"Random Thoughts on Law School Rankings," April 29, 2008.
"City's Moral Compass is Spinning," August 27, 2008.
"Ted, TED, Michelle and City Owned Hotels," August 26, 2008.
"Earthpark, Editorials and Beating Dead Horses," August 15, 2008.
"UI Sexual Assault Update" is now embodied in, and being updated as, a Web page, "University of Iowa Sexual Assault Controversy -- 2007-08," July 19-present; although the original blog entry (July 19-August 9) has not been removed,"UI Sexual Assault Update," July 19-August 9. Both remain among "most popular."
"Police Accidental Shootings -- Of Themselves," May 9, 2008.
And see, Database Index of 500-plus blog entries
This morning's Press-Citizen carries three editorial comments about the proposed Coralville "Stories Project" -- from the paper's Editorial Board, Josh Schamberger (President, Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau and Stories creative catalyst -- with Bruce Wheaton), and yours truly, some of which is provided below.
In January of 2006 I wrote, in one of a couple dozen commentaries regarding the proposed indoor rain forest project (see generally, my Earthpark Web site), a sample listing of what I thought to be the desirable-to-essential qualities of community attractions that work, including:
Community-based. Successful ventures grow bottom up, like Omaha's zoo, the Englert theater renovation, and Dubuque's "Envision 2010," rather than being imposed top down like the rain forest.Nicholas Johnson, "Time to Learn from What Works," Iowa City Press-Citizen, January 20, 2006.
Three months later I got wind of Josh Schamberger's proposal to do precisely that -- bring together some 21 representative local folks to consider the options for what to do with the land no longer to be occupied by the rain forest. (See, e.g., Jennifer Lickteig, "Coralville Site Panel Has 2 UI Students," The Daily Iowan, April 26, 2006). Naturally I gave him a call, praised his proposed procedure, offered to help, and referred to his "leadership" on the Earthpark Web site. (As he continues to say today, in concluding his column, "We invite all to dream with us and to help to check the facts.")
Now, a reasonable two years later, this local group has sifted through some options and settled on what has come to be called "The Stories Project." For some descriptions, see, e.g., the The Stories Project at Iowa River Landing" Web site; Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, "The Stories Project Unveiled," June 6, 2008; Gregg Hennigan, "Major award, interactive holograms part of Coralville project unveiled today," The Gazette Online, June 5, 2008, 4:03 p.m.
(On the other hand, for the balance of a truly critical and skeptical view of the idea, as only State29 could present it, see State29, "Pulp Fiction: The Stories Project Scam In Coralville," June 6, 2008, and the appended comments from his readers. State29 retired from the blogosphere earlier this year.)
There is a significant amount of agreement among this morning's three pieces, along with some differences: (1) Stories is not an idea to be dismissed out of hand, but (2) at this point in time it still has many challenges, questions and potential concerns that will need to be addressed and resolved before it can go ahead. The differences tend to relate to the nature and seriousness of those concerns.
When I was asked to write an op ed on the subject I had assumed I would present some of the cautions about attractions that I tend to have as a result of studying, first, the Earthpark rain forest proposal, then attractions generally, and finally economic development generally. Josh would, I assumed, present the strongest case for Stories -- because he best knows it, it wasn't a part of my assignment, and it's really kind of important that the papers' readers hear the story of Stories.
Instead, the Schamberger-Wheaton piece ended up being primarily a critique of my own column. No problem. That's useful -- and fun. But it left major hole in the content of what was a significant commitment of newspaper space to Stories -- namely, what is this project anyway? So that is why, among other reasons, I provide the links, above, if you'd like to find out more about what Schamberger's local group, and its national consultants, have been doing over the last two years.
Also missing from this morning's three pieces, given the nature of the Schamberger-Wheaton column, is the response of sorts I felt was necessary to what they'd written. If we're to have a debate, and it turns out to be over my concerns rather than their proposal, then let's have a debate.
Accordingly, in the column I submitted I prepared and added a brief response. Apparently -- presumably in large measure given the excessive amount of space they were already devoting to the subject -- that response was removed from my submission.
