People continue to stop in and share their shopping adventures. A burly gentleman stopped in just to let me know that he ordered new tires from a local repair shop after reading my article. A very sweet mature woman came in because she realized that it had been awhile since she spent money uptown. Another woman came in to let me know that she spends almost all her money in Blue Island, and outlined for me where she buys her groceries, gets her hair cut, etc. Yes! I love it!
I love this city. Really, I do. I walk to work most days and I see a lot of it on my travels. It’s a wonderful place and the people are friendly. Really. At least to me. The other day while walking home I noticed the street repairs in progress and also, in some areas, the lack thereof. I have walked down quite a few alleys too, and I know that many are in a state of disrepair. My own alley gathers water every time it rains, and becomes nearly impassable by foot, which is important to me because I walk.
Citizens have been complaining a lot lately about the poor condition of our streets. They say that they’ve talked to their alderman and yet nothing gets done. In the August 16th edition of the Chicago Tribune, and in our own Forum, it was reported that two of the bridges in Blue Island have been closed to truck and school bus traffic because they are structurally deficient. It will cost us $2 million to have them repaired. Your alderman does not reach into their pocket and pull out money for street repairs, and I’m not suggesting that they should. Improvements and repairs to our city and its infrastructure depend on tax dollars. Some of that is sales tax dollars. Ruth Sheahan, Director of the Blue Island Chamber of Commerce, recently reported that Blue Island’s annual share of sales tax revenue is roughly $1.6 million. If all of that money were available for street repair it still would not cover the cost of the bridges.
The cost of gas is on everyone’s mind these days. I know people who buy their gas outside our community because it’s a penny cheaper per gallon. In a large vehicle with a 30 gallon gas tank, that represents a savings of 30¢. If that gas is purchased outside Blue Island at the rate of $3.09 a gallon, it represents missed revenue of approximately 90¢ to the city. What does 30¢ mean to the average person? Very little if anything. What does 90¢ per vehicle a week mean to the city? Roughly $468,000 a year. Every time we drive to Crestwood or Alsip or Evergreen Park or Chicago and spend our money there, we are contributing to the repair and improvement of their streets and in doing so we are contributing to the detriment and disrepair of ours. It is our own fault. Be kind to your city; keep your tax dollars at home as much as possible.
The following gas stations are located in Blue Island
Clark at 12932 Ashland
Citgo at 12548 Western
Citgo at 127th and Kedzie
Speedway at 5320 127th Street
Thornton’s at 12052 Western
I took this list out of the phone book, there may be others.
Let me ask you this: Where do spend your tax dollars?
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Overcoming objections
Since the appearance of my previous letter in the Forum, I have received a lot of feed back from the community. Some of it is touching. I heard a story of one woman who had moved away several years ago and then recently moved back. She has been disappointed by the city and the attitudes of the people. When she read my letter she felt that at least there is hope for us. Some of it is quite funny. People call and tell me of their shopping adventures, or they stop me on the street, point to a bag, and let me know that they spent $6.00. Some of it is dutiful. People come in to my store and announce that they are here to spend their $5.00; and believe me, it is appreciated. I applaud you all, this is what I’m talking about.
However, two comments have surprised me, and since they were made by people who purportedly are working for the betterment of our downtown I was flabbergasted. The first one was “I’m certainly not going to buy something I don’t need.” and the second was “Some of these stores don’t deserve our business.”
After hearing the first comment I was alarmed! Had I inadvertently suggested that citizens squander their hard earned money needlessly on Western Avenue? I looked back on what I had written. No, I had not, and I quote, “Take $5.00 and visit a business that you think has nothing you want. Introduce yourself and buy something you can use.” The question of need is a relative one anyway. For instance, I don’t need those beers or those chocolate bars, but I buy them because I feel like it. I’m not recommending that you spend your money on unnecessary plastic objects. The stores on Western have good, useful things, and also things you may just feel like buying because they’re cool or delicious.
In regard to the second comment: After further inquiry, I discovered that the reason that the person felt that certain stores did not deserve our business, is that they are dirty, disorganized, unfriendly, they don’t keep regular hours, etc., etc., etc. Before you jump all over me, let me say this: I know all about Store X, and how dreadful it was. They are closed now and we have another vacant storefront. There is a store that people complained made Western Avenue look like Maxwell Street. They are closing also and we will have another vacant storefront. Is this what we want for our city? Being a small business owner is like being a single mother of quintuplets; you do everything yourself. Bookkeeping, buying, customer service, maintenance, advertising, the list goes on and on. Many of us cannot afford to hire help, and we do the best we can. So forgive us if the windows are dirty, or there are packing peanuts on the floor. I think I speak for 99% of us when I say that we would do better if we could. We would hire help, or hire more help. It all comes down to money, really; just like most everything else in life. That $7.5 million is looking awfully good, so let me ask you again; Where do you spend your money?
