In the Dec. 9 article in the Advocate “Organization has to make some tough fiscal decisions” Coun. Lawrence Lee says “the Downtown Business Association’s ability to attract new memberships rests with having effective programs to help draw more people to downtown.”
Businesses don’t move downtown to be a member of the Downtown Business Association. It’s not a membership fee. It is a mandatory business levy on businesses located downtown.
How an extra tax attracts business downtown is a mystery. A vibrant downtown core is in the interest of all city residents so why levy a tax on businesses that are playing a part in bringing life to downtown?
Thomas Alexander, Red Deer