I am not here to attack Hal, but I do believe that it is my right to offer constructive criticism of his program. Hal is a great host, if it is as the role of an emcee. That is the way I think Hal looks at his role. He definitely has a great talent as an orator behind the mic. But, my criticism is that his show could deliver so much more to the community and I have sent e-mails in the past to Hal stating this. The community deserves to hear all of the relevant sides of an issue, but Hal steadfastly refuses to bring any point-counterpoint issues to his show and all we get is the City Bureaucracy's side of the story. Is that fair?
Once again Hal brought up the $20 million game changer question. He asked if anyone had brought any ideas to the Mayor. The Mayor inferred that no one had and then went into a diatribe about bringing the retirees into the community and also stated that people had made fun of him about the $20 million idea and that the people in the city would come up with the money for the "RIGHT" idea.
I would like to make a couple of points. First of all, I spoke to the Mayor on that very program a few months ago about microlending and what did we see? He got very defensive about the issue and basically dismissed it outright. I think when the Mayor talks about the "Right Idea," what he is referring to is the "WRIGHT Idea." He wants something that he can take full credit for and if no one comes to him with anything he can point the finger and say, "See no one else has any ideas either." What it shows me is that the Mayor doesn't have any ideas and leaders are supposed to generate ideas through themselves or others.
The Mayor and the City Manager have proven time and time again that they are not team players. They want all of the credit for the good and none of the blame for the bad. It is like in football, the Quarterback and the Coach get the credit for the good and the blame for the bad. The great coaches and quarterbacks accept that and the ones that fail always look to deflect criticism and absolve themselves of mistakes. The greats admit fault, learn from mistakes, and apply themselves under that greater understanding in the future. I have never heard the City of Hickory admit fault or that they have made any mistakes about anything
Does anyone think that he has looked further into the issue of microlending and doing anything about it? Or bringing forward any public discussion about microlending possibilities or the pros and cons or making it possible for private capital to make funding of such an function possible?
At the end of Hal's show, he stated that no one was coming forward with ideas. He stated that the people who complain were just complainers who had nothing constructive to offer. On this issue, I will tell you that Hal was referring to this blog. Personally, I'm a little tired of the naivete offered up by the local media that never discusses the real issues that affect our area. Is that the role of the news media? To never complain or offer criticism and to only spout forth the City of Hickory or other local official's propaganda?
I have offered many solutions on this very blog about the direction this community can take. I will list some quotes that have been placed here over the years below:
An All-American City deserves first-class leadership (July 15, 2007) :
We need to be inviting alternative fuel energy companies to take a look at the area. We are located at or near several major thoroughfares. We need to look at the biotech industry and how we could entice these companies to come here. We need to look to future technologies and how we could play a part in their development. We see Charlotte thriving, yet we are floundering. It's time to end the excuses and show some results.
Hickory - Time to put the Puzzle together (August 17, 2009):
Looking at Richard Florida’s philosophy got me to thinking about Hickory’s plight. Hickory must figure out a way to retain its best and brightest citizens, especially the twenty and thirty somethings. These are the generations that help a community constantly renew and revitalize itself. These are the people who have children and spend money on commodities that help a city to grow and prosper. The way to retain these people is to encourage industries that they will be more willing to participate in; High Tech industries such as robotics, energy, health care, engineering, and biomedical technology.
A key to creativity is understanding and accepting the needs and differences of individuals. In my opinion, many creative people don’t want to live in this area, because we make them feel uncomfortable or even unaccepted. We hear a lot about like-mindedness, but what about diversity? We need people coming at local issues from all angles, conforming to one way of thinking reeks of authoritarianism. Creativity never thrives under such conditions....
When it comes to building industry in our area, it’s not about College. It’s about knowledge. Do we have the types of Knowledge Industries available that will interest and retain the educated class? Are the people who grow up here and go away to college coming back after they obtain their degree? Are the young adults that we educate in our local Institutions of Higher Education staying here after they graduate? The key to prosperity is developing employment opportunities for the educated (and trained) at a living and sustainable wage. Our area’s wage growth proves that this is not happening. Without good jobs, we cannot have a prosperous and vibrant community. We cannot have the cultural amenities so many desire, because our tax base and marketplace will not support it....
What I believe we should study is the Commercial characteristics and Cultural Amenities of these cities and how they are addressing needs that are relevant to the 21st century. Every one of these cities is addressing their Public Transportation needs and I think that it is imperative that we also do just that. Our Public Transportation system is extremely inadequate for an area of our size. Population growth has been shown to be a key to a successful economy. If we move towards a structure that encourages growth, then we must develop a public transportation central nervous system to ensure that the growth is systematic and sustainable and doesn’t have a negative impact on our ability to travel to different destinations in the area.
