Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Cities urged to unite for greater good

Sokoloff stresses need for valley governments to cooperate


By MEGAN THOMAS
Express Staff Writer

Kiril Sokoloff, president of 13D Research, an investment research group, speaks Monday to city and county elected officials and Wood River Valley community leaders about his vision for making the valley a better place to live. Photo by Willy Cook

In economics, Gresham's Law rests on the principle that the bad currency drives the good money out of circulation.

Kiril Sokoloff believes the reverse—the good driving away the bad—is a phenomenon that can happen in Wood River Valley government.

Sokoloff, a part-time Ketchum resident who recently sponsored a landmark visit to Blaine County by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, called on leaders of six major Wood River Valley entities—Blaine County, Ketchum, Hailey, Bellevue, the city of Sun Valley and Sun Valley Co.—to unite for the greater good.

"Create an organization that is so in sync, all of these six organizations are working together with a vision ... that everybody in the country wants to come and see what you have done. That's my challenge to you," said Sokoloff, president of 13D Research, an investment research group, based in Boca Raton, Fla.

The challenge offered Monday, Sept. 26, from Carol's Dollar Mountain Lodge in Sun Valley, outlined three major goals.

"I have found out anything is possible. I started out with just wanting to bring His Holiness here," said Sokoloff. "Anything is possible."

In his address to the valley's mayors, city council members, planning and zoning commissioners, school district officials and others in attendance, Sokoloff offered a brief presentation and fielded questions concerning leadership attributes, public participation and affordable housing.

"The lesson is, that if you have altruism as the motive and you don't care who gets credit, you can accomplish anything," he said.

Sokoloff envisions a groundbreaking possibility in the valley—a model for municipal cooperation, based in altruism and compassion.

"Compassion is good for business, compassion is good for government," he said.

He set three goals beginning with a request for leaders to address the duplication of services that produces inefficiencies throughout the valley.

There is "very little communication between entities, (and) this is causing a certain amount of gridlock," he said.

His vision for the community begins with encouragement for government entities to initiate communication with their neighbors.

He asked for courageous leadership based in positive emotions, selflessness and good judgments.

"My motivation was pure. If your motivation is pure, doors just open up," he said.

His third goal called for community leaders to address the area's lack of affordable housing.

"I think it's a real travesty that this community with all its wealth can't solve the problems of housing for its teachers, its police," he said.

Asked if he had an idea as to what affordable housing should look like in this community, he said he was new to the issue.

"There is a lot of land in Blaine County. I think the developers need to be altruistic. Zoning committees need to persuade them if they want to get something done, they have to be altruistic," he said.

Responding to a question on those who oppose affordable housing, he said, "They have to be led. They have to be shown. It requires constant leadership."

Sokoloff also identified the importance of public influence on the political process. He said voters should challenge leaders in public forums and encouraged citizens to provide leadership in the community.

"Listen to the people, serve the people and make it happen," he said.




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