To the editor:
Mayor Sue Hack has been quoted as saying she doesn't want to play "gotcha" when it comes to interacting with businesses that have been granted tax abatements by the city. I thought holding businesses accountable for the agreements that were made with the city was part of the city commissioners' job. Evidently three commissioners agreed with the mayor on not asking for accountability from businesses that have been granted these tax abatements.
The two new commissioners, Rob Chestnut and Michael Dever, ran on having a government that was accountable. Now we find out that what the game of "gotcha" is really being played on the voters.
Linda Gwaltney,
Lawrence
Comments
Richard Heckler 10 years ago
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.
KsTwister 10 years ago
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.
pelliott 10 years ago
Chestnut is an employee for Allen Press(Apr.16)". and he should of recused himself.
blackwalnut 10 years ago
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.
Jamesaust 10 years ago
Yes, unfortunately the real world doesn't move with the clock-like precision of a Soviet Five Year Plan (but the results are more real than those make-believe attempts to keep the world on a string).
karensisson 10 years ago
Expecting business to keep the promises they made in exchange for money is called "playing gotcha?"
Unbelievable.
Stephen Roberts 10 years ago
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.
Richard Heckler 10 years ago
Rob Chestnut is the Chief Financial Officer quite an important position in any corporation. Now he has two full time jobs.
Stephen Roberts 10 years ago
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.
jonas 10 years ago
"Now we find out that what the game of "gotcha" is really being played on the voters."
This is a terrible sentence.
kshiker 10 years ago
Do you hippies appoint one random idiot per day to keep writing these obnoxious "cry wolf" letters to the LJWorld? I secretly think you do this so EmJones and Bozo can have a forum for their idiotic ideas! Get a life. I'm suprised Wal-Mart hasn't been brought up yet today. . . Did I speak too soon???
blackwalnut 10 years ago
kshiker: Sleep in today? The slurs and name-calling were virtually absent from these forums until you showed up. And speaking of getting a life...
kshiker 10 years ago
Ha ha. Just letting you pathetic hippies know I'm still out here. Thanks for the rapid response. Have fun protesting whatever the "cause of the week" is this weekend. Death to Wal-Mart and Starbucks! . . . Pathetic.
KsTwister 10 years ago
kshiker: Thanks for showing up. Being right does not make you popular but thought I would let you know I agree with you unpopular as that may be.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 10 years ago
Exactly what do you agree with, KsTwister? kshiker didn't say anything of substance.
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