So that's how they do it.

quote:

The Downtown Wheaton Association is asking the city for an additional $60,000 in tax-supported funds in order to move forward with several economic development and downtown enhancement initiatives.

The organization, which is funded through a special service tax placed on certain business owners, is responsible for the management, maintenance and promotion of the downtown.

I say, tax GEM and the other fat cat landlords...

What I like about these organizations is they don't ever talk about the "administrative" expenses that tend to make Brokers and Realtor commissions look like chump change.

These things are nothing more than a reallocation of cash, taking from the whole of the downtown with the hopes luring some poor soul into a less desirable location with the promise of some funds for a quick "make over". . . . . The old adage "A little Putty and Paint to make it look like what it ain't".

Seriously, why not let the market take care of the CBD? You have a place that won't rent?! Then the actual value of the building declines, some investors purchase it at the lower price and either restore it or demo it and build something new. Costs the Village nothing. In fact they may actually make a bit of cash selling permits.

Tomorrow I'm showing a really cool place to a prospective tenant!!! I was contacted by a Commercial Realtor (who hopes to earn a healty commission.) Never heard from our organization and that's really too bad!

Middle,

What's really nice about increasing the taxes to fund these things is the diminishing returns.

As the taxes go up to fund these programs, they are inevitably passed on to the tenant(s) in the form of higher rent.

This higher rent then is passed along to the consumers in the form of higher prices for good purchased in our CBD.

The smart consumers in GE see these prices as non-competitive, soooooo they get on their computers and start buying from all the wonderful online retailer, like Hmmmmmm oh Yeah Zappos that seems to be a favorite with our group.

Then whatcha know, up pops the big sign in the window that says "Going out of Business" and everyone is up in arms that we have another vacant window, even though they never set foot in the place or bitched that it was too expensive (but who can blame them, that's exactly what smart consumers do!)

Then up goes the pretty little window display (as required by the new dark window ordinance) along with yet another "Imagine Your Business Here!" sign.

Then the organization starts screaming "We Need More Money" and the cycle repeats itself, over and over and over again.

The only true way to attract business is to make it profitable for those engaged in it. The best way to do that is by lowering the overhead. i.e. unnecessary and ineffective tax burdens.

I'm just waiting for the new signs to come out some day. "Remember When A Business Was Here!"

Pretty soon Main Street is going to look like that mini museum at the White Fence Farm.

Good point. The efficiencies offered by a centralized, business-tax-funded shopper- and business- attraction and retention service is a waste of money, especially when you can do it yourself, apparently for free.

But why stop there?

When is the last time your business was robbed or burglarized? Odds are probably never. So why should you be forced to pay tax dollars for a police department when you can protect yourself at no charge and pocket the savings?

In any case, you certainly shouldn’t have to help pay for police cars when your business is within walking distance of the police station!

Ditto the Fire Company. Yes, our firefighters volunteer their time and talent, but you are nonetheless forced to help pay for the village fire engines and fire stations. What a rip-off! Has your building ever caught fire? I doubt it. Anyway, you should be allowed to put your own fires out without government intervention or cost. (Assuming you have a well that supplies you with your own water. You certainly wouldn't want to use that clean and health-tested public water supplied by those wasteful, inefficient and overpaid public employees.)

And streets! Sidewalks! Parking spaces! Streetlights! More government mandated waste! What percentage of your employees, tenants and prospects are actually using them at any given moment? I’m guessing that, collectively, they use only a teeny-tiny percentage of these so-called "services" at any given moment. The dollars spent to build and maintain such redundant "services" should, instead, be dropping directly to your bottom line.

And these damn "services" are there 24/7, 365 days a year, taking up space and costing money whether you’re using them or not. Even if you are out of town on business or vacation! It ain't fair, man. It just ain't fair.

Dammit, you shouldn’t be expected to contribute one thin dime to streets, sidewalks, parking spaces, etc. you rarely use and don't want. Because, after all, it's all about what you want. F*ck everybody else.

You should be allowed to construct and remove your own personal streets and sidewalks on a moment-to-moment, as-needed basis. It would cost you nothing other than a little time and elbow grease, because you're an expert on absolutely everything.

Water? Sewers? Still more government waste and intervention. You should be allowed to drill your own hand-pumped well, and dig your own septic field. Come to think of it, you should be allowed to just dump your sewerage directly into the street. If you had a street.

And zoning regulations! Outrageous! This is a free country! It was built on free enterprise! If someone wants to open an adult bookstore and strip club on one side of your business, and a stockyards on the other, and a junk yard across the street, no one should have the right to stop them as they help our fair village grow and prosper.

"Safety in Numbers"? "Many Hands make Light Work"?

Bullsh*t. Civilization is highly overrated.

It just breaks my heart to see the efforts of hard-working entrepreneurs like yourself stifled and their dreams destroyed by being forced to work in a "business" environment which forces you to pay for and "enjoy" the so-called "benefits" that you, personally, may or may not want in our highly overrated "civilized" society.

Anarchy rules. Or at least... it should.

May your outhouse never burn to the ground.

Good Point, but a bit hard to follow. . . . . .

Exp:

My lead today is from a Professional Commercial Broker with a National Marketing Network. . . . (Did I forget to mention that?) I am in essence competing in a much larger pond for "free" unless this guy can close the deal! This guy only gets paid if we strike a deal (unlike those in our organization who get paid even if leases don't get signed or deals inked) You do know . . . . . A hungry dog hunts better!

As far as the your examples of police and fire. . . . . . You kinda lost me there!

GEM, I believe Gabriel was being sarcastic about not needing any sort of community benefits.

Gabriel, there's hardly an accurate comparison between safety issues (i.e. police and fire department) and multiple counter-productive tax-funded groups who're not producing what they're supposed to do.

Well I think they really like the space! They came back a second time with more people, took some measurements and a ton of photos! What a novel idea they have! Too bad I can't share it with you at this time! But. . . . . A source close to the situations who isn't authorized to talk about this. . . . . . . Told me that. . . . .

Can you believe it? They like Glen Ellyn better than Wheaton and Naperville!?!

Anyhow, Thats two points for the Commercial Broker and a large goose egg for our recruiters!

Woohoo! Sounds cool, I'd like to get an inside scoop for an article should they decide to take the space....

I'll give you the scoop GESM2! The hel1 with Clamato! I use to give him all my insider info, but he's been a bit withdrawn as of late and your way nicer!

Hee hee....thanks.

I am sooooo Off of someone's Christmas Card list right now. . . . . . .

Well, . . . . . . . . . . . . . Better make that two lists!