Deep Thoughts, Cheap Shots and Bonbons

The Nevada Appeal had a letter-to-the-editor (dated May 1, 2016) stating:
The Downtown Project is more than aesthetics and declared: “Seventy percent of the total expenditures of the downtown project, currently underway, are for vital infrastructure improvements that are failing and run right down the middle of Carson Street under the medians.”
Here are the most up-to-date facts on funding amounts presently available for this project.

Downtown Streetscape Funding
Description Funding
Water $2,029,000.00
Sewer $637,000.00
Storm water $652,253.00
Redevelopment $490,000.00
1/8 cent sales tax $7,462,000.00
TOTAL $11,270,253.00

The total set aside for infrastructure utility improvements equals $3,318,253.00 or 29.5% of the overall budget leaving $7,952,000.00 or 70.5% of the budget for the narrowing of Carson Street and sidewalks, etc.

The statement: “This vanity project was crucial to keep the water running.” is utterly wrong.

Furthermore, it stated: “That vital infrastructure improvements are needed as they are failing, and they run right down the middle of Carson Street under the median.” This, too, is wrong.

Points of interest:
Are the underground utilities failing? That would be an unanswerable question in the context as it is stated; however, at some point in time, all underground utilities will need replacement regardless of where they are located in the community.

Only the water line is per say 100% located under Carson Street.
The water line is NOT located under the medians.
The water line is located along the western edge of the medians.

The sewer and storm lines mostly run west/east, and they do have connections to existing lines running north/south.

The letter went on to say: “Carson City citizens would be wise to remember that Supervisor Jim Shirk voted against these vital improvements, as well as against the new, sorely needed animal shelter, and the MAC, and against the vital water/sewer improvements at our wastewater treatment plant.”

Hopefully, citizens will remember that I, Jim Shirk,
did vote against the narrowing of Carson Street.

Regarding the other multi-million dollar projects:
1. Multi Athletic Complex (MAC). I voted NO. The only funding source should have been from the Question 18 Quality of Life initiative. Imposing another tax upon the citizens (the 1/8th of a cent sales tax) is simply wrong. Two separate taxes to build this complex are not right.
2. Water/Sewer Improvements. I voted NO. The huge increases in fees set upon citizens to pay were unfair and created a financial hardship. Restructuring the fees at lower increments over time, would still have allowed the improvements to occur.
3. This letter states that I was against the much needed Animal Shelter. This is completely FALSE. During discussions at the Board meetings, I repeatedly stated that this is the only project I would support that draws from the 1/8 cent sales tax.

In another letter to the editor (dated May 5, 2016) it was stated: “that Downtown Retail has struggled.” The number of retail outlets downtown is not significant and that in itself might be the demise.

This letter went on to say: “There’s a lot of grumbling right now over the work being done on Main Street. The majority of the work is infrastructure and necessary for you to be able to flush your toilets and have clean water coming out of your tap.”

Let’s be perfectly clear – narrowing Carson Street is NOT so that you can flush your toilets and have clean water coming out of your tap. Know this, and this is a fact: the street did not need to be narrowed to accomplish these tasks, and anyone who tells you differently, is wrong.

This letter went on to say: “Change is hard. Doing nothing is easy” and, “For you naysayers out there, what are you doing to make a difference?”

Those statements do not hold an ounce of creditability. Standing up for what is right, even if you’re standing alone takes much more courage than simply going along just to get along.

My NO vote reflects that of the majority of citizens in this community who were denied the opportunity to vote for or against the Downtown project, and the implication of a new tax to pay for it.

I stand proud of my voting record, even knowing full well that campaign consequences have been employed against me and more will be forthcoming.

Will the action of narrowing Carson Street lead us to a bright and fulfilling future? One would hope so; however, it does not matter at this point, it is a done deal.

The street narrowing is a sophisticated approach to impose a boot print on the buttocks of the majority of citizens who voted against the previous Downtown ballot issue.

The term “Naysayer” is fast becoming a battle cry, and offensively brands fellow citizens living in Carson City who disagree. Its use demonstrates a complete lack of respect for anyone whose opinion differs with yours.

The right to have a voice or to have an opinion is no longer allowed by this influential and elitist group, or they will apply a label to anyone who opposes them.
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Letters from the Nevada Appeal
Downtown project is more than aesthetics
Ms. Schrynemakers’ April 23 letter could not be more ill-informed. Here are some pesky facts she chose to ignore:

1.) Seventy percent of the total expenditures of the downtown project, currently underway, are for vital infrastructure improvements that are failing, and run right down the middle of Carson Street, under the medians. This “vanity project” was crucial to keep the water running.

2.) The downtown portion of the corridor improvements are just the first phase of comprehensive, necessary, major infrastructure improvements you will see happen later on North and South Carson Streets as well as Highway 50 East. How vain is that we want the pipes to work all over town!

3.) The Ormsby House is private property. Its permits are current and in order. You have no more right to tell those property owners what to do with their property than they have to tell you what to do with yours. What exactly do you want the Board to do — force it to open?

Carson City citizens would be wise to remember that Supervisor Jim Shirk voted against these vital improvements, as well as against the new, sorely needed animal shelter, and the MAC, and against the vital water/sewer improvements at our wastewater treatment plant. How he thought our toilets would keep flushing is truly a mystery. Vote for John Barrette. He understands that one of our city leaders’ highest priorities is to keep the utilities working.

Andie Wilson
Carson City

Renovation is what downtown needs
Do you remember when going downtown was fun? I don’t, but I’ve only lived here 16 years. Other than the Taste of Downtown, and Fridays at 3rd, there isn’t much to draw you in.

Retail has struggled. We’ve had some great shops, but they can’t seem to compete with Reno. I had a gift store for nine years, the last four being in Carson City. Although we had a great following, once the last leg of I-580 opened up, we saw our sales drop 17 percent over the holiday season, which in retail is where you’re supposed to see black.

There’s a lot of grumbling right now over the work being done on Main Street. The majority of the work is infrastructure, and necessary for you to be able to flush your toilets and have clean water coming out of your tap. The downtown project is a gamble, but we have to find a way to bring people downtown to shop and eat. Otherwise we are going to be a ghost town once the freeway is completed.

My granddaughter is only 9, but I look ahead to the day she spreads her wings and goes off to college. Hopefully we will have a thriving community that she will want to come back to and raise her family.

Change is hard. Doing nothing is easy. It takes work to be involved in your community and give back. My husband and I give countless hours to the community. We don’t expect thanks. We call that our duty as citizens of Carson City. For you naysayers out there, what are you doing to make a difference?

Susie Messina
Carson City