Tt post mar 25 2016

"How can you pledge to only buy local and yet attract outside businesses to the area?"

I have no clue what point you tried to make with that statement.

And where did I say "only buy local"? Only? First, that's nearly impossible. Coffee beans are not grown around here, but I support our local roasters. To me, the point is obvious, and if you don't get it, that's okay.

"Support local non-profits? Don't be fooled by local "non-profits". Just because it says "non-profit" doesn't mean it isn't paying or over paying it's staff and sucking up grants and donations to operate."

Maybe that's your unfortunate experience, but I worked at a local non-profit, and I'm intimately familiar with other local non-profits, and your description is not close to my reality. Chalk it up to mileage will vary.

And maybe before supporting a non-profit, prospective contributors should conduct their own research or volunteer with the org to learn more about it. I realize that takes some effort.

"I'm tired of all the "suggestions" about what I'm supposed to do, where to shop, and what to support ..."

Then ignore the suggestions. How hard is that? I don't give a damn how you live your life.

I make local business suggestions to people I meet because I'm stunned about how little some people know about the city that they live in.

I simply prefer the small businesses like the Phoenix Earth Food Co-op, Zavotski's, Titgemeier's, Black Diamond, Al Habib, Kathy's Confections coffee shop, Clip-N-Dales, Macino shoe repair, Auto Connection, Maumee Tackle, Twin Oaks dry cleaners, the local independent yarn stores, all the vendors at the Toledo farmers market, etc.

I make it a point to fill our vehicles with gasoline by shopping at the Sunoco full service station and garage at 2120 W Sylvania Ave, located at the corner of Bellevue Rd, near Blessed Sacrament. The owner bought the station from his dad back in the 1980s. They have performed work on our vehicles. It's an actual service station and not a convenience store that sells fuel.

With these small business owners and farmers market vendors, if we are not on a first-name basis, then most at least recognize me because I'm a regular. It's a small town feel in a medium-sized city, and I like that. And I want these businesses to succeed, hence the reason why I suggest them to people who are unfamiliar with them. If most people are disinterested in such charm, no problem. I won't lose any sleep.

BTW, the best description that I have seen regarding "buying local" or "supporting local" is chapter 16 in the Zingerman's book titled A Lapsed Anarchist's Approach to Building a Great Business.