The Standard-Examiner has graciously provided more red meat for the Weber County Forum breakfast menu this morning, with its publication of this Jim Stavrakakis guest commentary, in which Mr. Stavrakakis severely chastises some good citizens of this community who stood up for the private property rights of their neighbors during the recently-defeated Wal-mart landgrab.I'm going to incorporate Mr. Stravakakis's article in full, since it's short and doesn't take up much bandwidth (or Brainwidth). Before doing this however, I'll just comment, that Mr. Stravakakis seems to be of that same pseudo-progressive mindset that holds that homeowners and business-people who fight to preserve American core values, i.e., private property rights, are "shameful," "petty" and "selfish." What's more, Mr. Stravakakis makes it very clear that he and his "progressive" fellow travelers suffer serious disappointment and inconvenience, now that they'll all apparently be forced to drive all the way to progressive West Haven, to purchase baskets-full of cheap and shoddy Chinese-manufactured "goods."
Here's the full text of Mr. Stavrakakis's article (I no, am not naking this up):
Guest CommentaryBon appetit, WCF readers!
By Jim Stavrakakis
The recent news story about the commercial successes surrounding the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Harrisville should be "must reading" for all those who opposed Ogden's plans for a Wal-Mart -- a similar development -- and all others in Ogden who advocated for the city's plans to develop the deteriorating west side of the community ("Businesses sprout around Wal-Mart," Aug. 7). This is, indeed, a message and a lesson learned for everyone.
Those who opposed the development should be ashamed. Do they realize they have killed a potentially sales-tax-revenue-rich source that is so sorely needed to be one of Ogden's financial saviors? It is nothing short of pure selfishness to stall or kill Ogden's plans to accommodate such a prosperous commercial development.
Those who favored the plan will realize the disappointment that comes with being forced to travel outside Ogden to make retail purchases that are offered at the proposed retail store, as well as to patronize the other businesses that would most certainly crop up -- just as they did in Harrisville.
What a shame that doomsayers can stop healthy commercial growth in Ogden because of pure pettiness.
They now can sit back and watch Wal-Mart go west to progressive West Haven, whose elected officials are sure to cooperate with developers and inherit the financial windfall that the proposed development promises.
It is mind boggling that intelligent people -- CPAs, real estate agents, store clerks, auto mechanics, etc. -- profess allegiance to living in Ogden, yet demonstrate such lack of respect to the community by throwing up roadblocks and denying our elected officials the necessary tools to proceed with vitally needed business and commercial developments.
Ogden residents ought to mobilize and become boosters and make certain that the city ensures growth and prosperity that is so valuable to the future of our community.
Stavrakakis is a retired social worker, professional bartender and community activist. He lives in Ogden.
I'd also like to personally thank the Standard-Examiner's Don Porter for delivering this wonderful plate of USDA prime red meat for our gentle readers, as they sit down for their morning cocoa and open the WCF front-page. It certainly makes one local blogger's life much easier when he doesn't have to scour the internet for hours to find something suitable to serve on the breakfast menu for our information-hungry regulars.
And Jim! How about whipping me up a spicy bloody Mary to wash down all that tasty red meat?
24 comments:
Hmmm, I wonder if Jim Stavrakakis is related to Carol Stavrakakis, who runs the gift shop "The Jade Tree" on the West side of Harrison Boulevard. Anyone know?
Carol is Jim's ex-wife.
Hell, I was wonderin how much good old Jim's tips are going up the next time he is shuckin and jivin and servin up cocktails to the elite Godfreyites at the country club?
I don't mean to put down good old "up" Jim, he has been around the Ogden social scene virtually forever, catering to and entertaining the rich folks.
Mr. Personality and mixes a great drink, but as far as his understanding of government, free enterprise, democracy and our basic rights, I think he is clueless.
I'm still having trouble with the idea that these people all seem to share, that seizing peoples's homes and businesses, and transferring them to giant corporations, is in any way "progressive."
Repressive would seem like a better word, if you ask me.
I think it's posssible to be strongly in favor of progress, without resorting to tyranny.
If Ogden City thought Wal-Mart was essential to the city's financial survival, why didn't they simply place it on the abandoned Mall site?
AMEN to the last comment!
So this guy Stavrakakis is a professional bartender, right?
I wonder which side of the bar this Jim guy's really been sitting behind all his life.
Is this the best the council incumbents have to defend themselves?
Seems pretty pathetic to me.
Jim is a very nice man. I would be saddened if people beat up on him in this site. He means well and is a life long booster of Ogden. I do not know what qualifies him to make these disturbing claims but I believe his motive is his love for our town.
Sure is....hubbie & wife
I know Jim Stavrakakis, and I agree, he probably said his thing with the good of Ogden in mind. The problem here, however, is as Rudi says....they just don't get it. No homes for big business. It's unconstitutional and very morally wrong. Easy to say the neighborhood's blighted when they don't go there and don't really know it's make-up. I still say, walk the walk and give WalMart your house if your so damn in need of the place.
It would be a good thing for Ogden, but there are many places suitable, without yanking a guy's home away from him. What about the old Sam's Club on 34th & Wall? Isn't that Walton's property? What about the other side of 21st St below Wall, where that ugly old oil soaked pond is? Cost less to fill that man made eyesore than to buy a bunch of homes. This thing with the Reeves Ave area is just one more of those "Acquisition" packages the cities use to rid themselves of whom they feel are undesirable. It's not only theft, it a violation of a person's Civil Rights and a slap in the face of those who populate certain areas, and the Gang of 6 should be ashamed.
