Something’s Gotta Give
Phil Dillon, Emporia
Thursday, January 13, 2011
A couple of days ago a friend commented on the op-ed I wrote on December 30. He thought it might have been a tad pessimistic, but he also said it might have also been a tad true. About the only response I could muster was that he was a tad accurate on both counts.
People who don’t really know me often assume that I’m a pessimist at heart, particularly when it comes to what has been my home town for over ten years. They also assume that I don’t like Emporia. They couldn’t be more wrong!
There’s a lot to like about this town – the wrap-around front porches, the blurbs in the Gazette’s crime blotter about “dogs at large” or “worthless checks,” watching schoolchildren on their way to school toting backpacks that weigh more than they do (a harbinger of the burdens to come, perhaps), the Flint Hills, hosting international students whose minds are pregnant with potential and dreams, the blue collar work ethic, the Stetsons, and the bib overalls.
But, the things I love about Emporia often collide with reality. I don’t like the slum lords, the chronic poverty, the payday loan shops, the revolving door of high dollar consultants, the decaying old homes, the empty storefronts, or economic development that relies far too heavily on low wage manufacturing to solve our problems. As I said on the 30th, I believe something’s gotta give.
Another friend recently told me that he was waiting for me to throw my hat in the ring again in the upcoming City Commission election. He seemed surprised when I told him I’d found more productive outlets to express myself and contribute to the welfare of Emporia.
It’s not that I find politics and government unproductive channels. I love the give and take, the debate, and the slings and arrows that are part of the public arena. I ran for office a few years ago, believing that we needed to change some things if Emporia was going to thrive in the future. First and foremost, I believed that we needed to shift our focus away from low wage manufacturing and to set our sights on the sweet spots of the new global economy — information technology and management, high wage manufacturing, small and lean companies ready and able to compete in the marketplace. I believed that we needed to confront our poverty and slum lord issues. I believed we needed to find ways to retrain our workforce and to stem the tide of graduates who inevitably leave Emporia as soon as the sheepskin is in their hands.
I’m no less passionate about these things today. The challenges are still there. In fact, the problems have become even more acute over time. I can’t say that our window of opportunity has closed, but I can say that time is of the essence. Something’s gotta give!
If I believe that strongly, then, why am I not running for office?
There are two answers to that question. The first answer is easy. I’m not the only guy in town who feels the way I do. There are, and will be, other candidates who want to be part of carving out a better future for Emporia. I’m going to listen and support those who have the vision and courage to meet the challenges head on.
But, politics isn’t the only area of meaningful service available. I saw this a year ago when I had the privilege to work on the Emporia Cleansweep campaign. I’m told that it was one of the most successful community campaigns in recent memory. Over a million pounds of trash were hauled away. Neighborhoods were cleaned up. Volunteers contributed thousands of man hours to the effort. There were businessmen, truck drivers, mechanics, bankers, realtors, students, and even a few politicians.
But, for me, there was more. I saw that some problems won’t go away so easily or can’t be deposited into dumpsters. This is a great town, but there are a lot of lonely people who’ve become disconnected from the rest of us for one reason or another. There are widows without support systems and the poverty I saw went far deeper than cold statistics. These are the problems that cry out for solutions that can’t be solved by political decree.
For me, the most productive outlet going forward is to be a part of what Irish statesman Edmund Burke called “the little platoons” that serve society from the bottom up. In time, with the right political leadership, the economics of Emporia can change for the better. But some things won’t change with time. We’ll always have the lonely, the disconnected, the neglected, and the forgotten. That’s a task that only the little platoons are equipped to handle.
bloomsbury (SC DIXON) says...
Nice job, Phil. I have often wondered what Emporia would look like if a decade ago, or two, or three, we had concentrated more on things like ESU and the technical college than on dangling carrots in front of would-be manufacturers who get every break imaginable before picking up and moving on just when the heavy lifting comes into play.
If we’d spent half the money and half the energy focusing on other areas it might have paid of in much more positive ways. I am sometimes reminded that Lawrence and Emporia are “sister” cities. Not much in the way of “family resemblance,” is there? Not saying I want Emporia to be just like Lawrence, but it is pretty clear that, long ago, the two cities decided on very different paths.
Some might argue that Lawrence’s success has something to do with its proximity to Kansas City. Others might point out that Emporia is also blessed with a wonderful location, right down the road, so to speak, from several metropolitan hubs.
Perhaps it is time to consider that right now may be the ideal time to consider taking a different path.
January 13, 2011 at 4:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Yes, I agree, nice job, Phil.
I too believe we need to concentrate more on our educational institutions. The Tech college, for example, is a perfect place for our young people to learn a trade that will keep them right here in town. Not everyone is suited for a 4-year institution. Teachers and bankers and doctors and lawyers need plumbers and electricians and carpenters and mechanics.
You're right, bloomsbury, a different path just might be a good idea; however, just look at the wrath raised when the city approves of fixing the alley behind a new development on Commercial Street. No one screams, however, when a manufacturing plant is offered a ten-year tax abatement. Is Emporia her own worse enemy? Perhaps we need to redefine "progress."
January 13, 2011 at 9:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://maxkeiser.com/2011/01/14/kr112...
January 14, 2011 at 10:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://onlinefoxnews.blogspot.com/201...
January 14, 2011 at 10:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
Agree, we dont need more poverty wage jobs to infect Emporia with more depression.The progress must come with a change of direction from the rda.
January 14, 2011 at 1:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
Phil,why not lobby to get on the rda and turn a few heads around?
