Let's talk equality, equity, fairness and equal opportunity! These are words we hear repeatedly and strive to live by daily. Yet no one has mentioned or perhaps considered how unfair downtown Main Avenue bump-outs are to those restaurants and businesses not fortunate enough to have a location on either downtown Main Avenue or E. 2nd Avenue.
The Main Avenue businesses already have an advantage over other locations because of the foot traffic in front of their storefronts. Now the city wants to give those businesses even more advantages by allowing bump-outs to be the future plan for downtown.
So if a restaurant is on a downtown cross street or alley - the Ore House, Mamma Silvia's Italian Kitchen, Durango Bagel, Cuckoo’s Chicken House, The Roost, Mi Ranchito – the city and the Durango Business Improvement District are basically saying they don't care about those businesses. It's more important to give more to businesses that are already advantaged by their locations.
Yes, surveys have been done and the people have voted. Voted for what the individual wants based on limited facts. Voted without consideration of the big picture and potential consequences for restaurants that are not favored because of locations.
This whole plan reeks of discrimination.
Barb Bell
Durango
