Marengo trying; Woodstock? not

Be sure to see the article in this morning's Northwest Herald about Main Street Marengo and its new director, Adam Johnson.

Marengo just keeps on "keepin' on."

What is "Main Street"? It's a community-building effort organized by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Crystal Lake has a thriving Main Street program (see its Facebook site).

Business people in Woodstock began developing an interest in a Main Street Program several years ago. It died off thanks, in my opinion, to uninformed and near-slanderous back-biting by certain people then associated with the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce. It seemed to me that the folks at the Chamber considered the Main Street effort as "competition" for membership dollars, rather than as an important business-development partner.

A Main Street-related icon was displayed on the City's website for several years after it was awarded, but how long can you trade on a 2007 designation? It was finally removed from the City's website about two years after the Main Street effort in Woodstock came to an inglorious end.

The "opportunity" for Woodstock to claim one of the top spots for entertainment and attraction in McHenry County is being squandered. Just ride about the Square. Then take a ride to Crystal Lake or any number of other small downtown areas. Just what is it that is supposed to draw shoppers and visitors with money to spend?

When the Main Street Program and the Woodstock Downtown Business Association were trying to get off the ground, the City was stingy with its money, failing to realize that the expenditure of the motel/hotel sales tax revenue was an investment in Woodstock. The Opera House gets the lion's share of the money. Why?

The Opera House is owned by the City, so the City is merely shuffling money from one pocket to another. The hotel/motel tax is like a shell game, sucking money out of the pockets of hotel guests, most of whom do not come to Woodstock for its night life (what night life?) or even Opera House events. Wasn't it enacted to stimulate overnight stays in Woodstock that might generate sales for shops, restaurants, etc.?