||| FROM MARC COHEN |||
Rick Hughes has a conflict of interest problem with regard to the proposed “Prune Alley improvements.” It literally jumps off the pages of The Orcasonian.
When Fred Klein attributed the elaborate street intersections to our “high priced Seattle consultants” (Orcasonian, 8/1/20), Rick set the record straight: those intersections were his idea, he said proudly. So Rick is, by his own admission, one of the architects of the proposal that he is now, as a member of the County Council, in the process of evaluating.
The public’s opposition to this plan is overwhelming. Fred’s Guest Opinion drew 28 responses, all supportive of Fred’s carefully considered critique of the plan. Rick Hughes’ intransigence in the face of the overwhelming objections of his constituents underscores the need to replace him on the County Council.
Fortunately, we will have that opportunity in the upcoming election in just a few weeks. Cindy Wolf has made her position on the Prune Alley proposal clear. (See her comments HERE.)
Cindy Wolf is well-informed, highly intelligent, and very active in the community. She will be a thoughtful representative. But, most importantly, she will listen to her constituents. She deserves your vote.
Conflict of interest? You just started to scratch the surface. I think it’s fair to mention that Rick Hughes is a property owner with land adjacent to Prune Alley. (Templins’)
The improvements (and enhancements) become a direct benefit to his property value. The decision on Prune Alley should be left to the new County Council elected in November. Let the people decide the fate of Prune Alley, not 3 guys in a room, one of which has very personal stake in the outcome.
I think you need to investigate what “conflict of interest” means in this context.
http://mrsc.org/Home/Explore-Topics/Legal/Ethics-Fairness-Conflicts-of-Interest/Conflicts-of-Interest.aspx
Cindy Wolf, no doubt channeling Josh Culp, wants to make Eastsound Village safe for bicycles, wheelchairs, and pedestrians. Josh Culp, young, strong, and idealistic, wanted us all to get around on bicycles. Now Cindy Wolf seems to have the same sort of scheme in mind.
But how, then, will we older folks get around, to our village’s restaurants, to shopping, to the markets, even to the park?
Some of us are infirm enough to be able only to walk short distances, but aren’t quite disabled enough to be permitted to use preferred parking. What are we to do: Stay home?
Maybe Ms. Wolf would do better to wait until she, too, has reached the difficult “golden years,” before promoting her utopian schemes. I suggest that she needs to gain some practical perspectives on the issues related to aging.
Incorrect assumption here – I am not opposed to nor are likely hundreds if not thousands of other Orcas Islanders but many of us don’t have the time or interest to griping about a much needed road improvement in town. Just because there are 30 comments is not a reflection of how everyone let alone most Orcas Islanders necessarily feel but it is a reflection of how a vocal minority can gang up on someone and echo each others voices angrily and righteously.
So Prune Alley plans have been under way for years and we don’t have complete sidewalks and a user friendly way to park and walk north to south and as town grows this is a logical needed upgrade as more people live in and around town. People, change happens, that’s life, and I think its easier to learn to change yourself rather than trying to change everyone else around you through shame, blame, and finger pointing For Chrissakes this is a road that has been scheduled to make improvements and now everyone wants to design a road … everyone become a traffic engineer just as everyone is now an epidemiologist. Just relax and point out the one or two items that you would like to see changed and then let’s get on with it and live life and stop blowing everything way out of proportion and certainly don’t guess that just because people don’t comment on this site means that everyone is in agreement with you – they’re not.
OK? Remove the bricks from the intersections …will that make you happy? Good get them removed and please stop bloviating about how everyone thinks this project is is so awful – It’s not. It allows parking and sidewalks and bike racks so people can get around easily and safely. Nuff said.
“Just relax and point out the one or two items that you would like to see changed and then let’s get on with it and live life and stop blowing everything way out of proportion..”
The above comment should be taken in context; Mr. DeMeritt is a major developer in Eastsound.
Everything else aside, I think it deserves to be reiterated to all that peruse this (wonderful) website:
The comments on the Orcasion are in no way shape or form an accurate reflection of public opinion on Orcas.
I’m not suggesting what the public thinks one way or another on this project, but just a friendly reminder that if you think the echo chamber that is the handful of people that religiously comment on articles here speak for the public of Orcas, you are mistaken and you need to spend less time online.
On the lighter side: “bloviate.” Worth it!
The question as to conflict of interest (s) stays on the table until those who so posses one recognize the fact and voluntarily recuse themselves from judging the majority opinion. You dig?
” us don’t have the time or interest to griping about a much needed road improvement in town. Just because there are 30 comments is not a reflection of how everyone let alone most Orcas Islanders necessarily feel but it is a reflection of how a vocal minority can gang up on someone and echo each others voices angrily and righteously.
