7-23-04

Hi friends, this is Harry Blalock; General Manager for radio stations KZMI & KCNM. It's that time once again to take a look at the issues of the week, and to offer some Food For Thought.

As promised, the topic for this week is going to be the Garapan pedestrian mall, which is currently being built on 3rd street. I have to admit that what I am going to say and the angle I'm going to come from has changed since I first decided to talk about it last week. I had a friend tell me they wanted to talk to me about the project before I wrote anything about it, and that I had to promise to keep an open mind. I have to admit, I'm very glad that she talked to me, and that I waited to write anything until after I heard her out. The first thing she pointed out was that this project goes back to Froilan Tenorio's administration. Froilan was taken for a look around the Garapan area, and shown what a pit it had turned into. He then went ahead and had plans drawn up for the Garapan Revitalization Project, but ran out of time to get the project started before his term ran out. During the next administration, the project was shelved because the government was experiencing such a shortfall in finances.

Now I don't want to give anybody a heart attack here, or shock your system too severely, so you may want to sit down at this point, but to their favor, the Babauta - Benavente administration does deserve credit for dusting off the plans, lining up the Capitol Improvement Project money, and getting the project underway. I don't think anybody would argue that the downtown Garapan area was not exactly the sort of impression we wanted most of our tourists to have of Saipan. Most of the buildings had become run down, and were in bad need of some paint and attention. And the types of businesses that had taken over the area were anything but family friendly. The problem is that 2 of our biggest hotels were at the backside of Garapan, the Dai-Ichi and the Hyatt. If the guests decided to walk from their hotel to DFS or the Joeten complex, they would no doubt be solicited at least a half a dozen times for massages, nightclubs or other activities we have been trying to crack down on. If we are trying to promote the image of being an adult entertainment getaway, then we're pretty much on target. But if we are trying to promote Saipan as a tropical getaway for the family, we obviously had some work to do.

I don't know if you have been down to third street lately and taken a look at the project, but it is shaping up nicely. There are palm trees lining both sides of the middle walkway, and a very aesthetic and pleasing pathway is being laid in what used to be the street. There is no doubt that this will be a very nice place for tourists and pedestrians to just wander down the mall, doing some window shopping and stopping for a bite to eat. There is just one problem with this scenario, there are very few of those types of stores on 3rd street. Yes, we have Subway who moved in there not too long ago with a very nice store, and there are a couple other restaurants. There is also the ABC store, a jewelry store, a couple dress shops, and a few knick-knack stores. However the street is mainly lined by nightclubs, karaoke lounges and massage parlors. What that means is that any tourist, who tries walking down the pedestrian mall as it stands now, will be offered massages or nightclub experiences no less than 10 times going from one end to the other. Now that's fine if that's what you're looking for, but chances are, if that's what you're looking for, the pedestrian won't make it anymore attractive for you or leave you with a more favorable impression. In other words, if we are going to just leave the same businesses there, we really didn't need to spend the money for the pedestrian mall to make it more attractive.

Now again, I'm not knocking the project, in fact I was quite impressed with the way it looked when I went for a walk down it this week. But we need to seriously consider enacting zoning so that we can get the kind of businesses in the pedestrian mall that will really make it thrive, and maximize its potential. Recently we saw Tony Roma's and Capriciossa move in on Beach Road adjacent to the mall. This was a huge step in ensuring the success of the pedestrian mall and making it more attractive, and I know that I represent many people when I say thank you to them for moving a little closer to most of us. A while back, one of the leading local businessmen was talking about building a food court that would include Taco Bell, among other restaurants. I can't think of a better place for it than in the new pedestrian mall, it would draw locals and tourists alike. Getting a good selection of restaurants in an area like that is vital to its success and will also help draw other businesses as well.

