To the editor:

Lawrence, Kansas is not open for business

The City Commission’s 5-0 vote on Oct. 13 on Resolution No. 7710 regarding the STAR bonds district and not allowing the public hearing phase to proceed spoke very loudly to the rest of the country: Lawrence, Kansas is not open for business.

Both sides likely misunderstand the mechanics, rules and terms. Respectfully, they should be brought into the open, explained accurately and discussed with the public.

Not in Lawrence, Kansas. We complain about the lack of affordable housing, the lack of jobs, the lack of development, the high property taxes, and nothing changes. Nothing moves forward. If not for the University of Kansas, I fear what the City of Lawrence would really be.

Business owners, corporate America, developers and investors from all over the country were paying attention to what Lawrence was doing. Was anyone surprised? Not really.

People don’t really want change; they just want to complain about problems they are too scared to take on and unwilling to do anything about. And if someone wants to try to change and make things better in Lawrence, Kansas, they would prefer not to have a conversation about it.

Ryan Gigous,

Lawrence