To the editor:

Mayor Dunfield and several members of our City Commission feel they are so enlightened that they can ignore concepts of basic economics. The cost of living in Lawrence is already way above our surrounding communities. Lawrence is home to sandwich shops that charge $10 and those that charge $5 for the same item. We have restaurants that charge $25 for a steak and restaurants that charge $7 for a steak. Businesses survive on supply and demand, and sound business decisions. The community has the choice of where to spend their money. I like to have a choice and competition provides these choices. But, these brilliant members of our commission think they should determine when and if new competition can build and move in to Lawrence (“on an independent analysis that the community has the capacity of absorbing that extra retail space without resulting in harm to our existing merchants”).

If you want Massachusetts Street to remain as the commercial center of Lawrence, attracting not only loyal shoppers but also new shoppers, then they need to supply what the people want at an appropriate price. These socialist concepts may protect them for a while, but shoppers will spend their hard-earned dollars for the best value. Some will do that on a nice downtown street, but many will spend it anywhere but in Lawrence if we continue to prevent competition, which then further erodes our tax base. Small wonder that Kansas City and Topeka retailers love Lawrence residents.

1984 has come and gone. But in Lawrence, Kansas, Big Brother is alive and well.

JR Neutel,

Lawrence