Jon Gorder wrote:
If there were easy legitimate shopping options for the mass of legitimate shoppers then the "Hood Stores" would be reduced to little criminal crannies and pretty easily focused upon and busted.
My response:
Exactly! This is what I said nearly 2 weeks ago (before the issue morphed in "hood stores" and the evils of small businesses praying on patrons) when I suggested the following:
1. Council members and state legislators (along with neighborhood associations) representing areas "infested" with "hood stores" should work their bully pulpits and use their keen negotiating skills and reach out to the business community to bring small, medium, or large volume grocery establishments into these communities. Once there are viable, reliable alternatives, the "hood stores" will dwindle and die. If you build it, they will come. For those who don't believe legitimate businesses will locate to economically challenged areas, then how about offering incentives (economic development assistance via deferred taxes -- or lower taxes, etc) to entice them. Hey, if we can do it for Target downtown and propose public support for sports stadiums, how about channeling resources into neighborhood businesses?
2. Until the above point can be implemented, perhaps the city, via police and inspectors (building code, health, licensing), can make life a bit tougher for these "hood stores" and generate some revenue (in the form of fines and permit/licensing fees) in the process.
And for Pete's sake, if we have someone ready to invest their time, effort, and money into a legitimate community business, let's make sure all the tools are in place to help them and not let misinformation and bureaucratic red tape strangle their dreams.
MSN Shopping upgraded for the holidays! Snappier product search... REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
