Retail Giveaways Hurt ‘Little Guys’

Oh, boy, did I get a message from that Feb. 18 article (“Measure Highlights Cities’ Hunger for Sales Tax Dollars”) on cities and what they do to get shopping centers.

We watched the city of Oxnard “give it away” to Wal-Mart, Price Club, the Oxnard Outlet Mall, ad nauseam, while more and more locally owned businesses just lost heart and closed.

We are currently watching the city of Ventura attempt to “give it away” to the Buenaventura Mall while most of the locally owned “little guys” on Main Street and elsewhere just fade away. Remember Scotts, Hunts, County Stationers?

Since 1987, my wife and daughter have been successful in keeping our small business alive at Fisherman’s Wharf at Channel Islands Harbor, and the odds against us have been horrendous!

I wonder how many people are aware that our small business must pay 5% of the gross sales to Ventura County just for the privilege of being at Fisherman’s Wharf. Another 5% to 10% of our gross goes to our landlord on any sales over a set amount each month. We fork over a healthy rent plus a “common area” maintenance fee. We also pay a monthly fee devoted solely to advertising and special events. We pay all our taxes and (worse luck) none of them are given back to us.

It’s very discouraging to continually watch our local government fawn, scrape and grovel to bring “big guys” in the front door, while the local lifeblood of the community oozes out the back door. How about a level playing field for all of us?

RALPH W. EMERSON III

Ventura