So I'll start by reproducing it here, as submitted:
Unfortunately, Josh Schamberger fails to provide a case for the Stories Project. But since his defensive rejection of my concerns reflect some misunderstandings, a recap may be useful.Obviously, I urge you to read the Schamberger-Wheaton column that prompted this effort on my part to have the Press-Citizen carry these clarifications. Out of both the a respect for this blog's readers, and the column's authors, I will not reproduce it here, but this link will take you to it quickly: Josh Schamberger and Bruce Wheaton, "'Stories' Invites the Community to Dream With Us," Iowa City Press-Citizen, August 30, 2008, p. A15.
• Having proposed we become “a writing community,” clearly I’m not “opposed” to the Stories Project.
• The threshold problem, as explained: “It’s hard to be ‘for’ or ‘against’ a thing not knowing what the ‘thing’ is.”
• Next: It’s not that they don’t “yet” have money for either construction or operations. It’s that they’ve failed to, as the sub-head put it, “Start with the money,” including major local contributions. In the cited example (Atlanta aquarium) a $200 million local gift.
• It’s not that the “relationships between education, entertainment and tourism present problems.” Of course they can be, and are, sometimes combined. It’s that a single, focused purpose seems to be helpful. And that in spite of the Herbert Hoover site’s mix of education and entertainment the pure entertainment of Adventureland produces 10 times Hoover’s attendance.
• Schamberger’s examples are wildly inappropriate. The Newseum is (a) in Washington, D.C., (b) on Pennsylvania Avenue , (c) supported by the newspaper industry, (d) cost $400 million to build, and (e) gets national publicity as a radio and TV program venue. (As Walter Mondale might have said, “I know the Newseum. I am a friend of the Newseum. And believe me your Stories Project is no Newseum.”) And need I even start with his comparisons to Abraham Lincoln?
• That his attendance projections are “wildly optimistic” – perhaps by ten-fold – is not my “hunch.” The formula was recently confirmed by experts’ conclusion Denver’s economic boost from the Convention was closer to $16 million than consultants’ projections of $160 million.
I will, however, reproduce my own column, as submitted. (It is also available from the Press-Citizen's online site as, Nicholas Johnson, "Flying Video Screens, Stories and Tourism," Iowa City Press-Citizen, August 30, 2008, p. A15. And don't forget, Editorial, "'Stories Project' Still Must Tell its Own Story," Iowa City Press-Citizen, August 30, 2008, p. A14.)
Flying Video Screens, Stories and Tourism
Nicholas Johnson
Everybody loves a story.
But will they love “The Stories Project”?
The Press-Citizen asked my opinion.
When traveling abroad it’s a matter of pride when someone, knowing I’m from Iowa City, identifies it with our International Writing Program.
Years ago, as a school board member, I wrote how we could become the nation’s preeminent “writing district,” and later proposed we declare Iowa City “a writing community.”
So an Iowa City monument to stories is certainly more appealing than “a rain forest in a cornfield” -- the earlier proposal for Coralville.
But good ideas are a dime a dozen. The challenge? Finding the next dime. Something rain forest promoters never found.
Whether Stories makes sense requires the same analysis to which I subjected the rain forest. www.nicholasjohnson.org/politics/IaChild/.
In fairness, Stories’ promoters acknowledge their details aren’t nailed down – “‘flying video screens’ and holographic projections,” school, bookstore, restaurant? But it’s hard to be “for” or “against” a thing not knowing what the “thing” is – the rain forest’s persistent problem. (“It’s a floor wax, it’s a desert topping; it’s whatever they want it to be.”)
So all I can offer is an all-purpose sampling of issues for any attraction.
Start with the money. Local donors are essential. Don’t periodically scale back an unfunded dream. Atlanta’s “world’s largest” (8-million-gallon) aquarium started with a $200 million local gift. Omaha’s Zoo finances locally before building. Years-long fundraising, or debt financing, are the surest paths to failure. [Editorial cartoon credit: Bob Patton, Iowa City Press-Citizen, posted September 2, 2008.]
Construction and start-up funds are easiest. The biggest financial challenge is operating costs – five years later. The rain forest would have required every Iowan, from new-born babe to the terminally ill, to pay entrance fees every two years.
Single focus. Stories started with land from a disappearing rain forest, and a desire to promote Coralville businesses’ income from tourism – not love of literature. (“Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”) It’s a mixed mission.
Americans favor entertainment over education – and by orders of magnitude. You want tourists? Offer entertainment – say, America’s largest waterslide park. You want education? Great, but don’t plan on riches.
