Economic vitality or real estate development?

We need new people on the Sisters City Council to effectively address economic development. There is a huge difference between economic development (vitality) and real estate development. The current council advances real estate development without understanding that economic development must occur first. There must be significant demand before lenders will fund new development projects.

It's counterproductive to develop more property when inventory is high and occupancy low. This community doesn't need more homes, retail storefronts, or commercial buildings; there is little demand for improved property and to create more for a quick profit is shortsighted. Developing excess inventory drives down all property values and invites unsustainable competition for existing businesses; everybody loses except the contractors, real estate agents, landowners and others that profit from real estate development.

Economic development in this community cannot mean looking for companies to move operations here; that's not going to happen. Land costs too much, homes cost too much, rents are too high, and there's no significant workforce. Any company interested in moving operations to Central Oregon will go to Redmond, Madras, or Prineville. In the past 10 years Sisters has lost Weitech, Multnomah Publishing, O'Keeffe's, and DesignWorks. To think we can get new or existing companies to move operations here when we can't keep the ones we have is fantasy.

Economic development in this community requires getting people to move here that are retired or can bring their job with them. This is a great place for high tech companies to hide a few of their best scientists, engineers, and

programmers. Once here they would create good jobs for the support services they require. This is a development model that has been used successfully in places that offer a high quality of life and good schools. We need to be recruiting people, not companies.

Currently there are three councilors that are dependent on the construction industry for their livelihood. Construction in Central Oregon is on life support and not likely to soon recover. These councilors are inclined to approve any project that might help local contractors even if it could hurt others. It's never good when a single special interest group has significant influence over decision makers. Economic vitality requires a council willing to consider the needs of the whole over the needs of the few.

It's no secret that one of the current councilors up for re-election has IRS liens of $38,000 for tax years 1997 through 2006. Can anyone under this much pressure be unbiased when it comes to economic development? Not a chance, we're all biased to our personal needs when we can't pay our bills. Unfortunately, many of us are in the same boat and it's going to take a council that can look beyond the needs of the few to chart a path to economic vitality.

I urge all voters to go about town and count the number of vacant store fronts, vacant offices, vacant homes, and vacant lots where improvements were made and abandoned. Will more of the same cure the economic ills of this community? Will more competition for existing businesses be good or bad for the community as a whole? Are you better off today than you were two years ago?

Any candidate supported by the political action committee, Citizens for Sisters, is beholden to special interests that benefit from real estate development. This PAC does not have broad community support. Go to: https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/jsp/CEMainPage.jsp and enter Citizens for Sisters then follow the links to campaign finance activity. Study the list of donors then ask yourself if you want this PAC controlling your city council. Research all candidates then vote; apathy will not improve the local economy.