Special to El Rrun-Rrun
For years, the city has poured millions into the revival of the downtown district.
Sometimes these efforts have been self-serving and amounted to nothing more than real-estate speculation to benefit politicians' cronies. But some dedicated businessmen and women actually believe the city is committed to bettering the area and have invested their time - and more importantly, money - toward that effort.
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But there is always that entrenched city bureaucracy to enforce its territory that hinder those efforts through its draconian edicts.
Take, for example, the upcoming Cyclobia this Friday. Those of our readers who have followed us on this subject know we are no fans of this costly exercise that shuts down city streets, taxes city staff and security, and provides a few hours of play are to cyclists. But be that as it may, it has been a major thrust of the city commission majority since commissioner Rose Gowen has been on board.
It seems that a local businessman (the Kraken Bar owner we know as Danny) is attempting to establish a pedicab service and thought he'd use the Cyclobia event to recruit drivers of the bike-like taxicabs to establish the service.
Toward that end, he was going to exhibit the pedicabs and hand out bottled water to the cyclists in front of his bar on Adams Street.
Well, the city employees in charge of organizing the Cyclobia events informed him that if he wants to give out bottles of water he must get a permit from the health department or else it's a no go.
Now, we can understand if Danny was preparing food or handing out perishables. But unopened bottled water?
He will doubtless comply to satisfy health code inspectors, but isn't it ludicrous that a permit is required to give (not sell) bottles of water to thirsty cyclists?
For years, the city has poured millions into the revival of the downtown district.
Sometimes these efforts have been self-serving and amounted to nothing more than real-estate speculation to benefit politicians' cronies. But some dedicated businessmen and women actually believe the city is committed to bettering the area and have invested their time - and more importantly, money - toward that effort.
But there is always that entrenched city bureaucracy to enforce its territory that hinder those efforts through its draconian edicts.
Take, for example, the upcoming Cyclobia this Friday. Those of our readers who have followed us on this subject know we are no fans of this costly exercise that shuts down city streets, taxes city staff and security, and provides a few hours of play are to cyclists. But be that as it may, it has been a major thrust of the city commission majority since commissioner Rose Gowen has been on board.
It seems that a local businessman (the Kraken Bar owner we know as Danny) is attempting to establish a pedicab service and thought he'd use the Cyclobia event to recruit drivers of the bike-like taxicabs to establish the service.
Toward that end, he was going to exhibit the pedicabs and hand out bottled water to the cyclists in front of his bar on Adams Street.
Well, the city employees in charge of organizing the Cyclobia events informed him that if he wants to give out bottles of water he must get a permit from the health department or else it's a no go.
Now, we can understand if Danny was preparing food or handing out perishables. But unopened bottled water?
He will doubtless comply to satisfy health code inspectors, but isn't it ludicrous that a permit is required to give (not sell) bottles of water to thirsty cyclists?