Let's check in on our pals in Nederland. The results are in from a recent Nederland Economic Development Corporation (NEDC) survey, asking residents to assess the 'burbs various strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
Threats? No, not North Korea, but local/regional issues that might infringe on Nederland's prosperity and growth. Actually, while we're at it, anyone have a "slogan" for Nederland? You know, like "rich with opportunity" or "where oil and water mix, beautifully" -- we need a slam dunk marketing masterpiece.
Anyway, back to our story. And what is on the mind of Nederlanders?Strengths: School district, proximity of resources and a safe and secure town
The school district jumps out. After all, the hotly contested NISD bond issue was -- predictably -- batted down back in May. Filled with all kinds of superfluous extras, the bloated bond had about a much of a chance of passing as a law banning guns in Texas.
Weaknesses: Lack of developeable land
Opportunities: Airport development, the support of public school education and business retention/expansion
Threats: Stagnation of tax base, crime in nearby areas and subsidized housing
But...the schools are ancient. And the infrastructure could use a lot of updating. The fears of a stagnant tax base are valid (PN-G does have more industry, which helped their bond issue). If the NISD can't find the money to upgrade local schools, some resident's fears of the NISD merging with the PAISD could become reality. Yikes!
How to fix the issue? We like this suggestion."When asked 'what one industry, service, facility or attraction would you like to see in the city,' responses ranged from national retail and entertainment to a theme park and sports complex."
We hear hockey is making a comeback. Or, we could turn the airport into an aviation theme park -- call it "the No-Fly Fun Zone" (we just LOVE us some airports!). Better still, does Beaumont have exclusivity on that "downtown ditch" concept? We could have dueling ditches.
We've fallen and we can't get up! Now there's a win-win.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Survey says: Nederland residents prioritize
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9 Gator-baiters:
Why does Jefferson Country need 7 independent school districts...with 7 overpaid supers, with 7 complete sets of bloated administrations, with 7 unequally funded school systems?
Until taxpayers demand that these little fiefdoms consolidate, this 7-headed beast will continue to suck the life out of property owners.
The diehards who zealously oppose any form of consolidation are probably not the ones paying the freight.
I agree, the problem is many of the communities that form around Beaumont and Port Arthur do so specifically to send their children to non BISD and PAISD schools.
I was sent to private school in Beaumont. Maybe they should start their own consolidated private school?
I believe its unconstitutional to have better "public" schools in some areas than others within a state. Its either tax payer funded or not. All children should have access to the same standard of education if it is taxpayer funded. If not we can't complain when entire populations or generations grow up without basic skills and are unable to compete in the modern job market. That will hurt us all in the long run, wether we are employers or neighbors surrounded by the unemployed and uneducated. I thought Brown v Board decided that in '54.
Ned'land has a resident astute "political consultant" that peforms miracles, behind the scenes of course, and the community seems to avoid many of the problems other similar cities face
The comments are interesting enough, I suppose. So why do you have to find yet another way to slam Port Arthur in the media?
David
Nederland is a City, not a community that formed around Beaumont and Port Arthur specifically to send our children to non BISD and PAIDS schools as one writer said. The schools here have always been very good. The City and its people have always been very good, along with City administrators and school officials. People here have always worked for the good of the town as a whole. I believe the recent bond issue just shows the fact that people here are committed to doing what's best for everyone. Upgrading of schools is indeed an important issue which is why there was such a huge turnout. Citizens here are not afraid to speak out when it comes to what's ultimately best. There has always been a huge range of socio-economic diversity with the people who reside here with few problems. But it's changing quickly. I've lived here over 50 years and I can't say I like where we're heading to now. Daily, there's more crime element. With growth there have come problems. This is not a "safe and secure town" any longer. & yes, most people I speak to here do believe a lot of this insecurity arises from the close proximity to the northward growth of Port Arthur. The tax base is also a big concern, of course. I don't have the answers to these concerns. But I will say that Nederland is basically trying to stay wisely grounded in looking to solutions. People work hard here to support this town and just want what we've been fortunate enough to enjoy for many years to continue. As of now, we're not asking for fluff from "downtown ditches", sports teams that ultimately won't be supported or "slogan"s that really are not "marketing masterpieces". The cities and school districts of Beaumont and Port Arthur have their own problems unique to them that they should concentrate on and not try to overlap them to Nederland.
Is it really true that Katie is dating a black guy from Port Arthur and that is why Kelly is so racist?
quite frankly, nederland developed and grew out of white flight from port arthur; and then we had katrina; the first influx of "the crime element" came from Katrina evacuees who have moved into nederland; they opened the gates and now a lot of port arthur element is flooding in; property owners are selling to anybody so they can move north to get out of hurricane central and "someone" has allowed section 8 into town. It's not crossing 365 anymore that's dangerous - it's crossing nederland avenue - which will be houston avenue in another 10 years. the face of nederland changed drastically after katrina and rita and it's too late to fix it. nederland is no longer a safe sleepy little bedroom town.
FF and pollabear right on: Texas school funding is an atrociuos example of inequality in a supposed democracy, yet our legislature has failed to find an equitable solution. They seem to have given up trying, and the monied elite could care less as long as they can build more mega sports shrines or send their kids to private schools.
what does race have to do with any of this?
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