To the editor:
I have lived in Independence all my life. Lately, I have watch the city continue to build and encourage businesses to move to eastern Independence. They have given tax breaks – TIFs (tax increment financing).
Companies that were once in the western part of town have up and moved to the eastern part of town, leaving buildings to go empty and decay. Now these folks are talking about how this new business park will be good for the city, and again more TIF taxes and whatnot! Let’s ask this question: What about western Independence?
The old Allis-Chalmers plant is pretty much empty. Maybe these folks on the council should take a long, slow walk through the western part of town and look at everything west of Noland Road.
For years I heard that they are trying to get businesses to come to the Square. Now they are sending them east. Let’s move Santa-Cali-Gon off the Square. Look at businesses on the Square that were closed and a hotel was to be built, and then on Noland Road, big development plans were made and businesses moved or were forced to close. What’s happening there?
If they take a look around town they could find more than enough land to build a few small business parks. It may not be all in the same area, but it would make the city look alive, instead of dying a slow death. After all, the old saying is “Go west, young man.”
