Dear Editor,

North Platte is a trend setter!  The rest of the country should look to us for guidance.  In fact the City Administration’s most recent action will make every town that is trying to encourage economic growth or redevelopment of an aging downtown blush.

What?  You didn’t notice the new signs on 5th Street?  Right in front of the skate shop?  A shop that caters primarily to the next generation.  A shop that is doing it’s best to contribute to the local economy, even if the local economy would prefer to drive to Kearney to shop.  A shop that provides kids somewhere to go after school as well as a healthy activity that keeps them from something far more sinister.

Well, in case you missed it, I’ve included a photo of the new sign.  It reads “NO SKATEBOARDS OR BICYCLES ON SIDEWALK”.

Now, I recognize that this regulation is a City law and is based on the importance of keeping pedestrians safe.  What I don’t understand (and what the citizens of North Platte should be asking the administration) is “Why was it important to spend tax payer money printing and posting a sign with the summary of a law that is written down in the City’s Code?.  We don’t hang signs up that say “NO SPEEDING” or “NO MURDER” or “RESIDENTS GRASS MUST BE MOWED”.  All of these City Laws are also included in our City’s Code and most people respect these laws as part of civilized society.  Additionally our police department can and does enforce them – because that’s their job.

As an educated population we do not deserve to be threatened with signs that are obviously placed to discriminate and harrass a local business.  We need to stand up and remind this Administration that the revitalization of downtown is imortant to us and that supporting small local business should be a priority for them.  If there is a conflict between businesses, as I suspect there is in this case, the administration should act as a mediator to resolve the conflict instead of choosing a side and placing a sign that reminds the youth of this community that they are not valued, not wanted, and that they should move out of town to someplace that supports their interests as soon as they are able.

Brandon Raby
Owner-Caravan Skate Shop