A MESSAGE FROM CORONADO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, PHIL HAMMETT, Coronado Hardware Glass & Paint.
In order to look forward and chart a course for the future, I believe we need to look to our past and reflect. Coronado in general and our business community in particular has been blessed with forward thinking leadership for years.
When I originally joined the Chamber Board in 1987, Mary Kay Forsyth was the director. I was fortunate to serve with business owners and community activists. People like Sharon Considine, Dave Nash and Toni Hoppe were unfailing in their support for business and like others believed strongly that the Chamber of Commerce had a responsibility to advocate for and promote our business community. We pay tribute to these individuals as well as all who have come before us. We as a community are losing a part of what makes us unique every time we lose one of our long time leaders. I can tell you that I for one miss the wit and wisdom and the political acumen of all of the people we’ve lost in the past few years and especially in just the past few months. These individuals cared passionately about Coronado and the businesses.
I think it is time we reflect on what they brought to the table and what we can learn from them; support of our entire business community, large and small, locally owned and operated and yes, even those owned by people or corporations from across the bridge. This belief meant, of course, that they were not without their detractors or controversy. For years a disconnect existed between the pro-business and anti-business leaders. Even with those differences no one could deny that every one of the leaders on both sides of the perceived divide wanted what was best for Coronado. We just didn’t always agree on how to get there.
On a lesser scale this yin and yang exists today. We love the money tourists bring to our community, especially in the tough economic climate of today, yet we are negatively impacted by the traffic and sometimes have to wait for a seat at our favorite restaurant. We have seen a much greater cooperation with the city. Business leaders and city leadership both agree that tourism and the TOT and sales tax it generates help us all, businesses and residents alike. This money paves our roads, maintains our sidewalks, helps pay for our police and fire departments and helps finance new community buildings. Our business community is one of the most generous communities anywhere, contributing thousands of dollars to our local organizations.
As we move forward honoring our passionate business advocates of the past, we can’t and won’t overlook the cooperation and trust the Chamber and City have come to enjoy. Currently we are fortunate to have a majority of the City Council members who support the business community and its vital role in the fabric of our town.
In the coming months, we have an opportunity to work with city leadership and the TID board as they work to promote Coronado and our businesses. We also have the responsibility to look to our membership for guidance as we review the Coronado specific plan and what parts of it do or don’t work for our business community. With the cooperation and relationship we now enjoy, I look forward to working together for both businesses and residents of Coronado. A healthy business community is good for our residents.