A Letter from Jeff Taylor, PT’s Coffee
The letter posted below was shared with the Capital District Project, and we loved it so much we asked for Jeff’s approval to publish it here. Graciously, he consented.
My name is Jeff Taylor, Co-founder and President of PT’s Coffee Roasting Co. We’ve been in business in Topeka for nearly 18-years. We are not located downtown, so I do not, at this time, have a business interest in downtown. My interest is for the mental health of this community. Having a cafe allows me to hear what the community thinks, even if they don’t always tell you. And the Capital District Project is a NO BRAINER. You know in your heart that if you really want to know what a community thinks, you need to go to a coffee shop and just listen. Not wait for the speakers at a council meeting to tell you. Those are the people who have agendas.
I beg you to support the Capital District Project. Approve, develop or otherwise find funds to make Downtown Topeka a community center. Please! Do it NOW! We can not wait another 10-years, 5-years or even 1-year. Topeka citizens deserve a beautified downtown to be proud of when friends, family or clients come to town. I’m tired of telling our customers, who come from all over the country to learn from us, “go to Lawrence.” I don’t feel good about that statement, but it’s the truth. And it’s what is commonly said to visitors.
FIND THE MONEY! There is NOTHING more important than this project in my mind.
My business is based here and for that reason, I have stayed all of these years. Most of my longtime friends, who like me, moved here for work at the Capital Journal years ago, have long since moved away. To be honest, after 20 years living in Topeka, if this doesn’t happen, I will likely move as well.
We only have one life to live and I don’t wish to spend it in a town that does not care about it’s citizens enough to provide a community center for them to enjoy. Business will follow as you lay the ground work and develop the infrastructure of downtown. But until the city invests, business’s like myself will not expand into downtown. If you are not willing to invest, why should we? If you, as leaders of our city, don’t care, why should we?
PLEASE Do the right thing. SUPPORT THE CAPITAL DISTRICT PROJECT.
I have spoken to many businessmen in town and other prominent citizens and 90% agree this is vital. If you have not gotten that message yet, please let me be the first to deliver it. HELP US!!! WE need a beautified city! We need a city to be proud of once and for all. Be a hero and show Topeka you care about our city. Invest in what truly makes Topeka a great place, the citizens, and give us a place to enjoy and be proud.
Thank You for you time! I welcome your phone calls or emails. I am very passionate about this because honestly, I don’t want to move.
Jeff Taylor
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Alissa Sheley and Heather, John Ary. John Ary said: RT @alissasheley: New blog post on #CapDist website from @PTsJeff – his letter of support to the City Council: http://bit.ly/9K1HM4 [...]
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