--- begin forwarded text From: Myra Emerson <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Additions to Letter Here are some additions and revisions to the letter. Myra Emerson --------------- Text of forwarded message --------------- >Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2000 11:08:10 -0600 >Subject: Additions to Letter >From: "Carol DeProsse" >To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask] > >Nick Johnson has suggested some additions to the letter. I believe >they add strength to our arguments. Clara suggested taking out our >alternative project "prairie restoration" with the idea that they >could propose some remnants of our scheme and say they met our >objections. I agree with her suggestion and have deleted the related >sentences. All the rest stays the same with the exception of the >following copy per Nick. Opinions? Carol > >There are so many risks inherent in a project of this magnitude that >it is inconceivable for any public money to be contributed to its >construction and operation. Following are only a few points of >issue: > >1. Unless the bankruptcy laws are repealed private investors would >walk away from the project unscathed if the project fails. No one >can accurately predict the future, but hard times will come again >just as surely as the world's rainforests get robbed of their plant >and animal life to be transplanted into alien structures on foreign >soil. And if the project fails, what then? All that would remain >would be a decaying artificial tropical rainforest, an empty hotel, >and a school struggling to survive on a piece of depleted land >located at the intersection of major interstates. > >2. If, as stated by Mr. Townsend, that there have been three or four >economic analyses that demonstrate the project's economic health to >such a degree that investors will be repaid in seven years, why is >any public money being utilized? All the risk should be on the backs >of private investors and no public dollars should be used >speculatively for a project of this magnitude. > >3. What kind of monitoring will there be of backers' profits? Is >there provision for any of them to be returned to the state or local >community? > >4. What is the administrative/governance model of Iowa CHILD? Where >does the ultimate decision-making power reside? With the owners? >With some public body? These are matters of legal right, not matters >of grace. The owners would be fools not to ask for some input from >educators, as they have already done. That's a matter of grace. The >issue, however, is what if the educators and the owners don't agree >on the design of the school, or the presence of displays questioning >the corporate destruction of the real rain forests, or the >methodology to be used to teach children or instruct teachers as how >to teach? Who will have the power to make such decisions over the >objections of all others interested in the project and who have an >investment in it by the use of public monies? > >5. What private financial benefits flow from this project to local >citizen support, sometimes referred to as "rent-a-citizen"? Who >stands to benefit from the development of the adjacent land? Has >anyone been paid a consultant fee, or been put on a board that >provides expenses or other compensation, given a trip or other perk, >stock ownership, etc. > >6. What is the total public bill for this project? Not dribs and >drabs, but the total cost of additional roads, sewers, tax >forgiveness, in addition to the gifts of cash and land? Is there any >provision at all, with or without interest, for a repayment of any >of these public expenses for private profit, or are they all, in >fact, a gift? > >We support the use of Vision Iowa funds to be used in accordance >with the spirit and letter of the enabling legislation, something >Iowa CHILD does not do. This project should not be approved by the >Board of Directors of Iowa Vision. > > >Sincerely, > > <<<< --- end forwarded text --- end forwarded text -- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Rex L. Bavousett Photographer University of Iowa Our old name: University Relations - Publications Our new name: University Communications & Outreach - Publications 100 OPL, Iowa City, IA 52242 http://www.uiowa.edu/~urpubs/ mailto:[log in to unmask] voice: 319 384-0053 fax: 319 384-0055 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^