RegalTDP

Former Griffins have been making a real splash in the 2009 NHL playoffs... A fact that hasn't been lost on ESPN.com. This article notes how utilizing the Griffins has worked well for the Red Wings: Detroit Red Wings Can Pick 'Em, But They Can Also Develop 'Em - ESPN

Pay a vandal to spray graffiti all over it.

Delbridge Langdon Jr. {sodEmoji.|} The Grand Rapids Press Ugh... Digital Desert Camouflage unees? Seriously, Whitecaps? That's how you celebrate Armed Forces Day at the ballpark? Speaking as one who just got off active duty, I appreciate the show of support and all... But I want you guys to look good too. Why can't you just wear a yellow ribbon or a flag or something? When I lived in San Diego, the Padres wore camouflage every Sunday home game. To come home to GR and see our team doing the same thing... I mean, what else is there to say, but "ugh."

Maybe they were drawing inspiration from City Hall and all the other ornate masterpieces surrounding Vandenberg Plaza...

Hopefully Peter Varga read this, so he has a better idea of what he's up against next time... The "Scared and didn't understand it" remark really didn't help the cause well, and he's been getting hammered in the Press public pulse all week.

Grand Rapids officials consider taking parking meter payments by cell phone, credit card http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/ind...ls_conside.html Anyone been to Petoskey lately? Is it actually convenient or just a pain in the neck?

If anything, I would think not forcing artists to make travel arrangements would increase submissions a little. But like dragt said, the ones who care about winning at all should come anyway.

Would Woodland, Rivertown, and Knapp's Corner work as viable ends opposite downtown? The amount of retail that's sprouted up in those areas in such a short time is insane. They would have to be made more pedestrian friendly, I would think. Just a thought.

Hey everybody. Long time listener, first time caller I voted Yes, and I'm disappointed too, but it's not the end of the world. GR needs to plan on improving mass transit for the future, but we won't live or die on this proposal alone. Honestly, I feel the information campaign was underwhelming. Dragt, it's easy to say here on UrbanPlanet that all the information was out there, but it really wasn't. Maybe it was on these forums, but not in the mainstream media, and BRT opponents were much better at controlling their message on that forum. For people on the fence over this issue, a common theme was "Why Division? Don't we already have buses there?" and spokespeople never addressed this directly. "The Feds are funding it" - Not good enough, because that doesn't mean it's a good idea. I, for one, hate to see this money get lost to another city, but I understand voters aren't going to be persuaded by this alone. This may be the only project that could get funds under Fed guidelines, but that doesn't make it a good idea. I mean, The People Mover got federal funds too, and... yeah. "It worked in Cleveland, Portland, et al" - Doesn't matter to voters in GR. They want to know why the 10 mile eyesore bisecting our city known as "Division Ave South" needs this. What are the projections of growth in South GR, and how is that going to affect traffic? We have buses now. Why aren't our current buses enough? I know you did your homework on all this, dragt, but from watching the media, all that info just wasn't there. The flowery and vague TV spots presented this as more of a "Nice-to-Have" and not a "Need." If supporters could have portrayed this as a real solution to a freshly blossoming problem, maybe voters would have responded. I know Friends of Transit has limited resources, but all opponents had to do was make it look like this project was unnecessary, and that's what happened. Honestly, I'm surprised the millage even mustered 48% support. I think the community, overall, supports the Rapid, and despite all our differing opinions on what "sustainability" is, our community leaders are enlightened enough to want to improve mass transit and will work on it some more. We'll get more bites on the apple. Understand now? ...Actually, now I'm not sure I do anymore...