Rep. Klicker speaks on final passage of his bill that would help communities and small businesses
Feb 14, 2024
Rep. Mark Klicker, R-Walla Walla, speaks on the House Floor on final passage of his bill promote a sense of community and belonging in residential neighborhoods throughout Washington by requiring cities and towns to allow neighborhood cafes that meet certain requirements to be permitted in residential zones. Klicker explains how this bill would
allow these establishments to continue providing a unique social space for people to gather, connect, and relax, which would create a sense of belonging and safety.
substitute House Bill 2252 on third
reading and final passage remarks the
good member from the 16th representative
clicker thank you madam
speaker I bring this bill forward to you
today uh in the sense of community it's
it's really exciting to see something
that that is not only for business but
to bring people together uh when it was
brought forth to me uh some I had some
different people ask me if if I would
look at uh cons considering a bill that
would bring some small business into uh
residential neighborhoods uh and I I
kind of scratched my head a little bit
and didn't really pay much attention
until I started thinking about as I was
growing up as a as a little boy before
the big supermarkets even existed in our
area we had little tiny grocery stores
where where my mom used to take me and
and uh visit with the the store clerk
there and and uh all the different
people throughout the neighborhood even
though we lived in the country it was
really fun to to to be a part of that
and then and then if you look around
even in the country in the rural areas
you'll see small cafes that have the the
coffee shops that you'll see many
farmers and different people in the
rural areas getting together and to get
to know each other so if you can kind of
take that and and and move it forward
into our urban areas many of these urban
areas lack that Community the camarad
ship and this bill allows that provid
coffee shops or a small little retail uh
uh uh groceries or Boutique shops to be
able to allow people to to walk to these
these uh little businesses it brings
people together gets them out of the
house the elderly the people that uh
can't afford to drive gives them
something to do a small amount of
recreation and so I bring forth this
bill with enthusiasm from people
throughout I I'm hearing from people
through throughout the Puget Sound and
and uh the urban areas long I5 all those
neighborhoods uh are enthusiastic about
this and uh so I'd like to bring forth
this bill and uh urge you to vote yes
thank
you