TKC Readers are AWESOME, diligent and rather well-informed . . .
CHECK THIS LIST OF WEST EDGE CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS BY A RATHER KICK-ASS TKC TIPSTER!!!
We've covered some of this stuff before and linked a few articles on the topics but the message organizes the concerns and puts the whole deal in a better perspective:
The Polsinelli Shughart firm is looking for some unprecedented concessions from the City.
1. In addition to getting tax credits from the state of Missouri now they are seeking unprecedented givebacks from the City.
2. Full tax abatement for personal and real property for 20 years
3. City sales taxes, hotel taxes and convention taxes returned to the developer.
Some questions for Polsinelli Shughart
a. The project already has tax increment financing. Why are these unprecedented concessions being requested?
b. How can the City Council find the Project will promote the economic well-being if no taxes are collected and to help provide services from the City?
c. Why should the City provide these incentives when the Highwoods proposal would not have required any such incentives?
d. Have Jackson County and the School District approved these concessions?
e. Why should KCMO residents vote to approve the earnings tax when the City Council gives the tax to a wealthy law firm?
f. What's stopping every business in KCMO from threatening to move to Kansas in order to request the same concessions from the City? What tax base will be left if concessions are granted for business not to move?
g. What is the value of the concessions? How much benefit is being provided to the Polsinelli Shughart and how much additional profit for Cecil Van Tuyl?
h. Why not just say no?
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For more info . . . Check the City Ordinance #110910 for yourself.
Look who is sponsoring this, Mayor James. Taking care of the 1%.
ReplyDeleteThank the Save the Plaza imbeciles. If that 1% hadn't fought to save their precious views, PS wouldn't be asking for any of this. Way to go Dan Cofran and urban planner extraordinaire Vickie Noteis. This TIF is at your feet.
ReplyDeleteAs outrageous as this might seem, it's actually normal operations for KCMO city government. Hardly any private "development" project in the city doesn't get some sort of subsidy, there's little monitoring of whether or not all the big promises are kept, and the city has less money all the time to fund such basic services as police, streets, libraries or other programs.
ReplyDeleteAnd it just goes on and on.
Good list of questions: who asked them originally?
ReplyDeleteThe earnings tax at work. Give it away, give it away.....
ReplyDeleteRex Sinquefield will get his way, no Earnings Tax in five years after this type of giveaway by City Hall!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Dan Cofran and your self-annointed 'saviors' of the Plaza.
ReplyDeleteIncredible, and Polsinelli is KCMO’s lobbyist in Washington, DC. With corporate “citizens” like this the City would be better off if they all moved to Kansas.
ReplyDeleteCauthen tried to say no to incentives for Dunn HQ downtown and got his head handed to him. Dunn threatened to go to JoCo and got everything he wanted here. This city has an inferiority complex. Instead of making demands and telling biz they are lucky to get a spot here, we cower and cave. Try offering incentives with real performance measures for a change. THAT would be novel.
ReplyDeleteDid they save the plaza yet?
ReplyDeleteHow do I get rich off taxpayer backs? I must be stupid for going to work, being honest, paying my taxes and not asking for a handout from the government. I guess I need to be part of the ultra wealthy crowd with the city hall lackeys who keep handing out my money.
ReplyDeleteWhy do we keep electing these morons who give away OUR money to developers and crybaby companies? If they want to go bilk JoCo, head west and don't stop at State Line Road.
If Polsinelli doesn't pay taxes, does that mean I don't have to as well?
ReplyDeleteLook to the council for strong leadership. They have never let us down. Thank the gods, we have great elected officials who guard the public purse. You can all relax and leave it to these fine people to govern well. I hope this easies your concerns.
ReplyDelete