The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, Museum and birthplace in West Branch should be Iowa’s most popular site. It’s a presidential library – for Iowa’s only president. It’s an exit ramp away from a heavily traveled Interstate. It offers many resources and programs. It’s attendance? 55,000 a year. Disneyland? 14 million.
That’s typical for other educational sites: Old Capitol, Iowa Hall – and not all that much better for the Living History Farm , or the Coral Ridge Mall’s Children’s Museum. (Ten million shoppers a year walk by without entering). Comparable American sites are failing.
It helps to tie attractions to their locations – another reason for the rain forest’s failure, and Dubuque’s Mississippi River Museum’s success.
I admire Coralville’s progress. But are Iowa’s writing programs really associated in the world’s mind with “Coralville”?
Want alternatives? What better “River Landing” project than a trail through prairie, with educational markers about the Iowa River’s history and floodplains’ contribution to flood control? Something as old as the Devonian Gorge, and as current as yesterday’s newspaper – at a fraction of Stories’ cost. And already begun with the Coralville dam bridge displays.
Beware of enthusiasts’ and consultants’ projections of attendance.
Atlanta’s aquarium is in a thriving business and convention center. A federal government regional headquarters. A tourist destination. An airline hub. Fulton County has nearly 10 million souls. There are other major attractions within walking distance of the aquarium.
Coralville has no such advantages. It’s not a tourist destination with Miami’s beaches or Denver’s mountains.
Estimates of attractions’ attendance and economic contribution are notoriously inflated – often by ten-fold. Stories promoters’ estimate of 500,000 visitors annually is wildly optimistic.
Don’t confuse I-80’s 50,000 cars a day with 50,000 carloads of paying visitors. Forty miles east or west the numbers are about half that. Commuting residents are counted, but not likely to stop off on their way to work. Nor will sales people and truck drivers behind schedule – or even vacationing families late to grandma’s Thanksgiving dinner.
Could we find something to put inside a Stories Project building? Of course. If benefit-cost analyses justify, perhaps a state-funded University project free to visitors.
So what do I think?
Let’s, first, honestly address whether the mission is to promote literature, or to increase motel and restaurant income. Then precisely describe focus and details. Third, realistically project Stories’ attendance and decades-long operating costs. Finally, “show me the money” for construction.
Then ask me again.
__________
Nicholas Johnson teaches at the University of Iowa College of Law and blogs at FromDC2Iowa.blogspot.com. His latest book is Are We There Yet?- Reflections on Politics in America.
Josh Schamberger responded to this blog entry by email. Given the importance of the project to the community, the issues involved, and the fact that some may come to this blog entry for information about it -- not to mention a basic sense of fairness that I try to provide through these blog entries and readers' comments regarding them -- I sought and received his permission to reproduce that email here. I believe the points he raises could be answered by me, but "as a concession to the shortness of life" I'm putting aside further discussion of the Stories Project for awhile, and will leave you to imagine how I might have responded to what follows were I to have done so (my writing, that he quotes, in regular font, his comments in italics):
Also missing from this morning's three pieces, given the nature of the Schamberger-Wheaton column, is the response of sorts I felt was necessary to what they'd written. If we're to have a debate, and it turns out to be over my concerns rather than their proposal, then let's have a debate. Accordingly, in the column I submitted I prepared and added a brief response. Apparently -- presumably in large measure given the excessive amount of space they were already devoting to the subject -- that response was removed from my submission.
How were we to know this? How is it fair to paint us as those that omitted it. You should be more clear in directing this to Jeff and the PC. C’mon now.
So I'll start by reproducing it here, as submitted:
Unfortunately, Josh Schamberger fails to provide a case for the Stories Project. But since his defensive rejection of my concerns reflect some misunderstandings, a recap may be useful.
I’m not providing a case for building it, I am only trying to garner review and public feedback….consideration. Is this something worth moving forward on? I’m not selling anything, Nick.
• Having proposed we become “a writing community,” clearly I’m not “opposed” to the Stories Project.
• The threshold problem, as explained: “It’s hard to be ‘for’ or ‘against’ a thing not knowing what the ‘thing’ is.”
