I honestly try to give myself weekends off from blogging. But the Iowa City Press Citizen is making it impossible. The latest editorial on the Fake Rainforest in Coralville invites comment:



What do you think?

• Do you still have concerns about the project? What are they?



Okay, since you asked. It won’t be anything you haven’t heard before:



The project’s supporters certainly offered a polished presentation. Complete with slides, graphs and artist’s renderings the experts” saw the future more clearly than we ordinary Iowans who, as former governor Robert Ray implied, are so “down-home” that we must be dragged by the hair into the gleaming future so evident in more “happening” places on the globe. If you aren’t convinced by this project, obviously you just don’t get it. . . In actuality, the project is a $180 million gamble. The “facts” that the IEEP board is selling – all the attendance numbers, projections, graphs and budgets – require a set of assumptions that quickly become circular and self-referential. Tim Shriver, Coralville



“I hope the people behind this project are aware of some local history. We have a building on campus formally called the laser center. I’m sure the people who planned this building had grand ideas. I believe it now holds the boats (among other things) for the rowing team. My greatest fear is that the rainforest project will become (metaphorically) our next boathouse.” Mike Jenn, Coralville



Sound familiar? These are letters to the editor from the Press-Citizen on March 26, 2004. They echo the very serious concerns expressed all over the state by the majority of Iowans that do not support this project.



I'll excerpt quotes from the article in the interest of brevity:



Under David Oman's leadership, the Iowa Environmental/Education Project — commonly referred to as the rain forest — has been increasingly accessible to the general public. We appreciate that Oman, as chief administrator, opts to be open and offers figures that can be substantiated. This approach, seen most recently through answers provided to the Press-Citizen's three-day series about the proposal and at Monday night's town meeting in Coralville, is selling people on the project. While not all are convinced of the project's feasibility, many now are more open-minded.



Really? I found the entire thing to be an exercise in cheerleading and public relations. I agree with this letter to the editor, also from Friday’s paper, which you must have seen:



“As a critic of the rainforest for several years I am really disappointed that the Press-Citizens “town meeting” only had proponents of the project and no opponents. Nor did any of the three-part series contain commentary from the organized opposition. This is functioning like a public relations company and not a news organization.” Clara Oleson, Iowa City



The editors then go on to ask a series of questions about the money - but NOT the $90 million in tax money, which is taken for granted. If these politicians and developers wanted to build their Fake Rainforest in Coralville with private funds, I wouldn’t have any problem with it (other than wondering if the building be reusable if it goes belly-up like the laser center). But to use $90 million of government money is more than irresponsible. It’s offensive and embarrassing.



"In all fairness, we concede that project leaders probably can't answer all of the questions. Organizations certainly must maintain a modicum of privacy when negotiating, and we respect that. In other instances, IEEP board members already have said they honestly don't have an answer because the project isn't at a point where the issue must be addressed. In a few cases, board members have attempted to provide answers, but because of the project's current stage, even they admit responses are nebulous."



Pardon? You want to us put $180 million into a project for which this board can offer only “nebulous” responses to our questions? They sought this area out. They asked to build this asinine thing.



Why is the Press-Citizen, a member of the “fourth estate” meant to watchdog against government excess and abuse, now chastising its readers like naughty schoolchildren, reminding them not to ask impolite questions?



I thought Oman “offered figures that could be substantiated?” How do you define substantiated? Is it synonymous with “based on ethereal, wildly optimistic attendance projections”? Or “predicting a ripple-effect job market by using a multiplier higher than any mega-project in the history of economics?” If so, I can agree. But if you define it like the rest of us “hick” Iowans, then it means “verifiable, able to withstand analytical scrutiny and skeptical questioning.” Don’t you dare tell us to sit down, shut up, and eat our $90 million plate of pork without asking any more of those darn inconvenient questions.



"Because of the rain forest project's scope, we urge caution and thoroughness. Success could lead to nearly unthinkable benefits; failure could place an oppressive financial burden on this area and the state."



Failure “could” place an oppressive burden on the area and state? Try “will.” C’mon. You can say it: “If you fail, we’re all screwed.” Almost as catchy as that other slogan, isn’t it?



Finally, let us be clear that by asking such questions, we're not implying that the project won't work. Oman and many others on his design team come with extensive business background, in some cases involving projects of this type and scale. But many area residents want reassurance. Winning over the majority of the community will require project leaders to continue being open, providing answers and interacting with the public.



Yep. Us locals, we don’t hold with book larnin’ like them foreign types. We hain’t got but a couple thousand PhD’s living in these parts. We need reassurance, like a skittish horse.



What have I seen to date? 1.5 million projected visitors opening year (4100 per day), settling down after five years to 1.3 million (3550 per day). The Denver rainforest had only 1 million and went belly-up; New York’s gets about 550,000. “Ripple effect” jobs numbering 2900? Maybe if you take a multiplier of about 5 to 7 compared the direct jobs – several times the normal average. You can’t simply pick a number, you know. This isn’t a magician’s card trick.



I believe fervently in supporting business growth, and I’m proud of the way Coralville has cleaned up and expanded to something other than just the “strip.” But a majority of Iowans are against this project because we understand that the presumptions on which your cost projections are based are simply not sound.



It’s time to start contacting our politicians on this one.



Charles Grassley

Tom Harkin

Jim Leach

(The above links connect to a webform. It requires you to put your name and info in, presumably to keep the crackpots out.)



For locals in the Coralville/IC area:

Bob Dvorsky

David Jacoby



Joe Bolkom

VIcki Lensing



Jim Fausett, Mayor of Coralville

Other Coralville City Council members: John Lundel, Tom Gill, John Weihe, Henry Herwig, Jean Schnake.