EDITOR:

As a seated county commissioner, I wanted to reach out to the voters of Escanaba and make them aware of a situation that could have a substantial impact on the quality of life right here in the city.

Hobby Lobby corporation will pull out of this community, meaning they leave our mall if a marijuana dispensary goes in close to Dial Enterprise property.

I’m not against dispensaries, they’re popping up all over the place, based on Michigan law. But our town fathers need to understand that they were not seated as a mandate from the people, and if they turn a blind eye to Hobby Lobby’s concerns and we lose this corporation out of our mall, there’s gonna be hell to pay. Having spoken to Dial Enterprises management twice, I understand that a paradigm will take place if Hobby Lobby pulls out of our community. We could and will lose additional stores from our mall, and future opportunities will be affected. Hobby Lobby is a corporation with Christian morals and beliefs, and while I do not think dispensaries should be prevented from coming into this community, I would not throw caution to the wind and simply ignore the concerns of Hobby Lobby like the Escanaba Planning Commission has.

Call your city councilman and demand prompt action on this issue, I live in the 900 block of Ludington and there are two marijuana grows, or one in each side of my building. We need to make a decision about what kind of community we want to live in. I am not against legalized marijuana in small amounts, but I do not support in any way the actions of the Escanaba Planning Commission. By their vote they are going to lose the biggest anchor store that our mall has ever had, and they erase the last five years of prosperity that Dial Enterprises has worked so hard to establish for our community.

If you like the direction the mall has gone you need to put your foot in the backside of your council person and demand accountability. We need Hobby Lobby to stay in this community. The dispensary can go somewhere else in Escanaba proper, we need not lose an opportunity.

David Moyle

Escanaba