Hickory sits at several important geographical and transportational crossroads and should be a vital central location for Western North Carolina. In my opinion that is what caused this city to develop in the first place. Why we lost the meaning and significance of this part of our city's Mission of Existence is beyond me....
Forbes ranks Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton as #147 area out of 150 when it comes to Culture and Leisure. This Index is based on museums, theaters, golf courses, sports teams, and other activities. I think the SALT Block is an excellent public cultural facility, we have the Crawdads and, and we have a ton of golf courses (and a golf tournament) around here. So by process of elimination, I believe that this tells us that we need to improve upon our entertainment business sector. There really isn’t much to do around here other than go to bars.
Developing an entertainment complex would go hand-in hand with our restaurant and retail business sectors and it would appeal to a younger demographic. I have heard the possibilities of a mid-sized concert venue being developed and I think a nice Amphitheater in the area would have a lot to offer. Just think of people around the region converging on Hickory and spending money in our stores. That seems like a lot better scenario than always having our citizens go to concerts in Charlotte, Asheville, Greensboro, or Greenville, SC and spend money there.
Many people believe me to be eternally pessimistic when it comes to my hometown. I honestly don’t believe that I am. Some don’t like the message and others don’t like the way I have delivered it. But, would they have listened if I had softballed it up to them. Empirical evidence points to the fact that they wouldn’t have. I think the issues that we have faced and continue to face are solvable. But, we need to quit wasting time and get on with solving these issues that have plagued this area for years.
In our Future Economy Council Linked In Group. I wrote this just yesterday and it is related to issues that I have delved into on this blog (8/23/2011):
It is all about Trends and I believe that is what Curtis in part is alluding to. I think that what we need to do is look to the local ingredients we have, such as craftsmanship, and tune those into what will be needed if and when the economy turns around. Look at the positioning Charlotte is doing related to energy.
I look at trends and energy is most definitely an issue. It always has been and always will be. You can look at food in much the same manner. The way that we currently source food is very inefficient. I really do believe that an industry that helps create self-sustainability of food items at home can be a good effort. Make it easy for people to grow salad and fruits at their homestead and become self-sufficient. Make it user friendly.
I also think there are ways to help people be more efficient in their energy usage when it comes to heating and cooling their houses. This along with hot water usage are the major costs of residential energy bills. I also like the ideas of residential water conservation and using run-off to our advantage through man made aquaducts, cisterns, and holding ponds. We can merge this with manufacturing of water purification systems that can service our areas and help other cities throughout the country.
I also think the sooner that we get involved in rail transportation systems, the better we are going to be positioning ourselves in the future.
And here is a response to another:
Energy, food, and water technology. Three issues that have always been important in the development of mankind. I also think home sustainability is an important issue and not being too dependent on the control grid. Industries that help people be self-sufficient are going to be very important as the economy worsens. If you can't grow a little food, you just might starve to death. People learned this the hard way back in the 1930s.As you can see above, I have put forward things that can be done. You can talk about these being generalities. What investment isn't a generality until action is taken to make it happen and then the shovels dig the ground and then construction is finished and the project is officially utilized. Look at the Northeast Wastewater Treatment Center. That is how the steps of progress took place. That is how projects work. That project was a dream and a general concept at one time, but soon it will be part of the fabric of our infrastructure.
The problem with Hickory is not a lack of ideas. The problem with Hickory is a lack of understanding about priorities, initiatives, and a sense of urgency. We don't have time for nonsense. Our city's problems will not be solved at Bojangles or the Snack Bar. Our problems will be solved when we quit playing little games and start engaging people who care and let them be part of the team and participate in working towards the long term viability of our local economy.
7 comments:
I’ve thought about Row’s comment off and on for the better part of today since hearing of it. It occurs to me that for effective communication, one must listen as well or better than they orate or write. And of course Hal, content with himself, would opine that nothing has been said worthwhile for either he or Rudy to listen to. So for those, including perhaps Hal and the Mayor, who read this and might tend to agree with the dismissal of a different perspective or opinion that that held by the two principles on the radio, let me point out the following:
Open Letter to Hal Row and Mayor Rudy Wright.
First of all, there is no $20 million dollar investment pool. Do you honestly think we buy that a group of investors would drop 20 million in start up capital on an idea from some unknown that the Mayor thinks is grand? No market research, no viability study, nothing except an idea that is really neat. Besides, if I have an idea on the scale that it’s going to require that must start-up capital, do you honestly think I or anyone else would give it to you? If it were that major and viable, I’d find my own investors and run my own deal, make my own profits and my own fame, thank you very much.
