Nantucket looks to ban chain stores
Ojai isn't the only town that is battling the encroachment of chain stores. An article in the Independent, Mind the Gap? US resort bans nation's favourite retailers, chronicles the effort of merchants and citizens in Nantucket, MA to outlaw chain stores.
Proposed by a bookshop owner, Wendy Hudson, an ordinance banning the chains was approved by a unanimous vote of 480 locals at a town meeting last week. It still has to be approved by the Massachusetts Attorney General, however.
"I'm extremely gratified," said Ms Hudson, who no longer need fear the arrival of the book mega-chain, Barnes and Noble. "People saw the balance and need to protect our character rather than this amendment just being another new regulation," she said. "As the country starts to look like everywhere else, this was about protecting our uniqueness."The stand being taken by the folks of Nantucket is only the latest skirmish in a widening war being waged by communities across America against so-called cloned retailers. Other towns to have passed similar regulations in recent years include Carmel-by-the-Sea in California, as well as Bristol, Rhode Island, and Ogunquit, Maine.
Each town pointed to their architectural heritage and dependency on tourism to justify the measures.
Our City Manager, Jere Kersnar, used to be City Administrator of Carmel. I look forward to hearing from him what we can do to follow in the footsteps of Nantucket, Carmel and the other towns that have said enough is enough.
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Comments (2)
Hi Tyler - does the Ojai City Manager post on this site?
Comment #1 Posted by: James | April 9, 2006 12:39 PM
James - he has an open invitation, which I have communicated to his assistant. I encourage the City of Ojai to view The Ojai Post as a community forum where we can all participate.
Comment #2 Posted by: Tyler Suchman | April 9, 2006 12:41 PM