Post by mattg on Apr 28, 2015 14:06:04 GMT
Recently I was posting in the comment section at the register regarding Gordon Huether and his position on Napa Local, and I realized it would likely be a good idea to provide some background on the issues and positions that were discussed in those days. I hope to provide some links from the Register, so far I have not been able to find the one that Mr Huether made most of his comments in, and some links of the audio recordings from the City Council meetings that addressed the issues. There are of course many ways to frame the issues, and my attempt here, while trying to be objective, will likely show my bias or my particular way of framing. I encourage others to post who offer different perspectives and ways of summarizing these issues
The most distinct impression for me was that any questioning of the appropriateness of the process which had paved the way for Starbucks to move in downtown was akin to being opposition to the free market system in general. My experience has been that such stark dichotomies tend to be problematic and do not allow much space for further discussion. Here are some general areas which I believe, and I believe many of the rest of us believed, are of worthy of public discussion as well
1- Whether 'the trend' of recent decades was showing that locally owned small business were becoming less numerous and that chains and mufti-nationals were tending to replace them in the downtown area in particular?
2-What did that trend mean in terms of local character?
3- What was the nature of the deal making processes that were driving the changes downtown?
4 We're we even allowed to ask question #3 since many would argue that those were the discussions of private individuals, and such a cloak seemed to apply even if such dealings included public officials as well
5- What were the factors for low occupancy rates downtown?
And then there were indeed some questions that looked at the more broad and systemic questions-
6- Does local business provide positive local economic impact that may be difficult to measure? Multiplier effect, etc
7-Is there a fair playing field between local business and the multinationals under these conditions?
8- Is it socialistic to support small local business in general? Or only when you use certain methods in doing so?
9-How do we establish tourist demand? what is the evidence that they will spend more for multinational products?
10-What is the evidence that an influx of outside capital is necessarily beneficial?
The most distinct impression for me was that any questioning of the appropriateness of the process which had paved the way for Starbucks to move in downtown was akin to being opposition to the free market system in general. My experience has been that such stark dichotomies tend to be problematic and do not allow much space for further discussion. Here are some general areas which I believe, and I believe many of the rest of us believed, are of worthy of public discussion as well
1- Whether 'the trend' of recent decades was showing that locally owned small business were becoming less numerous and that chains and mufti-nationals were tending to replace them in the downtown area in particular?
2-What did that trend mean in terms of local character?
3- What was the nature of the deal making processes that were driving the changes downtown?
4 We're we even allowed to ask question #3 since many would argue that those were the discussions of private individuals, and such a cloak seemed to apply even if such dealings included public officials as well
5- What were the factors for low occupancy rates downtown?
And then there were indeed some questions that looked at the more broad and systemic questions-
6- Does local business provide positive local economic impact that may be difficult to measure? Multiplier effect, etc
7-Is there a fair playing field between local business and the multinationals under these conditions?
8- Is it socialistic to support small local business in general? Or only when you use certain methods in doing so?
9-How do we establish tourist demand? what is the evidence that they will spend more for multinational products?
10-What is the evidence that an influx of outside capital is necessarily beneficial?