Instead of writing about Albert Lea’s nightlife, the Tribune should be doing stories about how many empty spaces there are in our malls and how many buildings sit empty because Albert Lea can’t keep businesses around. You need to be doing stories on why there are very few decent places to eat and shop let alone work in this town. If you want to shop at any good stores or eat anywhere other than Applebee’s, you need to drive an hour to an hour and a half (Rochester, Mankato or the Twin Cities) to do so.

Albert Lea is a relatively safe place to raise a family, but there is nothing to keep people here. I know that if it weren’t for my son I would have moved out of Albert Lea a long time ago, but I stay because the crime rate is low. There needs to be less fixing up a downtown that people rarely walk around and more trying to fill empty spaces with businesses and trying to attract chain restaurants, stores and jobs so Albert Lea can grow.

Your next story should be about what the City Council is doing to try to attract new businesses and to help Albert Lea grow because, honestly, it seems like they aren’t doing anything but spending money on unnecessary things.

 

Angela Fickett

Albert Lea