Essex Council Hosted a Special Meeting of Council with small business owners Jan 18th, 2021 at 4:30. It is on You Tube, Essex Ontario.
If you had a chance to watch the Special Council meeting that was held Monday January 18th, 2021 at 4:30, you may be wondering, “Why did Sherry say WOW?” but then again you may already know. For those who are still questioning where it came from, here is some of the history that led up to the WOW moment.
Let me explain where the WOW came from. For months now, Essex Council has been lobbying the province and anyone who will listen to do more for small businesses during the COVID 19 pandemic. We have sent motions saying that all small businesses are essential. We have asked for more data from the Health Unit showing where the spread of COVID is coming from. We have given out a digital growth grant, a safe reopening grant, sponsored a business directory in the newspapers, created an open for business map, investing in our way finding signage, and streetscapes and the list goes on and on. Despite all these efforts, our businesses are still struggling and are looking for strong leaders in our community to come forward and advocate for them.
The meeting that the Mayor called Monday felt like lip service to appease the small businesses, in my opinion. More calls and emails to our MP and MPP are always welcomed although I am not sure they are going to help as we have been doing that for months. We need a small business movement. It is time to brainstorm on a larger scale. The first lockdown has taught our small businesses how to operate safely. We need to do more, we need to do more, we need to do MORE, Mr. Mayor.
After the presenters Monday at the Special meeting, I was hoping we could discuss with them what is working and what is not working and how can we help in some small way. Can we work with our economic development officer and help market them some more? Can we set up mutual curb side pick ups, one location in Harrow to sell Essex Center products and one location in Essex Center to sell Harrow Products? Can we create a small business task force that could become a regional task force which can bring recommendations forward to the Province? Can we host a meeting with our MPP? I’m sure the mayor said he is going to call him but if he is as rushed as he was Monday, I am not sure that will be an effective phone call.
It is time to get serious about small businesses. The way we were rushed Monday night tells me that not all of us are taking the small business issues seriously. The small business owners came to talk WITH us not AT us, this I know because every single one of them that attended came because of a personal invitation from yours truly. Next time, perhaps instead of pressuring the chair of council to host a meeting with small businesses by standing on main street on my soap box, I will just host a zoom meeting myself so this way at least together we can brainstorm ideas on how to support each other. It is time to step it up, Mr. Mayor, you should have been making those phone calls and emails months ago. I realize you called the meeting but it was really us who called the meeting. What else are you going to do? At the very least, please do not stand in the way and block someone else from trying to help others; that is just plain cruel.
Sherry Bondy
I am in the business of getting it done.
