âJob opportunities tend to follow places that are inclusive,â she said.
Craig is one of several community members who have voiced support for the creation of a community equity advisory board, which is designed to work with government leaders and community members to ensure residents regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation and more have a voice in city government.
Johnson City commissioners heard a proposal about the board last week, which a draft document said would consist of 11 city residents appointed to two-year terms. Commissioner Jenny Brock developed the proposal alongside members of city staff.
âI think that this board would be one of many steps to help address what weâve termed the âbrain drain,ââ Craig added.
Businesses selling liquor onsite had until Dec. 31 to pay their annual privilege tax to Johnson City, a fee that for restaurants can be in the range of $600 to $1,000 depending on their seating capacity.
But one local restaurant owner is questioning whether itâs fair to charge those fees during a year in which public health officials have encouraged restaurants to cut their maximum capacity to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
âIt just feels like a bureaucratic entanglement,â said Nathan Brand, one of the co-owners of Timber on West Walnut Street.
According to city codes, restaurants with a seating capacity of 75 to 125 seats must pay $600 annually, which increases depending on the number of seats. At max, businesses with 276 seats or more pay $1,000.