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Jun 05, 2010 (Herald-Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Jeff Stevens, owner of Harley-Davidson of Bloomington, is worried the city's boycott of Arizona businesses could cause him to lose money.

So far, only two customers have contacted the business saying they wouldn't be spending money there as long as the city boycotted Arizona firms.

"The people that are passionate enough to send you a note about it ... that can just be the tip of the iceberg," Stevens said. "You wonder how many people are out there."

Some local businesses and organizations are concerned Bloomington's elected officials' boycott of Arizona firms over the state's controversial immigration law could hurt their bottom line.

"With the economy being in the shape it is right now, it's hard enough to run your business without having obstacles thrown at you by your elected officials," Stevens said.

In a recent letter sent to Arizona's governor, U.S. senators and legislators, city officials state that the Bloomington city government will not purchase goods or services from businesses headquartered in Arizona, send city employees to conferences there and will explore terminating any current contracts with Arizona businesses.

However, the letter states the city will do this only when it is practicable, doesn't add significant cost to the city and doesn't conflict with any laws.

One of the people who sent the Harley-Davidson dealership an e-mail said: "Since Bloomington has decided to boycott Arizona, I will no longer do any business with anyone in Bloomington. Boycotts can go two ways."

Mayor Mark Kruzan said he regrets any loss of local business, but it doesn't lessen the validity of the city's stand against "an un-American law."

"I encourage anyone who hears from a customer saying they won't do business
here to ask why, in 2010, they are supporting a law that discriminates against Americans because of how they look or sound," Kruzan said.

Kelley Brown, director of marketing and public relations
for the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber has received about 10 inquiries from people about the city's boycott, some of whom said they would boycott Bloomington businesses in response.

"Of course, there may be some who do make the decision to not frequent our area, but I think for the most part I'm hopeful that they understand that our local businesses weren't part of that," Brown said.

The Arizona law, set to go into effect July 29, requires police enforcing another law to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are in the country illegally. Critics of the law say it unfairly targets Hispanics and could lead to racial profiling. Proponents insist racial profiling will not be tolerated.

City councilman Chris Sturbaum, who spearheaded the letter to Arizona's lawmakers, said he doesn't think the action will result in a boycott of local businesses that would be a serious problem.

Sturbaum said the immigration law is going too far and people need to speak up about it.

"Will there be some people that come to Bloomington because of (the city's boycott) or stay away from Bloomington because of (the city's boycott)?" Sturbaum said. "There certainly will be a handful. Does that mean we shouldn't say what we think is true and important? No."

Louise Schlesinger, marketing director of WonderLab Museum of Science, Health and Technology, said a person called WonderLab saying he wouldn't bring his family to the museum this summer because of the boycott.

"We certainly want to contact our city officials and make them sensitive to the fact that this might be an unintended consequence of their action," Schlesinger said. "We've heard from one person, and we don't know how many more are out there."

The subject appears to be such a hot topic that Indiana University Friday distanced itself from the city's boycott.

IU officials sent out a statement Friday clarifying media reports that incorrectly said the university was boycotting Arizona businesses as well.

"The fact is that Indiana University, its trustees and its administration had absolutely no involvement whatsoever in this municipal action," the university statement said.

Harley-Davidson's Stevens said he's going to be in Arizona on vacation later this summer.

"I'm looking forward to contributing to their economy," Stevens said.