JohnA’s urban renewal talking points

JohnA (RE: Souza’s urban renewal talking points ):

Mary, do you like apples? Because here’s my ‘talking points’, garnered from the nine URA boards with whom I have worked:

1- $10 million in new infrastructure in Dover, a city of less than 800 people, or $12,000 per resident. And it didn’t cost them one cent. The URA is governed by three people who work for free and whose only agenda is to make their city a better place to live.
2- 125 jobs created in Bonners Ferry, because the URA agreed to reimburse a developer $600,000 for his OFF SITE improvements that the city and ITD imposed on him, without which he would not have built. Plus, another 50 jobs coming right across the street in 2016.
3- Matching funds from the URA for federal dollars to run utilities under the river in Oldtown, so development and job growth can occur.
4- Matching funds from the URA for a state grant to upgrade the wastewater plant in Riggins, so businesses can expand and replace jobs lost when their lumber mill closed.
5- Finally, a library, community center, a higher Ed corridor and yes, the nicest waterfront park in the northwest.

How about them apples, Mary?

Question: Do you think Mary considers the many positive sides to urban renewal, as offered above by JohnA?