Originally Posted by
Pete
I would caution people to understand that all the information and opinion on this matter is being provided by Cathy O'Connor and her group and it is completely one-sided.
I haven't had time to do in-depth analysis but did with TIF and can say a huge amount of what they present and promote is highly biased and based on assumptions that are impossible to prove.
And the Oklahoman just regurgitates it, as they did in the last several articles. In fact, much of what was written today about TIF is completely false and comes directly from Cathy's group. Any wonder why they are fed this stuff exclusively and in advance?
Cathy O'Connor is a very sharp, motivated person. But in her role with the Alliance, she is not an employee of the city, she is working for a private company and she and her staff are employed specifically to get things done in the name of economic development. If you had that job and could get your hands on billions in TIF funds to dispense as you will and $200 million to give to the Omni to help you broker a deal, why wouldn't you?
The Alliance was formed specifically to avoid public meeting and open records laws. These terms with Omni were set months ago yet were only made public on Friday when there was required 2-day notice for the city council meeting. Even then, the full funding model was not provided.
There are no checks and balances in this system because the council will and always has approved anything brought before them in the name of economic development. And these issues are so complex, the local press just repeats what it's told by the Alliance.
I can tell you when I spent months researching TIF I found many, many inconsistencies in how this has be presented and reported, and that is still happening today, although the arguments for have slightly shifted.
I love the central argument: No additional taxes! But we are giving away over $100 million in tax dollars! Obviously, that comes from somewhere yet that is never talked about in any honest way.
The simple fact is that state and city budgets are being slashed to the point of not even being able to offer basic services yet we are giving up over $100 million to pay a hotel company to build in an area where over a billion of taxpayer money has already been spent. But it's must 'magic money'! Taxes don't increase and we won't miss it!
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