I would like some clarification on one point. When we say "on the take" do we mean businesses that have received government funds as grants? or are we including the myriad of small and large businesses that have received loans from the MCDA and who are paying them back with interest?
I don't view those businesses as "on the take". Many neighborhoods have pooled their NRP funds to offer small businesses loans to fix up facades and other things in thier buildings. Neighborhood people worked to encourage businesses to take advantage of these programs. I don't think we should chastize them now because they participated. My brother owns Nokomis Shoes. They took advantage of the neighborhood loan pool in Nokomis East to fix their chimney when lightning from a rainstorm blew it off the building. They have paid back or are paying it back with interest. They could have gotten the money from a bank or probably paid outright for the repairs but they participated in the neighborhood program to encourage other businesses to do the same and fix their places up. My brothers store contributes large amounts of funds to the tax base of this city every year and his location on 50th and 34th Av. has served to keep that commercial corner stable for years and hopefully for years to come. In addition, he provides about a dozen people with living wage stable employment. If city loan funds can help these small and medium businesses stay in business and provide capital for them to improve or enlarge their facilities I really see this as a win win for everyone. ===== "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Mother's Day is May 12th! http://shopping.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
