Support our Local Businesses

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originally uploaded by mr.doug.rogers.

I support excellent retail establishments along 14th Street and U Street. If the owners of the warehouse at 1840 14th Street NW (corner of 14th and T) had no other alternatives, I could understand them selling their property to a national furniture chain.

However, it is my understanding that the owners of the building had two potential buyers: 1) A national furniture chain OR 2) A group of local business owners who wanted to build a coffee house, restaurant, comedy club and yoga studio…a development that would bring vitality to the west side of 14th Street.

When given a choice, I believe our community should support local independent businesses for a host of reasons: A) Local ownership ensures that important decisions are made by local people who live in the neighborhood and who will feel the impact of those decisions. B) Locally owned businesses build strong communities by linking neighbors together and contributing to local causes. C) Small businesses select products based on the needs of local customers which guarantee a broader range of choices. D) In an increasingly homogenized world, neighborhoods that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character have an economic advantage (example: Pulp on 14th Street…try finding a card at CVS that gets bigger laughs). I also support the local businesses that are here today in our neighborhood. They took great risks to locate along 14th Streets and U Streets and helped turn around this neighborhood. I’ve spoken with the local owners, and they are VERY CONCERNED about a national furniture chain store moving into our neighborhood at such a prominent location.

This past weekend, I handed out a flier in the neighborhood appealing for the community to support our neighborhood's independent and local businesses. (see it here).   The back of the flier had a copy of a City Paper article related to the project (link to article).  On his newly created web site, my opponent WRONGLY accuses me of saying that he (or ANC 2B) disapproved of the project by the local group.  The flier made no mention of him (or ANC 2B), although others do appear to indicate that my opponent was less than fully supportive of the idea (see Washington Blade article 10/24/08).  I am for supporting our local businesses that are owned by our neighbors, friends and family.  I encourage the owners of the warehouse to give the group of local business owners the opportunity to build something truly unique for our neighborhood.