A top secret report confirms what pretty much everyone in Kansas City already knew: Developers in this town are now completely addicted, dependent and demanding of tax incentives, sweetheart deals and all other kind breaks. Truly, this is the legacy of Kay Barnes as The Star has the details of this not so secret report by consultants:
A report quietly circulating at City Hall concludes that Kansas City should tighten its use of tax incentives by establishing a clear economic development plan, exercising stricter control of the review process and striking tougher deals with developers.So, we've already covered the fact that these kind of breaks not only haven't created a boon of financial benefit for this city but also they're a hometown reminder regarding "white welfare" which is a subject that nobody really likes talking about . . . To be fair, it's not just real estate developers who have their hand out and all of this reminds me that over half of the people in this country are on the government dole . . . Which is just one of many reasons so many of us shouldn't be so judgmental when stepping over area homeless people or calling them "visual blight" - a phrase popularized to defend Plaza shoppers from the many pesky po'folk who comprise a greater percentage of people in this city than you'd ever want to imagine.
The draft study, obtained by The Kansas City Star, concludes that developers have come to assume that programs such as tax-increment financing or property tax abatements are an automatic part of any deal.
So naturally, you'd be in support of FUnkhouser if you're against "rich white people" getting all these breaks.
ReplyDeleteBut you're not. Once again you bring up good points but lack logic and a consistent stance when it comes to TIF.
Charles - you don't have to support any elected official to have an opinion. Tony - incentives are a good economic development tool, but in a city where we don't have a cohesive goal, they're abused and shamelessly taken advantage of. Kansas City has no tangible mission - Airick Leonard, I think, was trying to arrange people to come up with one - but haven't heard about the outcomes of any meetings there. You bloggers have shown what an impact you can have on this broken machine here - let's use it to get some shit done.
ReplyDeleteAnd, of course - duh - I would love the linkage. I've got to get to bloggin . . .
Developers in OP expect tax abatements too.
ReplyDeleteKC tax abatements aren't about getting ahead of other cities/suburbs, they are about staying even.
(That is a mighty nice agricultural zone that the Sprint Campus sits on.)