January 14, 2011 at 1:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
The actions of our past community leaders have left us with a poverty rate that exceeds most communities.Ask usd253 what % of the public school is on free or reduced lunch, our current leaders must accept the challenge to reverse this infliction on Emporia.Without a change of direction how can we expect any change.
January 14, 2011 at 1:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://www.veoh.com/collection/Truths...
January 14, 2011 at 6:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
It doesn't make any difference whether or not it's national or local, the only thing we get is loose change.
January 14, 2011 at 6:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
1st a casino and now this. Things are happening in Dodge !
http://www.wibw.com/localnews/headlin...
January 14, 2011 at 6:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
sorry, try this one:
http://www.wibw.com/localnews/headlin...
January 14, 2011 at 6:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://www.lewrockwell.com/wenzel/wen...
January 15, 2011 at 12:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://www.wibw.com/kansasvoices
January 15, 2011 at 12:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Steve, good post and with Emporia being only 100 miles to 80% of the population of Kansas, a special events project seems a natural and the RDA should get behind this project.
January 15, 2011 at 12:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://5minforecast.agorafinancial.co...
January 15, 2011 at 12:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
reddog,
I don't think the RDA should get behind this. I think some of the tax money now given to the RDA and the chamber and convention bureau should finance something like this.
Some original ideas and thinking coming out of that Trussler building would be a welcome change.
January 15, 2011 at 7:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justaflushaway (anonymous) says...
Steve, how about nothing for RDA and all going to the chamber, and then someone to watch what will happen then.
RDA has given every company here that they have anything to do with, have kept the city from collecting taxes in every way for many years, I would say that tyson probably dtill isn't paying their share, jusy about every company tht has or is still her knows how to play the fools in leadership, in the city and county, The amout of employeees that each of the businesses that have come here or been redesigned, dont pay anywhere close to what they should, but then they would of not came to emporia if they had to. Menu, came here only because tyson was a slaughter house at the time, for some reason, they havent moved on, but they have cut the amount of employees, thus, tax paid by the employees is less, and that is the only money going to the city and county, Tyson, since they changed their way do doing business, no douth were given the opptinuly to continue by not paying any taxes for a very longtime, and if you all remember, the water use that tyson was paying was near nothing from what they should of be paying to the city. thus the city was giving away again, then there is westar in the county, remember they said that they would employee 6-8 people on each shift, well that may be 30 people at the least, how lonf will it be before they pay ant taxes to the city or county, once again the RDA, city and county gave away the bank for them also, and now Hill's no one probably knows how much the city again gave up to get them here and then how many years they also wont pay their fair share of taxes, once again the taxes coming out of there is only be the few employees that they are REQUIRED to employe. Then, all the business's need to do is buy a new machine then they are exempt for not paying taxes again, Theese businees that come to Emporia, are able to play the city and county like a fiddle, and RDA and the leadership of this town just give them free ride. Until RDA is desolved and someone or some group who actually give a damn about this city is able to bring in companys with out all the bennies that they are given now, will the city profit from them being here, but its probably to late as everyone coming here already know about how easy it is to play the city. Then for all of you that say the city needs to do more for the college and trade school, how do you figure that will make a difference, anyone who will go to the 2 schools will as soon as the have some type of degree, will be packing up and moving to where the jobs that pay a good wage are, not here, the only ones who stay here will be flipping burgers of working the stock room at walmart, not hardly the jobs that they were educated to do. we that is JMO, I am sure I will be told how many comments I made were wrong, hell let me know as I am not privve to what the leader ship or rda gives away under the table that no one knows about
January 15, 2011 at 8:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justaflushaway (anonymous) says...
sure wish I had spell check!!!!!!!
January 15, 2011 at 8:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
Hold on trigger,dont flush all that anger at once, we can as a community make a change if we hold our annointed officials feet to the fire.I agree JUST A FLUSH, that most of our graduates do leave town when completing school, but when we get that student from west of hwy 81 he brings dads money with him to spend in Emporia. Millions of $ are spent ea year in Emporia by our students at ESU and the TEC COLLEGE, we all reap the fruits with money being spent in Emporia.
January 15, 2011 at 9:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
My concern is how much was spent to attract Hills,how many employees take their paychecks with them ea night to other communities to live.What is the true bennefit for Emporia x$ given to Hills x employees living in Emporia =cost per job in my opinion.
January 15, 2011 at 9:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nks (anonymous) says...
Sail,
Do you have any grounds to base this on? Do you know how many are employed vs how many drive to other communities? Did you really expect a global company to come in and say, "yes we will only hire people that live inside the city limits to run this multi million dollar facility." The majority of hourlies live in Emporia and YES, some from the surrounding communities. These people may not live in Emporia, but since this is shopping "mecca" of the area, they pay our outrageous sales taxes every day.
Hills is a great thing for the community. Maybe the city leaders should have opened a new smoke shoppe or pay day loans so you wouldnt bitch.
January 15, 2011 at 9:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://geraldcelentechannel.blogspot....
January 16, 2011 at 2:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://peterschiffchannel.blogspot.co...
January 16, 2011 at 2:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/040...
January 16, 2011 at 2:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJCL3K...
January 16, 2011 at 3:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noegMF...
January 16, 2011 at 7:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://prisonplanet.tv/alex-jones-liv...
January 16, 2011 at 8:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://geraldcelentechannel.blogspot....
January 17, 2011 at 3:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXH-vG...
January 18, 2011 at 10:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/ar...
January 20, 2011 at 3:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/ar...
January 20, 2011 at 3:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
So many good ideas on this thread by Phil Dillon and by those who have posted.
And then the brilliant city commission spends over a hundred thousand dollars on ROCKS!
ROCKS!
At least they used a local contractor.
January 20, 2011 at 7:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )