Disqus - Latest Comments for billzane

Re: Justify Your Existence: green|spaces

billzane — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:43:17 -0000

You know, I could feel that, too. Signing off...

Re: Justify Your Existence: green|spaces

billzane — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:39:22 -0000

Easy there. I think I can actually feel your blood boiling from here.

Again, let me reiterate and speak slowly for you- I...am...not...a...Stand...employee...or...volunteer. Although I do believe you have now motivated me to get involved. Thank you for that! Because of your involvement, this community will be a better place. I will now allow you to call me a yellow zealot and will become a part of the conspiracy to take over Chattanooga politics. I can just read the headlines now- "Bill Zane for Mayor!" Has a nice ring, don't you think?

BTW, you never answered my question about green|spaces...

Re: Justify Your Existence: green|spaces

billzane — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 11:48:53 -0000

I don't understand what the heck you just said.

Wasn't this thread about green|spaces? Allison, what exactly is your beef with green|spaces (besides that it's a conspiracy to make boomers' lives unbearable and bring about apocalyptic change that will dramatically alter the future of Chattanooga for centuries to come)?

Re: Justify Your Existence: green|spaces

billzane — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:37:21 -0000

To answer your question, Mike- From entrepreneurs who made a lot of it back in the day and then set up trusts and foundations to give back to the community they love.

Remember (now speaking to everyone), they don't have to give any of their money away. They choose to give it away. We don't really get a say in how it's used. Personally, I would love to generate some personal wealth so I can use it in the way I feel it should be used. Until then, I am not going to tell someone else how to spend their money. You can choose otherwise.

Re: Chattanooga Stand is Evolving and ‘Picking Up Steam’

billzane — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:22:10 -0000

"evil" is a very strong word, my friend.

Re: Chattanooga Stand is Evolving and ‘Picking Up Steam’

billzane — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:19:38 -0000

I don't know enough about that situation to argue with you, but this particular comment was directed at the Stand project. Maybe it's just misplaced angst? I think I am starting to get it.

Re: Chattanooga Stand is Evolving and ‘Picking Up Steam’

billzane — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:17:50 -0000

I am confused why you are calling me "Stand dude." I do not work or volunteer for Stand. Sorry to burst your bubble. Just a person. No conspiracy.

Re: Chattanooga Stand is Evolving and ‘Picking Up Steam’

billzane — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:50:52 -0000

Sounds like a little "creative envy" going on here. That would explain your beef. But seriously, congratulations on working to make Chattanooga a more vibrant arts scene. We need a lot of people working on that. Just like we need a lot of people working on making it a more entrepreneur friendly town. And the list goes on. Some are paid opportunities. Most will be volunteer opportunities. My guess is you wish you had the opportunity to run an org like CreateHere, although you might never actually admit it. And now we're going to pause for a time of introspection.........you don't have to tell me what you discovered deep down. I can guess.

Re: Chattanooga Stand is Evolving and ‘Picking Up Steam’

billzane — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:30:22 -0000

I know, dude. I was just giving you a hard time. Love the site! I am sure there are more people out there reading this site who are hopeful like me. I wish they, too, would engage in the conversation. But I understand why they don't. A message of fear and conspiracy will always be able to destroy any hopefulness.

Re: Chattanooga Stand is Evolving and ‘Picking Up Steam’

billzane — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:26:26 -0000

I ran into one of those "yellow zealots" at Coolidge Park and had one of the most pleasant and engaging conversations I've had in a while. I would encourage you to get out of your arm chair and do the same. You might be surprised they are actually humans. Real names and everything. Or better yet, venture way out of your comfort zone and head down to Main Street and talk with someone face to face down there. It's really weird what happens when you engage someone when you can look into their eyes. You see them for what they are. Allison, you are not seeing any of these people as fellow citizens. You are looking at them as enemies. In a way, I feel bad for you. There is so much more to life than conspiracies and politics. Can't you just be hopeful for a moment? I bet a stop by the yellow zealot headquarters would soften your hardened and jaded heart.

Re: Justify Your Existence: green|spaces

billzane — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:24:01 -0000

I am just hopeful in a better future for Chattanooga.

I've been here for a short time, true. Originally from out west. Maybe that allows me to have a fresh set of eyes on the situation and I am not as jaded as some who have been here a while. As I mentioned previously, I don't think these non-profits always get it right. Some of them may even have some questionable leadership. I am a huge believer in The Market. It would be great to see River City run as a for-profit someday (maybe soon).

But there are also certain things that cannot be done as a for-profit company. I think the Young Monster story is a great example of that.

Re: Justify Your Existence: green|spaces

billzane — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:47:06 -0000

Here's a company that would not have been started if it weren't for those pesky trust funders. Pretty relevant seeing as this was the cover story on the business section.
http://www.timesfreepress.c...

Re: Justify Your Existence: green|spaces

billzane — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:16:53 -0000

OH JEEZ! Not more artists! Anything but them.

And in reference to the "jobs" conversation- Are jobs not jobs? Blue collar. White collar. Green collar. Entrepreneurs are what drive the economy. Chattanooga needs to continue to develop a healthy culture of entrepreneurship (being facilitated by orgs like the Business Development Center, TSBDC, Score, SpringBoard, etc.) and that will in turn create jobs. Having a vibrant downtown, riverfront, greenway system, etc. contributes to a quality of life factor which attracts companies like VW to relocate here and also entrepreneurs to keep their companies here as they grow.

