Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Editorials

Business gets chance to explore its voice

The Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce is paying for a part-time executive director. Members are getting quite a bargain. Sheri Lewis works as hard as two full-time executives, and she is pouring not only energy but careful thought into her task of giving local business a voice.

It's been a long time since there has been a strong voice in the business community, and Lewis and the board of directors wisely recognize that this is the single most important benefit the organization can offer its members.

Long before the former Chamber went out of business several years ago, it had stopped being a visible presence in the political arena.

When the San Jose Metropolitan Chamber stepped in and created the Town Chamber, it extended a big protective umbrella, a good move considering the history of the former Chamber.

Now the Town Chamber has hired Lewis, who does not work for San Jose as did the previous director, and the ties to San Jose have become more tenuous.

The breakfast forum scheduled for Sept. 24 represents the Chamber's attempt to identify and prioritize the issues that most concern local businesses. A professional facilitator will help with the process.

On Oct. 15, the Chamber, armed with a better understanding of its members' needs, will see where the candidates stand on the issues important to local business.

We applaud the fact that the Chamber is not taking a generic pro-business stance on every issue, but instead is seeking to learn what's important in the unique business environment of Los Gatos.

Just Ceremonial?

Signing proclamations is one of those ceremonial duties mayors get to perform. More often than not, no one knows a mayor has signed a proclamation or that a city is observing some special week, because newspapers normally ignore press releases about proclamations.

While we wouldn't quibble with the motivations behind Back to School Drive Safely Week, we do question the motivation of a National Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week.

Yes, "frivolous" lawsuits are bad for business. Who could argue with that? But legitimate lawsuits are bad for business, too. And therein lies the problem.

Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse can call itself an educational organization, but the fact is its purpose is to turn public opinion against lawsuits--both frivolous and legitimate-- because all lawsuits are bad for business.

If a municipality really wants to lend its support to this position, it should take a lot more time examining the issue than is normally given to ceremonial proclamations.

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