I received this kind note from a local entrepreneurs who wants to sell legal items to willing customers downtown but faces significant bureaucratic and political obstacles. For obvious reasons, he will remain anonymous.  It is unfortunate that in this free country citizens are fearful to express their dissatisfaction with government when that government has the regulatory power to impact their ability to make an honest living.  What disturbs me most is that the city seems to be allowing some to buy several permits and then using only one of them thus limiting competition and driving up prices.

Also see my response below.

Good morning, Mr Sanera,

I wanted to thank you for your vision of Raleigh Entrepreneurs as reported by Sara Burrows, editor of Carolina Journal. The article may be found here: http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=6852

My family has been at or below poverty level for the last several years due to the economy, but we now have the opportunity to really get our American Dream started. We are going to bid our bosses adieu and open a hot dog cart business SOMEWHERE in the Triangle come February.

I was reading the above article wishing there was someone who would stand up for entrepreneurship, and there you are in the last paragraph countering Mr Crowder’s narrow and  seemingly office-secluded viewpoints..

I want to thank you for standing up for the likes of me and of others who finally are going to make their dreams come true. We’re going forward no matter how hard it is to secure a prime spot downtown.

Now if we could just get some of these greed-meisters from obtaining permits – buying up prime hot dog cart spots – just so they can keep them in a perpetual state of abandonment… Perhaps Crowder knows something about that…!

I respond:

Thank you for the kind words.  I will continue to speak out regarding this over regulation of entrepreneurs who just want a chance to sink or swim based on their own efforts.  It is too bad that the liberals on the city council are so far removed from the hopes and dreams of the average person.  I would like them to walk in your shoes for just one day.

Good luck and God bless you,
Michael