I think that it is a wonderful and healthy break-through that the City/Chamber/MDC Troika is finally starting to lose control of the narrative on local economic development.
The narrative used to be that without wisened elders armed with a war chest made up of our tax dollars in order that they may "level the playing field" we were, as a city, simply doomed.
It was bound to happen. Sooner or later us great unwashed would begin to notice that not much was happening development-wise that was touched by the magic economic development money...and that a great deal of development was happening that was not blessed at all with it.
The situation has gotten to the point that every candidate for city council this time around is either uncomfortable with how the whole economic development apparatus has performed...or at the very least knows to appear uncomfortable with it because they sense the public has become so.
Unfortunately, with the exception of Place 4 candidate Jerry Knudsen who believes it is time to do away with the economic development tax, all of the other candidates will continue to maintain their white-knuckle grip on your money even if it means dispensing with some serious word salad on how it could be utilized differently.
The "True Believer" award has to go to Councilman Berry Simpson for faithfully citing the "2,000 jobs created by the MDC" with a straight face but also for this jewel:
"Simpson said supporters of the economic development program 'fought too hard and too long to get that tax' to suspend it now."
A clearer example of that certain abstraction layer that elected officials get that turns your money into their money would be hard to find. It needs to be said here that the taxpayers fought harder and longer to earn that money in the first place. To be fair, I am sure that some additional context that did not find its way into the article would soften Mr. Simpson's statement somewhat.
Nonetheless, that same mindset is shown by all of the other candidates when they advocate unhappiness with the progress or suggest big changes in the operational philosphy of the ED apparatus.....but refuse to entertain any idea that maybe the taxpaying public in this case ought to be able to keep its money.
Why, that would be irresponsible, don't you see?
3 Comments
"The 'True Believer' award has to go to Councilman Berry Simpson for faithfully citing the '2,000 jobs created by the MDC' with a straight face..."
LOL! It's true because I want it to be. It's true because I want it to be. Heh-heh.
In years past, if a business wanted to expand or relocate they used their own money - either cashflow or borrowing. Somewhere, some city figured out that if they gave incentives they could attract new businesses that would hire local workers and pay taxes which could be used by the city. Unfortunately, cities now have to compete with each other to attract businesses. As the old saying goes, it takes money to make money.
Unfortunately that's the way it is today. I wish it wasn't so because I would sure like to keep more of my money.
With that being said, with 3% unemployment, we don't need to spend ED money on businesses that will just provide employment - like call centers. They just take away employees from local businesses. We need businesses that will increase the tax base so their tax dollars contribute to city/county coffers to pay for improvements and other services.
Midland's EDC/Chamber/City Council hasn't been doing that. They are using our tax dollars as a way to prop up the Chamber. Maybe we can get John Stossel to do a "Give me a break" story about the Chamber and the EDC.
Wals,
Don't you know that the government always knows better how to spend your money than you do?