Pacific Council: Urban Agriculture Assistance Grant Act (Approved)

[DemPGH]

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Debate commences and / or 72 hours are granted for explanation and so on.

My basic question is, what are we talking about here? I'm not sure I know what urban agriculture is, but if it is Green I am very intrigued.

[Flake]

I'm not sure this is the best for our current situation.

[PJ]

I'm not sure this is the best for our current situation.

Why not? It's a job creating bill that has already been passed in another region.

DemPGH, here is the Wikipedia article on urban agriculture. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_agriculture

[PJ]

Bump. Flo, do you have any concerns?

[Flake]

I do not have any concerns (sorry for the late answer, I've been forgetting to check this board fequently the past week or so.

[DemPGH]

I'm not sure this is the best for our current situation.

Why not? It's a job creating bill that has already been passed in another region.

DemPGH, here is the Wikipedia article on urban agriculture. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_agriculture

Looks good to me, although do we want to do at least some of it as a loan or can we? Can we demonstrate a return on this for our economy?

And this leads me to the Rural Housing Bill, which I think will be too costly unless we can really demonstrate a return on it.

[PJ]

Are there any amendments here?

[DemPGH]

I'm mulling over some possibilities. Senate input on this would be nice too, or someone's input from the outside. Will get back.

[Oakvale]

I'm not sure that this is the best course of action at the moment. The implication in the language of the bill seems to be that the Pacific lacks an agricultural sector entirely - I'm assuming that's not actually true. What kind of benefit aside from merely "creating jobs" (something that we could also achieve by any number of make-work programs) would this really achieve?

I'd suggesting getting in touch with the GM for a cost/benefit analysis.

[PJ]

What kind of benefit aside from merely "creating jobs" (something that we could also achieve by any number of make-work programs) would this really achieve?

Improving access to fresh food in large urban areas, and therefore leading to healthier lifestyles and decreasing the need to commute to shop.

[PJ]

Bump. Are we ready?

[DemPGH]

Offering an amendment to scale it back a little:

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[PJ]

Amendment is friendly.

[DemPGH]

That's the final text, then. Let's call final vote. Yes, No, or Abstain.

My vote is,

Yes.

[Flake]

Aye


We really need to get some economic reforms done instead of farmers market bills.

[PJ]

Aye


We really need to get some economic reforms done instead of farmers market bills.

What are you talking about? This is an important economic reform. If you want economic reform, introduce bills to change that.

[Flake]

Aye


We really need to get some economic reforms done instead of farmers market bills.

What are you talking about? This is an important economic reform. If you want economic reform, introduce bills to change that.

Will do

[DemPGH]

Okay, this passes with 2/3 (DemPGH and Flo).

[PJ]

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