I like your upbeat take on the NICE II “up from the mud” meeting the other night. Unfortunately, those of us hoping for a resurection weren’t quite as impressed with the outcome. Marsha certainly should be applauded for her corageous and valiant effort and for so deftly fending off Lompa’s viscous and barbarous rants. While things seemed to get off to a decent start with a relatively good showing, and a spirted discussion of the needs, wants, and desires of the town, it quickly devolved into an angry and accusatory exchange. I fear that as long as there are individuals so at odds with each others agendas in this town, progress will have to wait. It would be NICE to limit access to the discussion to those who have something positive to contribute, either in the way of ideas or attitudes, but then we would be accused of secrecy and scheming, which seems to be at least partially responsible for the first NICE’s failure.

Here’s my take on this whole issue:
I think NICE or whatever name might be ascribed to any Business Improvement District in Point Richmond is dead for the time being. It’s going to take time for the mud to dry and the dust to settle, and Lompa and crew to find something else to set their bitter and unbending will against. In the mean time life will go on, businesses and landlords in the Point will continue to struggle with the status quo, and we can all watch as the many other Bay Area districts who willingly initiated BIDs flourish and reap the benifits of their forsight and unity. Maybe in a couple of years the dynamic will have changed sufficiently and a champion will rise to rally the people to push for a new era of progress and prosperity in Point Richmond.

I understand that after I left the meeting Connie Lompa made a comment that “Point Richmond is a company town (Chevron and BNSF presumably) and will never be anything more.” I’m not even sure I know what she meant by this, but as long as this is the prevailing attitude then she’s absolutly right. It takes a vision and a desire to change the desitiny of our town, and until we can all come together and make the required effort, we will not change that ideology.