Some Monday thinking......maybe more fantasizing.

I have some ideas for the renewal of downtown Coquille.

Years ago, I and Mom and a couple of sisters drove back to Missouri to a Cousins Reunion. On the way there or back we encountered a smallish town known for Victorian Lady houses and we visited downtown. I was astounded to see an outlet mall occupying most of the vacant store fronts. It was fabulous! I thought it was a terrific idea and wondered if many other failing downtown centers had tried this.

I think with a few good volunteers that something similar could be done here. First of all not everything outlet would fit particularly if there is already a similar business. We have four or five eateries in the downtown area, so any others would not be a good idea, but we don't have a book store, a shoe store, a stationery store, small appliance repair, no place to purchase a good bra, no fabric store, no music store, no jewelry store, no car dealership, no butcher shop, no open 24 hours place at all. Now a lot of old timers from Coquille remember when those things did exist, so lets give the 60's a call and get the eclectic movement going.

Eventually when traffic picks up and it will, need to expand car parking into other spaces, get transportation buses going from parking to down town, enclose downtown so the lovely Southern Oregon liquid sunshine does not interfere with all the delightful commerce.

I propose fund raising to begin with the aim of salting away investment funds and some charitable options. A program for homeless; they pick up trash, turn it in at the recycling center, get a chit to be exchanged for any goods and services downtown; food, clothes, housing. Local health care entities would be provided matching funds for anything spent on the low income and/or homeless; counseling, treatment, etc.

This effort should be all inclusive culturally, there should be a huge celebration for Cindy De Mayo, All Saints Day, Earth Day, Christmas, Passover, Kwanza, Gay Pride, All Benevolent Organizations, Renaissance Faire, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, you name we will host/celebrate it.

Should give some consideration to the future of the Coquille Carousel project. All those lovely horses and such are waiting for construction, assembly and a home. Since the general theme of Coquille has been Gay Nineties how about a good old fashioned tasteful theme park? I envision a Ferris Wheel, Kids rides etc. Maybe space for a visiting Circus. Oh yeah, Circ du Coquille. Phew!!

I believe that a central quasi employment agency for DownTown Coquille would have jobs for all of the kiosks and businesses that get involved. Veterans and local highschoolers would get preferential hire and the wages should be good enough to keep our people fed, housed and clothed. I also propose that the DTC provide tax free status as well as matching funds for any investment made by various businesses.

Townwide transportation should be encouraged with green buses at very low cost, free for seniors and run at will. If a senior is standing anywhere the bus will stop and pick them up. Barring that, how about taxi service subsidized by DTC?

Any and all religious organizations may participate as they wish. I would not favor creation of a megachurch simply due to limited space. Having said that worship could be accommodated in smaller spaces.

There should be a major effort to support local sourcing and buying for as many products as possible, if you milk a cow in Coos County then plan on selling the milk in Coos County it will still taste just as good same goes for plants and veggies.

Lets give a little thought to the future. If your goods and products come by way of long haul truckers, the future may give way to circular trucking. For instance if that doo hickey you purchased on E-Bay is making it's way to your home by truck, the truck company may find itself limited by gasoline, repair costs and truckers. I propose that the big haulers divide up the whole country into circles of oh say 200 miles in diameter. When the trucks reach the edge of the diameter they swap loads with another truck at the next circle. I think somebody is going to save some cash.

And last but not least, please let my Power Ball numbers hit to finance this monster. A person could get the giggles.