I have written previously on the City's abuses of power, and while no more need be said, why should I tire of writing about them, why should you tire of reading about them when the City does not tire of committing them?

When will you tire of your City committing them?

The April/May 2007 Arvada Report's cover story ("Economic Development Holds the Key to the Future") described the past year's retail tax slump and the City's plans to remedy it. Sales tax revenue increased only 1.4% from 2005 to 2006 (instead of the projected 2%), and City expenses increased 3% (mostly due to inflation). Because the City cannot reduce inflation, the City plans to increase tax revenue from sales.

While there are many other solutions to the current crisis (including the reduction or elimination of non-essential City services, eliminating subsidization of some business, reducing Arvada's debt, etc.) the City believes that the best solution is to increase tax revenues through "new economic development."

This strategy is flawed...and not just because it may not work!

Abuses of Power

How will the City undertake "new economic development?" What does "new economic development" actually mean?

The City aims to attract new "junior boxes" and "big boxes" to build stores here. "Junior boxes" are chain retail stores on the size scale of Barnes and Noble, and "big boxes" are chain retail stores on the scale of Wal-Mart. This same strategy has been used in Arvada for many decades now, and brought about such developments as the shopping area south of Olde Town Arvada which is home to such "box" stores as Sam's Club, Costco, Office Depot and Office Max, Home Depot, and Lowes, and many chain restaurants.

It is true that those developments increased sales tax for the City, but at the cost of the peoples' rights: their homes, their businesses, their families and communities were ripped apart and sold under valued to developers by the very government entrusted to defend them.

The City's budget deficit does not constitute the sort of societal emergency the Eminent Domain laws were designed for. The rights of Arvadans will again be trampled for the sake of balancing the City's books. The City and its people are not things to be bought and sold for the sake of a minor fiscal crisis that could easily be solved without endangering the fundamental rights and freedoms the city was built upon.

Unfair Competition

In order to entice these "box" stores to build in Arvada, the City offers many incentives (including tax breaks) to these businesses. In doing so, the City encourages unfair competition between box stores and the locally owned stores that sell similar products and services!

Fair competition stimulates the economy: what business in Arvada would shun the chance to compete against these box stores on a level playing field? Arvadans produce as good of products and provide as good of service as any that can be found! Yet, for all the superior quality that Arvada can provide, when placed at an unfair disadvantage, Arvadans falter...as would anyone. Instead of the vibrant and vital community fair competition would see, Arvada faces lagging tax revenues and an injured community unable to withstand the pressure of the unfree economy.

Such unfair advantages, incentives and enticements given to the "box" stores hurt locally owned businesses and the community as a whole, striking at the very foundation upon which Arvada stands.

Quality Business

Your City, while destroying your livelihoods and homes, laments the lack of shopping destinations, the absence of "quality retail" and limited soft good [1] retail in Arvada. Can you believe that you and your neighbors can not and do not provide quality services and products?

Locally owned businesses are an essential part of any healthy community. These businesses provide financial independence to the residents who own them, and can provide better paying jobs with better working conditions to their employees. Local business can provide just as many total jobs as "box" stores (especially when you consider how many small businesses must get out of the way to make room for the "box" stores). Retail districts filled with locally owned businesses provide a more attractive shopping destination than those that revolve around a "box" store: many of the most popular shopping destinations in the metro area (such as Boulder's Pearl Street, Denver's Larimer Square, and our own Olde Town) are home primarily to locally owned businesses.

"Box" stores require their own buildings, which require emptied lots (if there is no suitable empty lot, the existing structures must be torn down to make room for the new store), which requires proper zoning so the "box" can be built to the designs of the national company. Local businesses can utilize the many existing and available locations that are currently vacant and ready for new businesses to move in!

These retail spaces are available throughout the City...and while "box" stores cannot use them without destroying the community, local businesses can. Arvada has many existing locations that are ready for such redevelopment: a redevelopment not at the blade of the bulldozer, but by the low-interest loan of the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority. If elected, I will redirect AURA to provide loans not only to Arvada businesses, but to would-be Arvada homeowners.