I’d like to pose my own question. Hal Row and Mayor Wright, as a well respected journalist and an entrepreneurial small businessman, what ideas have each of you put forth for consideration? Surely since it is so easy to formulate ideas and products/services that are such a boon to the community, one of you should be on top of this.
You guys comport to the single fix solution just like those that wholly subscribe to creationist notions view evolution, forever demanding evidence or proof in the form of the ‘missing link’. You think that there is one thing, one point, one pivot where things were, then this link came about, and everything began anew on a different tangent. So too, you think that with this one thing, is the missing link to success and turning everything around for area. What do you think got this area into the shape it’s in now? Sticking to the same thing, doing it the same way, denying things would ever change in Hickory, Republic of, and anybody that thinks or thought otherwise, was wrong, and if they stated that publicly, a malcontent or disgruntled employee. And if that’s the way they feel, they can feel free to leave, right boys? Or else be trivialized simply because you know how to write or better yet, think and form your own opinions. Yeah, that makes one a complainer. With area unemployment hovering near 13% and according to the venerable Hickory Daily Record in this past Sunday’s edition, poverty is growing exponentially.
What you both seem to be missing is, disagreement and public discourse are pivotal to our form of government. But that just isn’t the Hickory way, is it? What you have to say, truly say, is done behind closed doors or by a process oft referred to as, “Back Door Politics.” Everything else is a sound byte or photo op to speak in public and you never truly say anything of substance. And you facilitate that Row. You ask soft questions and toe the company line to always keep that best side forward in the public view. Nothing is perfect. Not the people and certainly not the system. It’s like being 20 pounds overweight. You got to exercise on occasion in order to stay fit. The political process is the same too; you’ve got to exercise it and its processes in order to ensure it works. All of that to summarize with, you two act like asking questions or being critical is like slapping the crap out of the Pope. That’s ripe for a pun, but I’ll refrain.
Cont'd from first post:
Do I dislike either of you? Not at all, but I disagree with you and what your saying and the singular points of focus you hold and try to manipulate the population to. Just because you didn’t think of it doesn’t make it silly. Just because you don’t agree with it doesn’t make it wrong. Open your minds then open your eyes and ears. You would be surprised at what you’re missing. Who knows, someone might just give you the basis for that $20 million idea.
First Post
I’ve thought about Row’s comment off and on for the better part of today since hearing of it. It occurs to me that for effective communication, one must listen as well or better than they orate or write. And of course Hal, content with himself, would opine that nothing has been said worthwhile for either he or Rudy to listen to. So for those, including perhaps Hal and the Mayor, who read this and might tend to agree with the dismissal of a different perspective or opinion that that held by the two principles on the radio, let me point out the following:
First of all, there is no $20 million dollar investment pool. Do you honestly think that a group of investors would drop 20 million in start up capital on an idea from some unknown that the Mayor thinks is grand? No market research, no viability study, nothing except an idea that is really neat. Besides, if I have an idea on the scale that it’s going to require that must start-up capital, do you honestly think I or anyone else would give it to you? If it were that major and viable, I’d find my own investors and run my own deal, make my own profits and my own fame, thank you very much.
I’d like to pose my own question. Hal Row and Mayor Wright, as a well respected journalist and an entrepreneurial small businessman, what ideas have each of you put forth for consideration? Surely since it is so easy to formulate ideas and products/services that are such a boon to the community, one of you should be on top of this.
You guys comport to the single fix solution just like those that wholly subscribe to creationist notions view evolution, forever demanding evidence or proof in the form of the ‘missing link’. You think that there is one thing, one point, one pivot where things were, then this link came about, and everything began anew on a different tangent. So too, you think that with this one thing, is the missing link to success and turning everything around for area. What do you think got this area into the shape it’s in now? Sticking to the same thing, doing it the same way, denying things would ever change in Hickory, Republic of, and anybody that thinks or thought otherwise, was wrong, and if they stated that publicly, a malcontent or disgruntled employee. And if that’s the way they feel, they can feel free to leave, right boys? Or else be trivialized simply because you know how to write or better yet, think and form your own opinions. Yeah, that makes one a complainer. With area unemployment hovering near 13% and according to the venerable Hickory Daily Record in this past Sunday’s edition, poverty is growing exponentially.