It would be nice to think that the businesses we'd rather not see on the pedestrian mall would simply relocate on their own, but that is unrealistic, and simply won't happen. I know that many people in the islands have fought zoning, claiming that it takes away from the freedom usually associated with the islands. But we made a choice a number of years ago, to become more progressive and go after Japanese and Korean tourists. That means that we have to voluntarily give up some of the things that made these islands what they were 40 years ago. The tourist market is highly competitive, and we're not the only game in town. We are competing for the same tourists as Guam, Hawaii, Bali, Palau and a number of other places. The fact that we are a tropical paradise is not enough that can be said of all the places I just mentioned. We need to do everything we can to give our tourists the best experience we can, and to make them want to recommend this as a vacation destination to their friends and family back home. Part of the answer lies in making sure that we take care of our islands, by picking up trash, and keeping them looking beautiful. Part of it lies in developing our tourist attractions, making sure they are safe, attractive and everything the tourist is looking for. Another part of the answer is in putting in things like the pedestrian mall, and the Garapan Revitalization Project. These are good things for our island, and will leave our tourists with a good impression. We all know how much the Japanese like to have their picture taken at scenic spots, and we are giving them some spectacular backdrops to have their picture taken at. Now we need to take the next step, and ensure that we have the kind of tourist friendly businesses in these areas that will make them successful. The only way we can accomplish that is through zoning, regulating the types of businesses allowed in certain areas. This is something that other successful destinations have already discovered and implemented. Hawaii has some very progressive zoning laws that have protected the tourist district and ensured that it projects the proper image. This is a part of our maturing process as a society. It is something that we need to implement in order to get to where we want to be and need to be as a tourist destination.

Businesses and private organizations have been working hard to beautify our island and make it more attractive for our tourists. They have been raising funds in various ways, including the Tournament of Champions golf tournament which will be held next weekend. In order for all of this to work, it is going to take all of us coming together and each doing our part. The administration has gotten things started by committing the C.I.P. funds and building the pedestrian mall. Private business and organizations have been doing their part by raising funds to help the beautification project and making sure that the project stays on course. I just learned today, after talking to Chuck Jordan, the Governor's special advisor for capitol improvement projects, that we already have a zoning law on the books. Evidently, the Saipan and Northern Islands delegation tried to repeal that law a while back, but they didn't have the authority to do that. The legislature recently passed a law to undo that, which is now in front of the Governor. However, since their first action wasn't legal anyway, there is no need for the second bill, and the zoning law remains on the books. It is now up to the Governor to appoint a zoning board which will then take a look at passing some zoning laws pertaining to the Garapan area. Once this board is appointed and starts their work, they will no doubt be opposed by businesses who don't want to have to relocate. This is a case where we all need to come together for the common good of the island and do the right thing. The Garapan pedestrian mall is being done properly, and will be very attractive when it is finished, now let's just make sure that it has the kind of businesses that will turn it into the tourist and pedestrian center we all want it to be. The ball is rolling, and it's heading in the right direction, so let's make sure we do all we can to support the concept and improve our islands for our tourists and ourselves alike. I have to admit that I was skeptical when this project started, but I have to say that it is looking good and I believe it has great potential to truly transform the Garapan area. I think you probably all know that I have no problem pointing out things that I see as concerns, but I also have no problem handing out praise when it is merited. I think the Governor has done something positive for the island by implementing the Garapan Revitalization Project and that it will pay big dividends if we follow through on it now. Please make your selections to the zoning board carefully Governor, and give it every chance to succeed. It is time to move forward, and this is one of the first big steps. Let's all get behind the project and make Saipan the tourist destination we all know it can be.

By the way, Food For Thought is now available online at www.chamorro.com. If you go to the Community link, and then click on Island Commentary, you'll find Food For Thought by yours truly. Very shortly the archives link will also contain every Food For Thought from the last 2 1/2 years. I'd like to thank Pete Perez for making this possible and showing the interest in publishing Food For Thought.

I'm Harry Blalock, thanking you once again for giving me a generous slice of your valuable time, and allowing me to share my Food For Thought.