I can't say I follow Robin Eschliman's recent rant in which she condemned WRK LLC -- the (in)famous Scott brothers -- for selling land in Waverly to a business that was leaving Lincoln. Here's the skinny, as far as I understand it: Watts Electric currently rents space in Air Park. Watts bought land on North 70th Street, intending to build out there. After the land purchase, flood plain maps were updated and now the land sits in a flood plain. Watts didn't receive the help (read: handouts) it wanted from Lincoln, so it looked down the road at Waverly. WRK had some available land in Waverly. Alacazam, Watts moves to Waverly.
Apparently Ms. Eschliman thinks the Scotts have some sort of patriotic duty to only do business in Lincoln. Baloney. If they don't do what's good for themselves, then they don't have the resources to assist in the projects that are good for Lincoln. As for Watts Electric, who can blame them for doing what they need to do to stay competitive in their field?
Rather than raving about companies' business decisions, perhaps Ms. Eschliman (and the City Council as a whole) should continue to look at the reasons why the businesses made those decisions. What made locating outside of Lincoln more attractive than locating inside Lincoln? Could we and should we have done something differently to change the outcome? I'm not presupposing any answers here; I don't know the details of this situation beyond what the media have told me. Maybe we did all we could. If so, better luck next time. If not, let's fix it.
If somebody were really playing dirty I wouldn't have a problem with a City Council member calling them out. That didn't happen here. Instead, a couple businesses did what businesses do, and as a result a prominent member of local government needlessly called them out in a manner not befitting her position. What message does that send about the local climate?
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I agree on pretty much all counts. I think it, again, shows Robin E. to be a buffoon, or at least someone who excels at the art of sticking her foot into her mouth and looking like a moron, even if her heart may be in the right place. Less talk from her would generally be a better thing.
With all of that said, I can’t shake the fact that I am starting to get a bad feeling about the brothers Scott. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but as much as they keep popping up in seemingly every development and redevelopment conversation, yet there are not many (if any) real results to show for their work, are they all bluster and show? Can they be trusted? Something’s just not feeling right for me.
I saw one of the Scott brothers eating at Grateful Bread a few weeks ago so they’re okay in my book.
It’s funny how little things like that shape our perceptions of people.
Obviously the Scott Bros have connections with the underground liberal bakery network in Lincoln.
Some people think they’re going to open up a bakery in Waverly.
Harumph!
Probably won’t even use Nebraska wheat.
Actually Nebraska wheat isn’t that great for baking when used on its own. The flour you get at the store is a blend of several different kinds of wheat.
Gene, be careful, that kind of talk could result in a stern talking-to from Councilwoman Eischelman.
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