"Now we find out that what the game of "gotcha" is really being played on the voters."

This is a terrible sentence.

Commuter - Rob DID vote to ok a report to the commission excusing Allen Press from meeting their projections on the application for tax abatement. He SHOULD have excused himself from voting on this, considering his position with Allen Press! Had Boog or Rundle done this, you and everyone else would have been screaming your head off about it. But since Rob is your boy, it's ok. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ commuter writes:

"I have owned a business but people like Merrill, Boog, Rundle, and Schauner wanted to increase my costs by taxes and fees, so I closed it."

I really bet you closed it because of this....what a hoot!

Just like the Hereford House closed because of 'the smoking ban'........Riiiigggghhhttttt!

Nice spin again commuter.....ohhh, I have and still run a business! We take applications too, commuter. I believe I have a janitorial position open, if you need a job.

Expecting business to keep the promises they made in exchange for money is called "playing gotcha?"

Unbelievable.

kshiker is opposed to free speech. No surprise there.

Would love to know his definition of a "hippie" since that is his blanket label for every single human being who disagrees with him on any issues.

He must have supernatural powers, to know so much about every person who posts on this forum as to decide whether they meet his definition of a "hippie" or not.

He must not get out much in Lawrence, if he is surprised there are more than two citizens with positions different from his.

Not going to call him names, but many, many names come to mind.

I guess I missed that Allen Press was approved for tax abatement since Rob Chestnut joined the commission. I guess I should be sorry. To me it looked like they accepted a report- not giving new tax abatements.

Plumberscrack- please show me where Rob DID give tax abatements for Allen Press. If so, i must have missed Allen Press getting an approval since He joined the commission.

I have owned a business but people like Merrill, Boog, Rundle, and Schauner wanted to increase my costs by taxes and fees, so I closed it.

How about you? Probally not.

Like commuter knows what he's talking about.....Do you own your own business?

Boog, Rundle and Schauner did not OK tax abatement for any of the companies they work for....Big difference here commuter......nice spin and nice TRY!

For all of those people who are ticked that 4 companies didn't meet projections, go to their business and complian to them. I am pretty sure they will give you soem reasons why they didn't meet projections.

I bet the ones who are complaining the most do not understand business or have never owned one. It is real easy to complain when your butt is not on the line or you could lose money.

Maybe Merrill will be able to give money to these companies so they can meet projections. Or maybe he will just complain and whine.

Chestnut should not recuse himself since he is an employee of a company whi didn't meet projections. He was elected to serve just like Boog, Rundle and Schauner.

Does anyone know the consequences in the tax abatement contract if they do not meet projections? I doubt it because there probally isn't any language in the agreement.

Rob Chestnut should not be voting on this matter, since he is affiliated with one of the companies that received a tax abatement and then underperformed.

The new corruption in this city's government just stinks.

Sue Hack reveals more and more about herself every day, now that the balance on the CC has shifted.

Sue Hack is a political hack, loyal to profiteers over Lawrence.

The next election cannot come soon enough - but it will be too late to save Lawrence.

Say no to the Hack Tax.

Merrill: When are you going to quit this spin? Chestnut is an EMPLOYEE not owner or high position board member or any position other than "chief financial officer for Allen Press(Apr.16)". You really don't know much about tax abatements or you would have been reeling when your past commissioners did not use them to better advantage for all of Lawrence (like AE).

And I highly doubt that a sales tax will be approved especially when its purpose is for a library we don't need,or a recreational sports complex that is not ranked as necessary as priorities for Lawrence. The highest sales tax in the state would be too destructive for Lawrence to attract tourists,businesses or people to come here.

Linda Gwaltney is right on target. One of the commissioners,Rob Chestnut, should have recused himself as a matter of accountability and ethics for their was definitely the appearance of conflicts of interest considering Allen Press was among those not meeting expectations.

Remember this when the commission votes in a new sales tax.

There are rules set in place for the tax abatements. If a business is clearly violating such rules/agreements, then they should pay the taxes back. BUT if they're working towards the goal and may have not achieved completely yet they have made improvements on other areas (as in short 20+ FT jobs, but added OVER 86+ extra PT ones), then I think at the end Lawrence will end up with 86+ PT jobs IN ADDITION to the 20+ FT jobs it bargained for when the abatements were provided.

Let's stop looking at the half-empty glass folks....

Next elections is in 2 yrs and Hack, Amyx and Highberger terms are up.

Next elections can't get here fast enough!