I don’t boycott local businesses whose politics I don’t agree with

Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2015 14:02:27 -0400
From: Linda Bienvenue
Subject: Kira Dirlik’s response to Lyle

Kira –

Perhaps the RTP did not have the foresight (or weren’t progressive enough) to factor in residential housing units to the park. Walt Disney didn’t have the foresight to see that he needed to get enough land for future expansion when he envisioned Disneyland in CA. He didn’t make that mistake again with Disneyworld in FL. As to the clear-cutting of land (presumably to build on), I am sure you understand just a little bit of economics to realize that we were in a recession (still are – as far as a lot of people are concerned); therefore nothing was done for 6+ years..

But I digress; there are quite a few businesses in town that I might not agree with their politics. That, however, would NOT be the reason that I would chose (or not chose) to do business with them. I would frequent them because they had something to offer to me, whether it be gardening supplies, or time off from cooking a meal. Heck, even my dentist, who has the polar opposite of my political views, can converse with me without attacking me or telling me that I am no longer welcome to come there. I go there because I like him and he takes care of my teeth.

Personal attacks on Donna Bianco and Bella Donna’s solely on whether she openly makes her views known would not be the reason (at least a sane one) to not go to her establishment. She owns a business that operates in Pittsboro and things that go on in Pittsboro would necessarily affect the well-being of that business. She is there to serve you food and drink – even entertainment and culture. She is not there to pat you on the head and say “there, there, it’s all right – we all need to agree with you.”

It sounds from your post though, that she will not be hurting from losing your business anyway, since according to you “you don’t get out much to restaurants.” I really feel sorry for people who always cry: tolerance, and let’s all get along, yet they are the first ones to jump on the bandwagon and rip someone apart because they might not agree with their religious and/or political views.

Still a free country BTW “at least for now”.. treasure it – it might not be here for long.

Linda Bienvenue
Pittsboro

Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2014 15:38:12 -0500
From: Kira Dirlik
Subject: Lyle’s post

Lyle wrote:

> I didn’t see anything on the Chatlist about how the Research
> Triangle Park is now expanding, and adding a residential component
> to the mix. It made me think that that perhaps Chatham Park
> Investors’ idea of creating a new RTP in Pittsboro is even more
> wrong headed than I thought it was in the first place.

I was wondering about that, too. And along the same line, thinking about the 400+ acres on Bynum Ridge Road that were clear cut a few years back with nothing ever built there, and also hunting now banned in that area that used to be the Bynum Ridge Hunt Club, the deer from there have come to our neighborhood and completely destroyed the understory bordering that devastated area.

I digress. Now with Research Triangle Park adding a huge expansion, sounding much like the make up of our proposed new city, I am wondering, and have not seen addressed here, if the plan for Chatham is to clear cut the whole thing, or hopefully, to yes, have a master plan, but only actually build to the extent of known occupancy. I’d hate to see another even more humongous Bynum Ridge fiasco.

BTW, also alluding to Lyle’s tongue-in-cheek humor, I don’t get out much to restaurants, but Bella Donna’s was on my list for near future. Since I have a lot of friends who are in or in sympathy with Pittsboro Matters, I think I’ll cross that restaurant off my list. I wouldn’t be welcome, and I was really shocked to see her post blaming a specific group of people for her business slow-down.