Category: City of Paris Texas

For over a decade, the Paris Texas Chamber of Commerce recommended a vision vs  a brand.

We’ve known, and repeatedly put in writing, that “Paris needs a vision, a theme, and the protocols to make it a highly desired destination for a large, identified segment of the market.”

What the city, the local edc, the visitor’s and convention group, and what used to be the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce came up with is a brand that gives a new meaning to “Happy Days Are Here Again.”

Thankfully, the Paris Texas Chamber was not invited to the party where the decision to blow $85,000 of the taxpayer’s money on a “brand” bragging about how Texans in Paris reach high.

Based on arrest records, its likely smoking a peculiar weed or guzzling bottled moonshine or bonded and branded alcohol.

We would have asked if they really wanted to make Paris a desired destination for that large, identified segment of the market?

Currently, there’s already too much competition within it – as well as over consumption. In every B-movie, a crook with a gun tells those being robbed, “Reach higher.”

Now, the co-conspirators are wasting more dollars pasting this brand on all kinds of stationery, vehicles, signs, ads, etc., all paid for by mingling – on an equal basis – public and private funds or lying about it.

Sure, without a doubt, this “brand” has some sort of wobbly vision, and a theme that encourages some people to do strange things, like getting arrested for peeing in public.

Of course, it might be a little less objectionable if it didn’t make so many who participate think they can sing.

It’s not, however, the kind of vision or theme we had in mind – as standing out doesn’t always mean standing up.

When you’re lying in the gutter “reach higher” also means to try and climb the curb.

Paris may soon be known as the wrath of grapes or where the dawn comes up like thunder.

If we live up to the brand, Paris will be a place where you can start out fit as a fiddle and end up tight as a drum.

When the Paris Texas Chamber talks about a vision for Paris, it’s a way to build the kind of town where you and others (we) want to live.

The theme is a designed and designated focus on an established central objective. The vision and theme must have the imperative protocols that structure the necessary goals (steps) on how the objective will be achieved.  It must be defined and realistic, with worthwhile means to pay for achieving that objective.

Our community and economic development organization are good at promoting events that publicize and promotes the event (but not Paris: Paris is just a place where the Sphecidae or Crabronidae are having a meeting). But the vision is limited.

A mish-mash of events will not likely build the kind of community you want to live in – a town where others would want to live.

 

return to:    Paris Texas Chamber of Commerce

Link:

      Public-Private Partnerships

     Investing in People‘

     The Objective

 

The objective of the Paris Texas Chamber of Commerce is simply to be a voice for those of us in the community who, otherwise, would have no voice.

  

Where else will you see, read or hear anything that dissents from or even question what citizens are told relating to a City of Paris issue, or an endeavor of the tax-supported Paris Economic Development Corporation (PEDC)?    

When all other reporting entities are selling the same thing – and doing it with the same look, the same smell, and echoing what they’ve been told from the same source – isn’t there something wrong?

How many other local news entities are explaining that what’s being sold is something that will always cost taxpayers money, now or in the near future?

There’s no transparency on the what, who, why, and all the costs, but shouldn’t one entity, at least, be asking serious questions about those things?

Over the last five or six years, other than the Paris Chamber, which news outlet in Paris dissents or offers a counterpoint on what the local leadership is planning to do, is doing or has done, the way it is or is not being done, or will be done, and reports the total costs?

Yep.

None.

Not one.

They ignore the fact that each of us know there’s never complete 100% agreement on anything!  There’s always someone who is like a pig with laryngitis; disgruntied.

(Yes; pitiful. A bad pun.)

 

Anyway, when it comes to what The Three Mustyrears advocate; then, its kumbaya –    They pat themselves and the local Happy Talk media on the back, signaling a naive idealism and a sort of a touchy-feely, hand-holding spirit of a make-believe rosy-eyed unity.

However, as years roll by we never see, read or hear about the failures.

We never see, read or hear of all the incentives given or promises made to firms that locate in Paris, or how the decisions are made on which firms will be given or denied incentives. Especially, cash.

What are the guidelines on giving cash, if any? How is it justified? 

Besides stupidity?

NEVER have taxpayers seen or read or heard the results of a full forensic examination of the total cost of the incentives given: Every dollar for every incentive is a direct costs to Paris taxpayers.  Even the incentives are not reported: It’s always “and other incentives.”

