St. Paul E-Democracy Links http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/links.html _________________________________________ So, You would like a 2nd opinion?
What do ya need that for when you have the Truth? �that is: if You can handle it�LOL� My responses are bracketed. Message: 4 Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 13:36:28 -0600 From: Tim Erickson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [StPaul] City Loan for Ruminator Books To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" QUESTION: "Would someone else who wanted to start up a new independant bookstore get the same cash?" MY ANSWER-OPINION: No, a start-up MIGHT not be considered for such a loan (we are talking about a loan), which makes complete sense. A start-up is much riskier and more expensive than trying to maintain an existing business. I think that its always makes sense to try and keep existing businesses in business (assuming conditions are right) before one starts investing in NEW businesses. [ They would� if they had friends in the right places.] QUESTION - STATEMENT: "Starting down this road, noble as the intention might be, will get you very quickly to outright graft as other businesses demand their cut of the swag." MY ANSWER-OPINION: This is a loan (or isn't it). While some corruption may be possible, we need to look at the facts. It appears that we are talking about a low interest loan AND the business owner is converting the business into a "Community Owned" store (at least that's the claim). I think that its important to look at the details. Does the owner really stand to gain anything (other than his pride)? Do we really want to suggest that government can never provide financial assistance to a local business? [ Graft? In a crapitalist society? What you do expect? What do you think bidness people are ? Saints??? �All bizness people are guilty, we just haven't figured out what to charge them with. ] QUESTION - STATEMENT: "If it's wrong for the big Boyz, it's wrong for the little ones, too." MY ANSWER-OPINION: Without taking a position on this particular deal. I'm not sure its always wrong for either the the BIG boys/girls or the LITTLE girls/boys. In my opinion, the government (as it represents the community) does have a role, from time to time, in providing local business assistance. Exactly when and how that assistance is given, is the tricky part. Which brings us back to the specifics of this case. [Whether you�re a big boy or a little one, you got to know how to play the game. ] QUESTIONS: "Is there any redevelopment going on? Will it add more jobs to the city? Is there any pollution clean up? Are we getting rid of a blighted area? How about are we helping a minority business owner set up shop or expand his or her business?" MY ANSWER-OPINION: These are good questions. Questions that in my opinion, demonstrate some of the interests that we have as a community in SOME businesses or business deals. Sometimes, the city has something to gain by keeping a business in business or financially encouraging a new business to locate here. The question is, how to decide when and for what reasons the city will get involved? [This is just coverups: Pollution, blighted areas and minority set-asides all mean the same thing, Payoffs� to the connected. ] QUESTION - STATEMENT: "The conditions that have caused the store to teeter on the brink aren't going away. Same management, same advertising, same marketing, same selection, same customers,...." MY ANSWER-OPINION: It might appear that way to us citizens, but are we really that familiar with the details of what is being proposed. What if there is New Management or a new marketing plan? What if steps have been taken to change the conditions under which the business is operating. I don't think its as easy as some of us think to make theses judgements. What about the "community ownership" model that's been mentioned, wouldn't that be a fundamental change in management that might improve (or decrease) the chances of survival? [Of course we don't have the details. It's none of anybody's business. Anytime government lays with the dogs of business, it arises with fleas. It's really not the role of government to finance any business. It's role is to POLICE businesses.] MY OWN QUESTION: The questions that I would ask about this deal are: 1) Is it really a sound fiscal risk (Mitch has an opinion, but I'd like a second opinion)? Does taking this risk help the city meet some kind of broader goal or policy? Are we playing favorites - or does this deal comply with existing policy priorities and procedures? [Of course it's playing favorites. It's not what ya know, it's who ya pay. Haven't you ever been to Chicago? ] Incidentally, Why do ya think that Janklow and, our own Awada, got off so lightly? DUH! Welcome to crapitalism 101. Russ (The Truth) Hanson. The Truth in St. Paul. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it! http://webhosting.yahoo.com/ps/sb/ _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ _____________________________________________ For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract
