Do you want 12 month employment/economy

[Zach7777]

Originally Posted by Professor Piper

I think we should first address affordable housing for those, etheral, workers who are supposed to fill the mythical positions that are being dreamed about....

You can build whatever you wish: A factory; a huge mega-resort; an indoor water-wonderland; whatever....

If those you wish to staff these marvels have no place to live, AFFORDABLY with our REALLY sub-standard wages, then you can dream all you want....

To really FIX the situation that Branson is in, you must first address the REAL issues...

We don't have enough people to staff the jobs that we have available.....

There, I've given you the 'Starting Point' of the problem....Now, smarter folks than me go fix the situation.

God Bless,

Terry
(Prof. Piper)

....ahhh..sooo..my dear professor, read the other thread....it is proclaimed we HAVE affordable housing..and plenty of it......perhaps we do for those who can afford it.....

[Professor Piper]

Affordable houseing is as mythic, my dear friend Zach, as Dragons....

One part of me wishes like he## that they exist, because of their regal beauty...

The other part of me knows that they are figments of my imagination, because it just isn't so....

Affordable houseing does NOT include: Single wide, 1970 model mobile homes...It does NOT include over-priced, one bedroom apartments with realators who think they are God Almighty and can do whatever they wish....

Just so the defintions of "Affordable housing" is clear....

It is WAY past time that the REAL people (you know, the ones who pay their taxes, rent, bills, etc) are actually HEARD and not ignored as is the norm around here...

It is the WORKING CLASS that keeps Branson alive...

Never forget that, because we are NOT happy and we are getting more and more PISSES as the days go by....

Also, never forget, that without us, Branson will die a very slow and painfu death...

You've been warned....

It's time you (The Branson elite) LISTEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God Bless,

Prof. Piper
(Terry)

[Zach7777]

Originally Posted by Professor Piper

Affordable houseing is as mythic, my dear friend Zach, as Dragons....

One part of me wishes like he## that they exist, because of their regal beauty...

The other part of me knows that they are figments of my imagination, because it just isn't so....

Affordable houseing does NOT include: Single wide, 1970 model mobile homes...It does NOT include over-priced, one bedroom apartments with realators who think they are God Almighty and can do whatever they wish....

Just so the defintions of "Affordable housing" is clear....

It is WAY past time that the REAL people (you know, the ones who pay their taxes, rent, bills, etc) are actually HEARD and not ignored as is the norm around here...

It is the WORKING CLASS that keeps Branson alive...

Never forget that, because we are NOT happy and we are getting more and more PISSES as the days go by....

Also, never forget, that without us, Branson will die a very slow and painfu death...

You've been warned....

It's time you (The Branson elite) LISTEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God Bless,

Prof. Piper
(Terry)

TRUE, Very True. And it may be possible it is happening even now....and is indeed probable that it is happening even now.....

[Professor Piper]

Originally Posted by Zach7777

TRUE, Very True. And it may be possible it is happening even now....and is indeed probable that it is happening even now.....

One can only hope....

I won't be satisfied until a family of four can tell me that their Rent doesn't account for more than a 1/4 of their montyly income...

Then, and UNTIL then, I will continue to preach against the 'establshmen' and work towards a more equitable reality for ALL of US, not just those with big checking accounts...

You know the ones I'm talking about: Those who don't worry about how they are going to pay their bills in Jan.-March like the vast majority of us....

Until then, I'm a hard-nosed sceptick who looks to those 'with the means' to make it with a jaded eye....

God Bless,

Terry

[TheOleSeagull]

Originally Posted by JackPurvis

Should our community leaders (business and elected) be working to find solutions to the 10 month economy?

Please tell the Ole Seagull that is a rhetorical question! In 2007 you call, what community leaders for years have referred to as “extending the season,” finding “solutions to the 10 month economy.” At least ever since the Ole Seagull has lived here, and that has been since 1986, community leaders, both elected and unelected have been working to extend the season. As a matter of fact without their efforts your question would be “Should our community leaders (business) and elected) be working to find solutions to the 8 month economy?”

Thanks to the efforts of a lot of people, Branson's season has expanded from the end of October, when Silver Dollar city closed, to the middle or end of December. Indeed some folks believe that the make it or break it months for a lot of businesses is that time frame. Even as this is being written there are many folks and businesses working to extend the season even farther, “Hot Winter Fun” is but one example.” For what it’s worth, in an Ole Seagull’s opinion, the obvious answer to your question is “Yes.”

[jchefie]

Jack, you have had many years as an Alderman to investigate and make the changes you now seem to tout. In looking at your records, and listening to the meetings, you surely say on thing and vote another. Maybe it is time for you to step aside and let someone who really cares about what happening to Branson and doesn't just want to hear their voice in chambers.

I was also concerned that YOU have been repeating "Rumors" about your opponet's position on 12 month economy. Remember that when you point fingers you have 3 more pointing back at you, or should we look at your voting record. It is time Jack to be the Gentleman and an officer you claim to be or shall we continue this dance.

