City of St. John's painted as money-grubbing Monopoly villain in business tax protest

There's no fun and games these days between small businesses and the City of St. John's, and a new sign downtown suggests it's time to change the rules.

• Struggling St. John's businesses ask council to 'go deep' looking for other savings

• St. John's business owners group asking Eddie Joyce to intervene in city tax hike

The sign in the window of Johnny Ruth & Living Planet, a clothing and gift shop on Water St., portrays the city as the character every person who's ever played Monopoly knows as the man to ruin your roll of the dice: Rich Uncle Pennybags.

The sign was a collaboration with local artist Benjy Kean, after the store's window was smashed and temporarily replaced with a panel of wood.

Describing the sign doubles as describing the store's situation, for owner Kim Winsor.

"City hall's got the big bag of money and is running, and is not really paying attention to what's happening on all these streets here downtown," Winsor told CBC News, referring to dramatic tax increases given to local businesses. 

"It's way too much for people to continue on their business. For the first time, I feel so worried."

And Winsor isn't the only one sick of playing what she sees as a losing game.

Business associations upset

The St. John's Board of Trade began circulating an online petition on Thursday, calling for immediate tax relief, the elimination of a new vacancy tax and a curtailment of city spending.

Six other business associations are also supporting that move, including the George Street Association, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and Destination St. John's.

"City Budget 2016 is bad for business, it is bad for residents and it is bad for the city," Board of Trade chair Des Whelan said in a news release.

For her part, Winsor hopes her sign spurs more protests and action.

"We can't just sit down and let them do this to us. None of this is making sense."