Let's start Friday with just a bit of fun and push back against the ongoing City Hall tax & spend development agenda.
To wit . . .
KICK-ASS TKC TIPSTERS SHOW US ONLINE PUSH BACK AGAINST THE LUXURY HOTEL "BLIGHT" DESIGNATION ON THE PLAZA VIA SOCIAL MEDIA SHARING!!
An inquisitive Yelp comment . . .
"I haven't stayed here in several years. Please let me know the extent of your self proclaimed blight. We have family and friends that love this place for Christmas. The Plaza lights are gorgeous and this hotel has great views . . ."
As the shameless blight designation ask moves forward from this luxury establishment . . . We expect that the online gamesmanship could get worse from frustrated Kansas City taxpayers.
Developing . . .
lulz
ReplyDeleteThe hotel owners received a $75,000,000 loan in January for renovations! Will our council be scamed by them into doing their collections for free while setting a horrible precedent?
ReplyDeletei stayed there recently.the place reminded me of the old Ball Park Inn
ReplyDeletei mean just a complete fucking dumpster fire.i was ashamed to look my wife in the eye the next morning...bad bad bad.i mean ,just horrible
They better lower their rates if it is blighted. How stars does this hotel have?
ReplyDeleteSounds like a Motel 6.
ReplyDeleteFYI: The technical definition of "blight" for this state statute does not require total devastation -- and this CID is base primarily on needed repairs to the parking structure. Yes, these things are unnecessarily confusing, but each case is different.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, this is not a big deal. It is not a TIF. No money is taken from any taxing jurisdiction. Just Hotel customers pay for it.
The $75 Million loan was for the new LLC to purchase the building from the old LLC -- although part may go to renovations. The CID will only pay for 40-50% of the renovations needed.
Well, 10:41, good luck with your distraction. The hotel thing may not be a big deal but the focus on developer service rather than dealing with city issues definitely is. :)
DeleteYou shouldnt be using a public tax mechanism for your own capital improvements. That isnt what CIDs, nor TIF or any of these incentives were created. Our city continues to just become a venture capitalist for business. Never mind that our tax base continues to dwindle, that these companies fight against paying a living wage or that the stuff gov't is actually charged with undertaken (Safety, Infrastructure, transportation, etc) are failing at an alarming rate. At least the mutherfucking Intercontinental has a nice parking garage. Like what?!
ReplyDelete"Seriously, this is not a big deal."
ReplyDeleteActually, it is a big deal. The "blight designation takes advantage of tools set aside to combat real problems for local business. Not for the benefit of a luxury hotel chain that can afford their own improvements.
Tom Bodett probably runs the place and leaves the fuckin lights on all the time. Now, they are outta cash, can't pay for their own improvements. Just wait until they get the fuckin water bill.
ReplyDeleteActually, trolley boy (10:41) the argument is not reasonable. If the hotel wants its prices raised, it has the ability to do so without anyone's approval. Why is this so difficult for you and Phil?
ReplyDeleteIt might be worthwhile to keep in mind that using the CID statute actually creates what amounts to a mini-municipality with all sorts of capabilities and legal mechanisms just like a city.
ReplyDeleteIt becomes its own taxing jurisdiction..
And has a whole range of other options as well
Is that what anyone really wants a hotel to become?
So we have,
ReplyDelete1. millions of dollars being spent
2. using a government scheme to benefit the rich
3. and a liberal Democrat attorney telling us it's no big deal, nothing to see here
Sound familiar?
Perhaps you can join our illustrious, do-nothing mayor in a huge meal to take the edge off. After all, you should get something for your efforts to ignore a massive crime wave!! ;)
ReplyDeleteJust another example of widespread corruption in Kansas City. Such a shame that our city can't or won't do better with the diminishing resources we have available.
ReplyDeleteThe place is kind of a dump but the publicity they're getting for this has to be killing their future sales. Who would want to stay at a "blighted" hotel?
ReplyDeleteNeed to open the books and see the profit and loss statement and why no money put aside for updates. Just a good business practice .
ReplyDeletemany sales and excise taxes in many places in the usa screw out-of-towners, which makes hoteliers and locals feel smart.
ReplyDeletethe problem is that most folks end up on the receiving end when the are the out-of-towners somehere else.
europe requires hotels to post all-inclusive rates and we should, too.
This hotel is a fucking trash heap...it just is...they need to pay for their own improvements..PERIOD...
ReplyDelete