There has been some discussion about starting an Hour Currency for the west side of Youngstown.
This is an example of a 1/8 Hour note from Ithaca, New York.
(http://www.andrewlowd.com/thesis/hour7.jpg)
A Question for west side residents
What image would you like to see printed on West Side Hour currency?
Is the west side large enough to support it's own currency?
Say I own a WS restaurant and I accept HC. So what do I do with it?
Image suggestion
There's talk on the street that the folks on the Westside are considering secession from the city and forming their own township.
Each denomination would have a different picture and have its own design and color.
Here is another example from Ithaca, New York.
(http://www.samarasproject.net/images/hours.jpg)
Question:
What's to prevent someone from counterfeiting the "currency" and flooding the Westside with it to the point that no one will accept it. Lets face it people counterfeit coupons, and even U.S. currency, and with all the technology at our disposal, and given the lack of real security measures built into this type of "currency" as can be found in real money and bonds, any Joe Bag of Doughnuts could easily scan the "currency" and run off thousands of them.
TT, this type of program is already in use in a few placesin the northeast, and have procedures in place to protect the "currency".
Nothing is 100% fullproof except U.S. currency which is printed on special paper that is not available to the general public, whoever prints HC can not guarintee their currency from counterfiting. Each sheet of paper used in producing our currency must be accounted for under penelty of prison yet we know that counterfitted money makes its way into circulation that is undetected for long periods of time.
Well, it's working in some places....so call them to see if they are having any problems...
The truth be told Dennis, I simply couldn't care less. I confine all my business to the North Side and Liberty Township which meets all my needs and see no need to venture to the Westside, not that I have anything against that side of town or its populous. It just boils down to the fact that in one trip, I can take care of all my business in a single morning, leaving the rest of my time to myself. If in the meantime, I need anything in the way of groceries, I have a store just a couple of doors away that I can walk to. If I need to go to town (which is rare), all I have to do is step out my door and catch a bus
Fine.
About Counterfeiting
1. These are only small denominations. 1/8 hour, 1/4 hour, 1 hour, 2 hours (see below)
No one in their right mind would want to counterfeit these.
2. The currency could only be spent at participating businesses on the west side.
Counterfeiters want something they could spend everywhere.
(http://www.samarasproject.net/images/hours.jpg)
It's been suggested that fourth ward councilman Mike Ray should be on one of the notes.
(http://www.keepmikeray.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/DSC_0332.jpg)
Jay, given your commendable loyality to your side of town, you, more than anyone else should be on the highest denomination. In point of fact, if I lived on your side of town, I would not think twice of voting for you for a seat on City Council, even if I had to write it in.
SAMPLE
Better this my friend.
And as City Councilman, these should be your means of transportation.
By the way the car is a 2013 Rolls Royce Phantom extended wheel base ... the top of the line model.
The local TimeBank is considering opening a store. Maybe TimeBank members could convert their hours into the West Side Hour Currency and then use them to spend in the store.
We're checking to see if a local farmers' market would want to accept the West Side Hour Currency.
I am not real crazy about TimeBank but - laugh if you like - the way the U.S. Currency and our country is going West Side Hour Currency may well be WORTH a lot more than most people would think. LOCAL - to me - is a Key Word - to a health economy - even if that means LOCAL Currency ;)
Support our in-the-city farmers' markets. Produce is grown locally or grown in the region.