[Winona Online Democracy] I know that this seems like a third posting today, but I once again hit my enter button before I finished. To finish, I know that many of you are thinking, "Cities giving to Private businesses happen all the time". That does not make it right. It just enforces how little our government (local and State) respect taxpayers rights and requests. Money and power talks, not the majority anymore.
I know this has gotten off the topic of growth of downtown, which I am all for, but lets not do "favors" to some and not all. There are ways to best use taxpayers money, advertising for the Farmers Market, (which I really like having in Winona Spring through Fall)and not Sammy's Pizza, Acoustic cafe, Maggies, Dj's, Blooming Cafe and so on is not in the best interest of the DownTown. Do advertising that is in the Best interest of all the downtown. Lastly, I would like to say, it would seem very ironic to have taxpayers money used for advertising the Farmers Market who do not pay property taxes on downtown buildings. Many property owners of businesses (including myself )do pay taxes on a downtown building. Do I want to pay for advertising for another business through my taxes. Sorry, no I don't, as I said earlier, I like most other small businesses downtown can bearly afford advertising for my own business. But, Bob when I do advertise, I do use use Winona Radio. Janice Turek Quoting [EMAIL PROTECTED]: c > [Winona Online Democracy] > > Ok Mr Sebo, let me see if I can explain my opinion a little further. When I > am > referring to the City of Winona giving money to private enterprises, profit > or > non-profit, I am referring to the actual City of Winona spending taxpayers > money to support a business. > > I have no problem with a business going out and raising needed money from > banks, > investors or other business, grants or whatever. I do not believe in the > City > Managers or Council, giving taxpayer money to businesses for advertising or > whatever. I am not against Shakespeare, but I feel they need to do what > everyone else in a business needs to do, raise their own money and not > expect > handouts from the City. > > How many businesses have gone out of business over the last year and the City > of > Winona has not come to their rescue. I know of several businesses that are > seriously in trouble right now because of the big boxes we brought to town. > Who better to "give" money to than businesses that have contributed heart > and > soul to this community for a long long time. But will the City of Winona > bail > them out. Not on your life. They would not spend taxpayers money's this > way. > Shakespeare is no different. One business dies while another is given > handouts > of taxpayer money...umm something is not quite right here. > > My point is not about whether Shakespeare is good or bad for Winona, it is > about > how money is being spent to grow the community. I know Bob that your are a > big > support of historical buildings, the ones downtown and the Senior High. > > You recently published an editorial suggesting Merchants fix the buildings > up > and rent them to artist at low rates. Why didn't you make that plea to the > City Fathers? I have to believe at that time you had your head on straight > and > new that it was not the City of Winona's job to fix buildings for other > businesses. You were thinking straight enough to ask help from the bank, > and > not the City Council. I have no problem with you or any other business > doing > this. It's not spending taxpayers money for private gain, profit or > non-profit. > It is not the business of the City of > > Quoting Bob Sebo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > > Janice...we're back to normal...I'm happy to tell you that once again I > > think your nuts! :-) > > > > The farmers' market is a small business for the producers, I'll grant you > > that, but it is more a street fair than a retail operation...and it does > > draw people downtown. It is an attraction, and such deserves community > > support. IMHO > > > > Shakespeare is a golden opportunity for Winona...it has a potential for > real > > economic impact. The banks wouldn't be investing they didn't think it was > > good for their service area. > > > > We have never really believed in investing in ourselves in this > > community...that's a generalization but natives will know what I mean. > Our > > bonded indebtedness (among significant cities) is perhaps the smallest in > > the state on a per capita basis. > > > > We are just now building our first rail overpass...we have built no > parking > > structures...no meeting facilities...maybe this thrift doesn't serve us > well > > in the long term. > > > > I'm just a simple country boy...I haven't trotted that line out for a > > while...lol...but maybe if we decide what we want to be as a community > (now > > we're back to planning) we can make selective investments that might shift > > the odds in our favor. > > > > I think that goes for historic preservation downtown, too...regardless of > > Paul's dismissal of downtown revival or Jim Galewski's (I think) short > > sighted editorial in today's WDN. Those of you who were around when the > > Opera House was torn down might remember that he wrote as WDN Opinion > Editor > > that it was a plus because it improved the view of the courthouse. Jim is > a > > fine guy but he doesn't get historic preservation and I fear he never > will. > > > > Bob Sebo > > Winona > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy > All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. > No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. > To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit > http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona > Any problems or suggestions can be directed to > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page > at > http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org > _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
