Don’t Infringe on Opportunities
To the Editor:
Thank you La Grange EDC and Mayor for taking the opportunity to speak about the things you are working on during this pandemic.
Since the answers to my questions were not previously addressed in your response, I want to further clarify the question(s):
Why is the City of La Grange competing with our local businesses? And is this going to be normal practice moving forward?
EDC President, as owner of a plumbing business, how would you feel about the city fixing everyone’s plumbing for a fee since they can do it cheaper, with little overhead, and taxpayer dollars to offset?
The budgets and marketing of the Community and Economic Development Office show the City of La Grange with the following revenue streams: leasing event space, leasing retail space, selling t-shirts, selling gifts, selling cards, admission charges to community events, and selling food and beverages. These are what we know about.
These “government businesses” have been around for a number of years. I’ve been asking questions about them at council meetings and through letters to the editor. The timing to respond now and question my character seems a bit opportunistic on your part as a way to discredit someone who has been asking these questions for several years now.
The most recent revenue stream that was implemented by the Community and Economic Development Office was referenced in my previous letter. These are revenue streams that my wife and I submitted to the eDc back in November of 2019 — before COVID. Each time our government creates a new revenue stream, it eliminates the opportunity for our local community to start or grow a business.
Government infringing on the free market is not community or economic development. It is an overstepping of powers.
Now, more than ever, opportunities need to be in the hands of our community and not in the hands of the government.
We respectfully request that the La Grange Community and Economic Development leaders and Mayor provide some adequate answers to address the questions.
Brandon Schielack La Grange