Bus Rapid Transit & Neighborhood Survey

Below is an email I sent out to a few campaign supporters a week or so ago regarding the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Route currently proposed to run along 9th east.   The following are a few of my thoughts on the issue and a short survey about issues in your neighborhood.  I invite you to take the survey and let me know what's great about your neighborhood and what could be improved.

-Ryan

Dear Neighbor,

Last week I attended a neighborhood meeting held at Wasatch Elementary School regarding the proposed BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) route.  I was impressed with the neighborhood organizers and the attendance numbers. 

The presentation was primarily lead by a representative from the Mountainlands Association of Governments.  I thought the overall information was useful but I felt the presentation lacked details regarding how the proposed route along 9^th East would benefit those surrounding neighborhoods. I'm still learning about this issue but at this point I could not support the 9th East route as proposed.

I am supportive of the BRT project in general.  I believe in order for our city to grow and handle that growth we need a reliable public transportation system.  I hope that as the Mountainland planners, UTA, UDOT, BYU, and the City evaluate this project that they take into consideration the effects on our traditional neighborhoods. 

In these types of situations, my approach as your next City Councilor would be to bring all the stakeholders together to facilitate communication, negotiation, compromise where needed, and ensure the process is fair and transparent to all involved.  I am not naïve. I know not everyone will leave the table satisfied.  And I’m not sure that’s always possible.  Yet still, I will work to ensure everyone’s voice is heard and those who should and need to be at the table will have a seat.

I would appreciate your feedback on the issues most important to you and your neighbors.  Please click on the link below to complete a short 5 question survey regarding your neighborhood issues.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XNRHC6Y
  As always, if I can help answer any questions regarding my positions on the issues please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,

Ryan Frandsen

Candidate - Provo City Council, City-Wide

801.369.5790
www.RyanFrandsen.com

A Letter to Our Neighborhood Chairs

May 6, 2013

Dear Neighbor,

As some of you may already know, I announced last week my intention to run for the Provo City Council – City-Wide seat. Laura Cabanilla has decided to not seek re-election and I am honored to have her endorsement and support.

I am running because I believe I can “Add Value” to our great city.  I am focusing on three primary areas where I feel I can best add value – to our businesses, our neighborhoods, and our families.

This letter is directed specifically to those who are and have recently participated in Provo’s Neighborhood Chair program.  You know as well as any in our community how important our neighborhoods are to our quality of life here in Provo.  As I said in my press release I really believe that Provo is only as strong as its neighborhoods. 

In my own Rivergrove Neighborhood my wife and I saw the potential harmful impacts that an ill conceived development or project can have on a neighborhood.  Freedom Academy which is a K-8 Charter school (which my two sons attend) was considering expanding to a high-school.  We supported the school’s choice to expand but felt given the increased traffic on our already stressed neighborhood infrastructure the expansion would literally ruin our neighborhood.  After years of being told they would consider other sites we were shocked to find that due to unexpected circumstances the Freedom School Board was now only considering the current site (does this situation sound familiar to any of you?).

With a very motivated Neighborhood Chair and a number of concerned neighbors (many with students attending Freedom Academy) we rallied to persuade the Board to reconsider.  We worked through email, blogs, flyers, and other methods to communicate our concerns.  We also contacted our city and state officials.  In the end, the Board decided to consider an alternate location more appropriate for the student numbers and traffic.  As a neighborhood, we were delighted to see the school break ground on that alternate location not far from their current building earlier this year.

As a former member of the Provo City Planning Commission I saw similar stories play out over and over as neighborhoods felt threatened by poorly designed projects.  As your next City Council Member I will be a strong advocate for protecting our traditional neighborhoods.  I will work to ensure proper communication between developers and neighbors is taking place and that proper protocols are in place and being followed so both neighbors and developers can expect a consistent and fair process.

Let me be clear that I am certainly pro-property rights.  I encourage property owners and developers to maximize their property value.  However, projects cannot be completed in a vacuum and all stakeholders need to be respected.  I believe a balance can be struck.

