Letter: Bus. 51 project is not a political football
To the Editor-
Not long ago, an anonymous complaint was filed with the corporate office of a locally-owned business alleging that a franchise owner was pushing their political views with an argument against the Bus. 51 remodel.
Based on the wording of the complaint, I suspect I know who the complainant is, but what’s more important is this: Bus. 51 is not a political issue. Road construction is not political.
Last fall, Council President Meleesa Johnson submitted an opinion piece to a local publication attempting to make it a political issue. That’s a red herring and nothing more—don’t fall for it.
Bus. 51 is not politics. But it does represent income and livelihoods for many small business owners in our city. Bus. 51 is a business corridor—it’s right there in the name. Small business owners set up shops along this street for a reason. The mere possibility of reducing traffic on our community’s main thoroughfare should result in a red flag for any representative of our city because this will negatively affect every business there.
We encourage city residents to strongly consider voting yes in favor of the August 9 referendum that would prevent the City of Stevens Point from using more than $1 million taxpayer dollars without voter consent for this or any road construction project.
Kevin Flatoff
South Side Business Association
