I have considered that co-op’s, public utilities and mutual aid societies are excellent solutions to problems such as the one presented small towns, like Erie.

I have considered that co-op’s, public utilities and mutual aid societies are excellent solutions to problems such as the one presented small towns, like Erie. It is possible to utilize private capital, such as the store purchase, for public benefit (the residents of Erie) and the mechanism by which that is accomplished is secondary. The fact that the city council was involved was a matter of convenience. It could have been accomplished by any means of group cooperation. For example, only half of the town (500 people) could have been involved, rather than the whole town. Palatability is in the details.