...of stories in the print media over the last few days caught our attention. We were actually a little puzzled about how to handle them, but did feel they should be mentioned. Quite an assortment of wants, needs, spending policies, etc..
On June 17th, we found reference to the proposed expenditure of $3.5 million for renovation of the City Market. Once again, we have some reservations about this proposal. We especially wonder about an $800,000 benefit for those who wish to ride bikes downtown. We're not optimistic about the projected usage of such a facility, particularly with that price tag.
On June 18th there was an editorial by two gentlemen identified as former board members for IndyGo. The headline was, "Regional transit system can't run on empty." That pretty well tells the gist of the essay - transportation monetary problems. There was no mention of how the gentlemen felt about the use of property tax dollars to build showers for bikers. Nor did they make any reference to the use of federal transportation funds to turn 3 blocks of Georgia Street into a tented, 3-block-long park.
These articles appeared in the local daily paper. Then the IBJ chimes in on the 21st with, we felt, a somewhat strange story about the future of the Circle Centre Mall, headed "Mall vies to keep anchors." We'll quote a few random sentences from the story.
The key to the mall future "...could be finding a way to hold on to anchor stores Nordstrom and Carson Pirie Scott."
Two paragraphs later - "Meanwhile, city officials are preparing to step in and do whatever it takes to ensure the mall anchors remain, said Michael Huber, deputy mayor for economic development."
Another paragraph down - "Huber said he wasn't sure when the department store deals are up for renewal, but believes it's next year."
Next paragraph - "It isn't clear what incentives the city might offer since Simon has not yet made a request...."
Next sentence - "How much Nordstrom pays in rent is not spelled out in publicly available documents."
And further along - "The figures do not break out the performance of anchor stores..." so we don't know the effect on the downtown store of the second Nordstrom store at the north side Fashion Mall.
These little tidbits made us wonder whether the CIB is now "negotiating" for the city with regard to mall properties. We have the involved public official who doesn't know when the leases come up for renewal. We have no idea about potential costs to the taxpayer because "...Simon has not yet made a request..." We're flying blind because suggested recipients of municipal generosity pay rent "...not spelled out in publicly available documents." And, we don't know whether we might wind up subsidizing a store to compete with itself!
Why is "more money" always the answer rather than "alternative uses?" With tax dollar proposals for bikers' showers, adequate public transportation and subsidy of a retail mall, there must be a place for the word "Priority." Maybe we should have said "A Me First Array...'
Is the Super Bowl the perfect storm? Anyone notice how everything that hits the news lately is subtitled we need to keep this?
Now the Circle Mall may lose it's anchor stores and already we hear we need to do whatever it takes to keep them. After all we all have to look nice for the Super Bowl.
Posted by: Vox Populi | June 20, 2010 at 08:21 PM
There is a group of every day folks that have had four meetings so far to develop a plan to hold elected officials accountable and get the state law changed that makes the Metropolitan Development Commission in charge of these decisions instead of the city county council. Send folks our way who want to work on this. The next meeting is July 28th at 6:00 at AFSCME Council 62, 1424 N Pennsylvania. For more info, call Jobs with Justice at 917-0723 x 33
Posted by: Allison | July 10, 2010 at 09:41 PM