It is hard for dedicated preservationists to compete with developer interests when the developers wine and dine the city politicians behind the scenes and tempt them with the prospects of higher tax revenues. We have a similar and larger battle going on here in Sacramento with the proposed Museum of Railroad Technology. Thomas Enterprises, "owner" of the railyards (unless UP reposesses it for default), wants trendy boutique shops and restaurants built in two historic shops (one dating back to 1860's) already occupied many years by joint agreement between Parks and Recreation and UP, encouraged by the City Council eight years ago (when they wanted the State-owned parcel originally planned for the technology museum). The developer (from Georgia!) is too short-sighted to see the tourist draw potential for a world-class Railroad Technology Museum, and would rather rely on drawing business from the rest of the city as a "new thing" in the short term, to boost sagging cash flow. The City Council apparently doesn't understand this approach will not bring in much new revenue, and would rather sip the wine and taste the cheesy fluff of the Thomas plan, and meet a fast-approaching deadline to approve the overall railyard development plan. Guess who loses in this drama? (Hint: Not Thomas.) Don't bet there will be a world-class Museum of Railroad Technology in Sacramento anytime soon.