Recently I wrote a letter here stating how our town officials have let us down in the Sliver Creek Bridge closing. The cavalier and pompous attitudes displayed by local officials have well made my point. These officials are clueless about the impact to business, because none of them are business owners.

Nathan Calouro, council chairman, states that, “We care, so stop saying that we don’t.” I will gladly stop saying it when you deliver with actions to assist business, rather than inactions that undermine business. We need another plan about Silver Creek bridge, not alternative routes.

In this same news issue, it gets worse for business. Our “pro business” council, along with the administrator, has decided to eliminate trash pickups for business this fall. This action well substantiates my claims of our local government working against us. I could rest my case on the two points made here.

The last time I looked, local businesses are mostly owned by people who are paying local taxes, but more by paying additional taxes that residents never see, like business property taxes and in some cases taxes on inventory held.  Moreover, there are the restaurants that not only pay taxes, but produce revenue, real money to our local government, from the generated meals tax. How can the local government justify hurting us further by leaving our trash uncollected and hanging us out to dry?

The answer to saving money from the costly trash hauls to Johnston, is not to hurt business taxpayers and revenue generators by denying us the rights of all taxpaying citizens in local trash services. Rather, find other creative solutions in recycling incentives and other measures to minimize spending. How can you, our elected officials, hurt the very people who drive our local economy?

So, Mr. Calouro, if you would like me to stop saying that you don’t care, then show me, show us, that you do. Your words ring quite hollow, and you are certainly not the only one with empty inactions, hurting some of the very people who help make Bristol the wonderful place that it is.

Stop talking out of both sides of your mouth, and do something that really helps business here. Start with continuing to pick up our trash and demand a new solution for Silver Creek Bridge.

Stephan Brigidi
Bristol