Support for Duarte Chamber

I have been a member of the Duarte Chamber of Commerce for more than 20 years. I have been sickened by the spectacle of elected city officials and business and community leaders fighting over control of our long proud organization (Times, Dec. 13).

If some members of the business community want to form their own association, fine. If the city doesn’t want to lend financial support to our organization, which represents a majority of the business community, so be it, shortsighted as it seems. But I and many others will continue to support the local Chamber of Commerce. It’s never let me down.

When I needed help negotiating with the city several years ago over building plans that I was undertaking to improve my business property, the chamber stepped in and helped me. The city was demanding things of me that seemed unreasonable and unfair. With the chamber’s help, the problem was finally resolved to mutual satisfaction.

There’s always room for other points of view, and certainly for other business organizations, but nothing can ever replace a chamber of commerce in a community. There can only be one chamber of commerce, and we’ve already got it.

Please let’s put this unfortunate episode behind us and get back to the business of building a strong business community for the good of all the people in Duarte.

JOHN RASPUDIC

Duarte