Comments for Bunk in the West

Comment on Good Food Store promotes McDonalds by Layne Rolston

Layne Rolston — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:44:55 +0000

No question, the Good Food Store and McDonald’s have little in common. Yet we support, without hesitation, McDonald’s commitment to provide sanctuaries for families facing medical crisis. And given the magnitude of their giving, we don’t feel it unreasonable that they wish to associate their name with their charitable work. We’d argue that the comfort they help provide to thousands of people around the world earns them that right. For similar reasons, we don’t feel guilty about listing on the Good Food Store website a few of the non-profits we contribute to – including, by the way, St. Patrick Foundation’s St. Patrick House and Watson Children’s Shelter. It feels good to help out when we can, plus our customers appreciate knowing how we give back to the community.

Comment on About by Vinny Spotleson

Vinny Spotleson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:43:15 +0000

We are having a walk in Billings this Saturday and I was hoping you could put it on your blog and maybe tell your friends out in Billings to join us:
Senators Baucus and Tester need to hear that Montanan’s support strong legislation which will save us all money AND create jobs by putting people to work retrofitting homes for energy efficiency. They need to hear from Montanan’s that we want clean energy jobs, and for our Senators stand up to the corporate polluters who seek to weaken the bill. They need to hear that we want carbon emissions cut back 20% — OR MORE — by 2020.

This Saturday Nov. 7, we will be dropping literature across Billings urging people to contact their Senators and show them that there is broad support for clean energy and green jobs. We need your help to distribute this call to action to as many people as possible.

When:
This Saturday Nov. 7
11AM-3PM

Where:
Meet at the Sierra Club Office at 11AM
2401 Montana Ave
Billings, MT 59101
On the second floor in Suite 4

Contact:
Mike Scott
Mike.Scott@sierraclub.org
Office number: 406.248.9230
Cell: 406.839.3333

We will provide a lunch afterwards to thank all of those who participate. Please RSVP and let us know if you will be able to provide transportation, or if you need a ride.

Let me know, thanks!

Comment on Vote early? by Matt Singer

Matt Singer — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:24:03 +0000

Vote by mail does save the county a fair amount of money. That’s partly the sheer number of precincts we have in Missoula County, which we could probably reduce. Vote-by-mail also seems to improve participation in low-turnout elections (there’s some evidence of the opposite effect in high-turnout elections from some studies in California).

Comment on Sterling Savings Bank first to go? by problembear

problembear — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:51:12 +0000

interesting. i noticed this too a few days ago when npr covered it. wonder who else is sitting on bad paper around here?
someone told me that farmers state bank is possibly a little shaky but it’s just a rumor.

Comment on Hoteliers want higher taxes by Various & Sundry for the Weekend « 4&20 blackbirds

Various & Sundry for the Weekend « 4&20 blackbirds — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:36:11 +0000

[...] boondoggle pitching to Missoula is the Tourism Business Improvement District . Bunk in the West has the [...]

Comment on Granny flats for all! by Binky

Binky — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:26:11 +0000

I’m not sure I agree that all of the concerns (adequate air circulation, protection from fires next door, required on-site parking, guaranteed access to ADU from street, safety for neighborhood children, dust control, speed in alleys, access by emergency personnel, plowing of alleys, the added cost of providing necessary infrastructure, etc.) are dealt with in the zoning update. But, assuming they are … is the only reason for opposition to ADU’s because of density concerns?

BTW, a friend emailed me with a comment – if people don’t like having their neighbors house so close to their own, then perhaps they shouldn’t build -their- house so close to the boundary line.

Comment on Granny flats for all! by Ryan Morton

Ryan Morton — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 20:29:27 +0000

Not all ADU’s are alley homes (basement of an existing home,etc.) or require alley access (as if existing single family and multifamily homes don’t already utilize alley access). Further, most of your concerns are already addressed in the Proposed title 20 (setbacks, parking, etc.).

Thanks for the “pointers.” Also, you should send your comments to City Council so that they may consider them for their vote tomorrow.

Comment on ADUs and Density in Missoula by Granny flats for all! « Bunk in the West

Granny flats for all! « Bunk in the West — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:06:15 +0000

[...] I am honored that Ryan reads and comments on this blog. And, since I am not all that enthused about ADUs, perhaps I can give Morton some pointers on these Accessory Dwelling Units, or ‘granny [...]

Comment on Who’s gonna pay? by Ryan Morton

Ryan Morton — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:17:08 +0000

What the article said was,” Candidate Ryan Morton, trying to oust Strohmaier in Ward 1, also spoke to maintenance districts. He is a proponent of decentralized districts, where neighborhoods can choose to pay for upgrading a street.

“I don’t think the entire city should be covered,” Morton said.

He also said a corresponding decrease in general taxes must be part of the package.”

So, I argued people should be able to choose to be in a district. I think YOU got it wrong, not the paper.

Comment on Who pays? by Binky

Binky — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:38:33 +0000

Those interested in tax increment financing in the State of Montana can find a copy of the statute here:

http://www.cdfa.net/cdfa/cdfaweb.nsf/pages/mttifstatute.html