Northampton city government under Mayors Clare Higgins and David J. Narkewicz has been anti-business.
If there were more “townies” in Northampton government, they would remember that in the 60’s and 70’s the new regional malls killed downtown business. With a dying downtown, both residential and property values were stagnant or mostly in decline.
A dead downtown spurred the townies who once governed Northampton to support and encourage downtown business development by Bob Borowski, Sam Goldman, Ed Goll, many others and now people like Eric Suher.
Business development revitalized downtown, fueled the creation of the culture for which Northampton is now known, and brought a dramatic increase in property values, both residential and commercial. It also attracted new residents, most of whom have never seen downtown in decline. I suggest they imagine Thornes Marketplace empty, as well as many more empty storefronts than now exist.
E-commerce is one of many growing threats to the future viability of many downtown businesses. Businesses don’t need additional burdens imposed by an insensitive city government.
I understand that people like Higgins and Narkewicz, who have had no real world business experience and who are good at spending other people’s money, might tend not to adequately value the importance of business until downtown is in a real decline, commercial and residential property values decline and, with that, there is less tax revenue for the city to spend.
When that happens there is less for property owners when they try to sell in a “down” market.
The present city government needs to reconsider the consequences of its anti-business stance. It won’t, but it should.
Alan Scheinman, a former resident of downtown Northampton, lives in Holyoke.