Misstated criticism

To the editor:

Tom Kern is the third Lawrence Chamber of Commerce CEO seeking a community consensus on economic development. Laudable goal. If he accepts reporter Chad Lawhorn’s explanation of the issues (Journal-World, Jan. 15), he’s already off on the wrong foot. You cannot reach consensus by putting false words into the other guy’s mouth.

Chamber leaders routinely accuse their critics of being anti-growth. Lawhorn’s slightly more polite version accuses the critics of opposing industrial projects because they’re poorly planned or the wrong kind.

Chamber critics do in fact oppose tax abatements for low-wage jobs, especially when there’s no evidence any abatements are needed. All those abatements are driving up city taxes.

But that’s not their main beef. The real issues, which both Lawhorn and the Chamber have always ducked, are:

1. The Chamber’s smokestack-chasing strategy has largely failed. Instead, Lawrence ought to focus resources on growing from within.

2. The Chamber constantly confuses economic growth with real estate growth. Because of Chamber lobbying, Lawrence has excessive real estate growth. That’s led to excessive vacancies in central city housing and commercial buildings, which in turn leads to central city decay, excessive city infrastructure costs on the expanding outskirts, increased taxes, sprawl and a lower quality of life. And that in turn makes it harder to nurture and attract the new start-ups the Chamber ought to be supporting.

Maybe the critics are all wet. However the Chamber’s refusal to address what they actually say sandbags any possible dialogue and telegraphs fear the critics may be right.

David Burress,
Lawrence