D.C. Review
I participated in the D.C. lobbying trip Thursday and Friday with the QC Development Group. The trip included 75 or so folks from the Quad Cities and surrounding communities. Meetings were set with staff and our local representatives and senators. The meetings were an opportunity for QCA folks to make our partners at the federal level aware of funding needs for a number of projects. Senators Harkin, Grassley, Durbin, and Obama participated; as did Representatives Braley and Hare. The Davenport group numbered around 10 and we lobbied on six key projects for the city. The projects were ranked in order of importance for the city. A quick review of our top-six, for FY-08, follows:
#1 - WESTSIDE DIVERSION TUNNEL: The city is seeking $5.528-M of federal funding to bid the first phase. The tunnel is required to allow for development across more than 20-sq. miles of the city.
#2 - FLOODPLAIN DEMONSTRATION/CENTENNIAL PARK - request $12-M.
#3 - TRANSIT GARAGE - request $5.1-M.
#4 - FARMERS MARKET - request $250,000.
#5 - BI-STATE WATER TAXI & PIERS FOR RI AND DAV.: $3.5-M.
#6 - AIRPORT TERMINAL - request $1.1-M.
Of these six, I thought the most important (as of right now) for our city was the Diversion Tunnel and Transit Garage. The reason being both of these need the most immediate attention. The city has a very limited amount of space available for any sort of development right now. The sewer tunnel would open a huge opportunity for us in NW Davenport and would take pressure off of our older lines, namely the Jersey Ridge line. The transit garage is also important. Our contract with Metrolink expires in 2010. We should move our garage to our side of the river (it currently sits in RI) - we could save $200,000 per year by bringing this operation "in house." Plus this will give us greater control of expanding our CitiBus services throughout the city. I was glad to see the diversion tunnel ranked first. We need it and we need help due the overall price tag of $45-M.
I thought the meetings went well, but a number of our representatives stated they were somewhat handcuffed do to the fact we are spending $8-B a month in Iraq. Pretty amazing.
The Arsenal was another focal point for the region. We were dealt a blow with the losses from BRAC, but the silver lining is the 1st Army's proposed move to the island. With that will come 300 more uniformed personnel, many of which are officers in our military. I was told the impact of the 1st Army is similar to having a Fortune-100 company in our community. I'll be happy when this comes to fruition, but until then I do have some concerns due to the fact that our government seems to change course with its' military assignments pretty regularly.
Overall a good exercise - all of the elected officials stated that it is important to have the lobbying efforts and as "one Quad City." It was my first trip with the development group and it seemed to go well.
Let me know of any questions, thanks.
- Ian
Related article, click here
posted by Ian Frink @ 9:59 PM
10 comments
10 Comments:
Ian, besides yourself and the mayor, what other elected officials from Davenport attended?
Thank you for your time and service. I just hope other officials besides yourself attended.
Did any of our representatives happen to mention how much per month we are spending on entitlements and that they were "somewhat handcuffed" by the fact bazillions are spent on out-of-control SS and Medicaid/Medicare costs?
I assume it was the Democrat representatives who brought up the cost of Iraq per month, but failed to mention the cost of entitlements, which take up a much larger portion of the GNP.
Too bad we couldn't have gotten in on the 15,000 earmarks in the 2004 budget or the 12,000 in the 2005 budget, both of which Bush signed. Oddly, now that the Democrats are in control, those days are over.
Oh boy...
9:57,
The elected officials, from Davenport, included: Ald. Lynn, Ald. Howard, the mayor, and myself.
Yes, its those pesky old and poor people that have gotten us in this budgetary mess.. . .
_________
Thanks Ian for your leadership. People like you are the future of Davenport.
Ian - you are on the right track.
It is time we get the funds for other parts of Davenport to improve - not just downtown. I understand Ald. Howards husband went. Who else went that are not elected officials?
12:58,
Some staff went on the trip, along with a couple of folks from D-One, a couple of county supervisors, and some business leaders with ties to the community.
Most of the group, of 75, consisted of elected officials from various municipalities, staff from municipalities, staff from the chambers and similar (ILQC Chamber, REDEEM, Bett. Chamber, etc.), and development group staff.
As for the non-downtown focus - I think we took a step in the right direction with the neighborhood focus on the new budget: 4 NEO inspectors, 2 NETS officers, a juvenile crime unit, a neighborhood specialist position, a neighborhood re-investment matching program, and a new neighborhood finance program.
Ian
Ian,
Coincidentally, I was in Sen. Grassley's office when part of your delegation came in. We struck up a conversation during my wait and one of the folks had seen my comments on your blog. Small world. It's too bad we didn't get a chance to connect.
Please contact me if you want to a bike ride in Davenport.
Best rides,
Mark Wyatt
Iowa Bicycle Coalition
Years ago the Electronic Command from Ft. Monmouth was to relocate to Rock Island Arsenel under the 1995 BRAC! If they could change that move why not the move of the TACOM mission at Rock Island? Small Arms has nothing to do with Tanks & Vehicles. As an Arsenal employee I can not see the need to build 50 million plus buildings in Warren Michigan. We have the space at Rock Island to accept the 1st Army and keep the small arms mission. The Congress could stop it by not funding the move to Detroit!
With Two Democratic Congressmen, 3 Democratic Senators and two Democratic Governnors this should happen!! We need to stop the waste of Military Construction Money.
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