Between You andMe By Ruth Chambers 'wM 44 ,7, Another look at downtown Whitby Here are more thoughts about the downtown core of Whitby following feedback from quite a number of people, soine of which I asked for. All are very interesting but the same old story; positive feelings but negative ones too from people who have given up trying to find a solution. So what is the ideal we must strive for-the highest type of excellence? Maybe reading the first article over would help. Simplicity, low cost, desire and hard work might be the thoughts that would propel these ideas along. I know that rather than being simple most things these days are complex. Does this need to be so? Maybe common sense can come·to the fore and rather than saying, "let Jack do it", do it yourself. One, and to me the most important aspéect of this rethinking is that we don't look for handouts from any level of Government until we have done our part; that is to make a start or a begining. This used to be a matter of pride and a mark of honour. We of course are Government but it is impossible for us all to participate so we elect officials to act and speak for us and govern us from three levels. The more we demand the more we pay with our money. It works both ways. If our demands are simple, and tJhe necessary expenditures accepted the cost becomes much less. Then and only then can we make demands on ail levels of Government to gear down, to spend less. We have an astute, fair-minded Mayor and a responsible Council. Lets do our part and watch them do theirs. There must be good communication back and forth and this would be very productive for both sides. Whitby is no longer a small, self-contained town. We have ,many newcomers from near and far. Great numbers of professional people from ail parts of Canada, thie U.S., The British Isles and FEurope. Are they going to be satisfied with what we have to offer at the moment? Some 0f it., yes but much of it no. We may drive them to other centres. We must have more to offer everyone, not huge plazas or complexes but good service, good merchandizing and last but not least a special charm ail of our own. We should be able to entice our own residents and offer them what they cannot get elsewhere. Absentee landlords, yes, but not ail by a long shot. To own any property and not maintain it by plowing back into it is foolhardy fo say the least. I have been walking arqund downtown not as a shopper but as someone vitally interested in this town, who would like to see it as a vibrant and very much alive place. Some things I saw saddened and shocked me; other things pleased me but gave me a sense of empathy for the ones who keep their properties in good shape. Clean, well kept and prosperous-looking places of business are undermi- ned by others who don't give a damn. This has to be a mutual undertaking; what is good for one is good for ail. If renovations seem to be out of the question look at the dollars agove. Money makes money. What comes first prosperity or loss? Banks are spending great amounts of money trying to loan you money. Your debt might soom be paid off. If all else fails, how about taking your own labour into account. A few years ago I helped paint an office building downtown and I'd do It agian. Try me, but no ladders; at eye .. A level. I'm great with the odd cup of tea thrown in for good measure. There are ways and means. Bus service is a big issue at the meoment and a concern for many people. Redo the surface work but of course first put your plans and dreams on the table. Interested business men and merchants will begin to move in and will beg for space. Then the bus service will pay for itself many times over. If we have enough to offer we may need a whole fleet of buses. Not having done any comparison shopping in Whitby I don't know how the captive customer fares. Not very well is some places other than Whitby, the prices are higher than need be. Many people who live downtown are elderly and cannot shop HITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1979, PAGE 11 Celsewhere fewer people in this area have cars and fèwer have two cars. The large chains I hope check into this frequently. Restaurants are a very important part of thè business world. Clean, pleasing atmosphere, good good and service are a must. Industry is moving into this region.What do we have to offer? Good shops and restaurants bring more of the same. Get rid of the eyesores and believe me there are'a few and start anew. Forget the pettyness and the jealousies people told me about, and the "1I won't deal with you if you won't deal with me," syndrome; it doesn't pay off in the long run. "DON'T ADVANCE INTO THE FUTURE WITH YOUR EYES ON THE PAST' s *1 s * M s 1~sG.