We know the city is anxious to unload the theater but before it goes diving headfirst into the water it needs to check the depth of what its decision could mean.

Thursday night’s planning board meeting dove into those waters but we’re not so sure the panel paid much notice or gave much consideration to the other voice it heard.

Now the city is about to consider a recommendation in which it would give preferential treatment to its own entertainment district without giving the same consideration to those who first came up with the idea to bring Internet cafes into its limits.

We know, these establishments get a bad rap and we’re not so sure why. If you argue that poor people are burning holes in already ragged wallets you would have to argue the same about the state of North Carolina’s own education lottery.

We also believe it is no one’s business what the poor do with their money just as it is no one’s business to dictate what the wealthy do with theirs.

Internet cafes are here and one very well could go into the Roanoke Rapids Theatre with special privileges not afforded the established ones in the city.

The city already imposed a tax increase of sorts by upping the per computer fee on these businesses and now it is exploring allowing the sale of alcoholic beverages in its theater café.

Is it right that the Internet café in the theater is going to get special treatment that the ones not in the entertainment district don’t get? We don’t think so and we believe before city council makes a final decision on this amendment, it needs to look closely at what its decision will mean for similar businesses outside the entertainment district.

Gardner Payne, an attorney and owner of one of the first Internet cafes in Roanoke Rapids, is right when he told the planning board there needs to be one set of rules for everyone, a level playing field.

From what we’re beginning to hear about this latest theater proposal, it holds promise that the staggering yearly debt could be easily assumed and that plans for regular entertainment acts could finally be a reality.

It can’t be done, however, by diving into these waters off the backs of the business people who are not in the entertainment district.

There has to be one set of rules for all or else the city will be diving headfirst into shallow waters and a possible lawsuit — Editor