I have a suggestion D. Write a letter or e-mail to city council and suggest a PR blitz to the local area and elsewhere stating that "there is a new sheriff in town" and we invite any and all business inquires concerning locating here and we will even cut you a little slack, if need be, if you locate here. We won't grumble about a loading dock facing the Turnpike or building a 5 story motel or building nice storage buildings on your own property that is zoned for that,or some such foolishness.
I suspect the response you receive, if any, would be an eye opener.
Just a thought.
Kermit: Optimism is why OR is in the "mess" it's in? Or are you accusing this town of "wishful thinking without action"? There is a significant difference between the two, and I disagree if you wish to suggest that there is an absence of action. When you consider what this town of 25,000 has to offer (in terms of green spaces, arts, museums, public schools, world class research labs, community services), I see a great foundation for growth. That doesn't mean we can simply "wish" it to happen, and I have never suggested that. But we should count our blessings -- and remember our strengths when we tackle our challenges (e.g., retail, housing, industry). The former can become an attractor for the latter. Add in our lack of congestion compared to Farragut, and we have a compelling story to tell prospective residents.
'73: Your assertions are unconvincing, but forgivable since you declare OR as your "former" home town. My personal observations and research show an increase in elementary school registrations -- particularly this current academic year in Kindergarten (Linden Elementary has the most significant increase, with more than 40 *more* Kindergarteners than last year). This doesn't dispute the large percentage of people in the 55+ demographic -- George Dials at B&W Y-12 has said recently that fully half of his skilled laborer workforce (machinists, pipe fitters, etc.) is eligible to retire now, but it does show a marked trend away from your assessment. I'd like to see your own data that has influenced your perspective.
KR: I can't tell if you're being serious or sarcastic. And do you mean responses from businesses, or from the City Council?
Yes, D there are more children at Linden, ect. But as Netmom alluded to earlier in the thread, most of the growth is in the lower-income bracket. These are the families that are renting/buying the older homes. Most pay very little if any taxes, and most of their children are on free/reduced lunch. I mean no disrespect to them...most are doing the best they can. The problem is the "yuppie" up and coming crowd is NOT moving into Linden, ect. They are continuing to go to K'ville in droves. That's the crowd OR needs to go after for long-term growth. That's the crowd that will pay the bills 10-20 years down the road. Our remarkable retirees are not going to hold down this fort forever.
"It's not easy being green."
Kermit, You're mixing apples and oranges. Linden is the only elem. school in Oak Ridge that serves Roane County (home to Rarity Ridge, Westwood and the Country Club). Netmom's data was for Oak Ridge schools in general, not Linden in particular, and shows the need for more data and analysis to develop an effective action plan for advancing our community's interests. Which, in my opinion, is far preferable to giving up at the first hint that the sky is indeed falling.
I guess we will all fiddle while Rome burns apparently. I give up. Few in this town will look at the plight we are in realistically, and those of us that do are labeled as negative. If I didn't love OR, I wouldn't care enough to comment. Over and out my friends.
"It's not easy being green."
Kermit:
You speak the truth. The problem is people in OR live with blinders on and if they don't they are called negative. The reality of the situation is this city is in trouble and we need to do something and do it fast. Yes, we have all the things above but soon and maybe sooner than we think we will no longer have the money to pay for it. The sales tax revenue is down and it is budget time. WHAT TO CUT, WHAT TO CUT? Save the trees not the economy.
I was being serious D, and the responses would hopefully be from city council.
The sales tax revenue is down and it is budget time. WHAT TO CUT, WHAT TO CUT? Save the trees not the economy.
Interesting that you mention the "c" word, Ernestine. I found it curious that it wasn't uttered in last week's budget meeting.
The state was quick to let us know that they would have to start making cuts this year. Maybe the fact that local government is more accessible makes it more difficult to live within our means.
If not, taxes will have to rise. That is not easily accepted by the OR community. Unrealistic requests also make it impossible to stay within our means. In our home, if we can't afford it, we do without. OR people are not used to living without. There is a belief of entitlement that exists here but change is not easily accepted.
All:
There have been many enlightening posts above, but within all of this intellegent debate, we still haven't figured out how to get NetMom some gourmet beer sent directly to her home!
