Merchants don't have option in BID payments

The Dec. 29 Daily Bee article entitled, "Most businesses opt to pay BID" ended without giving the reasons they do this. Perhaps I can fill this in.

My authority? Firstly because my business (Cycle Haus) is on the corner of Fifth and Oak, which is within the boundary of the Business Improvement District; and secondly, over the last couple of months I have spent days going to the local businesses in an effort to get their support for the already started petition to disestablish the BID. So I have become knowledgeable in this matter.

The first reason businesses pay, I have been told, is because it is just another bill crossing the desk and the secretary pays it. They cannot find the time to see the reason for it, or perhaps they don't want to trouble themselves. Others are concerned that some of their customers (who may support the DSBA) might not appreciate their taking a stand against it, and so are silent and pay. Others pay because they are forced to under present order of things, and this is probably the best reason of all. I can't think of any business owner who told me their money was really doing any good (except some liked the flower baskets) but they paid anyway and did not want to get involved. In fact one prominent owner (member of the DSBA board) said at a public meeting that he himself would not pay if it were voluntary. Should you pay? Absolutely Here is what happens if you don't.

A while ago the city took a friend's small business to court for not paying his DSBA assessment. Knowing that sooner or later this would happen I had previously went to the city to say I would not pay in to have this BID forced on me and my fellows in business. After threatening me for months they turned me over to a lawyer who continued threatening me further, then to a collection agency who even called my wife at home and threatened her. I had told them all to take me to court and I will demand a jury trial, but then sadly I find out one cannot get a jury trial, and after seeing my friend, now owing thousands in assessments and court fees and whatever, I too "opt to pay".

While now we have no "opt" but to pay, I believe soon we will have the needed 51 percent of assessment signatures on our petition (over one third of the businesses have signed and more are continuing to do so). When this happens we will be free to truly say "To pay or not to pay that is the question."

FRANK THIEME

Sandpoint