Loading ...Next week, the West Broadway Development Advisory Committee will make its presentation to the Eugene City Council. And after that, the debate will begin in earnest over the central issue that people in Eugene have learned to care about: subsidies. Should taxpayers subsidize developers, parking lots, businesses, multi-national corporations, etcetera. There are plenty of ways to argue each of those angles, and — of course — we will. But there’s a hidden subsidy that drives the KWG and Beam projects being contemplated that hasn’t been talked about (and that’s probably good). Each plan counts on people not from Eugene coming here and and then leaving — but not with all their money. Out of town money is the secret fuel for the development being contemplated for downtown Eugene. It’s one subsidy we can all feel good about!
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One of these four ideas will be developed into a column on Wednesday to be published in The Register-Guard on Friday. I’m asking you to help me choose between them. Between now and the end of Tuesday, leave comments here or send me an e-mail if you’d rather be more private. Or, at the very least, RATE the idea (and the others) so I know which one people like best. No promises, though. This ain’t American Idol. But I will post an entry on Wednesday to say which one I’m choosing (and probably why.) I plan to do this each week — often by Friday, but always by Monday, so visit often and tell me which idea intrigues you the most. Thanks!
