It began as a small beautification project. We installed potted flowers. Then the businesses jumped in and began lobbying with the city to expand the project to a grander scale.

It smacks of financial eavesdropping. It's not our role -- we're a service provider to small businesses. This proposal would put the credit card banks in a very strange position.

Small businesses are really the engine in the economy.

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy.

It depends on the issue. If it's something people care about, then they come out to the meetings in droves. Traffic is one of those issues.

When I moved in, the neighborhood was small, but busy. But like many areas do, we went through a bit of a lull. Now things are picking up again, and it's exciting.