Dreaming big and working toward reality

Afew topics have continued to make their way to the front of our conversations as a downtown group.

Although The Daily News has been publishing articles that would lead you to believe our downtown is failing, this just isn’t the case. Downtown is a vibrant, powerful sector of local business. There are hundreds of downtown businesses that stand to continue on a path of positive growth.

It’s important that, as a group, we continue to stay optimistic and find our opportunities, rather than find a reason it’s all going to “go wrong”.

I’ve always believed that our path forward is shaped by our perception of reality and our willingness to stay ignorant of failure. I think the old phrase says it best, “The man that says he can and the man that says he can’t are both correct.”

It’s no secret that the relationship with the City of Longview and various businesses downtown have been strained over the past years. I don’t believe it’s because city officials dislike us…or we dislike them. Instead, I believe both parties live in very different realities, one of which answers to a higher power: Government Regulation.

It is the intent of the Longview Downtowners to assist our members in communicating what would help their business and creativity flow the best, while increasing collaboration with the city’s well researched and compliant rule followers.

One of the current conversations we’re internally discussing is how to increase outdoor seating. The City of Longview employees and representatives enforce the city code and regulations as they are written, and you can’t fault them for it.

However, we’re hoping, as a group, to refocus ourselves and our friends in the city toward a new idea. Instead of staying focused on how things are, we’d like to give ourselves permission to dream. The Longview Downtowners have entered dream mode. In a perfect world what could downtown look like? Let’s start at crazy and work our way backward into reality. Once we’ve set our sights on a big vision, we can consolidate our vision with what the city can realistically make happen.

It’s important to mention, although we’re dedicating time and effort to dream mode, the Downtowners are still working as always, to strengthen business through unified marketing and connection to each other. Big things are coming downtown, if everyone agrees that it’s time to take some risks and make it happen.

Please attend our Downtowner’s meetings the third Thursday, upstairs at Mill City Grill.

Bill Fashing Executive Director