A Corporation's Plan to Destroy Small Businesses in My Town

But not the kind of corporation you think…

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I live in a rural town on the edge of farm country.

The two halves of the nearby village are connected by two beautiful old lift-bridges. The bridge to the east is on the border between the residential section and the tiny downtown area. The bridge to the west is right in the center of the village. These bridges have been in operation for more than 100 years and frequently need repair. (One day, shortly after we moved here, my family and I went up into the booth to meet the lift operator. He showed us the specially designed fuses it uses, which haven’t been made commercially since the early 20th century. Very cool.)

When the bridge to the east is being repaired, it causes traffic snarls. When the bridge to the west is being repaired, the downtown is cut in half, there is no through-traffic, and it is brutal to local businesses. Usually, the repairs take a matter of weeks. But recently, the “public-benefit corporation” that manages the bridge started a repair project that is expected to take 18 months!

Urban planners love to create pedestrian spaces free from vehicle traffic. Such spaces can be great. I used to enjoy going to the 3rd-Street Promenade when I loved in Los Angeles. The lack of cars makes for a nicer, freer atmosphere. When it works, it works.

In this village, it does not work. It needs the through traffic.

I just went downtown yesterday and saw for myself: the normally vibrant little village