To the powers that be and the citizens of Shawnee:
The citizens of Shawnee are truly fortunate. While the complaints of the majority regarding the poly cart issue fell on deaf ears, Monday night saw a minority victory against a proposed nightclub on Main Street.
Thankfully, Nick Shepherd spoke out against the after hours establishment. What an eye sore the new nightclub would have been, nestled among the charming facades that make up Main Street. The droves of people that the club would have brought to downtown on the weekends would have taken up all the valuable parking spots in front of Mr. Shepherd’s establishment during the late evening hours, impeding any midnight clothing purchases.
God bless Russell Cook and Todd Fisher, who fulfilled their right—nay—their duty as religious leaders by inserting themselves into community politics. Two brave men willing to shoulder the burden of over 30,000 citizens, saving all from the evils that the bar surely would have thrust upon the helpless adults of the community. Luckily, they, and many others, helped make the decision to not patronize the bar for the whole of the population.
Downtown is an example of the possibilities when the community comes together and the elected leaders work to foster success and development in the city. One only need take a drive down Main Street to see that Shawnee has no need for an entertainment district. By keeping businesses out, space is reserved for more antiques shops and with so few vacant buildings Downtown, it is important to throttle back economic growth. Gang members regularly display their artistic talents by tagging buildings across the downtown area for the citizens to enjoy. Bringing crowds and the subsequent police coverage to the area would have inhibited their creations as well as hamper the nocturnal roaming of the mouthwash-swigging vagabonds that call Downtown their home—a tragedy narrowly avoided.
Leave nightclubs for Bricktown. Shawnee doesn’t need the shoppers, tourists, sightseers, and tax revenue that Bricktown enjoys. When tourists come to town, they should be greeted by dusty shop windows, faded graffiti, cracked sidewalks, tall weeds, and vacant storefronts. Shawnee is perfect the way it is. With a little luck and a lot of hard work from those who attended Monday night’s meeting, Shawnee will remain the same for generations to come.
James L. Watkins
Tecumseh, Ok