Just for clarification, in case you missed my last letter, here is a portion of that: Approximately 10,000 adults live here. (If each of them spent an average of ) $5.00 a day (on Western Avenue), that would be $50,000.00 a day, $350,000.00 a week, $1,500,000.00 a month, and $7,500,000.00 by the end of this year. That type of investment would be huge. The city would be thriving.
However, two comments have surprised me, and since they were made by people who purportedly are working for the betterment of our downtown I was flabbergasted. The first one was “I’m certainly not going to buy something I don’t need.” and the second was “Some of these stores don’t deserve our business.”
After hearing the first comment I was alarmed! Had I inadvertently suggested that citizens squander their hard earned money needlessly on Western Avenue? I looked back on what I had written. No, I had not, and I quote, “Take $5.00 and visit a business that you think has nothing you want. Introduce yourself and buy something you can use.” The question of need is a relative one anyway. For instance, I don’t need those beers or those chocolate bars, but I buy them because I feel like it. I’m not recommending that you spend your money on unnecessary plastic objects. The stores on Western have good, useful things, and also things you may just feel like buying because they’re cool or delicious.
In regard to the second comment: After further inquiry, I discovered that the reason that the person felt that certain stores did not deserve our business, is that they are dirty, disorganized, unfriendly, they don’t keep regular hours, etc., etc., etc. Before you jump all over me, let me say this: I know all about Store X, and how dreadful it was. They are closed now and we have another vacant storefront. There is a store that people complained made Western Avenue look like Maxwell Street. They are closing also and we will have another vacant storefront. Is this what we want for our city? Being a small business owner is like being a single mother of quintuplets; you do everything yourself. Bookkeeping, buying, customer service, maintenance, advertising, the list goes on and on. Many of us cannot afford to hire help, and we do the best we can. So forgive us if the windows are dirty, or there are packing peanuts on the floor. I think I speak for 99% of us when I say that we would do better if we could. We would hire help, or hire more help. It all comes down to money, really; just like most everything else in life. That $7.5 million is looking awfully good, so let me ask you again; Where do you spend your money?
Just for clarification, in case you missed my last letter, here is a portion of that: Approximately 10,000 adults live here. (If each of them spent an average of ) $5.00 a day (on Western Avenue), that would be $50,000.00 a day, $350,000.00 a week, $1,500,000.00 a month, and $7,500,000.00 by the end of this year. That type of investment would be huge. The city would be thriving.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Blue Island on $5.00 a day
I recently read the following challenge at a Main Street Blue Island board meeting, and it was suggested that I send it to the Forum to also challenge our residents.
"I would like to start by reading the Main Street mission statement:
Main Street Blue Island is a volunteer based not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening downtown businesses, creating an inviting physical environment, and attracting residents and visitors to historic downtown Blue Island.
I feel that we have done an excellent job creating an inviting physical environment; we have the planters and we have people who constantly work on façades and signage. The Pro-Am bike race and the Christmas Light Parade are proof that we are putting forth a tremendous effort in attracting residents and visitors to the historic downtown. It is the first mandate where we seem to be lacking. We are to be "dedicated to strengthening downtown businesses."
I recently spoke to a business owner who told me that their total receipts for the month of July so far are $78.00. How much longer can they remain open? Soon there will be another vacant store front on Western Avenue. Is this what we’re working for? What can we do? We are to be "dedicated to strengthening downtown businesses."
I have an idea to help revitalize the downtown business district. This idea does not involve any additional meetings, we do not need a committee, and we do not need a fundraiser, a permit, or approval from anyone.
Ask yourself "How much money do I spend each day?" Now ask yourself "How much of that do I spend on Western Avenue?"
I challenge each of us to spend an average of $5.00 a day in the downtown area. Take $5.00 and visit a business that you think has nothing you want. Introduce yourself and buy something you can use; a chocolate bar, a bar of soap, a can of tuna, salt & pepper shakers, a cold beer, a belt, a purse, a tire gauge.
There are 19 board members, a director, and a secretary here at Main Street. If we each made a commitment to do this we would be investing $105.00 a day, $735.00 a week, $3160.00 a month. By the end of the year we would have invested $15,800.00 towards strengthening downtown businesses.
