Beware the carpetbaggers

Beware the carpetbaggers – those who come into a community to exploit the unsuspecting local populace. Spokane has been discovered. Our little oasis of sanity is and will continue to attract new residents.

No need to fear, as long as we come together with a common vision and protect ourselves from the carpetbaggers. They often come from outside in the guise of real estate developers who after identifying a growing community move in to take advantage of the demand engendered by growth and prosperity to capture out sized profits and when done they leave. They don’t invest in a community they take advantage of it.

A common carpetbagger practice is to develop local advocates. Local officials are especially valued. Carpetbaggers become annoyed with local building codes and plans that increase their costs or restrict their ability to build cheap where they want, when they want, and sell high due to demand. Insiders who can help skirt these rules are worth their weight in gold.

In times like these a community needs experienced, knowledgeable officials to discern who to trust and to aggressively protect the vision. Be on the lookout for the carpetbaggers and chose your officials well.

John Emery

Spokane