Better (or worse) for the economy

Today blog topic: Better (or worse) for the economy

As you read the headline, I am sure you are thinking I was going to discuss the national government, however I am going to discuss the local governments and their ignorance.

Now I don't know if this is true of all local municipalities, but in the South Jersey area, we have allowed businesses to move into bigger and finer stores while leaving there old stores boarded up. The municipalities offer these corporations anything to stay in their town. Corporations get tax breaks and incentives, but they recieve no penalty for making an eye sore in the community, when they board up the old store. Super Fresh at one time was a large supermarket at the corner of laurel road and blackwood-clementon roads. They moved to a larger store down the street on blackwood-clementon road. Then eventually they closed that store as well and both stores were empty for several years. About two years ago, Sav-a-lot food market moved into the original store and is doing well, however the second store that they built from the ground up stands closed and boarded now for over ten years and show no sign of anyone getting that space.

I understand that the economy is in turmoil. I understand that the first key into a rebound in the economy is patience, however, I suggest that if a company moves to new digs, they should be held responsible in some part to the former location. I am not only talking from town to town but also state to state. If these companies can move away, they should pay for what the leave behind.

Major companies like Wal-Mart pay millions of dollars towards research to determined where to build a new store with no regards to the mom and pop stores that they eventually will drive out of business. The results speak for themselves, more boarded up stores because of a major corporations driving out these smaller stores. If we taxed the incoming corporation for the stores they drive away then maybe they would stop trying to put another business out the door.

Another example, Lowes home improvement centers. They build as close as humanly possible to Home Depot. Sometimes less than a mile from home depot. Competition is good for price /value, but that is poor over all. Eventually, one or both will have to either have to move or close because of the other. I know several people, who go to Home Depot and get the information with price on a product and quickly drive to the closest Lowes and compare prices. Great for the consumer, but when enough is enough, Let's say Home Depot closes its doors and boards up the store. Lowes wins the battle of the home improvement wars this time. And the town is left with a empty, boarded up building, eroding with the changes in the season. Lowes should pay the taxes on the unused store until it is reestablished. If that happened, I assure you that Lowes will think twice about building so close to their competition.

Until the powers that be address this situation, we will end up with sparkling new stores next to eroding ones,

My 2 cents worth,
Peace, Love and Much Respect,