bet that 10 more people who live in the lofts would vote against Meyer than would vote for him. Something like a count of 25-15 is all it would take.
To 9:07AM:
I'm not being sarcastic at all when I say this (seriously): I'd really like to hear Keith's ideas for urban revitalization sometime.
11:13 - you are assuming no one would vote differently than last time. Never make assumptions when it comes to politics.
FWIW I totally disagree with Meyer and believe we need to have these design standards. It would be pointless to have them if they were voluntary.
Could we get Meyers to add an amendment like that (voluntary) to the next tax hike??
LOLOL - I'm for that! (j/k)
I certainly see nothing wrong with either D1 or the QCRPA. They have both done a lot of good things for Davenport.
Okay Dan and Tony - thanks for the post.
Where in that post did I sing the praises of Bill Boom?
I also didn't say that no new downtown residents would vote for Keith, but I do believe that more would vote against him. If there were 10 Keiths on the council we would have no Figge, RME, LeClaire Park expansion, etc. Without River Renaissance, Alexander company wouldn't have gone into downtown, the Mississippi Lofts wouldn't have happened, and I highly doubt that CityView or the upcoming RiverWalk Lofts would have happened either. If you're presented with a choice of someone who supports downtown, or someone who would have caused the place you live not to exist, which would you choose?
Not doing anything does not revitalize downtowns.
YOu line o fthinking is flawed and could be applied to other aldermen and other parts of town. Ie - the entire central city. McGivern, Moritz, Brooke, Howard, et al have done nothing but vote against the revitlaization of the central city. Where do you get off thinking you are so darn special. Get used to the city not supporting efforts to clean up your area, welcome to the club- solo.
Meyer is the best alderman we have - really he is. He actually participates and asks questions and believe me d1 has got to be questioned.
QCI - you seem to know about what happens in that organization... what is the deal. I am downtown a lot and hear from the RME staff and other patrons of the establishments how messed up Tara is and all of the people down there. That org gets tons o mone and they need to be held to task. It is tax payer money they get and they continue to support some really bad projects without listening to the people.
D1 isn't as sinister as people think, but I've given up trying to convince people long ago.
As far as Alderman Meyer, I've always had mixed feelings. He constantly votes the opposite of what I feel is best for Davenport, BUT, he is also probably the most responsive Alderman on the council to citizen requests and questions. He seems to put his whole life into his job, and you know he's always out there tracking down graffiti or unkempt yards, etc. Really... he should work for the city doing the stuff he does as an Alderman. (and getting paid more than $15k)
I just wish he'd support downtown more.
Are aNy OnE FroM tHE THiRd WArD ????
Post a Comment