Story Idea #2: BID

This is a story from Pittsburgh's Post-Gazette about vacant store fronts that lead me to look into what has been going on with businesses in western Massachusetts in light of consumer confidence lows.
Northampton has a particularly interesting and highly contested campaign to establish a Downtown Northampton Business Improvement District. In theory the town will gather dues from businesses and in turn will provide services to augment shopping with the ultimate goal of drawing in more revenue for the whole town. Based on the support that the BID has received thus far there is indication that the expenditure of an operating budget for bells and/or whistles might be unwelcome by business owners along with the proposed BID compulsive lifetime dues that will supply $675,600 of said $935,500 budget.
It's also evident that the "security" services as well as the anti-panhandling measures the BID includes are in effect a round two for proponents of the anti-panhandling ordinance seemingly resolved earlier this month. There is some speculation that BID might be supported more by non-business entities in the BID (like Smith College) that will receive services but pay no dues. I'd like to look in how this is being received by business owners in Northampton and how the way Hampshire Mall is zoned and serviced by the Hadley community compares and contrasts to the proposed BID. If I pursue this angle I hope to talk to: Doug Kohl (Thornes), Susan Stockman (Executive Director of South Hadley Chamber of Commerce), Suzanne Beck (Executive Director of Northampton Chamber of Commerce), Timothy J. Kelley (Chief Operating Officer of Hampshire Mall Leasing) and James Dostal (Northampton City Council President).
If I pursue BID as round two of anti-panhandling measures I'll forgo some of those officials and professionals and try to speak with some activists from the Poverty Is Not a Crime [PINAC] or the Freedom Center or Arise for Social Justice in Springfield.