My brother wants to be a successful artist. I think he already is. He can pay his rent and afford new art supplies and groceries. Come on, what more do you want in life?
And, according to recent news, London wants to grow up and be like Kitchener. A special levy might do the trick, at least so thinks Mayor Joe Fontana, aka ‘10,000 Jobs’ to some.
Although Patrick Maloney of The London Free Press feels “there could be some merit to the idea of an economic-development fund in the context of Joe Fontana’s promised four-year tax freeze,” (Dec. 18 issue) I think otherwise at the moment.
Two reasons.
One. Deforest City ratepayers (you know who you are) already pay millions upon million per year (e.g., $13.5 million) to boost economic development. At least according to another Free Press report.
And two. London already has an economic development fund, and it’s running a surplus.
According to an earlier article by the aforementioned Patrick Maloney, “London Economic Development Corp. (LECD)... has as $800,000 surplus...”
Maybe all LECD needs is a Kitchener-style idea to spend it on. Away we go, Joe.
Maybe the $800,000 could be used to drag our city 100 km. closer to Toronto (I say somewhere near Cambridge and the Galt Knife Brewing Co.) and away from the corn, cattle, soy bean and unimaginative beer region.
Like Mr. Maloney says, “there are many questions with the economic-development idea.”
For example, why would Joe introduce a new tax in a four-year, tax-free, hybrid-corn zone?
Corn dog, anyone?
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Please read ‘Deforest City Blues Pt 1: Does City Hall still waive development fees?’ for more context.
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