Most anyone paying attention to urban development in the Quad Cities is familiar with Dan Carmody. Carmody spent 18 years reinventing and re-energizing Rock Island as director of Renaissance Rock Island. He recently accepted a similar position in Fort Wayne, Indiana. (See "The Man Behind Rock Island Renaissance," River Cities' Reader, October 19, 2005.)

Over the years, the Reader has often written about Carmody's projects and ideas, including the most recently published "Vacation Manifesto: Radical Ideas to Grow the Quad Cities" (River Cities' Reader, June 14, 2006).

Davenport's Third Ward alderman, Keith Meyer, upon reading that "manifesto," requested that the city hire Carmody to speak to city leaders regarding his ideas and other important growth issues.

Subsequently, the City of Davenport Design Center hosted a presentation by Carmody, at the Figge Art Museum inside the Deere Auditorium last Monday evening. The event was billed "A Game of Twenty Civic Questions: a lively, interactive session that considers key questions for successful regional development with emphasis on urban core development and global issues."

It's time for elected officials and city staffers to wake up with regards to funding tourism in the Quad Cities. Nationwide leisure travel has caught up with business travel, which has remained flat for the past two years.

One thing is certain about the Republicans: When it comes to campaigning, they run a tight ship. I have never seen so many people moved in and out of a public forum so efficiently as I did last Wednesday when President Bush held a rally in LeClaire Park.

Editor's note: In 1995, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the first Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, Todd McGreevy traced the history of the event and the organization that plans and runs it. On the occasion of the 20th festival, the Reader is reprinting this condensed version.