City Council steps in quicksand again
By Warner M.Warner@TheColumMboinatSgtaorm.coemry

Columbia City Council is once again trying its hand at urban planning. Not content with their past failures - Air South, CCI/Riverfront, and the Convention Hotel - our city fathers (and mothers) have hired a consultant with $200,000 of our tax dollars to tell council how to bring retailers to downtown Columbia now that restaurants and residences have moved in. They don't seem to understand once people (customers) move in, businesses to supply them with goods and services will follow if they can make a profit doing it.

Without having any facts to back me up, I suspect the contract is a payback to the consultant by at least one of the council members. The consultant is hired to examine the situation and report back as to what kind of businesses should be placed where and how the city can recruit them. This will ultimately lead to focus groups, more expensive plans, public relations schemes, recruiting trips to Chicago and LA by council members, more tax money thrown at the non- existent problem, and more wasted time and effort.

What foolishness! The best thing the city could do to revitalize downtown business is to reduce taxes and fees, eliminate redundant zoning regulations, and get out of the way. Let the market forces work.