Tag: Paris

The Paris, Texas ‘Comprehensive Plan’ is a little goofy.

Consider pages 13 & 14, SECTION 5: THE ROLE OF URBAN DESIGN IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

On page 14, dealing with Public Art, (Item 16) states: Public art is an urban design element, and opportunities should be evaluated to place public art in areas that will enhance the aesthetic quality and reinforce the unique identity of each community.

(The italics are inserted by the Paris Texas Chamber of Commerce. Generally, it has been accepted by rational minds that privately donated art is usually art; publicly funded art is usually an eyesore or propaganda, as government acts as a censor of what “art” is or isn’t acceptable.)

The Section ends with: “The application of these urban design elements through the comprehensive planning program can aid the aesthetic quality of each community. Again, since the comprehensive plan is implemented over time, these design elements should be applied as part of individual zoning, subdivision, and site plan review approvals, as feasible.”

(Two “each community(s)” in one short section is likely a boiler-plate recommendation dreamed up by a committee of government planners. Otherwise, wouldn’t it just say, “Paris” or City of Paris – ?)

Government cookies, baked for the good of government, is not how policy that is good for Paris should be determined. Chowing down on such cookies may or may not be good or bad, but Paris is not the cook.

As the policy is not attributed to an outside source, it’s either carelessness or just being lazy, but moving on:

 

 

Page 17 – SECTION 7: DOWNTOWN PARIS

Item 1. Introduction. (States):

Paris has an important historic downtown, which continues to serve as a focal point for the citizens within the city and the region. The Paris downtown is filled with social, cultural, economic, and architectural amenities and potentials. Currently city staff, in conjunction with citizens and business input, Lamar County Historical Commission, the Historic Preservation Commission, Main Street Advisory Board, Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council are strongly committed to the preservation, enhancement, and upgrading of the many variables and elements that comprise Paris’ downtown.

So encouraging historic preservation is a goal. If not, why include it?

Accuracy, however, is demanded of restoration in the historical districts, which includes the downtown area. But doesn’t apply to the downtown area.  (Don’t ask; we don’t understand it, either.)

Recently, valuable historically accurate art works, privately donated to citizens, were removed from display at the public library by the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, and the Library Director, saying they were an “unsuitable history” of Paris; thereby, claiming that history does not exist – except the way they want it – regardless of existing policies demanding historical accuracy.

A little goofy goes a long way.  Sadly. –

In our community ignorance, some refer to the PEDC as the “economic engine” of Paris. They’re off-track. It’s a twisted concept that does harm: Economic development corporations were never intended to be the driving force – in charge – of solicitation, decision-making on awarding incentives, and financing.

An ethical conflict exist in doing all three.

Describing the PEDC as the local “economic engine” is a personal editorial. It misses their purpose: EDCs were to serve as the community’s bankers.

EDCs were to be responsible for doing due diligence for the community on every prospect: Determining credit-worthiness, assets, products, market acceptance of products, etc., of an endeavor – before recommending incentives or arranging financing. This was to protect the taxpayer’s – and their money – and later doing verification; making sure that the terms of the agreement are met to protect the taxpayer’s money.

Even though there are positive models to follow, Paris insists on pursuing programs that have failed to build the community. Examples include

  • keeping ordinances in effect that the city does not enforce equally;
  • establishing re-investment zones in areas where no investment has been made (except the land cost), while ignoring numerous substandard neighborhoods
  • diverting tax dollars from the public base to subsidize private businesses
  • giving tax relief to a few, while forcing others to pay more
  • giving, in cash, tax dollars as incentives; etc.

Not one of those activities can pass the “equal treatment” test.

But until enough potential voters grow tired of their ox being gored, Paris will continue to elect (and appoint) those who act to take money from a lot of pockets and put it in a few selected pockets.

It isn’t charges of corruption that exist so much as it is the costs of notorious and appalling duplicated ‘improvement efforts’ that end up opaque or wasted. For instance, the city, the PEDC, and what used to be the Chamber of Commerce of Lamar County, all three, claim to do “economic” development.

Yet, they seem to never see the wasted efforts, time and money, or understand that “too many cooks spoil the broth.”

No wonder so little is actually accomplished that economically improves the lives of all our citizens.

There is order in all things.

The “economic engine” is the community – which is made up of a lot of working parts: The PEDC is just one of many.

Without the community, the PEDC would not even exist.

Never reinforce failure, said Napoleon.

And he was never in Paris, Texas.

Most citizens have a big blind spot when it comes to what the Paris,Texas leadership does or how they carry out the few things that they do – or try to do when they do do something.

A majority of citizens say a lot of good things about one of the 23 towns named Paris in the U.S. of A.

Of course, Ted Bundy’s mother had good things to say about her darling boy.

Belle Gunness – known as “Lady Bluebeard” – who was married at least twice and killed up to 15 men for their insurance had something good working for her. Evidently.

And Joe Biden has only good things to say about his son, Hunter “China” Biden, the famous artist, drug addict, computer expert, and woo-er of an Arkansas stripper with access to funds from several very highly successful foreign economic ventures. (No. Not the stripper: “Hunter”!)

The same or similar good words are true of every serial killer, every paid-for politician pushing more big-government, freeloaders, a profligate immoral wastrel, today’s “Superstars”, a city like Baltimore. Chicago. Seattle. LA. San Fran. Houston. NYC. Milwaukee. Or good ol’ Paris.

Nowadays, if you can’t lie with a straight face, you can’t be a leader. Its in a law book. Somewhere.

Our local bunch try to convince the world – and especially themselves – that Paris is pretty much normal. And whatever is normal in Paris is normal in Paris, but it’s unsettling when you’ve done everything and there are no results.

So, most people in Paris are on medication of some kind … even if its just 77-pounds of fruit and vegetables everyday in a little-bitty pill.

A lot of people who come from families of local social standing or semi-moral character seldom consider Paris as a visitor’s destination. They’re happy under their medical care. Many non-visitors are happy, too, claiming their decision is what makes them proud to be a Texan.

But Paris has a great many qualities. One of those qualities is ignoring anything that means long-term progress, which in Texas is hard to do. Other qualities are resisting watching things close-up; not taking sides; refusing to join in on a worthwhile fight for survival, and seriously not getting involved.

Yet, Napoleon was never in Paris Texas.

But most people in Paris Texas think its almost good to be alive.

They have an aching heart in a city full of them.