doubledog said:
Thank you, just to clarify. If another large space in the mall was to became available, you would support a decision to buy it?
Timely, since Conn's is going out of business.
Ask A College Station City Council Candidate - Valen Cepak Place 3
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Last: 4 mo ago by BiochemAg97
Timely, since Conn's is going out of business.
I am not a fan of federal and state grants. First of all, they come with strings. Secondly, we are asking taxpayers from Waco. El Paso, Seattle, and elsewhere to fund our projects.
Three questions every councilman should ask are:
Is this needed?
Is it the city's responsibility?
Can we afford it?
If the answers to all three are not "yes" then the city shoild not be involved.
Three questions every councilman should ask are:
Is this needed?
Is it the city's responsibility?
Can we afford it?
If the answers to all three are not "yes" then the city shoild not be involved.
taxpreparer said:
Three questions every councilman should ask are:
Is this needed?
Is it the city's responsibility?
Can we afford it?
If the answers to all three are not "yes" then the city shoild not be involved.
www.elitellp.net/
I would add a first question. "Is it a role of govenment to be selection winners and losers in the private sector at the cost of taxpayers?" I suspect anything that you can purchase in the Mall can be purchased in multiple other businesses in town.taxpreparer said:
I am not a fan of federal and state grants. First of all, they come with strings. Secondly, we are asking taxpayers from Waco. El Paso, Seattle, and elsewhere to fund our projects.
Three questions every councilman should ask are:
Is this needed?
Is it the city's responsibility?
Can we afford it?
If the answers to all three are not "yes" then the city shoild not be involved.
Federal and state grants are a smoke screen. They are grants from hardworking taxpapers.
Productive people are the only ones who in the long run pay for everything.
Great idea to take another property off the tax roles!taxpreparer said:doubledog said:
Thank you, just to clarify. If another large space in the mall was to became available, you would support a decision to buy it?
Timely, since Conn's is going out of business.
If the Mall eventually shuts down and an apartment or condo complex is built there, will it really effect the health of the city?
That is the type of non answer from politicians that we are sick of hearing.Valen said:While I am not going to disclose exactly who I am going to vote for, I will tell you that my beliefs and values most align with moderate Christian conservatives. I operate out of and am guided by my faith, and I do my best to make people feel loved and seen, especially in their own community.Stupe said:
Who are you voting for President?
Normally that is a private question. You are running for public office and it matters.
The candidates that came door-to-door were clear about where they stood. Whether I agreed with them or not.
woodiewood said:Great idea to take another property off the tax roles!taxpreparer said:doubledog said:
Thank you, just to clarify. If another large space in the mall was to became available, you would support a decision to buy it?
Timely, since Conn's is going out of business.
When I was growing up, the mall in our town had a Wyatt's Cafeteria inside. It was a popular after-church lunch spot.
If there was a cafeteria and a couple of other good restaurants in the mall, the Office Depot/Max church could have utilized the Macy's space and everyone could walk to lunch after church service let out. And then maybe do a little shopping.
That would be more of a boost to the economy than anything the city is dreaming up.
Thank you, I have my answer...Valen said:I am not willing to say yes or no to that. I believe there would need to be a strong argument for either side to make that decision. However, I absolutely want to do a better job of hearing from the community about how they envision the future. As I have mentioned, I want people to feel seen in their own community, and that means hearing everyone's voices on a decision like that.doubledog said:Thank you, just to clarify. If another large space in the mall was to became available, you would support a decision to buy it?Valen said:
I believe the mall is significant for our town. While I don't see it as a failure, it has the potential to do much better. This weekend, I took some time to visit the mall and spoke with several local small business owners who have set up shop there. They shared that they are doing well, enjoy their spots in the mall, and are generally happy to be there. However, the mall could use some much-needed attention.
As a community, I think there is support to revitalize the mall. With the city owning property in the mall, I see it as a crucial part of bringing the mall back to life. Whether that means selling it for development that benefits the community or turning it into a place like the YMCA, there are many potential outcomes that could help the mall thrive again.
Here's the simple fact: if you know nothing about our town and community and you are driving down Highway 6, the mall is not something that makes you want to stop and go inside. To me, that is a significant issue that needs to be addressed. I want to be part of the decision-making process to help preserve the legacy of this incredible town, not just for the next five years, but for the next fifteen years.
I have one more question:
You made this post:
Why did you start a thread on TexAgs for the purpose of political advertising and not even purchase a basic subscription?
