Iworked with Ben Sahlstrom of Tracy Bible Church last week on the letter to the editor that appeared in the Jan. 22 edition of the Headlight. No, I didn’t help the church write it, but he had a number of questions as to the process of submitting a letter.
I could tell he wanted to be thorough in the church’s effort to get the letter to me in time for last week’s edition, which I appreciated greatly.
The letter, which was signed off on by the church’s elders, was well-written and to the point, and I appreciate the church reaching out to me to share their thoughts and opinions on a public stage on why the City shouldn’t allow a cannabis dispensary to come to Tracy.
Tracy’s city council had a tough decision to make this week — this, I suppose, is what they get paid the “big bucks” for. That’s a joke — they don’t get paid much. But they certainly earned every penny of it Monday in front of an actual audience in City Hall. Before Monday, the question was whether or not to stay with the County on the current cannabis ordinance or go out on our own to develop our individual ordinance, thereby opening the door for a business to establish a dispensary in the old Dairy Queen building.
We’re walking a line here between adding a business to town and respecting residents’ wishes, which the council ultimately did Monday.
On one hand, I get why people don’t want a cannabis dispensary in town. It certainly isn’t the ideal way to fill a building that has been empty far too long. Then again, the only blizzards that are coming to Tracy are of the winter variety — we’re not getting the DQ back, and it’s become crystal clear that filling that building has become mission impossible. We’ve had empty promises thrown at us in the past, but a newly-painted roof and some new kitchen equipment does not a business make.
Therein lies the conundrum. Do we turn the other cheek on this one and accept a cannabis business? The answer given Monday was a decisive “hell no!”
With apologies to those who don’t want this, I say it would’ve been worth a deeper look into the possiblities. Tracy is a small town struggling to remain vibrant, and bringing in a new business is a huge deal. Pot is here, and it’s not going away; there are dispensaries in Redwood Falls, Marshall and Slayton, and another one set to open in Pipestone. These are communities going places by looking at the big picture with open minds.
Tracy could be one, too. Should we let our personal disdain for a recreational drug blind us from progress?
The notion that having a dispensary in town will be a gateway to more crime, and the image of a group of pot heads gathering amidst a cloud of smoke in a parking lot somewhere is overplayed and a reach at best. And the new business would’ve been just a few blocks away from a municipal liquor store that sells THC products.
Isn’t it hypocritical to slam the door on a cannabis dispensary, while supporting a liquor store, which is going gangbusters since its move to the highway?
I don’t smoke pot. Never have, never will. In fact, I’ve only actually seen it once — in a Ziplock bag — at an afterparty following a long night of bartending at Key Largo. But I don’t judge those who smoke it as I plug my nose.
No, a dispensary wouldn’t have been a DQ, but it could’ve potentially served multiple purposes in town.
R.I.P. funny man Mr. Fischer …
The cartoon you see below was the creation of Ed Fischer, who has been a staple on this page for decades. Sadly, Fischer died this past Saturday. We will miss his work for sure.
According to his obituary, Fischer’s editorial cartoon career spanned more than 70 years. He discovered his passion for drawing cartoons at an early age and went on to make a name for himself on the national level.
Fischer’s blend of sharp humor, gentle wit, and expressive artistry earned him a devoted following and a place in more than 50 syndicated newspapers. During the course of his career, this legend published more than eight books, met three U.S. presidents, and was a regular attendee at the National Press Club.
The Headlight does have a number of Fischer’s cartoons in a folder — he sent them in bunches every week — so they will continue to run for the next few weeks.
Ed was 88 years young.