I look forward to visiting with you in the coming months along the campaign trail.  I would be delighted to visit with you personally or together with your neighbors sometime.

Please feel free to contact me at 801.960.4934 or Frandsen.ryan@gmail.com.  My website includes information on other issues I am concerned about at www.RyanFrandsen.com.  You can also follow the campaign on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RyanFrandsenForProvoCityCouncil

Sincerely,

Ryan

Ryan for City-Council - It's Official!

So things are official.  I've already been talking to folks throughout the city for the last several weeks and today I sent out a formal press release (see below).  I'm excited to get the campaign started!

Ryan Frandsen to seek open Provo City Council City-Wide I Seat

Local businessman and

former Planning Commissioner seeks to replace Laura Cabanilla

PROVO, Utah –Ryan Frandsen today announced his intention to seek the Provo City Council City-Wide I Seat.  Frandsen seeks to fill the seat of outgoing City Council Member Laura Cabanilla. Ms. Cabanilla will not seek a second term and has endorsed Mr. Frandsen.

“There are so many exciting things happening in Provo. I believe I can add value and help direct our current momentum” Frandsen said.  “Provo was recently ranked by Forbes magazine as the third best place to live in the entire nation. Our cost of living, housing affordability, low crime rates and education opportunities are phenomenal. The projected growth rate for businesses in our city over the next 18 months is 2.5%. Where else are you going to find that in today’s national landscape? Those great things did not just happen. It has taken leadership and planning to get us here and it is going to take directed vision to keep us here.”

“I understand Provo’s strengths and can see where we need to be headed and what we need to do to build on the great foundation we have. I want to represent the citizens of Provo as those growth decisions are made.”

Adding Value to our Businesses

“Our regulatory environment needs to be consistent, clear, and reasonable,” Frandsen said.  “I will be active in promoting a vibrant business environment where start-ups can thrive and new businesses will want to come. An even higher priority is fighting for our existing and often neglected local business heroes.”   

Adding Value to our Neighborhoods

“As a City Council Member I will also be a strong advocate for protecting our traditional neighborhoods,” Frandsen said.  He continued; “A city is only as strong as its neighborhoods.  As a former Planning Commissioner, I’ve personally seen threats to my own neighborhood as well as others in our city. I will be active in preserving that which makes Provo such a great place – our neighborhoods.”  

Adding Value to our Families

“Our unique mix of retirees, (we were recently listed as ‘the best city for successful aging’) University students and traditional families create the core foundation that makes Provo what it is. My highest priority will be protecting the individuality of those diverse demographics while maintaining the family values we all share. Our community needs to be safe and family friendly. I will work to keep our crime rates low, provide wholesome recreational opportunities and keep cost of living and doing business family friendly.” Frandsen said. 

Ryan and his wife Amy have four children.  He is currently the Director of Small Business Funding for Prosper, Inc. and has served on Provo’s Planning Commission. Ryan is a BYU graduate and received an MBA from the University of New Mexico. You can learn more about Ryan and his vision for Provo at www.RyanFrandsen.com

The Bletchley Circle

My wife and I love to watch Masterpiece Classic on Sunday nights.  From Downton to Wallander, we love a good mystery and an old fashion soap opera.  Recently, after Masterpiece, PBS has started airing a new series called The Bletchley Circle.  We've been hooked.

The story is about a group of four women who were genius code crackers for the British during World War II.  Following the War all espionage service members were forced to sign The Official Secrets Act.  In the show (and actual history) these women were not allowed to tell others, even their husbands, what type of work they did during the war.  In many respects they returned to normal everyday lives. As one of the girls begins to recognize potential patterns (like codes) in a local serial killing spree she rallies her former colleagues to solve the case.  It's been fun to watch.

What I can't help but think about is how many "Bletchley Girls" we have right here in Provo.  How many talented, smart, and completely capable women who are at home happy raising their families but together compose a huge untapped pool of talent.

Enter Google Fiber.

I really hope that one of the results of Google Fiber is that stay-at-home mothers can find ways to continue to develop their interests and talents.  That more mothers who need to or choose to work can do so more easily from home - and that fathers too can have more flexibility to tele-commute and spend more time at home with their families.