NEVER do we ever see, read or hear the total cost of incentives provided to those industries and businesses that fail, but taxpayers need to know how many dollars we’re waving bye-bye to . . .

no objectivity, no accountability.

And until now, there’s been no public objections over the city council’s insanity(?) of giving themselves the right and the power to make life-time appointments to the PEDC’s Board of Directors.

But that’s another story for another time and another place about local cronyism  ––

But is a supreme court of a few local cronies in charge of the public’s money for their remaining lifetime a good idea?

The main point of all this is that the only local effort for actual transparency comes from the Paris Texas Chamber of Commerce, and we’re only trying to inform everyone about the benefits of eating grapes – as our sole objective is raisin awareness.

(Yes. It’s a mental aberration, but never trust anyone without a sense of humor. Even a sick one.)

Paris has so many assets its hard to list them all. But our community and economic improvement and development organizations ignore them or play whack-a-mole when one wanting to go to work pops up. Assets all over Paris have bumps on their head.

The assets are unused deeds, while we grow weeds.

So, inside the Loop, much of Paris is dying. The things we should be doing, we ignore.

But we are determined to get all our eggs in the industrial basket – no matter what it cost us! We may not really know what we’re doing, but, come hell or high water, we’re going to keep doing it until the termites are the last survivors in a socialists paradise.

 

And that’s not funny … not even in a sad sort of way.

 

return to   Paris Texas Chamber of Commerce

Links:

    Off-Track On “Economic Engines”

      The Paris Texas “Comprehensive Plan’

    Reinforcing Failure

-sooner or later, the city of paris, texas will have to invest in people-

In 2008, and again in 2011, the Paris Texas Chamber of Commerce recommended that the City of Paris, which owns a number of houses on which taxes have not been paid for years (and hundreds of other substandard houses on which sizable tax bills exist that the city will also likely end up owning), take the lead on fixing the the problem by investing in people. The city, being an existing legal entity will have to play an enabling role sooner or later.

To this end (now, 16-wasted years later), the Paris Texas Chamber of Commerce is going to try it once more:  A city that owns housing in an Enterprise Zone can establish an urban homestead program, through which the city sells a house it owns to a private citizen for an amount not to exceed $100.

The Individual buying the property must agree to live in the house for at least seven years and to renovate or remodel the residence to meet the level of maintenance stated in a written agreement between the individual and the city.  After the family or individual lives in the house for the seven years and satisfies all the agreed upon improvements, the city deeds the house to the individual (or assigns it to a bank that may be financing additional improvements).

True, not all the folks hopping on an urban homestead program will follow thru…and the program administrator will have to reclaim the property.  But many will follow thru, improving their lives (and the City of Paris).  Investing in people means that any homes that are returned can be offered to others who will complete the terms of the homestead agreement.     

investing in people means There will never be enough Homes.

 

Yes, we understand that many local movers and shakers, who have no more idea of community and economic development than Oak Wilt fungus, see the Paris Chamber as an irritant to their schemes or beliefs; but they should know that business is business and a good idea is a good idea – no matter where it comes from. . .

Paris talks about improving Paris.  Paris talks about the need to improve and beautify. Paris talks about substandard homes with unpaid taxes, and talks about what to do with them. But not utilizing available programs to improve large parts of Paris is inexcusable!

Sure, we understand why some want to deny incentives for a large neighborhood improvement effort; especially, in an Enterprise or “Opportunity” Zone, even if such action violates warranties that have to be made in the Contract Agreement for Zone approval. We find such actions wrong, ethically repulsive, and don’t agree with it, but, considering all the parties involved, we understand it.

But to deny younger couples or retirees and others who have the energy and/or resources to own their homes – while eliminating eyesores – and improving Paris – is mind-boggling! 

THAT we do not understand . . . !

Investing in people is actually community development, so why wouldn’t we invest in ways to help people?

Talk about creating opportunities – 

The Paris Chamber’s recommendations are on record, so the Paris leadership cannot plead ignorance. 

Done right, its a program that can actually pay for itself.

Since 2008, the money the city has wasted (and is wasting) on know-little consultants would have paid for improving residential areas all over Paris, through which clean-up, fix-up, paint-up materials would be exchanged for “sweat equity” labor and . . .

 

Oh, well —
How much longer can Paris afford to wait to invest in its people? 

                                                               return to                   The Paris Texas Chamber of Commerce

Links:

       These Little Town Blues . . .

        A Public Information (BS) Officer