It's Gone!

note added in September - It Didn't Go Away, it WAS hiding under the table.


Today was the July meeting of the Bay View Business Association. There was no mention of the Business Improvement District. Apparently it has fallen under its own weight and slunk quietly out of the room. Or, it could be hiding under the table - we'll see.

A new president, Jason, presented a very positive picture of the Business Association as a forum for the business owners to meet with one another and discuss things that they held in common interest.

Tony Zielinski, the alderman, of course, saw the association as a conduit to the city government for businessmen. He presented the association as a polling voice for area concerns currently being considered by the government, such as zoning and licensing issues. In Tony's world, government holds all the answers, and all the power.

The owner of the highly successful Cousin's Submarine Sandwich shop, which has been operating successfully at the same location for at least 25 years voiced concern that the association could potentially subsidize unfair competition. Although seen as a legitimate concern, the idea was ridiculed by inexperienced businessmen with other agendas. At the end of the meeting, a comment was raised -- those who came to the meeting to voice opposition to anything perhaps did not belong there. Anyone who voices disagreement is not welcome at the meeting? OOOOkeydokey! Future meetings should proceed a lot more smoothly without discussion getting in the way.

In the "read between the lines" department, the new owner of the Hub Supermarket asked that if anyone had any concerns or suggestions regarding his business, that they come to him and talk about it with him directly, that he was willing to listen. Although this meeting didn't appear to be a haven for kindness, one hopes that his comments will produce some cooperation where it is needed. We wish him goodwill and prosperity in his new business.