Encourage Small Business

We're back from a weekend in Virgina wine country and felling very relaxed. (No, Virginia wine country is not an oxymoron. And, yes, it is far far better than other eastern U.S. wine regions like Long Island.) Now back to life in DC . . .

I received a blast email from Jim Graham's office this morning regarding a town hall meeting tonight to address city-wide tax relief for small businesses. As his office puts it:

Small businesses are facing incredible market barriers and bureaucratic
impediments to staying in their longtime locations, expanding into new
sites, or just trying to open a business for the first time.

This meeting will be held at the Lincoln Theatre (1215 U) from 6:30 to 9 this evening. Think about what a huge issue this is for our neighborhood and come out to listen or to testify. Even if you don't want to speak, critical mass at these meetings is important to show city leaders what issues matter to their constituencies. Tax relief will ensure the long-term viability of neighborhood favorites like Pulp, Go Mama Go, Home Rule, and Redeem. It will also level the competition for storefront space, perhaps limiting the rapid proliferation of bank branches and blah national chains.

This could be one of the few times that I agree with Graham. It's just a shame that the email notice didn't go out until today.