Democracy for Vancouver

The Outsider
A Newsletter for the Overburdened Taxpayers of Vancouver Washington

Tuesday Oct 2, 2007

Victims of Progress

Last week I went downtown to get first hand information from some small business owners of Vancouver who are struggling to make it in the downtown area. I asked them some questions to determine how city policies could improve their business. What I found interesting was some of the answers from these owners.

Most found that the city appears to be only interested in collecting the fees imposed to get small business started and signage fees to advertise their exterior of the business. At the same time the city is not interested in retaining those businesses established. Some fear that if light rail were put through the center of Main Street that it would create parking problems and ruin their business. Others found that moving city employees out of the city who were consumers had hurt their business.

In driving around downtown one thing struck me as obvious. There are a lot of small storefronts empty and available for lease. Why? Could it be the high crime rate that permeates that area? In all probability that is part of the problem.

So if the city sees this as a problem what is the solution for the small business owner?

The solution could possible with a more level playing field between the developers building structures the small business owner. A lot of the downtown housing is not filled because of the fear of living there. Solution for the city is to quit the ten year tax exemptions and giveaways to their friends and start helping small businesses that is the backbone of our city. If you want to create jobs, help small businesses. They are the ones that create most of the jobs not only in the city but also throughout the country.

Before this can be done however you must clean up downtown and help the people that need the help to become a useful part our society and city. Help the homeless so they don’t sleep in the park. Find them shelter and jobs to become useful and productive citizens instead of ignoring the problem or changing liquor laws to put the problem in a different area of the city.

Charlie Stemper Candidate for City Council Position #5 City of Vancouver USA