|
|
Welcome to the new home of Lee's Summit Tribune. We are dedicated to providing you the most current and accurate news and events in Lee's Summit
 | |  |
|
Boycott Lee's Summit Downtown Days
June 3, 2010
Dear Sirs & Ladies,
The following is a post that I have sent to everybody on my contact list, the editor of the local paper and made to my Facebook Page.
"If some of you may be planning on attending Lee's Summit Downtown Days, I would like to take a moment to ask you to reconsider.
I just stopped by their central information booth to inquire whether or not they need anyone to work in their beer booths this year. Once again I was told that they would happily allow people to work in the booths, but that the Downtown/Main Street committee would keep all tips collected in the beer gardens. When I told Jeanine, I cannot recall her last name, that I know several men that are out of work and could really use a chance to earn some cash she told me, "Sorry, but this is one of our biggest fundraisers." This was the same thing I was told by the Main Street Committee last year and I had really hoped that they would have reconsidered. However, greed apparently has no limits. On the surface it doesn't seem like such a big deal, but several issues must be taken into account.
- Downtown Days makes use of public streets which we all pay taxes to maintain.
- Downtown Days uses the Lee's Summit Police to maintain its security.
- The Shops in downtown Lee's Summit experience a massive increase in foot traffic for the weekend.
- All of the booths lining the streets are not there free of charge, I am pretty sure that there are fees that are associated with setting up a booth.
I am sure there is more but you get the general idea, and with all of this they still think it is a good idea to confiscate the tips that the staff earns while helping them pull off their little festival.
Therefore, I will not be spending one dime at Downtown Days. I may take my kids to the movies, the zoo or a theme park but I will not patronize these Down Town days or the shops that make up the Main Street Committee."
Doug Boyd
Lee’s Summit, MO
Publisher’s Note: Event Chairman Gary Fruits was not prepared to comment by press time.
| |
 | |  |
| | |
|
Other Recent Articles from the Opinion Category:
| |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lee's Summit Oktoberfest: When it Rains, It Pours
|
|
|
As for receiveing money from the city, they need that to pay the 3 full time people salaries they have working in their offices. The city should not be paying them anything since they have doubled the membership fee (was $150 now $300 per yr). That is just my feelings on that however. But to continue, yes, they do charge for each booth and they charge a per cent of sales for food booths. And they charge any shop owner that wants a booth - somewhat less if they sign up in January- but still - the shops do not get the foot traffic you would assume. The people are there for the vendors or the kids stuff - not to shop. Ask almost any owner the isn't on the downtown board and they will tell you.
So I hope you are more clear on the purpose of the Downtown Days and why the city is paying money to these people.
Mission
The mission of Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street, Inc., is to promote the continuing existence of an economically strong and diverse central business district through a master plan of:
Community education and awareness;
Cooperative utilization of business resources;
Continuity in design and historical preservations; and
Continued growth of the economic base.
So they charge businesses $300 to belong, they get $$ from the city government, and they have this major fundraiser of Downtown Days. There are several 501c3 nonprofits in Lee's Summit. Maybe we all need to start asking city government for some money.