You Gotta Export
(March 11, 2010) Editor:
I have been struggling to respond to the letter from Sara Sunstein in the last issue (“Mailbox,” Feb. 25). Her comments that local companies such as Eel River Beef, Mad River Brewing and Cypress Grove Chevre should not grow beyond Humboldt County struck me as both naïve and shortsighted. Sunstein obviously has never been a business owner, especially in a small market such as this. Almost any company located here in Humboldt must bring some part of their product from outside the area, whether it is components or packaging. These are dollars that leave the area, never to return. Companies that sell products outside the county bring some of that money back into the county and help to keep our economy running.
Companies that do not grow eventually die, as expenses such as rent, insurance and components typically go up, and employees are usually unhappy when they do not get regular raises or cannot earn a living wage. Our area is rural and sparsely populated. So if the business is limited to selling only in Humboldt County, as Sunstein suggests, a company like Jessicurl or Fire & Light would quickly meet the available needs of the locals. Then, since there would be no new customers in the county, a company would be forced to cut payroll and eventually go out of business. A good recipe for disaster, in my opinion.
I feel very strongly that we should do our best to support our local businesses and especially those who have the ability to grow outside the county and thereby bring money and jobs into our little slice of heaven.
Mark Ritz, Kinetic Koffee, Arcata
Sweet Spot: Mark Ritz wins a Bon Boniere sundae for sending our favorite letter of the week.
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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