What you both seem to be missing is, disagreement and public discourse are pivotal to our form of government. But that just isn’t the Hickory way, is it? What you have to say, truly say, is done behind closed doors or by a process oft referred to as, “Back Door Politics.” Everything else is a sound byte or photo op to speak in public and you never truly say anything of substance. And you facilitate that Row. You ask soft questions and toe the company line to always keep that best side forward in the public view. Nothing is perfect. Not the people and certainly not the system. It’s like being 20 pounds overweight. You got to exercise on occasion in order to stay fit. The political process is the same too; you’ve got to exercise it and its processes in order to ensure it works. All of that to summarize with, you two act like asking questions or being critical is like slapping the crap out of the Pope. That’s ripe for a pun, but I’ll refrain.
What makes Hickory, Hickory is that the same old people, who long ago ran out of ideas, still manipulate the area for their own benefit and their cronies and when it continues to fail, there has to be some bugaboo that did it to us.
As for the so called media, newspaper, radio or tv, I have long ago concluded that they are not going to fulfill the role envisioned by our founding fathers and inform the people. they just want to sell their ads, make their money and yuk it up, whistling "Don't worry, be happy" all day. And when pressed, they want to shift the responsibility for informing the public onto the same public. Sad, but it certainly explains why smart, creative people are leaving and the only population growth we are seeing are those who want a cheap retirement. New Motto: HICKORY, A GREAT PLACE TO DIE.
Interestingly enough, some may not know of the existence of a feasibility study and committee from different government and private agencies to assess the viability of needs for seniors and their impact. That committee met across late 2009 and 2010 as a first stage study and analysis. But here’s the deal. To make Catawba County and Hickory viable in the vision of Senioropolis, it is going to take major investment in infrastructure, most notably, public transportation. The current grids and major connectors just aren’t viable for low speed vehicles and there isn’t available right of way to make low speed vehicle only lanes. The only way to do that with what you have would be to cut the number of lanes currently in use. Think of that nightmare. Now, you could adopt local ordinances authorizing low speed vehicles in the regular traffic stream. But that would only suffice on local streets. State maintained roads would limit those vehicles to being used on 35mph speed zones and under. Think of the number of state maintained roads in Hickory. Most of your major cross-town arteries are included in that group. Now think about Ma and Pa in a revved up golf kart playing in the traffic. Light rail would be an excellent alternative, but just an off the top of my head figure would be somewhere around $15 billion to minimally cover Catawba County and each of the municipalities with light rail and a single spur line. No one is going to cough up that kind of cash and the Federal Government is strapped to the point that grant money isn’t going to be available. Yes, there is a bus line and vans. Available county-wide at a price to other municipalities. So complete coverage doesn't exist because people don’t want to pay for any number of reasons. Likewise, those buses don't run out into Vale or the nether reaches of Eastern Catawba. Private investment wouldn’t realize a profit for so long because of the low fare pricing to make it utilized it’s not worth it. So despite the hype, talk, and rhetoric, the reality of making it possible just isn’t there.
That isn’t to say that the plan won’t still be implemented. By that, I mean sell the homes, the senior living centers, the healthcare availability, and once they’re here, let them worry about how to get around and get to the places they need to go. The real estate proles have made their bucks, likewise the contractors, and the investment has been minimal… at first. You now have an entire and substantial population of people that are completely or wholly dependent on public services for their needs. That will in turn stretch those tax dollars even tighter and the ability to provide services thinner. And this population is known for their participation in the electoral process.
So while it is important to listen to what is being said, it is likewise important to know the background and what isn’t being said. The later is usually more informative.
But the entire nuts and bolts issue here is planning. Just like you, Harry and Thom, have eluded to in any number of posts in the past. Those in charge, now and in generations past, failed to see the future. These people failed because they planned for now. They look at what they needed for ‘the now’ as opposed to what they needed for ‘then’. The rationale there being, “In 30 years, it will be someone else’s problem.” They fail to take into account factors such as population trends, needs, and where they want to be for the future, from point A to point Z. It’s all neat, packaged and slurped down by the masses like a hungry seal slurps down a fish. Just like now, a knee jerk deal changer with a $20 million investment is going to turn Hickory around again. You can’t do it with $20 or $200 million. Where it needs to start is a change in leadership with politicians that grasp a concept of the future and at least a vague idea of how to get there, recusing themselves and their own personal benefit from the equation. The only thing you garner looking back is a glimpse of what was.
If one needs ideas for a $20 million investment project, well.....
Thom has mentioned an entertainment complex....great idea!
Or, how about that Aquatic Center over 75% of Hickory has already said ad infinitum they want to see?
Both excellent ideas Deb...but what they want is something they can drop 20 mil in that will return profits exponentially. While an entertainment complex and waterpark are great for people to relax at, there's not much green to be made. Besides, the power brokers didn't think of it and it would be to the benefit of all those poor people that consider themselves to be citizens, so it can't be viable.
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