Bankers’ Lunch: Second Course
Bruner: It entrenches monopoly position as you raise barriers to entry. The idea that any of us could really go out and buy some land and build on it in Arcata, is practically absurd. The money, time and energy it would take you would go well beyond the realities of doing the job. Getting through the bureaucracy, going to people, knowing who’s your friend, who’s not …
A lot of this crap comes down to “Do I like you? Do I like your politics?” This and that — it’s stupid. You’ve wiped out a population that has no way to engage in this economy, to compete and push us forward.
Cleary: Part of the problem — part of the frustration with going through the building department — is that the process can feel arbitrary. And the process can feel like — “Wow, you just threw something new at me.” A lot of the time, I think it’s just that they’re not organized.
This is one of the things we’ve discussed at the Headwaters Fund. We haven’t figured out how to do it. But: Could you create a business ombudsman?
Bruner: That’s exactly what I was going to suggest, and that’s where I would see that kind of money being …
NCJ: Within the county?
Cleary: Yeah! Hire two or three people …
Bruner: I say, you take a couple of hundred thousand and — exactly — hire smart people to say, “I’ll be your middle man.” Because otherwise you’ve got to go find the right people, spend tens of thousands of dollars to get through the bureaucratic hoops. Because on your own, if you don’t know anything about it you’re screwed.
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent on the cover
May 17
Ring of Fire
Sun and moon will perform a rare pas de deux in Humboldt skies on Sunday
May 10
District Soup
Racing for the top county seat in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd districts
May 3
A Place in the Woods
As park closure deadline nears, a scramble to save what we can
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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