Moline Centre Partners wants you

I recently recieved a mailing from Moline Centre Partners, as they describe themselves, a "not-for-profit public-private partnership working to bring about continued revitalization in downtown Moline."

They're encouraging anyone and everyone to join in their efforts to retain and restore the downtown area by retaining and restoring the architectural integrity of downtown buildings (NOW they think of it.) and enhancing the economic, social, and political value of a vibrant downtown.

Among the ways listed to help are:
Register your skills in the volunteer pool
Work at a fundraising event
Help with office work
Donate computer skills
Assist with graphic design
Recruit members and volunteers
Participate in a business workshop
Help gather and analyze data
Offer your expertise
Support businesses by shopping locally
Serve as an ambassador
Provide ideas
Become a supporter

The form on the reverse lists dozens of things to check if you would enjoy doing them, with everything from being on a parking committee to tending flower boxes or hanging posters. There's something for everyone to do as much or as little as they feel like doing.

Their contact info is:
Moline Centre Partners
1506 River Drive
Moline, IL 61265
Phone: 309.762.7804
Fax: 309.762.9123
email: lysahegland@msn.com

It sounds like someone has finally figured out that perhaps it might be wise to involve the residents of the city rather than the usual group of connected insiders. And the mere fact that they state that preserving the architechtural aspects of the remaining buildings downtown is a priority is a huge break with the decades long effort, again led by the same group of property owners and speculators, to demolish everything built before 1960 and make parking lots out of them or erect buildings which amount to eyesores which clash violently with their surroundings.

Go see what you could do. This could be a very good idea. Find out more at www.molinecentre.org

Pitching in to help out the town is important, especially in light of the fact that the gang of developers and their enablers in the Republican government of Moline have foolishly given away the farm over decades leaving the city utterly broke. Despite raising taxes and fees, the citizens of Moline will have to finance and help preserve their downtown on their own, as the Republicans have left the city so broke that they don't have the funds to do anything.

It's come to my attention that this year, due to the utter mismanagement of city funds resulting in a huge deficit, the Moline Parks Department is charging Little Leaguers a $3 fee just to play on the city diamonds. (It now costs a cool $83 for a child to play little league.)

Thanks Stan Leach, and thanks Roger Clausen. You guys did a heck of a job.