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Pushing businesses to the county will hurt Red Deer

Re: “Spurned businesssman leaving city,” June 24.
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Re: “Spurned businesssman leaving city,” June 24.

Again, certain city councillors have ensured another win for Red Deer County’s Gasoline Alley.

I am not pleased with the applicant stating he is now going to relocate to gas alley. It’s like saying if I can’t have it my way, I’m going to take my things and go home.

On other hand, city council didn’t leave him much choice.

Of the council members voting against his proposal, there are three that appear to be continuously anti-business. While I won’t mention any names, a review of their voting records will confirm that.

The city seems to think that a be-nice attitude is enough to clean up downtown and encourage businesses to stay. It isn’t.

Nor is making things more difficult for businesses to relocate working either.

All this has done is lead a business to decide to move its city operation to the county, resulting in loss of tax and other income to the city, and in turn, adding to county funds.

The city could possibly still save this by revisiting and using some common sense, but I presume that is too much to ask.

I applaud the councillors who voted in favour of this move and invite those who didn’t to look past their noses at the benefits of keeping local businesses local.

Traffic concerns mentioned are nothing more than an excuse, as the increase would be minimal, if any at all.

If the planned and scrapped cafe were added back, it would also benefit locals again with very little negative impact.

Time for all of council to think straight, not just some of them.

Joe Thompson, Red Deer