Friday, May 2, 2008

Why Riley Is mos def a Great Tacoma Landlord

Told the council to compensate victimized businesses during construction on Broadway ....and the city gave small business the Finger.....while giving $$$$ to rich developers and big big big business.....
Riley showed concern for renters and small business owners unlike the City....and most other landlords.......Riley keeps his rents reasonable....He knows people need room to do their thing and to get established....


True, Alan and such, do rent their tiny spaces for pretty cheap and does advertising...which is great ! But it would unnerve me if my Landlord and my Landlady were both in my Lap every day, all day.

I bring this up because I hear what others say to me in confidence. Us small business owners/wanna-be business owners are kinda pissed. This creates a Real Drag on our local economy.....I know so many people just like me that want to start a small business in a tiny storefront.....maybe live-in, maybe not....and we'd like to do our Thing without having to BrownNose.........we're sensitive creative types.....
Where to go? The B & I ?? The Starlite Flea Market ?? Because that's all there is........
Just saying, there is nowhere in Tacoma to have a working live-in studio and decent foot traffic......at a price a struggling tiny business can afford.
And Tacoma is poorer for it. I look at the new businesses.....things started up in the last 3 years.....ALL had a pot of money...somewhere.......anyone else who has a successful business.....started long ago.......
I've had many businesses in Tacoma.....when it was Small-Business-Friendly.
If you take the SBA course, at the end, You get the privilege of Applying for a Loan, At 6% for ......$1000.00 !!!!!!!!!!

They were able to stay and grow because Rents were reasonable. Property was reasonable. But those days are over. It's really sad.
In the blink of an eye, Tacoma became a Yuppie/Hiptard Playground.....
I've been checking out rents.....Can you afford $1800. a month to rent 800 sq. ft ??
I've been looking at Portland and Seattle........for the same or LESS money to rent space, I can get millions more people and foot traffic, and a real chance at the kind of small success I want.

Unless I win the lottery, I'll never get to enhance Tacoma.....I doubt I'll be able to have my own business again....in Tacoma...
Maybe if I was a Mega TransNational Financial Services I could get some big Taxpayer Giveaways....
Hmmm, maybe I should start a Paypal-button blog.....Give me money...a micro-gift !!!
It was/is small businesses, thousands of them that have KEPT THE FAITH IN TACOMA. yet..........Russell has stayed here because they "loved" Tacoma......now, we are their Bitch. Remember Intel ? Build us a new freeway on/off ramp.......then screw you.
Shall I discuss the big LeMay Car Museum giveaway????
The rich get richer (on taxpayer money) The poor get children.