Downtown businesses need economic relief, not more bike lanes

As a small business owner for 28 years in downtown Rochester I am so tired of Rochester citizens telling me I just don't go downtown anymore unless I have a clinic appointment. With construction, Covid, bike lanes and now with Mayo's decision to keep thousands home to work virtual, it is very hard to keep ours and many other businesses going. I don't blame people for saying they just don't come downtown. It seems our city has thought it is more important to put bike lanes at costs of over a million dollars than to keep many of the businesses afloat!

I am not against bike lanes and some construction but be smart with our money and growth. We do not need a cleaning crew downtown or more tax dollars for marketing downtown. We need relief.  We need more business minded people running our city.

After meeting both candidates for Ward 4 (SE Rochester and downtown) I am very impressed with Katrina Pulham. She has common sense when it comes to what needs to be done in Rochester. Controlling our taxes, affordable housing, reviving our economy and small businesses, smarter thinking on bike lanes and refocusing DMC so it works for all of Rochester.

Please help me and our downtown by voting for Katrina Pulham for Ward 4 City Council.

Thank you for your consideration.

Pat Carroll, Ward 4 business owner, Rochester