Category: Uncategorized

During – and before – the 1950s, Paris Texas was a good-looking community. In the 60’s, it was a community of economic promise. Going into the 70s, Paris was a growing community. Then, in 1982, as the politicians swapped the private enterprise system for State Capitalism – a partnership between Big Business and Big Government – a tornado hit, and changed the community’s condition.

The amount of destruction of homes and established businesses in older areas became an opportunity for members of the leadership to rebuild Paris, or enrich themselves.

But, the local leadership personally jumped on the new opportunities offered by state and federal grants and low-cost loans to invest heavily in vacant North and East areas along the relatively new NE Loop 286.

Today, inside the Loop, approximately three-fours of Paris is a “social and economic liability…a menace to health, safety, morals and welfare.” It’s an official “distressed area”.

That’s what the City of Paris claims, not the Paris Texas Chamber of Commerce.

It’s the result of decisions by those organizations in charge of community and economic development. And a local real estate group that, almost without fail, played a major role in the conspiracy for which the bill is now being presented.

(If you are in the real estate industry, tuffy-wuffy: It’s your bitter pill-of-fact. You – or too many of your fellow agents – swallowed perceptions and myths that are responsible for most of the stagnation in Paris. As a group, you supported – allowing – community organizations that are responsible for decades of no growth.

As professionals, you should have known better! We are not saying that all of you are clunks, but there is more than just a touch of troglodytic clabber in the mental makeup of those who allowed the perceptions and myths fostered by those in charge.

YOU gave them your money and your support. You didn’t say, “Wait a minute – How can I sell Paris as a desirable place to live or do business, if half the town is undesirable?

Over time, words get lost; even words like “on the west (or south) side…”

Excuses became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

For years, residential and retail developers were urged to invest in the vacant North and East areas. They were quietly warned in hemi-demi-semi-thunderous under-tones, with a racist sort of squeak that would kill knee-high cotton, that “nothing will go on the west and south areas of Paris” and “oh, you don’t want to live in those areas!” On behalf of investors and depositors, local banks led the way with lending policies on appraisals by approved appraisers who toed the line.

The leadership forgot that people don’t want cancer, and chickens do come home to roost.

Today’s problems were over 40-years in the making. Giving the downtown area another aspirin or a corporation cash will not cure them.

What Paris has done to itself is almost unimaginable.

And what we’re doing today is unimaginable.

We know not what path others may take, but as for the Paris Texas Chamber, we will never lie to ourselves about the community’s condition.

 

Whatever it is we do in Paris Texas, we don’t do it straight on.

We kinda’ slide up to it, sorta’ sideways; sorta’ like a stray mongrel begging for something to eat or, at least, a kind word. If a misguided soul pats us on the head, we start slobbering and running around in little circles and wagging out tails while barking with hopeful joy that they (or someone) will kill our fleas and ticks. Or see if there is something around that might be alright to eat. 

We always seem to be starved for baloney.

The problem is that we’re not Old Yellow or Lassie or even Rin-Tin-Tin. And we sure aren’t as smart as Goofy.

We’re so dog-gone pitiful we’ll give cash as an incentive to pat us on the head. Evidently, we don’t believe we deserve to be loved – or appreciated.

Together, we could make life better.

But we’re begging for kindness from those who we should be barking and growling at for why we’re looking for kindness.

Consider that the Three Mustyrears are paying a Florida firm to come up with a “brand” they can use to “market Paris”.

According to a firm spokesman, “What we’ve learned is that communities generally become more competitive and see improvement in their overall reputation when all the main sectors of the community are aligned around a common strategy, a common DNA and a compass that says,’ “This is where we’re going; this is what we stand for”’ and went on to say that the Three Mustyrears are, ‘“collaborating so that you’re swimming in the same direction.”’

Amazing.

They don’t know what Paris is swimming in … but water full of it still runs downhill.

For a decade, the Paris Chamber has repeatedly said, “Paris needs a vision, a theme, and the protocols to make it a highly desired destination for a large, identified segment of the market.”

And now, the Three Mustyrears are wasting $85,000 of the taxpayer’s money to hear the same thing in slightly different words.

The difference is that the Paris Texas Chamber has known what is needed and what would work for Paris for years; the firm from Florida doesn’t have an idea now; nor, will they have a workable idea when they collect the rest of their money.

But that’s okay.  We’re not one of the “the main sectors of the community – “

It’s one of our bragging points.

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. –