Woonsocket residents speak out against improper Med Zone

Monday, March 7, 2005

I was quoted in Monday's story about the city' council's approval of a measure that will lead to the creation of a controversial municipal economic development zone. I wish to say clearly that my comments were not intended to imply that I think there's been any impropriety on the part of the city council or anyone in city government.

The gist of my statement was that many important questions were raised at Mondays City Council meeting that deserve to be looked at carefully and deliberated in a public fashion, not rushed through an approval process. While it is true that this measure has been in the news in the past, it is also true that the many small business owners that were at last night's meeting were concerned about the viability of their businesses. Certainly had they been aware earlier in the process of the implications of the MED zone for the survival of their businesses, they wouldn't have stayed on the sidelines all this time, but would have made their views known sooner. If the small business owners, who have the most to lose, weren't really aware of what was going on with the MED zone up to now, who can really think that the people at large in this city have any real understanding of the possible effects of this far reaching project?

It does seem likely that providing big-box stores with tax advantages on top of their already low cost structures will mean the end for many small businesses. The traffic issues are likely to be significant, as will the potential impact on the environment and quality-of-life issues. While in the short term increased tax revenues are more-or-less guaranteed, It seems that there are also important questions about the long term economic benefits of bringing in big-box retailers and displacing small business. Woonsocket's downtown area will ultimately have to be dealt with one way or another. It's actually a very attractive place, and there are many like it all over New England that have fallen on hard times in the past but are now thriving. Before Woonsocket follows in the footsteps of her neighbors and fills the landscape with the same monotonous litany of chain stores that it's already impossible to escape if you drive in any direction for fifteen minutes, people should be given the opportunity to decide for themselves if this is what they really want.

John Lafleur
Woonsocket