Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Letter To The Editor #2

Look Out For Progress

Dear Editor,

I would like to give the citizens of Prescott and Nevada County a warning. If they have anything of value (land, buildings or maybe a business) and the state, county or city government decide they want it, for whatever reason, there's nothing you can do to stop them from taking it. All they have to do is use one little word, PROGRESS. If you decide to stand up and fight for what's yours, they can condemn your property, (even if there's nothing wrong with it), by saying you're standing in the way of PROGRESS.

Is it PROGRESS when five businesses are forced to move, so a million-dollar library can be built? A library that no one seems to want.

Of these five businesses, the majority of them pay their bills on time, have made many contributions to the community and provide some type of entertainment to the people of Prescott and Nevada County.

Our city and county leaders help the new businesses coming in by any means possible. Which they should up to a certain point. However, what about the businesses that have been here for years? Are we valued at all? Will we be missed if any of us decide not to re-open after being forced to sell our buildings and re-locate?

Any new business that comes in to Prescott would be PROGRESS. It would generate revenue, it would give the people of the community jobs (maybe only 5 or 6, but that's 5 or 6 that they didn't have before).

How would a million dollar library be called PROGRESS, when our tax dollars are going for its upkeep and anything else that goes wrong. These same tax dollars could be going somewhere else that would benefit this town.

I have talked to many people about this subject. All were shocked to learn that five businesses were going to have to relocate (if they do) because of this library. All asked the same question, why don't they knock down some of the buildings that are empty and falling down (like the one across from the city hall). I ask our city and county leaders the same question. Why don't you?

Denise Smillie

Prescott