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caRtoon By RanDy moLton
GE Aviation a poor investment In the Nov. 20 article, “Groundbreaking: GE Aviation Comes To Asheville,” I was shocked to read that poor, broke Buncombe County and poor, broke Asheville were contributing so much cash to this private sector project. I understand that you have to spend money to make money, but where exactly is the return on investment here? According to the money count listed in the article, nearly $20 million ($19.88 million) is being given to GE to get this plant to come to Asheville. And this offering will create only 50 new jobs. If you do the math, that’s a $400,000 cost for each one of these 50 jobs. Wow, that seems a bit meaty to me. Has someone out there calculated the payback period on this investment? And, if so, I would love to know what it is. — Bill Meller Asheville Xpress reporter Jake Frankel clarifies: In the complex deal, Buncombe County agreed to spend $15.7 million on land acquisition and facility construction, and give the company an additional $2.68 million in cash grants. The city of Asheville approved giving the GE Aviation $1.5 million in tax breaks.
Reconnecting with eco-therapy As a counselor with a focus on eco-therapy, I was pleased to see Mountain Xpress address the important issue of nature deficiency disorder [“Reconnect,” Nov. 20 Xpress]. In addition to the programs mentioned in the article, WNC also has an initiative to promote eco-therapy in the area in order to counteract this disturbing disconnect. The core belief of eco-therapy is that personal well-being and planetary well-being are not separate from each other. If we connect with the natural world in a deep and balanced way, we can experience physical and mental health, and care about the environment in a new way. While eco-therapy is quite popular in Europe and in California, Asheville is one of the few spots on the East Coast with several counselors offering this relatively new and innovative method. As the saying goes: Gardening is cheaper than therapy, and you get tomatoes. So, let’s all get out into the gardens, woods or parks, and if we feel that we need some extra help, know that Asheville also offers professional eco-therapy. — Monika Wengler Asheville
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DEcEmBER 4 - DEcEmBER 10, 2013
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