Dollars and Sense

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Here is an interesting story unfolding…..

Recently the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce has embarked on a campaign to take away a website I own lakeisabellafishingderby.com as well as prohibit me from printing unique souvenir t shirts (with my domain and the business owners’ name) that are sold wholesale to local merchants for the merchants to profit.

The website I use to promote the derby itself and sell simple fishing guides for the lake with tips on catching tagged fish.

Since my development of the website and sales of the shirt, the chamber has spent money and time to restrain and/or intimidate me, Sierra Signs and the merchants that are carrying my t shirts.

While historically the nature of the derby has been to promote prosperity for all local business and the community, I would suggest actions that the chamber is currently in the practice of competing with local business by stifling free enterprise and the practice of crony capitalism.

Let’s paint a picture….

Last year, the Chamber had the largest turnout ever for the fishing derby, collecting the most money they ever had from the event.

Since that derby, the chamber had gotten itself in some trouble with some grant money they received and almost had to pay it back. I don’t have all the details as the story was suppressed by the media AKA Marsha Smith. Apparently they did not do some promotion of the valley properly to satisfy the grant. Whatever ended up happening, I guess they finally figured out a way to keep the money. The important thing is they had to backtrack as they weren’t doing part of their job, which is promoting tourism, and the news never said “boo” about it.

Next, every year the chamber has found someone willing to invest their own time and money to attend the Long Beach Outdoor Trade Show. The largest in the state. This year, nobody went, and the SHAME of the situation is that the chamber was not “willing” to pay for somebody’s fuel, food and lodging expenses to go to the show and promote the Kern River Valley.

NOW, the Chamber is taking every effort and most likely will spend money to battle me over the use of my website and production of souvenir t shirts. When the website I use I link to it in publications I write for OUTSIDE the valley. My t shirts in no way imply they are “official” shirts and the ones they say are “official” don’t say they are “official”.  Maybe they are just jealous as mine are much more attractive than the ghetto red ones they produced?

So folks… keep in mind, the chamber is very interested in SAVING money when it comes to promoting tourism for our valley but they are interested in SPENDING money to suppress any innovative business person or idea they feel is a threat to their perceived control over who gets to earn money in this valley. Especially when it makes them look lazy, cheap and stupid.

They are interested in ZERO growth for the community, only in holding on tightly to the “nickel” they think they will lose if anyone opens a new business or competes against them. They don’t like an upset in the delicate balance of poverty, yet they won’t allow individuals to innovate and  improve their financial status so there will be more money to spend at the local businesses.

Shame on our Chamber’s of Commerce!

March 2010


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