In Bill McEwen's column today, he talks about how people who live in the Valley sell our region short. And in doing so, they hurt our economy:
"Tourism does more than help hotel and restaurant owners. It adds precious sales and room taxes to city and county treasuries -- taxes from visitors instead of our pockets.
"Tourism provides a city with an opportunity to sell itself to students, families, retirees and businesses. Good first impressions can lead to relationships that benefit Fresno over and over."
His launching point into this discussion is the way some residents have reacted to the recent inaugural Fresno marathon -- the first Fresno has hosted since 1999. We've seen some of the discontent in our letters to the editor.
Putting on a marathon is a major undertaking. It's not just something you can reschedule if it rains or allow some cars to go through while runners are on the road. There were some glitches, yes. But if organizers are committed to making this an annual event, they'll learn from their mistakes. If not, area residents won't have to worry about it because runners and walkers won't take part in a poorly run event.
Meanwhile, people in the community should learn to be more gracious when we have guests in our home. As Bill pointed out, the organizers put together an attraction that filled about 900 hotel rooms for the night.
We've got time to get better before next year's marathon (planned for Nov. 8, 2009). We'll get another chance sooner than that to show visitors how welcoming we can be. Lance Armstrong's participation in the Amgen Tour of California in February (the 18th and 19th) is sure to draw lots of cycling enthusiasts to the Valley host cities of Clovis, Merced and Visalia.
Get out there and cheer on the athletes. Plan ahead and be patient if road closures delay your travel a little. Recommend good restaurants to people visiting our area. And if you can't put on a friendly face, maybe you can plan your own trip out of town so your negativity doesn't spoil it for everyone else.
Yes, I too was a bit disgruntled by the letters to the editor about car traffic being blocked for part of Sunday. Really? C'mon.
Shame on the residents of Fresno and Clovis for complaining! We finally are starting to add some world class events that help so many economically. Promotes excercise and outdoor activities to our youth. Not to mention the charity groups that had a venue to raise valuable donations for so many worth while causes!! We should be thankful for events like this that bring positive light to our somewhat dingy part of the state. With more events like these we may start to attract some good publicity and in the end live in a city we can be proud of. If you complained about this event what have you done positive for our city lately??
I had rather unusual occasion to spend time in and drive across the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Nevada this year. Though not looking for a difference at the time, I noticed that all of these states took better care of their roads and bridges, were noticeably lower in litter and pollution but the people were also friendlier than here in California. This was true in highly populated areas of these states as well, so rural attributes can't be used as an excuse. There will always be exceptions in California communities but as a whole, I think the state itself could be better hosts. Also of interest, I have traveled extensively but have lived and loved California my whole life. This impression of California has never struck me before. Could this be a relatively new phenomena?.. Say the last ten years or so? What prompted the change?
MOI is unsure of protocol, and may not 'lift' comments off Mr. McEwen's left, here goes anyway:
Give MOI a HIGH FIVE, or whatever it is that young folks do.
Along with support of the Marathon, why not bring back the days of the "Raisen Parade", we are the Raisen capitol of the world, we are!
In San Francisco folks line the roads and cheer on the brave souls of the 'Bay to Breaker' race, Honolulu shouts ALOHA to runners, and San Diego makes every effort to be loud in egging runners on.
What rot that folks in Fresno do not take a more active interest in events that make Fresno shine.
MOI has banged on to whole world of the treasures to be found in our great city, not just what is wrong.
In order for Fresno to be WORLD CLASS, it has to have style.
MOI would don a 'Raisen' costume, lug a tank of air, and expose his horrid body in 'spandex', if folks would come out and cheer on.............perish the thought.
MOI would scream loudly if he could see elected and appointed officials run in a race. Can you just see Ms. Sterling swinging that pocketbook, Mr. Perea with ABC30 logo, Mr. Calhoun with a coffe urn, Mr. Xiong with a garden hoe, Mr. Duncan tossing 'dirty bombs, His Holiness AndyI with massive papal ring for all to kiss, Mr. Wiemiller with a road sign, Mr. Cooper in a cage, Mr. Rudd with a poo scooper, and yourself with a dictionary to find how to spell 'Hero' and your good mate Jim Boren lugging an old tyewriter?
Quick sign MOI up.............
Wicked of MOI to be sure but with reflection, MOI has had another thought......Yes, Virginia, MOI has more than one.......
In some cities lived, MOI has seen a race held where chaps run about the roads dressed in 'RED' drag.........Very manly men, racing about in all sort of forms of female dress.........It is quite a giggle. Men in Fresno could do same, who in Fresno would not want to see some of local men in dresses? The local men of note, could race about to raise cash for charity or whatever. Can you just see some of the 'men of note' in 'drag? Gobsmacked MOI would be if folks in Fresno did not turn out for.
Bill McEwen has a point, if one wants to attract folks to Fresno there has to be a 'hook' and that 'hook' has to be baited by folks in Fresno wanting to capture the 'big fish', that being the cash in pockets of visitors that will stay in Fresno.
Mind, Fresno is the same City that had a auto maker do an advert and tell folks that if the purchared their vehicles they might not run out of petrol and need to stop in Fresno to fill up.
And the folks here did not go crackers about.
What does MOI know, when first moved here folks told that MOI could not have an opinion on Fresno as MOI had lived lived here forever and a day, right odd that many who have 'lived here forever and a day' seem content to sit on hands and say and do nothing.
MOI digresses..............
Kim...personally I think it's the PEU sucking all the infrastructure money out of the state and the influx of illegal aliens that have turned California's landscape and roads around our cities and towns into a third world toilet.In addition...I support events that bring people to our various areas, that fill the coffers, whether it be a marathon or cage fighting.
Good points, Mark. Thanks for bringing it up, Lisa. When you start talking dollars and cents for the community and for charity, people need to be more flexible. It's only a short term inconvenience for a lot of long term gains.