Downtown revitalization

[Army_of_One]

The bottom line is even if we closed the packing plant there are a lot of people of Mexican decent (AKA Mexicans) imbedded in our community. They run business's, own homes, pay taxes and work hard just like everyone else. If our city is to move forward you have to include these people. The shops downtown obviously do ok or they would be going out of business. Can't say the same for several other business's in Dodge. (IE: Peppercorns, Dodge House, Marchal Ranch, etc) We should be glad that we have those business's in Dodge because they pay taxes and the things they sell has sales tax on it like anything else. IMHO ANY business Dodge has right now (that is legit) is GOOD business because it generates income. I drove downtown yesterday and tried to have an objective eye. To me none of the business's really look shabby. The stores look no different than the rest. None of them really stand out as crappy looking. You wanna talk eyesore? Look at some of the business's on Wyatt Earp like the liquor store and some of the shops on the east side. There is actually quite a bit of shopping downtown if you look. It's just not shopping that fits everyone's needs but does fit the needs of the MAJORITY of people in this town. There is nothing keeping Penny's or Maurice's or Sears from moving downtown but they can barely make it in the mall.

[jeezeweeze]

"They run business's, own homes, pay taxes and work hard just like everyone else."

See there is the conundrum...If they are "illegal" what do you do ? I think we all agree most are hard workers...

I guess then, the original plan for reform would be in order. Pay a fine and so on... ( I don't remember all the details).

If illegals are trying to do everything right (after the breaking the law thing) then there has got to be a reasonable solution.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by jeezeweeze

"They run business's, own homes, pay taxes and work hard just like everyone else."

See there is the conundrum...If they are "illegal" what do you do ? I think we all agree most are hard workers...

I guess then, the original plan for reform would be in order. Pay a fine and so on... ( I don't remember all the details).

If illegals are trying to do everything right (after the breaking the law thing) then there has got to be a reasonable solution.

Do you think the people that own the business's downtown are illegal? I am probably naive here but wouldn't it be hard to own a business, pay employees, get business license's etc.....if they were illegal?

[jeezeweeze]

I have no idea Army

It seems to be fairly easy to get false documents...I am not saying they are, but it could be possible.

[Detector]

It seems to be fairly easy to get false documents...I am not saying they are, but it could be possible.

Seems to me it's been these "legitimate businesses" that are being busted lately for passing out fake documentation? Not in dodge of course. I'm sure our people are the exception

Anyway thats not the point. The easiest way to deal with this problem is to color it with a racists brush and call it good, but thats always been the problem. Fact is, either we address our desire for tourism in a realistic manor, or say screw it, it's beyond our ability.

Our problem is we have never taken our potential for tourism serious. We seem to be happy with our Boot Hill replica tucked away in it's cozy little block off main street, and would rather set around and complain about taxes, housing and the city in general.

Well you can see why we are in the position we are in.

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

...We should be glad that we have those business's in Dodge because they pay taxes and the things they sell has sales tax on it like anything else...

That is assuming they report all of their sales. Face it, very few have checking accounts, or leave a paper trail. I would guess that a large percentage of their business is cash. It is easy to pocket cash and not report the sales in a business ledger....

[The Drifter]

dodge was big when gunsmoke and bonanza and all the westerns were big. that was many moons ago. i love the heritage dodge has, but honestly not that many people know what Dodge City was. When i go abroad and tell people i'm from Dodge City, they don't know what i'm talkin about. It drew people in before, but as time drags on we have to find another venue or say forget it and ride this puppy into the ground.

[88-31-10]

Originally Posted by The Drifter

dodge was big when gunsmoke and bonanza and all the westerns were big. that was many moons ago. i love the heritage dodge has, but honestly not that many people know what Dodge City was. When i go abroad and tell people i'm from Dodge City, they don't know what i'm talkin about. It drew people in before, but as time drags on we have to find another venue or say forget it and ride this puppy into the ground.

Exactly!!! How many generations have passed now since Gunsmoke quit airing. That show single handedly did more for tourism in Dodge City and Boot Hill than any amount of money spent promoting tourism ever will. Those days are long gone.

While I watched the show and and others about the "Wild West", the kids of the last thirty years have had a plethora of technology and media at their fingertips to occupy their time and imagination. Video games, computers, internet, cell phones, chat, DVD's, VHS, the list goes on and on. I, like a lot of you, had two or three channels of TV and a movie at the theater now and then and that was it as far as media/entertainment. The whole damn bunch of us couldn't help but be exposed to Gunsmoke. Not that way anymore. Does that make Boot Hil worthless? Certainly not. It has it's place in a niche market, but I doubt it ever achieves the level of popularity it once had.

[Flying Dutchman]

Your right, and it won't. It would be awesome if Hollywood would make a major motion picture called gunsmoke, but instead they make Dukes of Hazard and Mod Squad, plus countless others from crappy shows. Also, as was stated before, travel across country by car is pretty much non-existant. These are some of the reasons why the casino is a good idea. It will bring people here. It is also a good idea for the SEC to be a part of that. I am hoping (and since our locals will not be running things) for good shows and events. As long as people can't drive through Downtown Dodge, it will be a bust and remain what it is now.

[jackknife]

I have had the opposite experience. So many people get excited when they find out where I am from. Then they start with the "get the hell outta Dodge" talk and think they are the first ones to say it to me.