The reality is that most of us don’t have the time to attend meetings, and we don’t wish to have to engage in the divisiveness of politics… the further reality is that many people have been highly vocal about this from it’s onset… and even more-so by seeing cheesy looking vacation rentals going up, and the recent “improvements” on Madrona Str. Regardless of what some of you think, people are entitled to their thoughts, with their thoughts leading to words, and their words leading to action. That’s as American as apple pie.
Most people I talk to would like safe sidewalks and good roads, but they don’t want to see major changes in the character of Eastsound… like the cheesy development projects we’ve been seeing that are being turned into vacation rentals. The Vacation Rental Working Group submitted a petition that gained apprx. 2,000 signatures from those who wanted to see an immediate moratorium put on vacation rentals until new rules, including limits, are put in place. Perhaps that’s a better number to dwell upon.
“Just because there are 30 comments is not a reflection of how everyone let alone most Orcas Islanders necessarily feel but it is a reflection of how a vocal minority can gang up on someone and echo each others voices angrily and righteously.”
“I’m not suggesting what the public thinks one way or another on this project, but just a friendly reminder that if you think the echo chamber that is the handful of people that religiously comment on articles here speak for the public of Orcas, you are mistaken and you need to spend less time online.”
If you guys wern’t so concerned about the people’s comments that have been issued regarding this article… you wouldn’t have bothered to respond.
“Rick Hughes has a conflict of interest….” Vacation rentals, SJC business owner, bidding against the county on PPE purchases… yeah, there’s a conflict.
My friend Sean Demeritt has built more housing in Eastsound than anyone (other than OPAL)…..and we should be grateful he has undertaken the business risk to do so. In some cases he has made a profit (well done). In others, he has lost all he had invested (remember 2008 – things didn’t go so well). There would be far fewer people living in town without his efforts. Thank You Sean!
And, yes, some of his buildings have been purchased by ‘investors’ – which I regret as (perhaps) those houses might better serve those living and working in Eastsound. Sean (nor any developer) should be held accountable for what a purchaser does with her (his) property. If the county were to support no VR in Eastsound, I would like that. But until that happens, let’s stop trashing those who actually do something to make our island better.
Many of us applaud and support OPAL’s efforts at building affordable housing in Eastsound. Lisa Byers and the entire OPAL team deserves our gratitude as well.
Why are the vocal minority so harsh on those very people and businesses that provide jobs, support the community, and (in many cases) undertake risk in doing so?
I’ll leave my thoughts on developers’ efforts to create housing in Eastsound and the extent to which they can target their product towards the investor or local resident for another time. but with regard to the main thrust of this thread, I cannot join others who claim that our local Councilman has a conflict of interest regarding the proposed improvements to Prune Alley. I applaud his success at directing County funds to benefit Orcas and Eastsound.
He and I have different opinions as to what’s most important; his being that the elaborate street intersections will be wonderful, and mine being that they represent an unwelcome departure from the modest, laidback streetscape epitomized by that of Main Street and North Beach Road which features significant street trees and landscaping. When combined with our local provisions for small-scaled individual buildings with side yards and additional landscaping opportunities, it is the streetscape which sets Eastsound apart from Friday Harbor (and Leavenworth, for that matter).
I believe it is our collective best interests to ensure, or at least to raise the level of probability, that as growth and development occurs…as it will in any thriving community…that it enhances the much beloved “village character” rather than diminishes it by introducing trendy elements such as these elaborate street intersections proposed for Prune Alley which are showing up in so many towns wishing to make a name for themselves..something we don’t need.
“Why are the vocal minority so harsh on those very people and businesses that provide jobs, support the community, and (in many cases) undertake risk in doing so?”
Vocal minority? VOCAL MINORITY? You think the majority of people that live in SJC want to see their home turned into another Aspen, Nantucket, or
Disneyland? You’ve been hanging out in the wrong crowd.
STEVE H, I understand hyperbole grafts itself to political comment during the height of the election season. Yet, I am dismayed by the erroneous charge thrown at SJC County Council candidate Cindy Wolf. Cindy has the welfare of the people who SHE hopes to represent at heart. Cindy is concerned with building affordable housing for those who wish to remain part of our island infrastructure, for the diversification of our economy, for a sustainable environment. Never have I heard Cindy recommend a carless Eastsound core, nor have I heard her make disparaging remarks about her opponent whose business interests are closely tied to Council decision making. Power can be used for selfish gain or to heal the sick whose needs have been underrepresented. Let’s place the needs of all who administer their lives in our precious isles first and foremost.