Do you support a TIF for a Downtown entertainment district?

The most recent poll question in the SJNP was: "Do you support a TIF for a Downtown entertainment district?"

"Downtown Entertainment District"? Judging by what is already situated in downtown and from what I have heard the City would like to see there, there is very little entertainment per se in the area. When you combine words like 'bar' and 'entertainment', I really don't see 'arts' in that equation. Ideas like 'theatre', 'class','family', or 'tourism' are also missing.

When I first moved to Missouri, I was so excited to read all the signs pointing to "(any city's name here) historic downtown". I always had a preconceived notion that I would be able to drive to these downtowns and be greeted with quaint older buildings in good repair. I would hope for a shopping "avenue", restaurants and other shoppes conducive to enticing travelers to stop for a visit and spend some much needed money (similar to Weston). So many times this is not the case. St. Joseph is no exception. The original concept of a downtown was centered around department stores and the idea of the location being a "one-stop-shop" for shoppers. While it is nearly impossible to get department stores back into downtown, it certainly is a viable option to make it a one-stop-shop place for residents and tourists alike.

Before we move forward with the TIF plan, our city needs to identify what their goals are for the downtown area. If it is meant to be purely a "bar" environment, then they should move forward with the "Downtown Entertainment District" theme and market their availability to topless bars, lounges, and foster the adult-only atmosphere. If they want to expand and broaden their consumer base, they may want to reconsider the naming and solicit businesses such as:

* Pharmacy (CVS?)
* Boutique shoppes (candy store, soda fountain, women's clothiers, novelty/specialty stores)
* Restaurants (coffee shop, deli, UPSCALE restaurant)
* Arcade
* Movie Theatre (haven't been in the existing one, but it needs a facelift)
* BETTER PARKING
* Art gallery
* Comedy club?
* Florist

I think everyone would agree that if we had a thriving downtown, both our citizens and businesses may feel better about attracting tourism, growing the residential base near the downtown region, and evoke an overall city pride.

Newspaper Viability

I'm addicted. I admit it. I'm a news junkie. I watch various programs on the television, I read the newspaper, I search the web. With so many avenues to obtain information it's really not surprising that the bankruptcies of newspapers across the country are making headlines.

Answer this question: since career searches, coupon clipping, ads, and article information are all available online (FOR FREE), why would anyone pay for a newspaper subscription?

Sure, the smell of the ink, the feel of the paper, and the general nostalgia of reading the paper (weekend or otherwise) tend to give me a sense of comfort and regularity. But really, am I missing anything by canceling my print subscription? I suppose in contrast to the cost of cable and internet newspapers are much more cost-effective as a source for information.

Maybe people like me want MORE! Yes, more. I believe people are searching for different points of view so they can try to make a story objective, less slanted, and perhaps even more informative. I have found that our local News-Press paper doesn't provide enough articles. They seem to omit so much information - or report it too late. Case in point - the Big Brother/Big Sister program recently ran a month-long volunteer recruitment drive. The NP chose to report it after the drive was completed. How were folks to know when/where/how to sign up? The NP's world is so small... so limited. It's almost as if they don't report much world, national, state news it doesn't exist. And their articles are almost always slanted and biased. Is there no balanced news source nowadays? In a "small" town like ours, it's hard not to overhear rumors on the gossip mill. Yet, there is no reliable/dependable news source to catch up on all the accurate happenings here. Oh well, it sure gives people like me an opportunity to voice an opinion.