Despite promises from Mayor Funky, Tax Increment Financing reform has yet to occur in Kansas City and the system still ignores blighted communities and minority contractors.
Mainstream media has neglected to offer much reporting on the subject but TKC sources inform me that:
The affirmative action subcomittee of the TIF voted to accept most of H&R Block's request for reimbursement. The matter will be sent to the full commission for ratification on Wednesday.
What does this mean?
Well, it might mean that the decision to ignore agreements to include minority contractors and honor TIF policy will cost the taxpayers of Kansas City from $12 to $14 million dollars.
Or, it really just means that big promises of reform were nothing but talk. Clearly, developers in this town aren't expected to uphold any of their commitments and talk of including Kansas City's minority community in any kind of "renaissance" was nothing more than a lie.
wait till you see what we do with Light rail. Nothing for anybody but the developers, the engineers and a little for the architects who will design important stuff like where the flowers will go next to the stations.
ReplyDeleteH&R Block got caught, that is all. They probably got caught because they didn't hire the "right" minority subcontractors and those "community leaders" blew the whistle.
ReplyDeleteH&R should be ashamed of themselves.
ReplyDeleteThey have a real alarming corporate attitude.