Letter: Maderan unhappy with thanks ad (March 17)
The back page of the first section of the Tribune on Saturday, Feb. 22, had a full-page advertisement for Stockbridge Development of Clovis. The ad was expressing appreciation to Dr. Hassan, Dr. Javaid, Dr. Rauf and Aman LLC Group (Dr. Akhtar, Dr. Ashraf, Dr. Anwar and Dr. Javaid) for their selection of Stockbridge Development to build their new medical facility in Madera. In addition, 12 sub-contractors were named and thanked for their contributions to the construction.
The facility was built to accommodate physicians providing medical practice to the citizens of Madera and the surrounding area. I would also believe the doctors anticipate making a profit from these same citizens. And yet, these doctors elected to take their construction spending outside of the city.
According to my very limited inquiries, the primary developer and none of the 12 sub-contractors operate business in this city, nor do I believe, anywhere in Madera County. While I have no way of knowing, readers are free to speculate with me in what county the building materials were purchased.
Why would these doctors take their money outside of the city and deprive local residents, from whom they intend to make money, from receiving the benefits of spending in our community?
As our local unemployment soars well above 10 percent, many local businesses struggle to survive, the construction industry in the tank, our school district in the process of cutting millions and local entities of government finding it difficult to balance their budgets, I find the doctors decisions to be undefendable. While I do not deny them their right and privilege of selection, instead of seeing a Clovis developer standing, in the ad, with a big grin on his face, it would have been much nicer to (see) someone we recognized that contributes to our community.
I would hope the Chamber of Commerce has not, nor do they plan, on sponsoring one of their open houses at this facility.
William F. Colston,
former Madera police chief,
Madera
As a member of our resident and business community, I do believe that as Maderans we should do uor part to keep ouor money local. I try hard to use the services and products that are available to us hear. And I agree very much with Mr. Colston’s letter, the local business owners and government should also strive to do the same. The believe the idea is that local money spent local, stays local, for our good, not another community’s. However, I do have a couple of observations that put a stick in the spokes of that idea. Maderans need to do thier part to offer a quality product or service at a competitive price. Many time that is not the case, which is why some hire out. Second, I know of several local businesses that Maderans POUR thier money into, and guess what, they are owned by members of other communities and live out of town. Where do they spend all that local Madera money? Not here!