Time will tell what impact Google Fiber will have on Provo and our homes and families.  But I would love to see the next big thing come from a stay-at-home mom with a great idea and who now has the tools to see it come to fruition.

Hazardous Waste Disposal Day

A few weeks ago I took advantage of the free Hazardous Waste Disposal Day sponsored by the County.  The drop off point was at Provo Town Center Mall.  I dropped off some old paint cans and some old pesticides.  Before I dropped off the materials they did a quick survey asking 1) how I heard about the even (Facebook) and 2) if there we a charge for the service what would I pay. (I suggested $10).

Below is a link to a story about a local group of parents trying to raise money for some new computers at Canyon Crest in Provo.  It's one way to recycle those old computer monitors!

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/central/provo/yes-that-is-a-gorilla-yes-he-is-raising-money/article_947052ed-3f7a-51ed-ab0e-85222af99388.html

Provo - Open for Business

I wish Provo would do this:

http://www.texaswideopenforbusiness.com/

With the addition of Google Fiber why not tell the world that Provo is "Wide Open for Business"?  Provo has so many advantages from quality of life to natural resources we really should hang out an "open" sign.  From start-ups to established companies...come one come all!

Tax Preparers outnumber Law Enforcement and Firefighters - Combined!

Just came across a new site (for me at least).  www.facethefactsusa.org.  Kind of cool.  Take a look.

The article that got my attention was this one: When Tax Complexity puts Dinner on the Table.

The facts (as they say) are interesting:
Tax Preparers: 1.2 million
Law Enforcement Officers: 765,000
Professional Firefighters: 310,400

What does this say about the complexity of our tax code?  Is it nuts or is it nuts...or is it just well nuts? 

SLCO Mayor - This One's Over

With State Senator Ben McAdam's announcement yesterday (read the article here) of several Republican Mayor endorsements (Sandy, Riverton, Bluffdale, Taylorsville, and West Jordan - plus Independent Murray Mayor Dan Snarr)  I'm prepared to call this race for the Senator. 

Salt Lake County has always been more moderate and Crockett would have to get a huge portion of the Republican vote PLUS eat into the Democratic vote to win.  It just doesn't look like he's going to be able to do that this go around.

Kudos to McAdam's to shore up these endorsements early.  Nice piece of campaign-work there.

Text of ex-slave's letter to his former master

The following is a letter written by an ex-slave in response to his former master's request that he return to the plantation, soon after the end of the Civil War. 

I think the letter stands on its own.  Fascinating. 

Dayton, Ohio,

August 7, 1865

To My Old Master, Colonel P.H. Anderson, Big Spring, Tennessee

Sir: I got your letter, and was glad to find that you had not forgotten Jourdon, and that you wanted me to come back and live with you again, promising to do better for me than anybody else can. I have often felt uneasy about you. I thought the Yankees would have hung you long before this, for harboring Rebs they found at your house. I suppose they never heard about your going to Colonel Martin's to kill the Union soldier that was left by his company in their stable. Although you shot at me twice before I left you, I did not want to hear of your being hurt, and am glad you are still living. It would do me good to go back to the dear old home again, and see Miss Mary and Miss Martha and Allen, Esther, Green, and Lee. Give my love to them all, and tell them I hope we will meet in the better world, if not in this. I would have gone back to see you all when I was working in the Nashville Hospital, but one of the neighbors told me that Henry intended to shoot me if he ever got a chance.

I want to know particularly what the good chance is you propose to give me. I am doing tolerably well here. I get twenty-five dollars a month, with victuals and clothing; have a comfortable home for Mandy — the folks call her Mrs. Anderson — and the children — Milly, Jane, and Grundy — go to school and are learning well. The teacher says Grundy has a head for a preacher. They go to Sunday school, and Mandy and me attend church regularly. We are kindly treated. Sometimes we overhear others saying, "Them colored people were slaves" down in Tennessee. The children feel hurt when they hear such remarks; but I tell them it was no disgrace in Tennessee to belong to Colonel Anderson. Many darkeys would have been proud, as I used to be, to call you master. Now if you will write and say what wages you will give me, I will be better able to decide whether it would be to my advantage to move back again.

