Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
This is a 'threat'?
This morning, Taylor Batten, the Observer's editorial page editor, discusses the Foxx-Lassiter who's-beholden-to-developers spat in his column. Three paragraphs in, Batten makes a strange comparison:
The real estate development community, in and of itself, is not a threat. Over-development is a threat. Development that bulls its way along, heedless of neighborhoods and communities, is a threat. A mayor wrapped around the development community's little finger would be a threat. But developers are critical players in the city's future. They're just not the only ones, and their needs have to be balanced with the community's.
Here are a few of the ways Anthony sees the development community's role:
What you see here is a pretty common affliction of the Observer and other corporate media outlets: the false equivalence. Batten is trying, presumably for balance's sake, to set up a dichotomy of pro-development Lassiter vs. anti-development Foxx; the reality is outrageously pro-development Lassiter vs. a more measured pro-development Foxx.
We don't doubt that some developers view an Anthony Foxx victory Tuesday -- and a potential brake on their blank-check dominance of Charlotte's growth -- as a threat. That doesn't mean Anthony sees them the same way.
The two differ in a number of ways. But what became most clear Wednesday night was that Foxx and Lassiter have sharply opposing views of the development-building-real estate industry. Lassiter sees the industry, primarily, as vital to the city's rejuvenation. Foxx sees the industry, primarily, as a threat that needs to be closely regulated.A threat?
The real estate development community, in and of itself, is not a threat. Over-development is a threat. Development that bulls its way along, heedless of neighborhoods and communities, is a threat. A mayor wrapped around the development community's little finger would be a threat. But developers are critical players in the city's future. They're just not the only ones, and their needs have to be balanced with the community's.
Here are a few of the ways Anthony sees the development community's role:
Anthony will continue to work to leverage private sector investment to create jobs, needed goods and services and tax-base expansion in some of our most challenged areas. Creative collaborations with area financial institutions and venture capitalists will promote economic development in these areas and benefit the collaborators. In addition, a portion of this new job growth will be in the emerging industries that will help diversify our economy.Sound like someone who considers developers a "threat"?
Anthony will reduce the red tape involved in the permitting process. He will also extend the life of building and master use permits to give developers more time to finish projects without added paperwork.
Anthony will actively recruit and push for incentives to bring new corporate headquarters to Charlotte, expand existing operations and create smart new manufacturing facilities.
Anthony knows the high level of business talent in our community. By forming an Economic Development Cabinet, he will harness that talent to originate new ideas for diversifying our economy, creating jobs, and promoting sustainable development. These new ideas will form the basis of long-term strategies for Charlotte to prosper far into our One Future.
What you see here is a pretty common affliction of the Observer and other corporate media outlets: the false equivalence. Batten is trying, presumably for balance's sake, to set up a dichotomy of pro-development Lassiter vs. anti-development Foxx; the reality is outrageously pro-development Lassiter vs. a more measured pro-development Foxx.
We don't doubt that some developers view an Anthony Foxx victory Tuesday -- and a potential brake on their blank-check dominance of Charlotte's growth -- as a threat. That doesn't mean Anthony sees them the same way.
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