^

The phrase "did not qualify" is incorrect. There is nothing in the qualification guidelines that stop hotels from getting TIF or other incentives, it's merely Cathy O'Connor's decision they they should not get them... Broadly applied to hotels but who knows what else she deems unworthy.

Keep in mind when someone makes such an inquiry and gets rejected, there is no public record kept. It's an informal conversation that stops at Cathy's desk unless she decides it should go forward. We have no way of knowing which projects are met with this sort of rejection; we also don't know which ones get rejected and still get built.

Hugely important information because the *entire* basis of TIF is the 'but for' argument. That but for these incentives these projects would not get built. But there is no way to determine if this is remotely true because of the process OKC employs. I know all this from direct conversations with Cathy O'Connor and Brent Bryant.

Since TIF is based on proactively taking and redirecting tax dollars, the burden of proof should be on the people requesting money to be spent this way. And they absolutely, positively cannot prove the 'but for' argument. The process also makes it virtually impossible for anyone else to judge the merits of the program.


On another note, went by on Wednesday night and several rooms had lights on, cars were both out front and in back. Not exactly teeming with activity but this facility is also not closed.