tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826828000189814347.post1387259785851327664..comments2023-09-02T12:29:45.592-04:00Comments on Had Enough Indy ?: Council Committee Votes 5-1 Do Pass on Prop 285Had Enough Indy?http://www.blogger.com/profile/09673791504434523246noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826828000189814347.post-6437616488849319412009-08-02T13:51:13.452-04:002009-08-02T13:51:13.452-04:00I have been unable to post this report on jobs rel...I have been unable to post this report on jobs related to the Convention business. It is a short document, but it is a very long blog entry.<br /><br />If the Council posts it on their website I will post a link to that. So far they haven't.<br /><br />If you would like a copy of this report, email me a hadenoughindy@gmail.com and I'll be happy to forward it to you.Had Enough Indy?https://www.blogger.com/profile/09673791504434523246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826828000189814347.post-18013376821027089132009-07-31T21:45:21.569-04:002009-07-31T21:45:21.569-04:00The attached report did not come through. I will s...The attached report did not come through. I will see if I can post it in its entirty tomorrow in a new entry.<br /><br />Meanwhile -- let me say: <br /><br />Please note that the numbers reported in this admittedly week long analysis, are about one-tenth of those claimed by the ICVA and proponents of the CIB bailout passed by the Council committee chaired by Lutz (who I actually personally like – just don’t agree with him in this debate).<br /><br />Also, there is an entire spectrum of possible universes between the sports/convention/tourist/hospitality industry we have and none at all. It appears if we do not accept the hotel tax, state loan, and the inevitable 2013 tax increases, plus whatever else folks can wrestle from the Legislature, it is the end times for downtown and Indy’s tourist trade. This is an old debate tactic to pretend there are only two alternatives when many outcomes are entirely possible. It is not always a choice of the lesser of two evils.<br /><br />Since Lugar and Hudnut, the citizens of Marion County and beyond have poured an ever increasing amount of tax dollars into our sports industry. Proponents want to link it to the convention/tourist/and hospitality industry. So be it. But, the taxpayers have every right to expect an exit strategy from higher and higher donations to one segment of our economy. They deserve a plan to make this industry self-sufficient.<br /><br />It isn't either all or none. It isn't even thrive and survive or bankrupt everyone else -- with a well considered plan, it can be a solution that works for everyone.<br /><br />If the Councillors were considering raising $12M in new annual taxes for sidewalks, streets, parks and sewers, do you think they would have spent all this time on debating it? No. It would not have had two minutes before it was tabled into oblivion. So, why is the quality of life for a few more important than the quality of life for the many?<br /><br />It is high time we find real solutions AFTER we determine exactly what the problems are. As I have said many times recently, the poster child for the bad decisions of the CIB is that we still owe $70M on the Hoosier Dome that cost $55M to build and which no longer exists. Tell me that there is nothing wrong with that picture.Had Enough Indy?https://www.blogger.com/profile/09673791504434523246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826828000189814347.post-55580921277974472532009-07-31T21:15:35.537-04:002009-07-31T21:15:35.537-04:00E-mail from Bob Lutz:
Subject: Direct Economic Im...E-mail from Bob Lutz:<br /><br />Subject: Direct Economic Impact of our Convention Center and Convention Business <br />Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:34:51 -0400<br />From: RLUTZ@indy.gov<br />To: RLUTZ@indy.gov<br /><br />Good Afternoon everyone:<br /><br /> <br /><br /> Thought you might be interested in the attached report. This was prepared by the Indiana Business Research Center of the Indiana University Kelly School of Business in Bloomington, Indiana. It is a report I requested IU prepare regarding the direct economic impact of our convention center and its expansion. I asked Dr. Jerry Conover at IU to review the data that researchers would think relevant and give me his opinion of a broad overview of the direct economic impact of our convention center. Good or Bad, I wanted an opinion that I know would be objective from business researchers who had nothing to gain or lose from the outcome.