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Jewelry Police
By Jackie Williams

 

September 29, 2007
Saturday AM


Dear Editor:

Next week voters will choose who and what to vote for or against.

When asked to sign the Jewelry Store petition I read it: my first thought was it is meaningless because it could not be enforced and tries to prohibit free enterprise. If it passes our local government will be forced to try and enforce it; the cost coming out of the citizens' pockets.

Section (N)(1)(a); one criteria for meeting the definition of a Jewelry store is having ...over 40 percent of the total merchandise on display, as measured by dimensions of display areas visible from either the interior or the exterior of the store.

Who will be the jewelry store police and make the decision to measure the interior or exterior of store display area.

Section (N) (3); Existing, non-conforming jewelry stores may continue to exist... except that the temporary, seasonal closure of the store for a period not exceeding eight months shall be allowed. When the property has been vacant for more than eight months and its inventory removed, the jewelry store shall be presumed closed.

May, June, July, August, September the summer tourist season, five months of the year, which leaves seven months to be legally closed. . Downtown stores open by the end of April, staying open until the end of September. Jewelry stores can have staff come to town earlier and stay open longer displaying more than forty percent of their merchandise in the measurable display area as seen from the outside, or inside? Get the jewelry police ready to decide whether it will be deemed measurable by visible display areas inside or outside. How much money, time and energy it will take to decide and enforce that point?

The jewelry stores that already exist are in the prime locations and have reached the market saturation point, doubt we will see any more new ones opening up.

Sides are drawn on this issue, US or THEM, will an emotional vote take place? I sincerely believe when the voters go to the polls next week they will acknowledge the emotional side of the issue but will make an intelligent vote against this initiative. Vote NO on Resolution 1.

Jackie Williams
Ketchikan, AK

Received September 26, 2007 - Published September 29, 2007

 

 

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