I welcome the development of the Clearlake site to provide new shopping opportunities and new services to the residents.
However, it is troubling to read of government plans to subsidize development for businesses that are only going to increase competition and not add to the base of goods and services that can be purchased in the area.
We do go out of the area to make many purchases, because the items we seek are not available here. Our tax dollars and the jobs we might be supporting locally will not increase if we go to a Lowe”s instead of a locally-based store. On the other hand, if the redevelopment site were to bring in stores offering what we now have to travel to acquire, we would be able to spend more money in the area.
Local entrepreneurs risked their money to build up their businesses. We have the opportunity to expand the local shopping options and draw more business to the area for all merchants. The alternative is to use redevelopment money to make it harder for local businesses.
Robert Klinger
Kelseyville