<br /><br /> <br /><br /> The reason I asked the Indiana Business Research Center to prepare this report is because we have all heard a lot of numbers being thrown around and I had no idea were most came from. It also bothered me that I only heard them from people who had a stake in the outcome or who had something to gain or lose in the convention business. I was always worried about the objectivity of the reports I heard. I wanted to share Dr. Conover's report with you. <br /><br /> <br /><br /> There was another report completed in 2006 that makes a statement I found amazing. That statement is: "If tourism did not exist in Indianapolis, taxing authorities around Indianapolis would need to generate an average of $613 in State & Local taxes from each of the 658,423 households in Indianapolis, in order to maintain the current level of tax receipts." <br /><br /> <br /><br />Robert B. Lutz<br /><br />City County Council Dist 13<br /><br />home: (317) 247-7370<br /><br />office: (317) 241-4020<br /><br />cell: (317) 432-9212Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826828000189814347.post-56953646962173791012009-07-30T20:35:41.761-04:002009-07-30T20:35:41.761-04:00This committee meeting represents Indy's versi...This committee meeting represents Indy's version of the mob. Under the pretense of generally following a public process (blithely ignoring laws that no one will enforce or prosecute), certain people are allowed to rob the city blind - "legal theft".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826828000189814347.post-60987806751090312942009-07-30T20:30:34.955-04:002009-07-30T20:30:34.955-04:00Speaking of the Mayor's Office, you should try...Speaking of the Mayor's Office, you should try obtaining the KMPG study that is supposedly finished. They were supposedly studying how the city could be more efficient. However, it has not been distributed to anyone lower than Director, it appears.<br /><br />Two of their recommendations involve centralized cashiering and centralized customer service despite the fact city services are provided in multiple buildings. Intra-departmental and inter-departmental Committees are being set up to work on implementation strategies for the various recommendations. <br /><br />While you are getting the report, you also might want to find out how much the city paid KPMG for their sound analysis (and watch to see who leaves the city to become employed by them or how much KPMG contributes to someone's campaign).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826828000189814347.post-18077641941803679462009-07-30T11:56:12.812-04:002009-07-30T11:56:12.812-04:00I'm hearing from another Councilor that Sander...I'm hearing from another Councilor that Sanders had plenty of notice on the meeting. I also am hearing that the Republicans did not change the meeting time as the democrats exec director explained to me in an email yesterday. <br /><br />We're gonna get to the bottom of it. And it is likely that Sanders is not going to get away with it. <br /><br />Never forget that whatever we post on our blogs comes up in google searches. We can also use the links 2 years down the line as documented history to show taxpayers what really happened. <br /><br />We are literally writing history as it happens! :)M Theoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01892309818226431745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826828000189814347.post-37145982903516739492009-07-29T18:57:06.492-04:002009-07-29T18:57:06.492-04:00Thanks for the kind words, Melyssa. You are welco...Thanks for the kind words, Melyssa. You are welcome to copy this on HFFT. I have added an edit note that I received word Joanne Sanders was not present because she was out of town for work. If and when I hear why Monroe Gray missed the meeting I will be sure to let you know so you can add that to your copy.<br /><br />I loved your comment about the $300 shoes last night. A spot of levity that spoke volumes.Had Enough Indy?https://www.blogger.com/profile/09673791504434523246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1826828000189814347.post-36207911902206673662009-07-29T18:20:46.345-04:002009-07-29T18:20:46.345-04:00This is the best coverage of last night's even...This is the best coverage of last night's event I've read from the perspective of The People. You write very well. <br /><br />I'm very upset over the length of that dog and pony show and the fact that THE PEOPLE, those footing the bills, didn't get a chance to express their concerns and had to wait a very long time. <br /><br />Moreover, the Rule of Law - straight from the Indiana Constitution - was read to them and they ignored the fact that they are not lawfully allowed to enter into these contracts. <br /><br />I want to copy this piece your wrote word for word and republish it over at HOOSIERS FOR FAIR TAXATION and hopefully some of our readers will pick up your blog. <br /><br />--Melyssa for HFFTM Theoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01892309818226431745noreply@blogger.com