January 14, 2015
...Will a show be held this summer? (click here) Will it be on Supply Road or under a new name at Flintfields in Acme? The unknowns have community and tourism leaders very concerned; the four-week horse show contributes an estimated $12 million to the local economy every year.
Traverse City Chamber CEO Doug Luciani tells The Ticker "it would be a disaster" if somehow the show is no longer held here.
Cherry Capital Airport Executive Director Kevin Klein, in Atlanta for an annual meeting with Delta Airlines, spells out more clearly the potential impact.
"I'm very nervous. We see 5-7 passengers per horse, so that's almost 9,000 passengers to us and to the [airline] carriers. The potential loss of an event like this could mean a reduction of overall air service during our peak summer season, which would affect restaurants, retailers, waiters, waitresses, the housekeeping staffs at hotels. They're all dependent upon these events for jobs."...
Don't tell me about local economies, I know about local economies.
The failure in this particular situation belongs to the local mayor and council, but, more so the local county governing body. They never bother to meet the key players and understand the relationship of these people with their local economy. They take for granted their economy will always be untouchable year to year.
The leadership of any city or county has to hold these people in esteem to the outcomes of their economies and real jobs for the people that inhabit the voter box. This particular circumstance will require the city and county leadership to seek to find a solution that will continue to bring tourism to the area. Why is it leadership only realizes their real role in governing at times like this. The huge gap of sincere leadership is completely evident and the voters need to think twice at the ballot box next time. Sincere leadership does more than keep their eye on the treasury and budget.
