07/11/06 I-933 on the Ballot

Washington Farm Bureau delivered signatures to the Secretary of State's office, more than enough to qualify I-933, the Property Fairness Initiative, for the general election ballot in November. Dean Boyer of the Farm Bureau says that is more than enough to get the initiative on the ballot. BOYER: We ended up with very close to 318,000 signatures when all was said and done which gives us a cushion of about 90,000 signatures so we are very comfortable that we're going to be on the ballot in November. The initiative, sponsored by Farm Bureau and the Property Fairness Coalition, would require state and local government to compensate property owners when land-use regulations damage use or value of private property. The initiative would be retroactive to Jan. 1, 1996. BOYER: It's also an attempt to change the way government approaches the question of land use regulation by requiring governments to; number one, require governments to identify and actual problem that the regulation is supposed to address. Number two, require government to actually identify the impact that the proposed regulation would have on property owners. Number three, require government to try to find a voluntary cooperative solution to the problem again before adopting a regulation. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Susan Allen. It always brings a smile to my face when I see a bevy of pickups parked at a mom and pop restaurant in small town America. In the era of Olive Gardens, Red Robin and Starbucks I find it refreshing that a piece of our dining heritage, the diner still survives in and in many cases thrives throughout the rural Northwest. According to Joe Erickson, editor of Restaurantowner.com the number one reason a small restaurants can remain competitive is the relationship they have with their customers. Like Norm on Cheers, we really do want everyone to know our name. John Foley a writer on The Restaurant Blog councils that frequent menu changes keep customers coming back and one family operation keeps cards as reminders to honor special occasions, without customer prompting. Rural Mom and Pop restaurants can compete with the large chains if they stay aggressive and remember "life would not be like a box of chocolates" if our only dining options were large chains. Thanks Susan. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.