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Monday, June 09, 2008

Economic Planning Ignores GM Decision

Saturday’s Janesville Gazette contained two articles obviously meant to draw some public attention towards a city-wide economic summit originally planned just before the announcement by GM to close the Janesville factory.
JG Excerpt:
With the understanding that Janesville’s economy does not operate in vacuum, a group of community leaders decided Friday that they must first focus on charting a course for the city.
Perhaps it’s just me, but I found it a little premature they are proposing a "new" course without its "new" city manager. The current city manager is set to retire in just a few months.

But just as odd and confusing was the next article titled GM is not the focus of this group. Here, city planners have apparently made the decision to first go ahead with an economic summit despite the anticipated closing of the 2,600 employee 114 acre GM plant in the south-central portion of the city. With or without GM, it's stay the course?

I couldn't disagree more. On the cusp of the latest information from GM, Janesville city planners should first put some serious consideration into either postponing or trash-canning their pro-sprawl Comprehensive Plan, TIF district implementation, future riverfront property purchases and park expansions and create a template of demands and guidelines to pursue with the State Of Wisconsin regarding the sprawling plant. Start that now!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The business operatives in Janesville are just fooling themselves if they think they could just put some rosy colored glasses on and the hole left by GM will go away.

Anonymous said...

Ha, ha. I love it! Great Steve Sheiffer rendition.

You're right. The announcement by GM should force them into the
21st century with a completely new growth architecture away from the retail and residential sprawl on the north side. But don't count it. You need new people with a new fresh perspective.

Lou Kaye said...

Thanks.
After today's city council meeting it looks like the groundwork is being laid in the administration to continue the same policies and direction of the past. The only bright spot seems to be the current city council.

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