LEDC - I have found something that deserves FFF

Yes, the dreaded Triple F. The LEDC (London Economic Development Corporation) is a sanctioned body of City Hall charged with bringing business opportunities, developing business opportunities and nurturing business as a whole within Pleasantville.

Problem is they never read their own mandate.

In actual fact, they drive away more business better than any other institution that could have been devised.

I know of meetings in other cities where local business leaders have met with their civic counterparts from other burgs from around Canada and the world and they each pretty much say the same thing - actually it's usually a puzzled question:

"Why is it so HARD to deal with the LEDC? Why do they always make it so hard to create anything in London... to get anything done?"

And they do indeed make it hard. For whatever their machinations might be, I often think of the LEDC meeting in a basement of a forgotten Manor House, in a scene straight from the film ‘Dr. Strangelove’, eccentric and completely self-absorbed buffoons deciding our collective fates - at least business fates in Pleasantville.

Well, it has to be said. They don’t want business to develop, err, at least ‘not them outsider types’. If they don't have a hot poker in the fire... they'll never light the match.

One case is the story of the German Auto Parts manufacturer who were willing to risk an investment in London, a huge investment actually, one that could have been American Auto Downturn proof, in fact - yet - when this company asked for a show of good faith by requesting a multi-year deferral of some development taxes, the city said NO with a pounding of their shoes on the podium.

So the auto parts plant went south to warmer and more hospitable climes.

This goes on all the time. I suppose what needs to be done is to eliminate all those Real Estate types from the LEDC - for they have no desire to see business come to London if they themselves are not cut a piece of the action. In fact - lets ban them altogether from any influence at City Hall in whatever capacity. You just might see outside investment come back to Pleasantville.

I find it odd that a city of this size does not attract more outside investment in manufacturing, commercial ventures and land development. Why? Because they are shooed away by that cabal in the basement at LEDC.

FFF - can the score get worse? Perhaps...

Later, I'll mention the London Business Magazine Curse of the Cover. (If you get highlighted on the cover of London Business magazine - months, even weeks later - you're out-of-bidness)

Peace.