New West Network

My Page: Nancy Mahoney

COFFEE RIGHTS

The most emailed article from the New York Times two days ago was about kids in coffee shops. Apparently not everyone is so pleased to have them there, as some shop owners around the country have begun posting signs that alert parents that their kids are welcome as long as they are quiet and well-supervised. This has gotten under the skin of some mothers (and maybe fathers, but the article only quoted moms), some of whom have organized boycotts of local haunts via their playgroups. Why was that the most emailed article of the day? I found myself wondering, even as I whisked my husband’s laptop out of his hand so I could read it myself. You see, I used to be one of those childless individuals who sought out cafés to write and edit, read, to meet friends and relax. [more]

BOZEMAN ELECTIONS

So today is the day we elect three new city commissioners. According to today’s Chronicle the city has record voter registrations—up 5,000 from previous city elections two years ago, to more than 24,000. Whether that will turn into record turnout remains to be seen. Heavy snow this morning may have kept some voters away, but sunshine this afternoon means polls should be easier to reach before they close at 8 p.m. tonight.

This election seems marked by a lack of, well…politics. [more]

FOR-PROFIT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Sometimes an idea comes along that seems to make perfect sense, and you can’t figure out why it isn’t being done everywhere. That was my reaction after talking with Jeff Batton, President and Managing Director of , about their decision to bring a highly successful economic development strategy from Alaska to Montana. They have found a way to make affordable loans to growing businesses that need $100,000 to $10 million, but that can not access traditional bank financing. And they do it as a for-profit corporation, instead of a non-profit, which makes them smart, stable and attractive to investors. [more]

CITY COMMISSION ELECTIONS

The Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce just endorsed two candidates for the three slots open in the November 8th election for City Commission. Based on questionnaire prepared by the Chamber, the organization explained that they endorsed only two candidates, Jeff Rupp and incumbent Lee Hietala, because both men were the only ones that have a track record demonstrating they are fiscally conservative and supportive of businesses. But what does it mean to be supportive of Bozeman businesses? City commissioners will regularly have to make decisions that greatly impact not only the climate for business in and around Bozeman, but handle the more complicated economic challenges the area faces in attracting businesses to an area that lacks a ready supply of labor for hourly-wage jobs. [more]

LET THE MARKETS DECIDE?

In the aftermath of the and Governor Schweitzer’s Energy Symposium (see New West blogs by Brooke Hewes), both of which took place in Bozeman this past week, we have been flooded with information about the state of our nation’s energy consumption, its effects on the environment, industry potential to create jobs, and the promise of new, cleaner fuels to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It is unclear what real outcomes, if any, are to take effect in the wake of these discussions, but it is clear that Montanans of all stripes want to be part of the picture. The one thing I don’t get is the perspective of some “free market environmentalists� that believe we should all just sit back, keep government out of it, and let the entrepreneurs and investors come up with the solutions. The problem is that I can’t seem to figure out how what they say actually works… [more]

Land Use & Development

The topic of eminent domain has been all over the local Bozeman papers (Daily Chronicle and the Tributary) in the last two months because people are concerned how it might be used in two new Urban Renewal Districts. Local concern with the “blight� designation in our Northeast Neighborhood, in particular, dovetailed with a visit to Bozeman by Chip Mellor, president and counsel of the Institute of Justice, which represented the homeowners in Kelo v. New London before the Supreme Court. Mellor and the homeowners may have lost the landmark decision (ref NW article), but he has rebounded with what appears to be a crusade to educate the public about the use and misuse of eminent domain, and to warn us about the dangers of blight. What he should have also warned us about was Montana State Law, which currently does not provide a whole lot of protection for private property owners. [more]

Population: 32,414
Male: 52.6%
Female: 47.4%
Elevation: 4,793ft
Average Age: 25
Average Income: $32,156
Average Rent: $551
Average Home Value: $137,300
Average Temp for July: 67
Average Temp for January: 17

Favorite Local Hangouts: Haufbrau, Plonk

Favorite Libation: Red Wine, Pabst Blue Ribbon

Favorite Activity: Skiing, Fly-fishing

Favorite Coffee Shop: Sweat Pea, Leaf & Bean

Quirky Fact: Home of the Computer Museum!!

Links we like: , , , Yellowstone National Park, , ,

ARTS AWARDS

If you didn’t make it to HatcH this year, don’t worry, you didn’t miss your chance to see Johnny Depp in the flesh. Bozeman seems to have a love-affair with this actor—which is both understandable (he is as talented as he is gorgeous) and puzzling (he is not particularly “of the West�). Upon arrival here several months ago I heard rumors that Depp was looking at purchasing a ranch near-by... [more]