I grew up on the North Shore and have operated a business in Cook County for 30 years. I guess you could say that I am a local. And I have made a strong commitment to be a part of our community’s bright future. I know that we all love it here, local and new resident alike, and for the most part have “chosen” this place to be our home.
The 1% Cook County sales tax is an excellent and responsible tool for creating a bright future for ourselves and our children. But some of us will vote against it, not because they do not love this place. So I am scratching my head, trying to understand why they wouldn’t want this tax.
Some of us feel that we do not deserve to invest in ourselves, that superstitiously we shouldn’t ask for so much money (about 80% of the money will come from outside of Cook County). Some of us do not trust ourselves and/or our neighbors to make big money decisions, thinking that somehow we will screw it up, squander it, or that “they” will get what they want at my expense. Some of us do not trust government (we have learned not to trust government or big corporations or big anything for that matter).
But how will we sustain and build on our community’s assets, our small businesses and strong independence with the challenges we face today? We have to finally trust our neighbors and ourselves, honor our hard work and the work of our ancestors. Our only hope is to dream large for ourselves and the future of our children. Our legislators have told us that this opportunity will not come along again. Community sales taxes are going away because the state wants to control them. So a vote yes is a vote to say “keep local control.”
Voting yes is a commitment to work together for the big we
that is
Cook County, to show up and be responsible; to ask for and to receive the great gift that this tax would provide.
Jan Sivertson
Grand Marais
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