I am convinced that in order for people to participate (in any endeavor) they must be compelled to do so. Clearly, the smoking ban, the Ten Commandments issue, and low to moderate income housing monies (the Housing 1000 initiative) qualify as reasons for people to attend Duluth city council meetings to have their voices heard.

Monday night, approximately 200 citizens filled the council chambers. The sheer number of bodies caused the air to thicken and raised emotions to a fever pitch. There was a lengthy power point presentation – so full of detail I thought I was viewing a schematic drawing of a nuclear reactor – and numerous official speeches affirming the need and right of using the City Investment Trust Fund to build housing for the less fortunate. The Chamber was among those supporting this issue. Pat Mullen, Vice Chair of Public Policy, spoke on our behalf.

During the meeting, the Chamber was recognized no less than a dozen times for being visionary and compassionate. Accolades poured in from non-profits, the NAACP, and concerned citizens. Clearly, the Chamber did the right thing.

The evening climaxed via a successful vote and the crowd swelled into the halls and onto the streets. Horns blared, people gave high fives, and a celebratory spirit ensued. Yet, as I sat there, witnessing this victory cheer, I wondered how many of these same people would come out for the discussion regarding fire inspections. According to the April 25, 2005 issue of the Duluth News Tribune, the city has raised the rate to have one’s business inspected to $400. Isn’t this issue equally as important as the Housing 1000 initiative?

Sure, this is business we’re talking about. One speaker at last night’s meeting even stated that “…we [residents] cannot simply raise prices like a business can,” implying that business owners have an easy time passing increased costs along to their customers. Evidently, this person assumes that business owners don’t mind balancing increased costs passed down by the city because they have the luxury of passing these costs to their customers who gladly – and perhaps unknowingly – pay them.

Yet nothing could be further from the truth. Business owners want their businesses to operate in a safe and healthy manner. Further, they are tired of being portrayed as degenerate members of society, concerned with only one thing: profit. Yes, profit keeps the doors open and the lights on, but it also pays employees and employee benefits and provides for the needs of the owner – all this at the owner’s own risk.

Businesses, then, simultaneously operate to make a profit and serve as the backbone of our community. Which leads me to wonder: will those in our community who had such a compelling reason to advocate for the Housing 1000 initiative come out and rally in support and on behalf of the numerous small businesses that struggle every day who are now faced with one more bill to pay?