"As a City Council, we have taken an aggressive approach to economic development over the last two years."
The following is an example of Mayor Vaughan's aggressive approach:
Sometimes incentives are paid out in ways that are not called incentives. Take for instance the $217,812 to relocate a storm sewer line that was paid to Developer John Lomax. Is Is it the fault of the City of Greensboro that just because Mr Lomax didn't like the location of a storm drain that had been there for 50, 80 or perhaps as long as 100 years that the taxpayers should pay to move it?
Sure, the storm drain was in the way of John Lomax's plans but that was hardly the taxpayers' responsibility, now was it? And while it may well be true that:
"State law allows cities to reimburse developers or private property owners for “public enterprise improvements that are adjacent or ancillary to a private land development project.”
That still doesn't mean it isn't an incentive by another name. Who do you think lobbied state lawmakers to pass such a law?
How many millions in incentives has Greensboro paid to developers over the years via adjacent or ancillary enterprise improvements that we were never told about?
Mayor Vaughan, being I e-mailed you this post would you care to answer that last question?
And Madam Mayor, I've yet to get a response to my January 1st public information request as to your "strategic formula" surely staff keeps it close at hand as often as it is used. Perhaps you can enlighten us on that as well? Unlike the News & Record, I set no word limits on guest columns. I can even host documents and photo evidence for all the world to see. That is, if the Grand Jury hasn't already bound you in handcuffs and hauled you away.
Continue reading Incentives In Greensboro: Part 10