As to my freedom, which you say I can have, there is nothing to be gained on that score, as I got my free papers in 1864 from the Provost-Marshal-General of the Department of Nashville. Mandy says she would be afraid to go back without some proof that you were disposed to treat us justly and kindly; and we have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you. This will make us forget and forgive old scores, and rely on your justice and friendship in the future. I served you faithfully for thirty-two years, and Mandy twenty years. At twenty-five dollars a month for me, and two dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to eleven thousand six hundred and eighty dollars. Add to this the interest for the time our wages have been kept back, and deduct what you paid for our clothing, and three doctor's visits to me, and pulling a tooth for Mandy, and the balance will show what we are in justice entitled to. Please send the money by Adams's Express, in care of V. Winters, Esq., Dayton, Ohio. If you fail to pay us for faithful labors in the past, we can have little faith in your promises in the future. We trust the good Maker has opened your eyes to the wrongs which you and your fathers have done to me and my fathers, in making us toil for you for generations without recompense. Here I draw my wages every Saturday night; but in Tennessee there was never any pay-day for the negroes any more than for the horses and cows. Surely there will be a day of reckoning for those who defraud the laborer of his hire.

In answering this letter, please state if there would be any safety for my Milly and Jane, who are now grown up, and both good-looking girls. You know how it was with poor Matilda and Catherine. I would rather stay here and starve — and die, if it come to that — than have my girls brought to shame by the violence and wickedness of their young masters. You will also please state if there has been any schools opened for the colored children in your neighborhood. The great desire of my life now is to give my children an education, and have them form virtuous habits.

Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking the pistol from you when you were shooting at me.

From your old servant,

Jourdon Anderson.

So Ryan, Where've ya Been?

Not that many of you have missed me I'm sure but I have taken a bit of a break...from blogging...but now I'm back.

I've actually been quite busy working on a few local political campaigns.  Below is a quick update on my 2011.  Last November I worked on two Provo City Council races and one Draper race.

For you Provo politicos; if you remember, Gary Winterton and Bonnie Morrow were involved in a very close race. I was helping Gary as his campaign manager.  It was an interesting experience with Gary coming out on top by just six votes.

Me on the right looking over the shoulder of Provo City Recorder Janene Weis and Deputy County Clerk Scott Hogensen with Utah County Clerk Byan Thompson and former Provo City Councilwoman Cynthia Dayton also looking on.

Bonnie ran a great race and had one of the best get out the vote (GOTV) efforts I've ever seen by a local candidate. It's a tough way to lose being that close but she's gone on to do very well for herself having since been appointed to the Provo City Planning Commission and appointed as the Vice-Chair of the Utah County Republican Party.

It was a long day what can I say?  They counted each vote by hand...twice.

In that same 2011 cycle I helped Gary Garrett with his Provo city-wide campaign.  Councilman Garrett's race was not quite as competitive but we put together a nice website and Gary ran a nice city council campaign (if I do say so myself) with Gary winning relatively easily.  Check out is campaign site here: www.garygarrett.org.

Moving North along I-15 I helped former Bluffdale Mayor Claudia Anderson who had since moved to Draper and was running for City Council there. In Draper you only had to be in the top three as all members run city-wide.  Unfortunately, Claudia missed the top three by about 300 votes with the voters re-electing all of the incumbents.  She ran a good race, but didn't get out and knock doors like she needed to in order to be competitive.  She also had an anonymous mailer hit a few days before the election attacking her record as Mayor.  It's always hard to recover from those last minute hit pieces.  We responded with a postcard as quickly as we could but ultimately it wasn't enough. 

Too bad really for Draper.  Claudia is a wonderful person who started her own company (Audio Enhancement) and isn't afraid to ask the tough questions. She has an inspiring story herself that I'll try to share in a subsequent post.

More on my 2012 in a subsequent post...nice to be back.