[RP TownTalk] Dumm's

[Lou King]

Dwight Holmes wrote, On 8/16/2010 9:05 AM:
> <This is Dwight without his moderator hat on>
>
> My thoughts on Dumm's Corner, our town, and the economy.  (I'll try to
> be brief!)
>
With my COC hat on, Dwight thank goodness you were brief! <g>

Slipping out of that persona, there are times I don't envy your 
moderator duties - especially with posters like the "Cranky old Coot" on 
the loose and not taking there meds on schedule.

And as you suggested, I do rely on past relationships established in 
council meetings and on election days, to take some of the edge off of 
my comments. It has always be difficult to express some things in email, 
forums or blogs because readers can't see the expression on the writer's 
face, nor can the writer see the readers reaction. Without this 
interpersonal feedback we must all be careful. Thus the development of 
emoticon.

Back in the dark ages someone on this forum gave me the COC moniker 
after I made comments with my tong firmly in my cheek. Don't be mistaken 
it is not just an attempt to be funny, but a feeble attempt to take the 
edge off of a point.

In the case of Dumm's it is a really tough situation. We have/had a 
member of the community wanting to make a substantial 
investment/commitment to town center and "we" couldn't find a way to 
make it work. I have no reason to question the need for the multi-floor 
building to create the revenue stream necessary to finance the project. 
On the other hand I also agree a building taller than the trees doesn't 
fit our "down town". So we have tried to tell Pete how to spend his 
money and run his business. And we can all speculate on how the nature 
of Dumm's Corner and Riverdale Park would have changed if the venture 
had been approved, succeed or failed. We are where we are.

Having been on the receiving end of suggestions from people that don't 
have a dog in the fight so to speak, I am always hesitant. When I was in 
business or in a volunteer endeavor, I have noticed that "those that 
don't, have lots of ideas for those that do"

I don't mean to imply that that applies here, but we need to be careful 
when telling someone how to run their business. Although taking down the 
beer adds seems to be a simple thing, we (meaning I) don't know how much 
revenue is made by putting the adds up.

We all would like the convenience of fresh produce across the street. 
But marketing items that go stale is much different than selling those 
that don't. A 3 day old 12-pack of beer is a 12-pack of beer. A 3-day 
old head of Romain lettuces is garbage. The guy that brings in the bread 
2-3 times a week also take away the old bread, and adjust the amount 
left on display - a costly balancing act between having bread there to 
sell and having old bread to take back.

Fresh produce is different. The small store owner goes to the 
distributor and buys what he thinks he can sell. What he doesn't sell is 
still his.  Besides with planning there is the farmers market across the 
tracks thanks to Jim.

Speaking of Jim, have you sent him your check to support Cystic fibrosis?

Lou
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