You really can’t get an idea for what this ‘thing’ is from the Vision Book and other material? If so, Nick, you are the only person who has read this material, seen the visuals, and economic data who can’t get a feel for what the ‘thing’ is. That’s the honest truth. I have 3 dozen community residents who took the time to review this ‘thing’ after the June 6 presentation and every one of them seemed to figure out the ‘thing’ whether they agreed or disagreed. This is a serious question, and one not meant to offend…did you actually read the Vision Book? Reason I ask is because I know you did not read the ConsultEcon report. I’ve only posted the 4-5 page executive summary online. The student you had doing your research did not ask for the full copy so I thought it was a little unfair to be commenting on attendance projections and comparables (or as you call them examples) without actually having read the full report.
• Next: It’s not that they don’t “yet” have money for either construction or operations. It’s that they’ve failed to, as the sub-head put it, “Start with the money,” including major local contributions. In the cited example (Atlanta aquarium) a $200 million local gift.
We are on the same page here and I think that came across clear in both columns. We are not really going to go much further until the homework is done to determine IF the money is there. Where do you see our comments differing from your recommendation? Unfortunately though, it does cost money to develop this to a point to where it can be properly analyzed, reviewed, studied. You agree, right? If not, how could we have done this differently?
• It’s not that the “relationships between education, entertainment and tourism present problems.” Of course they can be, and are, sometimes combined. It’s that a single, focused purpose seems to be helpful. And that in spite of the Herbert Hoover site’s mix of education and entertainment the pure entertainment of Adventureland produces 10 times Hoover’s attendance.
I can’t understand how you continue to use the Herbert Hoover Museum as a comparable here. Read the Vision Book again, learn more about BRC, VISIT the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield to get a first hand feel/look for BRC’s work. And YES, I am drinking the kool-aid that makes me believe that Mark Twain, Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter, Stephen King, [insert your personal/favorite storyteller or book character here], combined, could be just as attractable as Abraham Lincoln. Seriously, I will personally drive you over there and we can have a very friendly and spirited conversation over and back.
• Schamberger’s examples are wildly inappropriate. The Newseum is (a) in Washington, D.C., (b) on Pennsylvania Avenue , (c) supported by the newspaper industry, (d) cost $400 million to build, and (e) gets national publicity as a radio and TV program venue. (As Walter Mondale might have said, “I know the Newseum. I am a friend of the Newseum. And believe me your Stories Project is no Newseum.”) And need I even start with his comparisons to Abraham Lincoln?
REALLY? For starters, I really would like to hear the comparisons to Abraham Lincoln. The Newseum example was used specifically to reference the relationship between education and entertainment. You know this, Nick. Seriously, we both know about this fun debate tactic. Don’t spin this. We were not comparing this for attendance figures. Need I even start on Gov. Lucas’ home?
• That his attendance projections are “wildly optimistic” – perhaps by ten-fold – is not my “hunch.” The formula was recently confirmed by experts’ conclusion Denver’s economic boost from the Convention was closer to $16 million than consultants’ projections of $160 million.
No, it is exactly your “hunch”, Nick. Same with your “hunch” quote about I-80 leisure traffic in the Tuesday, Press-Citizen story. Do you have any IDOT data or numbers to back this statement up? If so, I would really like to see them. I think our hotels and many retailers would also beg to differ. Same with our various welcome center sign in books…which are filled with I-80 leisure travelers. Back to the Convention. Seriously, you are comparing this project to the Democratic Convention? I have not seen the actually pre-Democratic Convention feasibility report, have you? Not that I care to. Seriously, it’s a little unfair to call the projections “wildly optimistic” when you A) haven’t read the actual report, and B) are comparing this project to the Democratic National Convention. I think those same experts would agree there is a difference between economic impact projections and attendance.
Bottom line was we hired a professional firm to do this for us. We’re not the experts. Your students, fellow staff, and our neighbors are as much of an expert as either of us. That’s why we hired a firm who has done this for over 25 years. These firms don’t stick around the industry very long with pie-in-the-sky projections. We did our homework. Again, I wish you would have taken the time to read the full ConsultEcon report before stating your position.
I do appreciate the time you have taken in offering up your opinion on this. AND that’s not some closing auto sign off line either. You offered up some very thoughtful considerations/reminders for the entire community to be thinking about as we continue to review this concept. Feel free to call/email me at ANYTIME with further observations, comments, questions, whatever. I really would welcome them.
And let me know if you really would like me to drive you over to Springfield. Ha!
--josh
1 comment:
Yep, life really is very short...
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