As president of the Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce, I don’t mind people calling me names. Honestly, it’s sometimes like a badge of honor. And in the instance, as president of the local Chamber of Commerce, I am very pleased with the company I am keeping. When you do this kind of work, you get used to remarks and name calling. It’s really not that big a deal. When I lived in Ruston, Louisiana, we were working with the Mayor and business leaders to change the alcohol laws to allow for liquor by the drink with a meal on Sundays. The night the City Council voted, and went along with our changes, a really nice lady that I had known since my childhood days came up to me after the meeting and told me she now knew why God had given me cancer. I simply smiled and told her that my wish was that one of these days she would become the fine upstanding Christian lady that she thought she was. I turned and walked away.
An old advertising creative director named William Bernbach once said, “If you stand for something, you will always find some people for you and some people against you. If you stand for nothing, you will find nobody against you… and nobody for you.” This is an easy choice for me.
Whether you like me or not, this Friday we have an event that everyone can enjoy. At 10:30 am we will assist with a ribbon cutting at Tapas Tree Grill in downtown Silver City. Owners David Chapman and Kevin Hubbs invite you to be a part of the official grand opening celebration. Everyone who attends the ribbon cutting will receive a coupon that can be used when ordering one of the magnificent “Global Street Food Adventure” items on the menu. In fact, you can use the coupon that day. Lunch begins at 11 am, immediately after the ribbon cutting ceremony. And there will be special entertainment, from 11 am to 1 pm Angelica Padilla will perform live at Tapas Tree Grill. This is going to be a great event.
Tapas Tree Grill is located at 619 North Bullard Street in Silver City. You can dine in or pick up a meal to go. Their phone number is (575) 597-8272. Come visit during the ribbon cutting this Friday – February 15 beginning at 10:30 am.
Here are some things to watch for in the future.
• The opening of Einstein Bros Bagels on the campus of Western New Mexico University. The bagel shop will be in the PE Building and is open to students and the general public.
• The “Sakura” restaurant sign has been replaced with an “Empire Buffet” sign. It looks like a Chinese Buffet may be making a return.
• A little later in the spring, Western New Mexico University will re-schedule the ribbon cutting for College Avenue. If you have driven up to the University lately, you must admit the drive going up the hill looks much more attractive these days. This was a great joint project by the University and the Town of Silver City to create a nice gateway to our local university. Thank You!
• If you are a non-profit, you may want to watch Senate Bill 421. If it were to pass, the bill will repeal non-profits’ exemption for paying gross receipt taxes on the items they purchase. (I will probably be called the Boy Who Cried Wolf about this one)
• We will continue watching House Bills 220 and 255 to see how they effect our largest employer and contributor to our local economy.
• And… House Bill 31. This bill raises the Minimum Wage to $10 as of July 1, 2019; $11 an hour on July 1, 2020; and $12 an hour on July 1, 2021. **RESTAURANT OWNERS - HB 31 eliminates the minimum-wage exception for tipped employees. Everyone goes to $10 an hour.
The Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce continues to promote our area as a great place to live, work and visit. We will always be vigilant to understand the events that possibly can and will shape our future. We support our community. We support our businesses. We hope you will support the Chamber of Commerce.