We just received information from DBIA looking for support and inviting us to participate in their March annual general meeting and election for a board of directors. Seems they are confident their little scheme will pass and they will be off to hang more flower baskets for another three years. The USW local 1-424 Northern Interior Woodworkers Holding Society has expressed in a formal letter to city hall all the reasons why we are opposed to this particular scheme. Along with the DBIA tax increase the city is preparing us for another round of tax increases also. You can only sustain so many cuts before you bleed to death and continued tax pressure will not be overcome by hanging flower baskets of which we
already donate to Adopt-a-Basket each year at a cost of $180 each basket. City council would serve the building owners, and more so the business tenants, more wisely by stopping this DBIA in its tracks.
The budget they propose is nothing short of ridiculous with no real substance other than acknowledging 609'0 of the budget submitted is actually for administration and wages for one person. There are already organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Prince George, Initiatives Prince George and our own city working to cleanup and promote the downtown core. Businesses within the core of the city face many challenges with malls throughout the area all with ample parking. In these economic times people are extremely watchful of the dollars they spend and those businesses that are selling merchandise will surly attest to that. Inflecting more cost on downtown business tenants and property owners is hardly the commonsense approach when most already agree their profit line is already slim to none. When you factor in the increase tax's coming in this year's city budget for those in business in the downtown core it could spell the end. Let's work with the organizations already in place today and use the resources we have to attract new business downtown that will improve the well being of the area and in turn benefit everyone. More taxes imposed will hinder progress not improve it as with every
family household you work with the resources you have and utilize the services available to you not run to the bank as the only resolve. Also the USW local building has no tenants selling product and our tax for the DBIA alone will be in the thousands not $394 dollars.
Frank Everitt
Brian O'Rourke
President USW Local 1-424
Financial Secretary
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