Many of the businesses I talk to feel that when they give money to Main Street there is little or no return on their investment. What would the return on our investment be? I can only speak from personal experience. I’ve met new people that I would not otherwise have met. I’ve gotten a few hugs. I’ve eaten better peaches than I could find at the major grocery stores. I have a candle, a bar of soap, and salt & pepper shakers. I’ve had a few cold beers and a sausage sandwich. I have a new purse and a new hair cut. I also have a better understanding of what is happening in our business district."
I would like to add the following, addressed to residents of our fair city:
I frequently talk to people who speak poetically of the old days when Klein’s was here, Tots and Teens, the Mayfair, and other stores, and restaurants that they loved. I’m actually old enough to remember when. Some of these places may have closed because the owners retired, or moved; but the biggest reason that businesses close is that the neighborhood does not support them. And so, I challenge each of us to spend an average of $5.00 a day at a Blue Island business. Visit places you’ve never been in. Introduce yourself. This is how a sense of community is formed. This is how a thriving downtown is formed.
If I may, allow me to do the math once more, based on our population. Approximately 10,000 adults live here. At $5.00 a day, that would be $50,000.00 a day, $350,000.00 a week, $1,500,000.00 a month, and $7,500,000.00 by the end of this year. That type of investment would be huge. The city would be thriving. Most anything you need is available here, and if it’s not, I can guarantee that some shop owner will get it for you. Let me ask you this; where do you spend your money?
"I would like to start by reading the Main Street mission statement:
Main Street Blue Island is a volunteer based not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening downtown businesses, creating an inviting physical environment, and attracting residents and visitors to historic downtown Blue Island.
I feel that we have done an excellent job creating an inviting physical environment; we have the planters and we have people who constantly work on façades and signage. The Pro-Am bike race and the Christmas Light Parade are proof that we are putting forth a tremendous effort in attracting residents and visitors to the historic downtown. It is the first mandate where we seem to be lacking. We are to be "dedicated to strengthening downtown businesses."
I recently spoke to a business owner who told me that their total receipts for the month of July so far are $78.00. How much longer can they remain open? Soon there will be another vacant store front on Western Avenue. Is this what we’re working for? What can we do? We are to be "dedicated to strengthening downtown businesses."
I have an idea to help revitalize the downtown business district. This idea does not involve any additional meetings, we do not need a committee, and we do not need a fundraiser, a permit, or approval from anyone.
Ask yourself "How much money do I spend each day?" Now ask yourself "How much of that do I spend on Western Avenue?"
I challenge each of us to spend an average of $5.00 a day in the downtown area. Take $5.00 and visit a business that you think has nothing you want. Introduce yourself and buy something you can use; a chocolate bar, a bar of soap, a can of tuna, salt & pepper shakers, a cold beer, a belt, a purse, a tire gauge.
There are 19 board members, a director, and a secretary here at Main Street. If we each made a commitment to do this we would be investing $105.00 a day, $735.00 a week, $3160.00 a month. By the end of the year we would have invested $15,800.00 towards strengthening downtown businesses.
Many of the businesses I talk to feel that when they give money to Main Street there is little or no return on their investment. What would the return on our investment be? I can only speak from personal experience. I’ve met new people that I would not otherwise have met. I’ve gotten a few hugs. I’ve eaten better peaches than I could find at the major grocery stores. I have a candle, a bar of soap, and salt & pepper shakers. I’ve had a few cold beers and a sausage sandwich. I have a new purse and a new hair cut. I also have a better understanding of what is happening in our business district."
I would like to add the following, addressed to residents of our fair city:
I frequently talk to people who speak poetically of the old days when Klein’s was here, Tots and Teens, the Mayfair, and other stores, and restaurants that they loved. I’m actually old enough to remember when. Some of these places may have closed because the owners retired, or moved; but the biggest reason that businesses close is that the neighborhood does not support them. And so, I challenge each of us to spend an average of $5.00 a day at a Blue Island business. Visit places you’ve never been in. Introduce yourself. This is how a sense of community is formed. This is how a thriving downtown is formed.
If I may, allow me to do the math once more, based on our population. Approximately 10,000 adults live here. At $5.00 a day, that would be $50,000.00 a day, $350,000.00 a week, $1,500,000.00 a month, and $7,500,000.00 by the end of this year. That type of investment would be huge. The city would be thriving. Most anything you need is available here, and if it’s not, I can guarantee that some shop owner will get it for you. Let me ask you this; where do you spend your money?
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