Palm Springs to Buy Desert Fashion Plaza
The Palm Springs city council and Mayor Steve Pougnet have announced plans to purchase and develop the near-empty 17 acre Desert Fashion Plaza and Town and Country Center properties. The plan requires $50 million and residents are expected to foot the bill through increased tax hikes. At this point the owner of the property is not interested in selling so Eminent Domain proceedings would be required in order to acquire the property.
Dead on arrival! That's my reaction to the whole scheme. The idea of a city council comprised of unqualified individuals proposing to develop a 17 acre site simply boggles the mind. One resident was quoted saying "To me, it's like hiring a plumber to do brain surgery." If they'd employed a competent professional with expertise in site development, and presented a plan, the idea might appear associated with a bit of realism. But no concrete steps have been taken to find and employ a qualified development expert. Our well-meaning Babes in the Wood council members probably need a rest - away from official duties - and surrounded by non-downtown resident types. They need to clear their heads, get their bearings and perhaps talk less and listen more. Out of their depth is definitely where they are on this one!
The proposal to raise $50 million from residents through increased taxes is not only "Dead on arrival", it more than boggles the mind. That bit of inept delusional thinking is ridiculous, ludicrous, astoundingly dumb and the idea surely originated in a bar after one-too-many shots of the hard stuff. If ever a Palm Springs city council proposal deserved a resounding no vote at the polls, this one definitely fills the bill.
Perhaps there is one good feature to the $50 million property acquisition and taxation proposal appearing in some form on an election ballot. Putting it to a vote and seeing it defeated by a huge majority just might serve to bring a bit of reasonable thinking to the process on the part of city council members. The council seems so far out of touch with the community on this issue that a sound defeat of the proposal by the voters may be just what's needed to send our city mother and fathers back to more productive barstool discussions.
Bond Shands
Palm Springs
Dead on arrival! That's my reaction to the whole scheme. The idea of a city council comprised of unqualified individuals proposing to develop a 17 acre site simply boggles the mind. One resident was quoted saying "To me, it's like hiring a plumber to do brain surgery." If they'd employed a competent professional with expertise in site development, and presented a plan, the idea might appear associated with a bit of realism. But no concrete steps have been taken to find and employ a qualified development expert. Our well-meaning Babes in the Wood council members probably need a rest - away from official duties - and surrounded by non-downtown resident types. They need to clear their heads, get their bearings and perhaps talk less and listen more. Out of their depth is definitely where they are on this one!
The proposal to raise $50 million from residents through increased taxes is not only "Dead on arrival", it more than boggles the mind. That bit of inept delusional thinking is ridiculous, ludicrous, astoundingly dumb and the idea surely originated in a bar after one-too-many shots of the hard stuff. If ever a Palm Springs city council proposal deserved a resounding no vote at the polls, this one definitely fills the bill.
Perhaps there is one good feature to the $50 million property acquisition and taxation proposal appearing in some form on an election ballot. Putting it to a vote and seeing it defeated by a huge majority just might serve to bring a bit of reasonable thinking to the process on the part of city council members. The council seems so far out of touch with the community on this issue that a sound defeat of the proposal by the voters may be just what's needed to send our city mother and fathers back to more productive barstool discussions.
Bond Shands
Palm Springs
Posted by Desert Observer at 12/17/2010 3:53 PM 
Categories: Opinion, Politics, Desert Fashion Plaza
Tags: Palm Springs City Council Desert Fashion Plaza Mayor Steve Pougnet
Categories: Opinion, Politics, Desert Fashion Plaza
Tags: Palm Springs City Council Desert Fashion Plaza Mayor Steve Pougnet
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