Ideally, we would not need the "trust funders" but seeing as most everyone else sits on the sidelines and doesn't do much other than pay their taxes...well, you figure it out. I am not sure that I like the River City model either, but some great work has been accomplished because of them. It's hard for me to believe you would not agree with that (especially since you enjoy taking your visitors downtown- not possible without RC).

Maybe Chattanooga will soon get to the tipping point where we don't need River City. I think we will. It's at that point, we'll find out if they are truly in existence for the good of the city, or the good of themselves.

Re: Chattanooga Stand is Evolving and ‘Picking Up Steam’

billzane — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:59:48 -0000

I have never seen more than a few hundred on Chattanoogan.com. But, if they could get 25,000 survey responses, I would pay attention. I venture to say you would, too. Statistically perfect? Of course not. But still relevant information to throw into the discussion.

I still don't understand why you are so afraid of new ideas from citizens. I would hope that new solutions for old problems will be formed out of some of the data retrieved.

Also, you talk of the current process being "unethical", but still don't see an explanation from you about how the first visioning process is different. They had the same funders (fact check please- is there a button for that?) as the current visioning process does. And that resulted in the leadership of your hero- Ron Littlefield! Out of new ideas arise new leaders. Count on that, my friend. I am.

Re: Chattanooga Stand is Evolving and ‘Picking Up Steam’

billzane — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:53:30 -0000

What is the "front door of a private business"? And how do you know "intent"? Unless, you are actually on the inside of the conspiratorial cast of characters running the campaign. That's it! I bet you ARE a Stand employee, merely pretending to be against the initiative. All this banter and naysaying just to drive traffic and conversation about the topic. Brilliant strategy Allison!

Re: Chattanooga Stand is Evolving and ‘Picking Up Steam’

billzane — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:49:29 -0000

Yes, I agree. Since Chattarati is a privately owned website, I demand to know what you are going to do with my responses. Please don't give to anyone from the Stand campaign. We know we don't want that kind of information given back to the public unfiltered and raw- the public just can't handle it. Give it to Littlefield. He know what to do with it.

Re: Chattanooga Stand is Evolving and ‘Picking Up Steam’

billzane — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:46:40 -0000

Oh shooooot! She busted out the "time-out"! Is it an entirely random sample? Probably not. I cannot understand how you feel getting 25,000 responses from Chattanoogans is arbitrary. Guessing you're a boomer right? If not, you're certainly reacting like one...absolutely terrified of the next generation of leaders.

Just above this response, you said that Chattanooga Venture and Vision 2000 were grass roots efforts. I find this pretty humorous. How does two people constitute "grass roots"? Also, from what I have heard (and correct me if I am wrong because I am an "outsider" and not "in the evil power structure"), the first visioning process what funded by the awful do-gooders at Lyndhurst. Pretty sure that's the same set-up as this time.

Circling back to grass-roots- you mentioned that Mai Bell and Littlefield (LF) were part of that effort. Cool! I am glad they did. I have a friend who is a CEO of a fairly large company in Chattanooga, who said Mai Bell actually called him on behalf of Stand. So by my estimation, that makes Stand at least half of a grass roots campaign. Now for the other half- LF has built his entire public life on his experience in leading the Chattanooga Venture effort. Since you are clearly a big LF fan, please explain why you are so hell-bent on keeping a new generation of leaders from assuming leadership roles.

This is what I see as "worst-case scenario"- aforementioned Stand group, gets 25000 responses from the public of Chattanooga, Ochs tabulates the data, the public then gets unfiltered access to the raw data, and then (cue creepy, sinister plot type music) somebody decides to look at the information and do what they can to make Chattanooga a better place. This just reeks of conspiracy. My hope- Mayors LF and Ramsey/whoever will look at the data, realize this is their constituencies, and see if they can address some of the issues. Maybe the Chamber of Commerce will do the same if there are business issues that need to be addressed. Maybe the groups that assist the homeless will find some useful information and do something about it. And maybe you are right, Allison. Maybe the next mayor candidate will come out of the group, maybe not. But whoever is running for whatever office, 25000 responses shouldn't be ignored.

Soon, a new generation of leadership will assume leadership roles. I cannot wait for that day!

Re: Chattanooga Stand is Evolving and ‘Picking Up Steam’

billzane — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:19:55 -0000

Because our mayor doesn't "do" anything!

Weird how every gets all freaked out when someone, or a group of people, actually "do" something. Gets the political establishment all worked up when ordinary citizens actually speak up (read "STAND up").

I am recent transplant (read "outsider"), yet I have become more involved with stuff going on around the city than most people living here their entire lives. "How?" you might ask...I just did. I just found a couple things around town that I got excited about and jumped in. It's not tough. You naysayers (read "Allison" and "Adam")- quit sitting on the sidelines complaining and go "do" something. Chances are it will be more than our local government is doing.

Re: Chattanooga Stand is Evolving and ‘Picking Up Steam’

billzane — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:08:33 -0000

Ha! This is one of the most absurd things I have ever heard. I am a YP in town and I am not a big fan of Baby Boomers either. But I have attended many of the CreateHere events and they are so far from a Boomer crowd- your statement is laughable. I have some friends that work there and they are as far from the "Humvee's & McMansions" culture as you can get. Why don't you go down there and actually spend 30 seconds in their space before speaking out of a place of ignorance. Also, check out "X Saves the World." A great book, albeit, an extreme view, of the culture clash between Gen X and the Boomers.