Hello,

This is my contribution to Citizen's Discussion at Tuesday's City Council meeting:

Good morning,

Is it true that the city of Manitou Springs will soon lose between 25% and 50% of its annual tax revenue?

Steal from the poor and give to the rich.

We tricked the voters of our city into doing this to our neighbors, why?

The measure to ban the sale of Recreational Marijuana in our city nearly passed with 49% in favor of it.

It would have passed if the public had known how much harm 300 would do to Manitou Springs.

I am convinced that 300 would have failed if voters had understood the harmful consequences.

The city as an entity is suppressing this information.

I do not understand why we are doing this.

The Mayor did say recently that he believes that our city will earn $2 million in the first year.

Obviously, the first year is a partial year and there may be some delay in the full change over in purchasing habits.

Can Manitou Springs afford to lose $2 million of its annual tax revenue?

Does the Mayor believe that our city will earn $10 to $15 million next year?

Or the year after that?

Or are those projected numbers made up, having no relationship to reality?

I will pose a question:

Is 300 invalid?

Let me count the ways.

Has the Mayor or any Council Members discussed these issues with the City Attorney's Office?

What is their position?

Is 300 invalid?

Knowledge is responsibility, would it be illegal for our city to allow the sale of Recreational Marijuana?

Thank you, Carl Strow