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Opinion: I’m a Black business owner. I want a president who will work as hard as I do.

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2 months ago

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Opinion: I’m a Black business owner. I want a president who will work as hard as I do.

Greg Sims II
 |  Op-ed contributor

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Let me tell you why I’m voting for Kamala Harris in this year’s presidential election. 

As proprietor of Smokey G’s Smokehouse on the Detroit riverfront, I’m proud of my Black-owned Detroit business, where we recently celebrated our 10-year anniversary.

We need a leader that stands up for Black business owners, not leaders who stoke hate, separation and fear. 

The growth of Smokey G’s Smokehouse could not have happened without our incredible staff, and of course our customers, who come down to our restaurant to enjoy the best smoked meats in Michigan.

But it hasn’t been easy.

During these 10 years, we encountered former President Donald Trump’s chaotic handling of a global pandemic and his so-called “achievement” of giving huge tax cuts to big corporations and billionaires. He never looked out for small businesses like mine, and I don’t expect that to change if he is given another opportunity to return to the White House. Now, I don’t believe the president of the United States is supposed to prop us up, but rather to enact policies that encourage small-business growth. Harris’ economic policy aims to do just that.

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A hand up for small business owners

Being a Black business owner is hard. It’s been proven that Black business owners find it harder to obtain loans and other lines of credit than their white counterparts. This can create cash flow obstacles that can sink Black businesses. For someone like me, who is responsible for the livelihood of seven to 10 staff members at any given time, there is no room for cashflow challenges. It was refreshing to hear that Harris recently unveiled an “Opportunity Agenda,” which includes a proposal of forgivable loans of up to $20,000 to Black entrepreneurs.

Look, we feel the same burden of inflation and higher costs of goods as other food service businesses. For example, my supply costs are up 10% since the pandemic. But I’m smart enough to know that the global supply chain grinding to a halt during the pandemic is one of the biggest reasons for these costs. This is why inflation has occurred around the world — not just here at home. So, I’m not buying the idea that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris caused this inflation. 

Harris aims to make it easier for first time homeowners to purchase a home. She also wants to help small businesses grow by expanding the start-up expense tax deduction for new businesses from $5,000 to $50,000, and reducing barriers that can make it harder to grow a small business. These policies help Black business owners like me.

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A president who will work as hard as I do

After six years of festivals and pop-ups, Smokey G’s Smokehouse moved into our storefront nearly a week before the first recorded case of COVID-19 in Michigan. When the pandemic hit, the uncertainty of those times was palpable. I didn’t know if I would have a business after COVID, as Trump appeared on TV saying things like we should look at injecting bleach to stop COVID.  

But we did survive, thanks in part to the steady and dedicated leadership of the Biden-Harris administration. The next 10 years of my business deserves a leader who works as hard as I do. It’s clear to me that Harris’ leadership is needed as we embark on a new chapter in our country. 

Greg Sims II is the owner of Smokey G’s Smokehouse in Detroit. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters and we may publish it online and in print. 

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