You made this post:
Quote:
I believe in supporting local and small business owners. We already have local businesses starting to use mall space. If we have any ability to help bring traffic into the mall, even though it is owned by a conglomerate, I believe it is our responsibility to do so. This support is crucial for those in our community who are taking the leap to run their own businesses.
Why did you start a thread on TexAgs for the purpose of political advertising and not even purchase a basic subscription?
Gonna need some burn ointment for that one.
Do you think it is morally right to subject citizens to costs (taxes) in order to sponsor a single private business (Santa winter wonderland) with 150k+ of funds? Exact funds not clear but it was three years running……. Picking winners over losers?
Do you think it's right to spend $90k on a sign and now $290k on another sign?
These two ideas represent over $500k of city funds. Were they properly spent? Were these top priorities in your mind?
Do you believe city should compete with private business?
How would you hold city council responsible for screwups of tax payer funds spent unwisely?
Do you think it's right to spend $90k on a sign and now $290k on another sign?
These two ideas represent over $500k of city funds. Were they properly spent? Were these top priorities in your mind?
Do you believe city should compete with private business?
How would you hold city council responsible for screwups of tax payer funds spent unwisely?
I collect ticket stubs! looking for a 1944 orange bowl and 1981 independence bowl ticket stub as well as Aggie vs tu stubs - 1926 and below, 1935-1937, 1939-1944, 1946-1948, 1950-1951, 1953, 1956-1957, 1959, 1960, 1963-1966, 1969-1970, 1972-1974, 1980, 1984, 1990, 2004, 2008, 2010
"I am not willing to say yes or no to that. I believe there would need to be a strong argument for either side to make that decision. However, I absolutely want to do a better job of hearing from the community about how they envision the future. As I have mentioned, I want people to feel seen in their own community, and that means hearing everyone's voices on a decision like that."
Sorry-you are done. You may a a great guy, but you lack fortitude and show way too much tolerance for what government should be involved in. Kumabyah (sp?) leadership is-not leadership...
You cannot make everyone happy and government is VERY rarely the answer to any problem.
Sorry-you are done. You may a a great guy, but you lack fortitude and show way too much tolerance for what government should be involved in. Kumabyah (sp?) leadership is-not leadership...
You cannot make everyone happy and government is VERY rarely the answer to any problem.
The government should never, never be in the business of purchasing vacant commercial property for the purpose of reselling or leasing the space.Hittag1492 said:
"I am not willing to say yes or no to that. I believe there would need to be a strong argument for either side to make that decision. However, I absolutely want to do a better job of hearing from the community about how they envision the future. As I have mentioned, I want people to feel seen in their own community, and that means hearing everyone's voices on a decision like that."
Sorry-you are done. You may a a great guy, but you lack fortitude and show way too much tolerance for what government should be involved in. Kumabyah (sp?) leadership is-not leadership...
You cannot make everyone happy and government is VERY rarely the answer to any problem.
There are many commercial brokers in this community that could have professionally managed the purchase and sale or lease of the Macys building.
Government needs to stick to the charge of supplying direct services to its citizens.
Of the current city council members, with whom would you say you most align as far as voting records go?
A Net Full of Jello said:
Of the current city council members, with whom would you say you most align as far as voting records go?
Looks like the OP gave up and left. Maybe government isn't for them.
Faulting him for failing to answer a question on a dead thread within an hour seems unfair.
I'm grateful he was candid with his answers. I hope he doesn't regret coming on here. And I hope people don't give him unnecessary grief about it.
I'm grateful he was candid with his answers. I hope he doesn't regret coming on here. And I hope people don't give him unnecessary grief about it.
Maybe in California, Oregon, or local politics in Austin.CS78 said:A Net Full of Jello said:
Of the current city council members, with whom would you say you most align as far as voting records go?
Looks like the OP gave up and left. Maybe government isn't for them.
I don't think that CS78 posted that because of that question.Brian Alg said:
Faulting him for failing to answer a question on a dead thread within an hour seems unfair.
I'm grateful he was candid with his answers. I hope he doesn't regret coming on here. And I hope people don't give him unnecessary grief about it.
It was because the OP stopped answering questions and the thread died.
His answers weren't doing him any favors if he was trying to get conservative voters to vote for a Democrat.
This thread will stand as a warning to future candidates not to engage in this setting.
It is a scary thing to get out of your comfort zone. I hope he will be back.Stucco said:
This thread will stand as a warning to future candidates not to engage in this setting.
Why? All of the posts are honest and to the point.Stucco said:
This thread will stand as a warning to future candidates not to engage in this setting.
