This is my response to a newspaper article where the City administrator in charge of the market is said to have portrayed the idea of moving the market as nothing more than a rumor. In my response, I point out that it is mostly the City administrator, DH, who has been bringing up the idea of moving the market to Main st. How can it be nothing more than a rumor? The reporter stands by the accuracy of his story, so I decided to provide some facts. It was important to do this because the vendors meeting where this issue was to be discussed was scheduled for the last week of the market. If vendors, who are scattered all over the place, thought all this was turning out to be only a rumor, they might not bother to attend the meeting. Fortunately, there was good turn out at the meeting and the vendors voted unanimously that they did not want to move to Main Street.

10/19/03

DJ, LMT

Dear Mr. J:

I fear that your article about the Moscow Farmers' Market on page 8A of the 10/16/03 LMT will add to the confusion. I am a vendor at the market. I have not heard any rumors, but I do have some facts.

About a month before the market started this year, DH mentioned the idea of moving to Main Street to the Moscow City Council during the public hearing concerning a fee increase for the market.

At the vendors meeting, one week before the market started this year, DH brought up the idea of moving the market to Main Street after someone commented about the traffic on Jackson Street. No one was interested at first, but she pushed the issue and asked if anyone would at least consider a move. Some of the vendors finally raised their hands and DH said she would have someone study the idea.

Several weeks after the market started, cops were asking vendors about the traffic on Jackson Street. They also said that the idea of moving the market to the fair grounds or the Eastside Market Place was being discussed. About a week later, I asked DH what was going on and who was pushing these ideas. She said it was "just an idea."

In the June newsletter to the vendors, DH wrote: "Market management has heard more than once this summer that we are moving to Eastside Market Place, to Main Street, to the fair grounds...don't pack your bags yet. There is discussion about whether a move is in order but no decisions have been made and if it happens, it won't be until lots of discussion this winter. And you of course, will be part of that conversation."

I should point out that 'this winter' is after the market is over and the vendors are scattered all over the region. Communications between vendors would be difficult. Most of the communications would be between DH and individual vendors.

An article in the 09/06/03 edition of the Moscow-Pullman Dailey News said in part "Some in the new Moscow Downtown Association, MDA, are recommending moving the market from its current location in a parking lot off of Friendship Square." Another paragraph says in part "...........JS is advocating to move the market to Main Street as a way of incorporating downtown stores." (JS is involved with the MDA) Mr. S told me he has contacted DH about this subject.

About a week later, I went to DH's office. One of the things I said to her was that I wanted to make sure a move is not a done deal and a railroad job. She assured me that it was not. Among other things, I pointed out that it would be a good idea to have a vendors meeting before the end of the market when the vendors are scattered. I also told her that I would like to have a meeting with some of the folks who want the market to move. She indicated that she would set up a meeting. A few days later, I sent out some emails to a number of people discussing the reasons why I think a move to Main Street would be harmful to the market. At no time did I ever say the idea of moving was a done deal.

Towards the end of September, we received notice from DH of a vendors meeting to be held on 10/25/03, the last day of the market. Item number one of the agenda is as follows: "Discussion of summer rumors regarding moving the market to Main Street. Should we consider the possibility or stay where we are? This is an opportunity for vendor input as well as to hear from representatives from the downtown business community and others who think it is worth considering." Your article states that 'During those talks, she said, mention of the rumored move might be raised. And if it is, the subject will be discussed.' Based on agenda item number one, it looks like folks will be brought into the meeting to try and talk the vendors into moving. That seems to be a bit more than '.....mention of the rumored move might be raised.'

Also, the newsletter we received at the 10/18/03 market, says:

"The end-of-season meeting for vendors will be held after the market on Saturday, October 25th at 2:30PM in the Moscow City Hall. (City Council Chambers, 2nd floor.) The main agenda item will be to address the rumor that has run rampant all summer regarding moving the market to Main Street, the fairgrounds and every place but Mars! Someone's idea of what might be best for this event has taken on a life of its own and has been the subject of a great deal of discussion. Nothing we have been able to say or do has dispelled this rumor."

"We will be hearing from representatives from the new Downtown Business Association who seem to feel that moving to Main Street might be a good idea. We will than be able to ask them "Why?" and you can give your own feedback regarding the issue. I will than pass that information on the appropriate city officials."

"Some of you, in the market assessment and in other ways, have expressed an interest in being more self-governing. I and the Moscow Arts Commission Board of Commissioners are prepared to discuss this and how we might go about it. We will get some initial feedback from you at this meeting and together, pursue it in the off-season."

"Please plan to attend this important meeting or provide written information for the record if you can't be there."

So, the original meeting agenda still stands despite what is said in the article. What is going on here? Are you sure about what DH said?

I think you can see why vendors and others would get the idea that moving the market was being suggested and considered. I have not personally heard any rumors of a "pending move." I have not heard that a move is a "done deal." I also have not heard "....of a city conspiracy." I have certainly not heard that there has been a decision to move the market. As you quote DH in your article, I don't think the facts indicate it is likely any rumors were caused by "........someone just thought it would be a great idea to move it to Main Street."

Although it is theoretically possible that a rumor could be started by someone who ".....just thought it would be a great idea to move it to Main Street," it is far more likely that any rumors that exist have their original basis on what DH has been saying and, to some extent, on the 09/06/03 newspaper article. If DH's comments had dissuaded people who don't want to move the market from taking the "idea" seriously, those people who advocate moving the market might have opportunities to present their "idea" under circumstances that might make acceptance more likely. During the 10/25/03 meeting, we vendors will finally hear just how serious that "idea" is.

Sincerely, Brad King


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