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Page 16, Whitby Free Press. Wednesday, October 27, 1993 WHITBY affordable excellence! VIDEO October 20,1993 OPEN LETTER TO PEOPLE IN THE TOWN OF WHITBY What Gene Peacock and his small group of anti-Business Improvement Area (BIA) supporters have failed to realize is that without an active BIA, the downtown section of Whitby would not be what it is today. If these people would only take a small portion of the time they spend being negative and turn themselves around, Whitby could become even better. .One does not have to look very far to see the terrible effects of a poorly run downtown area: crime, vacant store fronts, dirty and run down buildings and most certainly no cohesive programs, ie. Heritage Day, Victorian Christmas, police networking and streetscape improvements to name a few. It is my belief that these anti-BIA people have either not considered all of this or that they are extremely selfish and narrow minded! We need a clean, healthy and prosperous downtown in order for Whitby to grow properly. Whitby is a unique place to live and it is my belief that the downtown plays a very large roll in making people feel proud of where they live. Whenever I have asked new people why they have chosen Whitby to live they have almost always commented on the quaint downtown and an overall safe feeling ... a place they would like to raise a family. Certainly, this same view is held by large corporate heads when they entertain a reason for relocating business (and family as well). We should not be so narrow minded to think that a healthy downtown only helps those retailers that are located there. It is the spirit. The levy amounts paid by businesses in the BIA are a very small price to pay to ensure that Whitby continues to grow with prosperity. (For example, my 1993 BIA levy amounts to $14.90 per week.) It must be noted that all BIA members give their time for free. There is no glory with this position, only lots of work and the self satisfaction of a job well done by helping to ensure our residents and visitors have a prosperous, community minded, safe area to do business. Our early morning breakfast meetings are even paid for by ourselves... .so if Gene Peacock and self-supporters would like to help the community in which they live and work rather than hinder . ..please turn yourselves around and join in . ..you will make a difference - for the better. It is the spirit that binds the community - don't let it die! Sincerely, David Johann BIA member and President of Whitby Audio Limited P.S. It was only after a visit from Gene Peacock to my store that I felt motivated to further check into the BIA. After doing this, I decided along with Lionel Graveline from Picture This & That that we all can make a difference. I realized that I wanted to help and immediately gathered a group of members together to help the BIA. Since this time a position opened on the Board of Management and I was appointed by Town Council. If anyone has questions regarding the BIA, I encourage you to contact either myself or a Board member. We would be happy to meet with you. Join one of our committees . .. You can make a difference. 233 BROCK STREET SOUTH, WHITBY, ONTARIO, CANADA L1N 4K2 PHONE: (905) 668-0787