Nobody is sarcastic.
Yep. That's how we got the medians. A federal grant.taxpreparer said:
I am not a fan of federal and state grants. First of all, they come with strings.
Eh, Yancy almost certainly has my future vote if he wants it. And that's not because I agree with all of his policies but because he has the courage to clearly state his position and then explain himself on the positions I don't agree with. I would be curious to know how OP found this board because he should have read some other threads and realized one of two things: either he needed to stay off the board being that some of his views do not align well with many posters or he needed to come prepared to answer any and all questions honestly without the political mumbo-jumbo.Stucco said:
This thread will stand as a warning to future candidates not to engage in this setting.
What really did it for me was his attempt to lead us to believe he was voting for Trump without actually saying it. Either decline to comment at all or tell the truth. The wishy-washy fence-sitting stinks of him misleading us.
This.Stucco said:
This thread will stand as a warning to future candidates not to engage in this setting.
FlyRod said:This.Stucco said:
This thread will stand as a warning to future candidates not to engage in this setting.
Might be a great way to judge the candidate. I would hope any future council candidate would be able to handle what this group can dish out. If not they should not be considered.
Yep.Quote:
What really did it for me was his attempt to lead us to believe he was voting for Trump without actually saying it. Either decline to comment at all or tell the truth. The wishy-washy fence-sitting stinks of him misleading us.
One person said it should be a warning. Another poster agreed with it.
Neither has said why it should be a warning.
Nobody on this thread has been rude to the OP. Why should it be a warning?
Neither has said why it should be a warning.
Nobody on this thread has been rude to the OP. Why should it be a warning?
I appreciate the fact that he put himself in the arena. He may now understand what he opened himself up to. For the candidate thanks for doing that
I think you knew you would not get every potential voter to support you. It does seem there are those who want to notch their belt after tossing a question while hiding behind a screen name.
I think you knew you would not get every potential voter to support you. It does seem there are those who want to notch their belt after tossing a question while hiding behind a screen name.
Stupe said:
One person said it should be a warning. Another poster agreed with it.
Neither has said why it should be a warning.
Nobody on this thread has been rude to the OP. Why should it be a warning?
It should be a warning but not a warning to not engage at all. It is a warning to come prepared and to be willing to be open and honest.
Ah.
I agree with that.
I agree with that.
The Texas Transportation Institute is literally located in College Station. To my knowledge, none of the experts working there have ever been asked their opinions on anything to do with traffic in College Station. Maybe you could be the first?
Not completely true. Some of their people helped create the traffic management plan for home football games.
That's not correct.Leah Silverman said:
The Texas Transportation Institute is literally located in College Station. To my knowledge, none of the experts working there have ever been asked their opinions on anything to do with traffic in College Station. Maybe you could be the first?
I know people at TTI and they are regularly consulted by both cities and the county.
They have been doing that since they were located at the airport where Rellis now sits. The runways were used for experiments.
PS3D said:
I've enjoyed Mr. Yancy's interactions on this forum, but I disliked the survey that was previously brought up, seemingly to promote bike lanes with the only real option being "yes".
At no point were there any options in the survey to discuss widening roads or otherwise addressing the traffic situation, particularly the "vortex" around campus, nor medians, which if TexAgs is at all indication, extremely unpopular.
What are your thoughts on building infrastructure to address the road network in town, where the few existing north-south throughfares like Texas Avenue, Harvey Mitchell Parkway, Wellborn Road, and Earl Rudder Freeway, are strained by congestion, and likewise poor east-west connectivity?Valen said:
I believe in supporting local and small business owners. We already have local businesses starting to use mall space. If we have any ability to help bring traffic into the mall, even though it is owned by a conglomerate, I believe it is our responsibility to do so. This support is crucial for those in our community who are taking the leap to run their own businesses.
I've been outspoken that the mall could be saved; buying the Macy's building was said to prevent a self-storage place from occupying the space, which would've only accelerated the mall's decline faster. Of course, putting an "esports arena" in the space probably wouldn't be much better. The city needs to work with CBL Properties or any other owner to ensure the mall's continued survival.
Esports arena, to the extent it drove traffic to the area, had the potential to increase traffic through the mall, if set up correctly.
I've been to an ice hockey game in an ice rink attached to a mall. Took a stroll through the mall to check out the shops. That said, a few hockey games for a college club team didn't save that mall, so if you went with something like a sporting or event venue, it would need to be used fairly regularly and draw significant people to really have much of an impact.