[Zach7777]

I have gone back and read again Grizzly's comment about affordable housing and need to make sure we understand that perhaps he did NOT say exactly what I thot he said...what he says is there IS affordable housing and plenty of it, but we don't have it for those working 9 or 10 months and for low wages and no health benefits. So he is probably agreeing there is NO affordable housing.....I'm not really sure. And Grizzly I am not picking at what you said either....I may not quite understand what you were saying for sure. We NEED housing for those who are working those months and for those wages and I know you know that. In my area I have seen manufacutured homes listed for rent at unbelievable prices.....$500 and more PLUS utilities and I can promise you they are NOT worth that...falling apart and shouldnt even be lived in. I don't know what the answer is. With rising gas prices one can't afford to drive far to work either. Anyway I just wanted to clear up my misunderstanding of what Grizzly may have been saying. Also, Mellie, rent isn't changing..those quotes are still good!!

Originally Posted by Mellie

I'm sure it was a rhetorical question. Jack knows that we need a 12-month economy and he knows that he needs to work toward that...we've discussed it. I think he was just a little discouraged by those who told him, "Our theaters work so hard that they need a two month vacation"...

To those elected officials who believe that...give me a break! The vast majority of workers in Branson are not in the entertainment business, and we work just as hard (if not harder), and we need that 12-month paycheck. We don't need no stinking 2-month vacation!



Zach, I was not going to touch that comment by Grizzly, but I was thinking the same thing. Grizzly, you know I love you dearly, but if you hadn't pm'd me about our house showing up on the MLS, we may still be looking for something affordable. My husband and I make a fairly decent salary and have no children at home, but we could not find anything that we could afford...not anything that we would live in. I just don't know how people with families make it, after they pay rent. I listen to my co-workers telling about how they're going to have to move from their affordable apartments, because they've just witnessed one of their neighbors being busted for meth...one too many times. They don't want their kids to wake-up in the middle of the night, to the sounds of the police searching the apartment next door, and leading the occupants out, in handcuffs.

The average rent on a 2/3 bedroom house (that I found), was $1200 a month. There are not many people who can afford that. The ones under $1000 were trash. Maybe it's changing...I haven't looked for almost a year, now. I hope it's changing.

[BransonMoTiger]

Originally Posted by jchefie

Jack, you have had many years as an Alderman to investigate and make the changes you now seem to tout. In looking at your records, and listening to the meetings, you surely say on thing and vote another. Maybe it is time for you to step aside and let someone who really cares about what happening to Branson and doesn't just want to hear their voice in chambers.

I was also concerned that YOU have been repeating "Rumors" about your opponet's position on 12 month economy. Remember that when you point fingers you have 3 more pointing back at you, or should we look at your voting record. It is time Jack to be the Gentleman and an officer you claim to be or shall we continue this dance.

During Jack's tenure on the Board (until the April, 2007 election), the city fathers have worked on job creation and economic development. Since the April, 2007 election, the "new slate" of Mayor Presley, Sandra Williams, Bob McDowell and Stephen Marshall have fulfilled their campaign promise of "taking a deep breath", etc. to the point that no new projects have committed to Branson. The effect of the election of the "new slate" has been to freeze new job creation in Branson.

Jack has voted to create incentives to bring year-round jobs to Branson. This is in contrast to the "new slate" who are running the city without a city administrator for the last 8 months and by running off the economic development director just after the previous board created a commerce park that is (or at least, was at the time) ripe to be filled with non-entertainment year-round high paying jobs.

[DalmationDad]

Probably nothing new here, but it's a reminder of what the neighbors are doing.
http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.../1006/OPINIONS

[Grizzly]

Thanks, Zach,
I guess the sarcasm button failed to engage on that point. My point was to say if wages and benefits increase, then the deffinition of affordable changes. THEN, we probably have enough housing or at least we could build it then.

.

[Zach7777]

Originally Posted by Grizzly

Thanks, Zach,
I guess the sarcasm button failed to engage on that point. My point was to say if wages and benefits increase, then the deffinition of affordable changes. THEN, we probably have enough housing or at least we could build it then.

.

on what you are saying. And....i began to suspect that was the intent of the comment.....i was a tad bit slow on picking it up...

[ggh]

$1200/month for 2/3 bedroom APARTMENT rent???

Heck, that's double my house payment - and my house has a yard and is more sq ft than any apt I've ever seen - but it's not in Branson. (If it were, with rent like that, I'd be mighty tempted to rent out the kids bedrooms..... afterall they don't live here anymore, )

With rent like that, I'm not sure how anyone keeps their heads above water, even those working 12 months/year would have difficulty with that.

[Zach7777]

Originally Posted by DalmationDad

Probably nothing new here, but it's a reminder of what the neighbors are doing.
http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.../1006/OPINIONS

That was interesting....thanks...

[Zach7777]

Originally Posted by ggh

$1200/month for 2/3 bedroom APARTMENT rent???

Heck, that's double my house payment - and my house has a yard and is more sq ft than any apt I've ever seen - but it's not in Branson. (If it were, with rent like that, I'd be mighty tempted to rent out the kids bedrooms..... afterall they don't live here anymore, )

With rent like that, I'm not sure how anyone keeps their heads above water, even those working 12 months/year would have difficulty with that.

My house payment is alot less than renting would have been....but i also fell into a really good deal when i bought too.....but for many renting is the only option they have.

[ggh]

What is Branson offering manufacturers to try to get them to the area? Anything comparable to what Spfld is doing?