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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-19-2014 Item 12 Written Communications   Item  12  Written  Communications  Page  1  of  1           CITY  OF  SARATOGA     Memorandum         To:  Saratoga  City  Council   From:  Crystal  Bothelio,  City  Clerk   Date:  November  19,  2014   Subject:  Item  12  Written  Communications  –  Request  for  Business  Development  Program  Funds  –   Minicakes  by  Tasha     After  the  City  Council  packet  was  prepared,  the  City  of  Saratoga  received  the  attached  written   communications  on  City  Council  Agenda  Item  12  –  Request  for  Business  Development  Program   Funds  –  Minicakes  by  Tasha.       Monday,  November  17,  2014  9:52:41  AM  Pacific  Standard  Time Page  1  of  1 Subject:Business  Development  Program,  Agenda  for  19  November  2014 Date:Monday,  November  17,  2014  7:52:34  AM  Pacific  Standard  Time From:Mark  Weisler  <mark@weisler-­‐saratoga-­‐ca.us> To:Emily  Lo  <elo@saratoga.ca.us>,  Howard  Miller  <hmiller@saratoga.ca.us>,  Manny  Cappello <mcappello@saratoga.ca.us>,  Jill  Hunter  <jhunter@saratoga.ca.us>,  Chuck  Page <cpage@saratoga.ca.us>,  James  Lindsay  <jlindsay@saratoga.ca.us>,  City  Clerk  [Crystal  Bothelio] <ctclerk@saratoga.ca.us> CC:Mary-­‐Lynne  For  Saratoga  2014  <marylynne4saratoga@gmail.com>,  Rishi  Kumar <rishi1@gmail.com>,  cherielj  Jensen  <cherielj@earthlink.net>,  Gpupdates  Cipher <gpupdates@earthlink.net>,  Stan  Bogosian  <sbogosian@comcast.net>,  Mary  Robertson <robertson.b.m@mindspring.com>,  Donna  Poppenhagen  <d.poppenhagen@comcast.net>, JOHN  CHEN  <john.chen.sjca@gmail.com>,  Yan  Zhao  <yanniezhao@yahoo.com>,  Marcia  Fariss <marcia@gizmology.com>,  Jeff  Barco  <jeff@barcoconsulting.com>,  Dave  Clark <Dave.Clark@coherent.com>,  Lillian  M  Quach  <lillian.m.quach@intel.com> Dear  Saratoga  City  Council, As  part  of  the  upcoming  Council  meeting,  a  new  cupcake  bakery  in  Saratoga  requests  that  you   reimburse  them  nearly  $11,000  in  business  start-­‐up  costs  as  part  of  our  Business  Development   Program  which  intends  to  "promote  business  activity  in  Saratoga."  While  I  wish  this  business,  and   all  others  in  Saratoga,  good  fortune,  I  do  not  think  it  is  appropriate  for  the  City  to  give  money  to   businesses.  In  this  arrangement,  new  or  changing  businesses  may  appeal  to  the  Council  to  get  some   of  the  funds  available  in  some  sort  of  political  competition  with  other  businesses.  Council  picks  the   winners.  Isn't  this  what  Barack  Obama  was  doing  with  Solyndra?  Picking  winners.   It  seems  to  me  that: *  government  should  not  be  picking  winners  and  giving  them  money *  competitive  market  forces  through  consumers  should  be  allowed  to  determine  the  success  of  a   business,  not  City  Council *  government  should  create  and  strive  for  a  level  playing  field  and  not  be  biased  toward  certain   businesses  or  even  industries *  fees  generated  by  the  City  should,  approximately,  match  the  costs  incurred  when  services  such  as   building  permits  are  issued  and  inspections  are  performed *  fees  should  not  be  so  high  that  surpluses  can  accrue  and  be  given  out  to  businesses  selected  by   Council *  funds  in  the  Business  Development  Program  can  be  used  to  benefit  all  businesses  equally  through   activities  such  as  holiday  lighting,  clean  streets,  etc. The  agenda  item:    http://saratoga.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php? view_id=9&event_id=16&meta_id=42438 Thank  you  for  your  consideration. -- Mark Weisler tel. 408.568.1229 PGP Key ID 68E462B6 PGP Key fingerprint 87D5 A77B FC47 3CC3 DFF0 586D 23FF F8B4 68E4 62B6