"Quality" need not be synonymous with "box store!" Such a perspective is as wrong as it is outrageous. "Box" stores may have their place in Arvada and other cities, but to lean upon the crutch of "box" stores when doing so cripples the legs of independent local business upon which the City stands is a very poor strategy for the long term prosperity of the City. A paradigm shift is required: the City must realize the vital importance of local business. A change in the City Council is required: Arvada must support local business instead of waging war against them.

VOTE FOR CHOATE!

Arvada should stop lamenting their supposed lack of shopping destinations and "quality" businesses and start supporting local businesses!

Contrary to the opinions of the City, there are quite a few quality soft good retail stores already in Arvada.

Want to buy quality clothing? Visit Accents for Her and Fashion Bug. Want quality used clothing? Visit Designer Exchange and Bravo Resale. Maybe you want a quality "box" experience that doesn't require the abuse of Eminent Domain? Visit Dress Barn. You can buy your quality bridal ware, quality children's clothing and all your quality clothing needs in Arvada.

Arvada has no lack of quality furniture stores, either: visit La Casita, Woodline Designs, and Accents Home Furnishings.

Subsidizing more box stores to sell the things that are already sold in Arvada may raise tax revenue...but at the expense of the local businesses that do not require subsidization. If more soft retail is truly what the city needs, why not encourage new locally owned businesses to provide these goods?

The anonymous author of the Arvada Report's "Economic Development" article warned that "limited opportunities for quality retail ... remain in Arvada." Such a statement is shortsighted at best, and revealing the odious schemes of our city's government. If elected, I will protect your rights, the rights of your family and those of your neighbors.

What You Can Do Against a Petty Tyranny

The petty despotic tyranny that revels in the pillaging of the people and businesses of Arvada is only the fault of the citizens who cannot afford the time or effort to defend their freedom. Defend your City, defend your homes and your businesses before it is too late! The abuses of power can be checked, the damage can be fixed if not undone. It is not too late yet.

Our Federal and State governments established checks to the powers of the three branches of government. But in Arvada, the Judiciary and Executive (in Arvada, the Executive is the City Manager) are both appointed and administered by the Legislative (the City Council). This critical oversight by the City's founders enables the Council to exercise terrible power and influence in all three branches of government in the same way a despotism does. Monarchies have greater checks to the branches of government than Arvada does.

There is one check to the power of the Council, and that is YOU! You have the right to petition the recall of the Council (but not all their appointments) and initiate laws, you have the right - and the obligation - to protect yourself and your property from the pillaging arbitrary despotism that finds as a solution to every minor problem the wholesale sacking of Arvada's neighborhoods and families. This minor check, however weak, has prevented more widespread abuse: the Council, for fear of losing their jobs, will not take one step further towards the looting of Arvada than you allow them to.

If elected, I will enable you to better protect yourself by providing for two paid days every two years (see my Platform and "the Cost of Liberty") for you to enact laws, review the performance of the Council (and possible recall the Council). I will reform the branches of government to allow for a directly elected Executive and Judiciary. It is your right as Americans to have a representative government, and a travesty that you must settle for an indirectly or non-representative government.

Indirect representation (or no representation at all) leads to abuse of power. The City will never tire of its arbitrary power until you tire of their arbitrary power: undertake the authority granted you under law to petition your government and initiate reform. A separation of the powers, an independent Executive and Judiciary, is essential to the liberty of citizens.

If you, or anyone else you know, requires assistance in either learning how to petition or initiate laws, or else in actually undertaking the petition or initiative, contact me at my work (720-207-3642) and I will help.

If elected, I will ensure the empowerment of Arvada's citizens. Neither you nor I can afford the luxury of cowardice: the time for action is now, and the Council's continuing delay and hesitation on undertaking ill-thought, unplanned actions is inexcusable. Don't let them tell you that the vital interests of your city and your neighbors cannot be achieved, or that they cannot be achieved in any reasonable amount of time. Elect me to the Council: I say, "every problem has a solution, the responsibilities of your City should not be dodged by your Council. I will succeed where they have failed."