[StBernard] Christmas Cash Back

[Westley Annis]

Discussion: Paying St. Bernard Folks to pay higher prices for items (some
inferior).

Even before Katrina, most citizens chose to use Metairie and Kenner Malls to
do their preferred shopping. Most places in the parish of course, could not
compete with prices (which include Wal-Mart or K-Mart). 

Malls were interesting places to do one's walking, (exception: Christmas !!!
), spending the day with the family and visiting food courts, etc.

The Plaza was ideal until minorities overtook it, threatened its boundaries
with crime and stole them blindly into a state of bankruptcy and closure. In
lieu of facing crime, St. Bernardians drove another 15 miles to other
parishes.

Now crime is no longer growing solely in New Orleans or Jefferson but spread
its ugly self to Parish central here. Thus crime is not the only issue.

St. Bernard needs a mall-like atmosphere desperately but alas, will probably
never obtain one in our lifespan because of its proximity to New Orleans and
long-distance from an Interstate (8-10 miles) flow-by.

There are a couple of decent shops in da Parish, but knowing places like
Todd's and others, prices are 25-50% higher (if goods needed or desired are
indeed available there). 

Hint: St. Bernard most desperately needs more big-box stores to remain
competitive. If most are content to remain in small-town heaven, it will
have to be content with small-town availability and products. Many other
communities within earshot as well are in the same situation: A Wal-Mart,
couple of gas stations and a school. The "Bed-room community" which is part
of St. Bernard's history is welcome by most people who are content not to
have progress degrade neighborhoods, and that's fine. 

Back to "Cash-Back" mentality. Is it the best that Economic Development can
come up with? Offering a small-cash-drawing for stopping by a 20x20ft.
store? What a pity. St. Bernard deserves more, but over the past few years
has been hounded by quite imperfect management and ideas. (as well as
corruption which many cities, towns and governments seem to be under the
microscope these days (including Chicago, New Orleans, etc..).

We're in an economic collapse nationwide. Unfortunately, the small-boxed
stores in da Parish are offering storeowners a job or a small-job is hired
to run it. That's the good coming out of this predicament. 

Cash back, Trunk-or-Treat, whatever ideas are small and uninviting, the
nation needs to pick itself up (regardless of OB-LAH-mah's trail to
distruction and chaos) and be creative enough to spin itself away from
implosion created by radical Muslims (the 9-11 ordeal, the war vs.
terrorists (including Iraq, etc.) and giving away money to greed in a
capitalistic that needs a quick and effective enema.

--jer--


-----------------------------------------------------
Christmas Cash Back event Monday 5 to 7 p.m. at Civic Center

Residents should bring retail receipts from St. Bernard businesses to be
eligible for more than $1,000 in cash drawings

 

Today is the first annual Christmas Cash Back event in St. Bernard Parish.
Holiday shoppers should bring their retail receipts to the Fred Sigur Civic
Center Monday for the Economic Development Business Community Christmas.
Receipts will be accepted between 5 and 6 p.m. with cash drawings starting
at 6:30 p.m. 

 

Shoppers will be awarded a ticket for each $100 of retail expenditures made
at St. Bernard businesses since Nov. 21. Besides cash give-aways, several
local sponsoring vendors will set up booths to offer last minute Christmas
shopping opportunities. 

 

In response to national economic trends and local business crunches, St.
Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro, Jr. and St. Bernard Economic
Development Director Rebecca Martin organized the event and issued a call
for a sustained and concerted local effort during this holiday buying
season.

 

Martin said local support to St. Bernard's business community is needed now
as much as any time since Hurricane Katrina. The general feedback in the
local business community is that the economic struggles of 2008 could be
tempered with a strong local buying pattern at end the year. 

 

Taffaro added that any time the local community gets behind an effort for
the local community something good usually happens: "Not to mention the
obvious sales tax revenues being needed for parish government, but an end of
the year push could certainly keep some of our small business owners
afloat".

 

Taffaro emphasized that shopping in St. Bernard may take a little more
creativity and may mean more practical type gifts, but believes that most
people could find what they are looking for. He also wishes to remind people
that there is a safety factor to shopping in St. Bernard that is hard to
find in other shopping malls.

 

Taffaro sponsored this event with a $1,000 donation as an incentive to
keeping locals shopping in St. Bernard. He put out a call to all local
businesses to contribute to a money back program for holiday shopping, and
several have contributed cash and gift cards to add the event.

 

All shoppers will be able to keep their receipts after using them to get
their tickets. The amount of the cash rewards will depend on the level of
participation, and donations from businesses are still being made. All
receipts for retail spending, including gift card receipts, will be valid
for the raffle. Although the sponsors are critical to the event, shoppers
may bring retail receipts from any St. Bernard business.

 

The following businesses are sponsoring the event, and most will have booths
to sell their products Monday: 

 

*	Todd's Technology, 3001 Paris Road, Chalmette.
*	Bridget's Second Time Around Thrift Store, 7412 W. Judge Perez
Drive, Arabi.
*	In the Game Athletics, 700 West Judge Perez Drive, Suite 102
Chalmette.
*	Olive Branch Emporium Café & Gifts, 600 East Judge Perez Drive,
Chalmette.
*	Words of Wisdom, 7451 West St. Bernard Highway, Arabi.
*	Quick Wok Chinese Restaurant, 9212 West Judge Perez Drive, Suite A,
Chalmette.
*	Alex's Chevron 7415 West Judge Perez Drive, Arabi.
*	Ponstein's, 3523 Paris Road, Chalmette.
*	Rocky & Carlo Restaurant & Bar, 613 West St. Bernard Highway,
Chalmette.
*	Main's Chalmette Market, 501 West Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette.

 

Any businesses that still want to participate can bring a check with a note
that it is for the Christmas Cash Back program to St. Bernard Economic
Development Foundation, 8201 W. Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette, LA 70043 or call
278-4227 or 874-0980 for more information.

 

###