"What a shame that doomsayers can stop healthy commercial growth in Ogden because of pure pettiness."
The pure pettiness was the fact that other people owned the land.
I hope this board would be livid if Walmart owned land and was prevented from opening a Walmart in Ogden.
Anyway, althepal asked about "progressive." Progressive is one of those political words with a twist. It is often used as a synonym for socialism. As such confiscating land owned by the middle class then giving it to rich corporations would be seen as progressive.
Personally, I wish progressive did not have this double meaning.
Read about a $113,000, in Percent for the Arts funding, that will be spent later to "shine up" some local areas with exhibits. The first is a 50K deal from the City, with matching funds given by the UTA, on an exhibit at the transit center, where ever that is (the Intermodal Hub, I think). Then, another 63K will be spent on a "water feature" that is to surround the $18.5 million Recreation Center. These funds come via 1% of the capital improvement expenditures. To go along with the "water feature" (a skating rink or a fountain, if there's room) could be a mural on the side of the parking garage at the mall site. Somebody in charge thinks this would be a good attraction, a good draw. I don't know about you, but I can't think of a better place to hold an art exhibit than at the Intermodal Hub, right next to the Subway Shop. Then on to see the fountain or do a little outdoor skating and view the mural at the mall site, once the rec center has been built.
Funny thing is, this sort of thing works at the Galavin Center and the Gateway Mall in SLC. Big attractions, big draws, Olympic memories at the Snowflake Fountain. The trick is to do it right.
Here's the rub: with success just 30 miles away, we have a dissenter in City Council. You guessed it, it's Kent Jorgenson, our crack time-keeper, co-chairman. "I absolutely HATE the idea of doing something similar to what their doing in Salt Lake City," is his slant on things. Sure makes sense, a money maker that one might get an idea from. Last thing the city needs.
I HATE that idea.
And now the boys from City Hall want to "outsource" the management of BDO. Maybe another outfit from out of town, just like most of the mayor's hirees. Why give the money to a local? Just look what Patterson, Reid and that crew has done for our town. Let's keep the ball rolling on the same old, progressive path, eh?
Yo, EC, we can take the gondola from the Hub to the water feature, which ties a nice ribbon around this fine package.
So to attack someone for his words is only wrong if that person is not in political office?
Either treat everyone fairly or don't, but try not to be too hypocritical.
Arcritic, you got me. What the hell are you driving at? Attack? Office? Wrong? Tie it all together for me and re-do your thought, because I'm in SLOW MODE today and ya lost me, even though I've looked back over all the posts and the thread.
sorry dick, a few days ago rudi commented on how he had invited people from the administration here to discuss things but they seem to be unwilling. I commented about how, the way people attack them, calling them names and worse, why would anyone want to come here. Not many people seemed to think I had much of a point (I believe rudi and dian and maybe someone else did).
Now people start attacking this Jim guy and someone comes along and says "hey, I know Jim. He's a nice guy. Give him a break."
I am not an appoligist for the administration I just think people need to be more civil in general. And if you are going to be civil to one group of people you don't know well, you should be civil to everyone.
The discussion was in the thread "Sledge-Hammer Solutions to Fly-Swatter Problems?"
I used a couple of comments from that thread but there are examples of people attacking others, most often the current and former Ogden City officials.
Thanks Arcritic....makes sense to me. Treat 'em all the same but with some decency thrown in. I don't mind hardball, but some of these guys go abit over the edge. Thanks for the explanation.
It is my humble opinion that any public figure that acts in an arrogant and condencending manner toward the citizens is fully deserving of any and all of the kidney punches, upper cuts and verbal slams that any concerned citizen wants to throw.
I especially believe that these mayorial rubber stampers by the name of Jorgenson and Burdett should be relieved of their duties at the very earliest time possible, like November for instance.
The time for change is fast approaching. This will be our best chance for a long time to really make a positive difference in Emerald City government.
Let me just say that I completelely agree with Jim Stavrakakis's statement.
Most commies would, Karl. I hope to hell the administration nails your house next....you idiots who think that taking a person's home is OK personifies lack of character, lack of compassion, lack of heart, and a total lack of understanding. Give away artists, usually jealous cause they got nothing themselves, or if they do they haven't earned it!
Stavrakakis said:
"It is mind boggling that intelligent people -- CPAs, real estate agents, store clerks, auto mechanics, etc. -- profess allegiance to living in Ogden, yet demonstrate such lack of respect to the community by throwing up roadblocks and denying our elected officials the necessary tools to proceed with vitally needed business and commercial developments."
It's these "necessary tools" that concern me, and how far that's going to go. If WalMart, for example, made it known that it had its eye on a location, would the city be given the "necessary tools" to bulldoze that no matter who and what was on it? Or force the residents, if there were any, to sell at a loss?
I was trying to remember the saga of when the Albertson's went in on Harrison at the mouth of Ogden Canyon. I seem to remember residents there getting incredible amounts of money, (for that time,) for their properties, the argument being that the zoning was changed from residential to commercial and therefore the fair market value of the land shot up with this change and it was worth more. There was wrangling, true, but people seemed to accept this argument back then.
I am unaware of the city kicking in any costs or tax increments for them, but I really don't know. Anybody else remember this? It might be interesting to compare then and now.
It ain't that complicated.
Stavrakakis is a socialist.
He thinks your private home and business belongs to everybody else.
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