Must read comment from our pal Tracy recently sent our way . . . We've highlighted some of the most feisty passages which REPORT JOCO FOLLOWING KCMO DOWN THE CORPORATE WELFARE ROAD TO HELL at this otherwise quaint suburban development. Checkit:
Tracy Thomas: Westbrooke Green and Corporate Welfare
The silent majority is actually the development attorneys who work over the city council. To get them to divert money that should support our schools and streets--in order to rescue the obsolete industry of RETAIL. In return, developers and their attorneys are the major source of campaign funds--to elect city councils. And they also allow the giant 8 foot x 4 foot freen sign locations on ALL of the major intersection corners during elections.
I served five years on the Shawnee City Council. We have fallen for the TIF fear, that "if we don't cave in, some other city will give away the farm" and we won't get the development.
But now city councils across Johnson County have added new sugar: CID's, which I oppose. This is where it's not just a rebate of incremental (new) property taxes, they are now additionally rebating future SALES TAX! An attorney for Westbrooke Green has set a new record for greed. (THE LAWYER IN QUESTION) who once got his Land Of Oz project to stop payment on its $400,000 earnest money to Johnson County, when he decamped to Wyandotte County.)
With CID, in addition to seizing for his clients the 1% sales tax we pay anywhere in Shawnee, he is adding another record-setting 1.5% sales tax on top of that, to go into the pockets of his clients. A total of 2.5% sales tax.
Personally, I agree with State Senator Mary Pilcher Cook, that the receipt on any diverted SALES TAX to the developer/landlord SHOULD BE NOTED ON EACH RECEIPT. Just like it is when you shop at Costco in Missouri. eg where you note you are paying LESS tax on food than on computers or toilet paper, etc. The computer breaks it all out.
For the next 22 years, when you buy a cup of Starbucks coffee, or groceries or books or whatever at Westbrooke Green, you are gonna pay 2 1/2% sales tax straight into the pockets of the landlord, and NOT to Shawnee Mission School District or Shawnee Parks or Shawnee Police or Shawnee Fire. The public needs to know this. Because Mom and Pop stores are fighting for their lives without this corporate welfare.
########
You decide . . .
Well said Tracy! Shawnee is lucky to have you. It's important that we stand up against this kind of outright greed.
ReplyDeleteTracy is the loveliest woman on the planet
ReplyDeleteLet's see the most recent picture. With no makeup.
ReplyDelete^^^ STFU she's a doll
ReplyDeleteKudos Tracy. Call these thieves and clowns out.
ReplyDeleteWell said. I hope they think twice.
ReplyDeleteWell done Tracy.
ReplyDeleteyep, Tracy's pretty cute (smart, too)
ReplyDeleteTracy as well as I know how these robbers of the tax dollars work.
ReplyDeleteHerp derp...duh..duh..if a...if you can ugh...ugh..make cents of that mess of shit..I ...ugh..rote..then u b...ugh...stupid dave’s Friend...right?...herp derp.
DeletePretty hot for a gal pushing 70.
ReplyDeleteCome on people show a little respect
ReplyDelete9:11 Bet she can wrap those old fingers around one real good.
ReplyDeleteAt least my age is higher than the IQ of most of Tony's cowardly and anonymous trolls!
ReplyDeleteLet's get back to the game--which is commenting on the substance of the argument.
And, feel free to share if you have done ANYthing this month to make the KC metro a better place, where there's room at the table for everyone. If not, start now, please.
^ choking on Byron's dick again?
ReplyDeleteShe looks like Tootsie.
ReplyDeleteIf a retailer attempts to charge extra sales tax to keep for themselves it's criminal. Let a city make the fraud legal and it's economic development.
ReplyDelete