Cheers: There is more good news on the economic front as the city of Vancouver reports that its tax revenues are expected to be $4 million higher this year than originally projected. That growth largely is driven by tax on booming sales of automobiles and construction — a sign that residents are enjoying an improved economy and have confidence in the future.
For the city’s purposes, that means officials won’t have to dip into reserve funds to balance the 2015-16 budget. And while the Great Recession continues to linger for too many residents, overall the numbers are encouraging. Unemployment is down in Vancouver, and spending is up — two strong signs that the economic crunch is moving deeper and deeper into the past.
Jeers: Port of Vancouver commissioners continue to demonstrate little regard for the public and for the many people who have concerns about a proposed oil terminal. Most recently, Commissioner Brian Wolfe was caught on camera cursing Royce Pollard and saying the former Vancouver mayor “pisses me off.” Pollard returned to the next meeting, calling out commissioners for their actions.
While the incident involved a single meeting, it reflects commissioners’ frequent dismissiveness toward the public. The port’s board all too frequently has embraced a culture of secrecy that flies in the face of its duties as an elected entity. Rather than adhere to its role as an extension of the people, the board had adopted a position of defiance in the wake of criticism. The people of Vancouver deserve better from their officials.
Cheers/Jeers: It’s too early to weigh in on the aesthetic value of “Heart and Stone,” a 12-foot-tall, 2-ton sculpture recently installed at the corner of Sixth and Columbia streets. Public art, after all, takes years to become part of the landscape and culture of a city; even the Space Needle was considered a monstrosity by many when it was first built.
But kudos are warranted for the effort that led to the creation of “Heart and Stone.” Vancouver’s Downtown Association commissioned the piece, with the city of Vancouver contributing $12,500 to the $20,000 cost and private donations covering the rest. Over time, a piece of public art can become part of a city’s character, and the best art can become a landmark. Ideally, “Heart and Stone” will grow into that role.
Jeers: A group of people gathered last weekend in western New York to celebrate all things Bigfoot, the legendary giant apelike creature of North American lore. Sporting buttons reading “I believe,” they swapped tales of encounters with the beast and spoke of trying to get Sasquatch placed on the endangered species list.
Why does this deserve a “Jeer”? Because everybody knows that Bigfoot lives in the forests of the Northwest, long inhabiting Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. He’s ours, as much as the people of New York would like to claim him as one of their own.
Cheers: Clark College is continuing to progress on a building to house its science, technology, engineering and math programs, even at a difficult time for the college. Work on the $39 million structure is expected to wrap up in March, further positioning the college to best serve students of the future.
At the same time, college officials are mulling how best to cut $2.6 million in academic programs in the wake of declining enrollment. That presents a conundrum for administrators and students as they try to serve the needs of the community. While such decisions are difficult, investing in STEM education is a wise recognition of which areas of study will be in demand down the road.
