THINK BIG, VALLEJO
Listening to Faraday Future’s presentation this past week, I
thought this is too good to be true. But it could happen. Good things
happen, too. No reason why it shouldn’t happen to us. Lord knows we’ve
suffered long enough, what with two bankruptcies and crime, tearing our
hair out over the cement factory ...
From my point of view it wasn’t a professional presentation like other companies I’ve seen pitching our city council for that land on Mare Island. Our staff spoke well, but Faraday’s fellow, Dag Reckhorn, vice president of manufacturing, was inarticulate and unprepared. The slides didn’t match his words; his words were often jumbled. He did, however, speak with a twinkle in his voice. We want to have fun, he said. When was the last time we heard anything like that in our drafty old meeting room in City Hall?
Last night was different. We in the audience were feeling pretty good about ourselves as well. A number of well-spoken, knowledgeable citizens pointed out the need to hire experts, be prepared, make a timeline, as well as other warnings and good ideas on how to negotiate this deal. Boudicca Todi told the city council that Faraday needs us more than we need them. In fact we don’t need them. Be ready to walk away, she warned, like the brave civic/heroine she is.
We must be brave. I’m sad to see Vallejo suffering from the mentality of poverty. We’ve got to cut that out now and start behaving like the great city we’re becoming — with or without Faraday Future on Mare Island. We all know it’s coming. You can feel it. I can smell it. Bernie came ...
Our calls for public art, moreover, the landscaping of our parks and waterfront, should also go out to the world. We deserve the best. If the winning talent comes from within our community, all the better, but let’s not limit ourselves by holding on to the status quo. Think big. Raise the bar. Let’s go for the best we can get.
I’d love to see Faraday and Vallejo work out a deal worthy of the citizens of Vallejo.
That, Mayor Davis, is what you should leave as your legacy. Not a 60-foot bronze monument to all wars.
From my point of view it wasn’t a professional presentation like other companies I’ve seen pitching our city council for that land on Mare Island. Our staff spoke well, but Faraday’s fellow, Dag Reckhorn, vice president of manufacturing, was inarticulate and unprepared. The slides didn’t match his words; his words were often jumbled. He did, however, speak with a twinkle in his voice. We want to have fun, he said. When was the last time we heard anything like that in our drafty old meeting room in City Hall?
Last night was different. We in the audience were feeling pretty good about ourselves as well. A number of well-spoken, knowledgeable citizens pointed out the need to hire experts, be prepared, make a timeline, as well as other warnings and good ideas on how to negotiate this deal. Boudicca Todi told the city council that Faraday needs us more than we need them. In fact we don’t need them. Be ready to walk away, she warned, like the brave civic/heroine she is.
We must be brave. I’m sad to see Vallejo suffering from the mentality of poverty. We’ve got to cut that out now and start behaving like the great city we’re becoming — with or without Faraday Future on Mare Island. We all know it’s coming. You can feel it. I can smell it. Bernie came ...
Our calls for public art, moreover, the landscaping of our parks and waterfront, should also go out to the world. We deserve the best. If the winning talent comes from within our community, all the better, but let’s not limit ourselves by holding on to the status quo. Think big. Raise the bar. Let’s go for the best we can get.
I’d love to see Faraday and Vallejo work out a deal worthy of the citizens of Vallejo.
That, Mayor Davis, is what you should leave as your legacy. Not a 60-foot bronze monument to all wars.
posted by carol's kitchen ©2006 @ 7:45 PM
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