Monday, February 02, 2009
What do business owners think?
It took me a couple days too long to figure this out, but it's really local business owners who ought to be speaking out on the question of whether Fort Lewis should build a mall. I posted a couple thoughts on that subject under The News Tribune's well-reasoned editorial on the topic.
I've come to this conclusion for two reasons. First, I'm supposed to be a 'small government' guy, and that's what I believe in. It's why I'm against the federal government building a mall. So why should a city government be getting involved in something business owners should care about? It's the business owners who should be taking a lead on this subject, if they do in fact see a problem.
Second, the effect on taxes should be a secondary issue. No one should do anything just because of how it affects taxes. It occurred to me that I'd never tell an employer, hey, you should decide to come to Lakewood because we can get more taxes. That would be silly. Employers have to decide to locate where it makes business sense for them to locate. And thousands of employers have already invested based on what made sense of their business, and wisely did not worry or care if the tax dollars they generate went to Lakewood, Tacoma, Puyallup or Lacey.
Of course, those are existing businesses. As the private sector prepares to invest millions in a revitalized Tillicum and other parts of Lakewood .... and for that matter, invests every day in Tacoma, the rest of Pierce County, and Thurston County ... the question of how a Fort Lewis mall will affect them is a very, very real question. This is not a question for just the city of Lakewood; the city should be a minor player. I'll be interested in hear what business owners think of the federal plan, and I will be interested to hear what they say to their members of Congress and Fort Lewis.
Of course, it occurs to me that a lot of businesses might be reluctant to speak out because they don't want to offend members of the military. I've been astonished at the number of people who've told me, 'Hey Walter, it's the Army that wants to do this, shut up.' I'm not sure there will be a full and vigorous debate. But whether they will or not, it's the business owners who should lead any charge.
Forward this post
I've come to this conclusion for two reasons. First, I'm supposed to be a 'small government' guy, and that's what I believe in. It's why I'm against the federal government building a mall. So why should a city government be getting involved in something business owners should care about? It's the business owners who should be taking a lead on this subject, if they do in fact see a problem.
Second, the effect on taxes should be a secondary issue. No one should do anything just because of how it affects taxes. It occurred to me that I'd never tell an employer, hey, you should decide to come to Lakewood because we can get more taxes. That would be silly. Employers have to decide to locate where it makes business sense for them to locate. And thousands of employers have already invested based on what made sense of their business, and wisely did not worry or care if the tax dollars they generate went to Lakewood, Tacoma, Puyallup or Lacey.
Of course, those are existing businesses. As the private sector prepares to invest millions in a revitalized Tillicum and other parts of Lakewood .... and for that matter, invests every day in Tacoma, the rest of Pierce County, and Thurston County ... the question of how a Fort Lewis mall will affect them is a very, very real question. This is not a question for just the city of Lakewood; the city should be a minor player. I'll be interested in hear what business owners think of the federal plan, and I will be interested to hear what they say to their members of Congress and Fort Lewis.
Of course, it occurs to me that a lot of businesses might be reluctant to speak out because they don't want to offend members of the military. I've been astonished at the number of people who've told me, 'Hey Walter, it's the Army that wants to do this, shut up.' I'm not sure there will be a full and vigorous debate. But whether they will or not, it's the business owners who should lead any charge.
