Comments on: The Politics of Mooching: Panhandler Asks Council for a $205,000 Hand-out http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700 Ann Arbor politics grilled to perfection. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:11:43 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Janelle Baranowski http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700&cpage=1#comment-1298 Janelle Baranowski Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:35:40 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700#comment-1298 Yale89, The TIF agreement goes until 2018 so we've still got a good long time with the LDFA. http://www.a2gov.org/government/financeadminservices/smartzone/Documents/SmartZone_LDFA%20TIFA%20Plan.pdf Yale89, The TIF agreement goes until 2018 so we’ve still got a good long time with the LDFA.

http://www.a2gov.org/government/financeadminservices/smartzone/Documents/SmartZone_LDFA%20TIFA%20Plan.pdf

]]> By: Yale89 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700&cpage=1#comment-1256 Yale89 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:03:08 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700#comment-1256 Panhandling! What a perfect analogy. Well done, A2P. Eventually the LDFA will find itself at the end of its TIF agreement, and perhaps then it would be the moment to push for the entity to be dissolved. Panhandling! What a perfect analogy. Well done, A2P. Eventually the LDFA will find itself at the end of its TIF agreement, and perhaps then it would be the moment to push for the entity to be dissolved.

]]> By: A2 Politico http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700&cpage=1#comment-1177 A2 Politico Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:53:20 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700#comment-1177 Vivienne is referring to, of course, the money recently allocated by County Commissioners (all four of Ann Arbor's County Commissioners voted in favor of the allocation) for "economic development." I wrote about it: "Washtenaw County Commissioners to County Residents: Voting on New Taxes Is For Pantywaists" (http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1448) "A2, Have a Funny Feeling? It’s County Commissioner Conan Smith’s Hand in Your Pocket" (http://www.a2politico.com/?p=982) "Guenzel and Gunn Propose Economic Development Millage To Fund….Director of Economic Development & SPARK" (http://www.a2politico.com/?p=359) Vivienne is referring to, of course, the money recently allocated by County Commissioners (all four of Ann Arbor’s County Commissioners voted in favor of the allocation) for “economic development.” I wrote about it:

“Washtenaw County Commissioners to County Residents: Voting on New Taxes Is For Pantywaists” (http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1448)

“A2, Have a Funny Feeling? It’s County Commissioner Conan Smith’s Hand in Your Pocket” (http://www.a2politico.com/?p=982)

“Guenzel and Gunn Propose Economic Development Millage To Fund….Director of Economic Development & SPARK” (http://www.a2politico.com/?p=359)

]]> By: Vivienne Armentrout http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700&cpage=1#comment-1176 Vivienne Armentrout Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:33:46 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700#comment-1176 Don't forget the county's allocation of $250,000 to SPARK and SPARK EAST. Don’t forget the county’s allocation of $250,000 to SPARK and SPARK EAST.

]]> By: Janelle Baranowski http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700&cpage=1#comment-1161 Janelle Baranowski Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:25:20 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700#comment-1161 I'm going to put a call out on my blog to Ryan Stanton of annarbor.com to write an article that details the funding of Spark. I worked for a few days on a chart that would show where the money comes from, how it is funded, special interests, etc. but it was way to convoluted for me to continue. It's a full-time job and I already have one. According to Spark, 600+ jobs have been created in the area (which, as admitted, probably would have been created without Spark.) Yet their budget in 2009 is almost $3 Million. Assuming that 200 jobs wouldn't have been created without Spark (and the money that would have been saved by the City, County, and State), it can be argued that it's possible the money would have been better spent retaining government workers. Maybe then my road would be scraped. This is only food for thought. Janelle www.some-other-viewpoint.blogspot.com I’m going to put a call out on my blog to Ryan Stanton of annarbor.com to write an article that details the funding of Spark. I worked for a few days on a chart that would show where the money comes from, how it is funded, special interests, etc. but it was way to convoluted for me to continue. It’s a full-time job and I already have one.

According to Spark, 600+ jobs have been created in the area (which, as admitted, probably would have been created without Spark.) Yet their budget in 2009 is almost $3 Million. Assuming that 200 jobs wouldn’t have been created without Spark (and the money that would have been saved by the City, County, and State), it can be argued that it’s possible the money would have been better spent retaining government workers. Maybe then my road would be scraped. This is only food for thought.

Janelle
http://www.some-other-viewpoint.blogspot.com

]]> By: A2GOP http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700&cpage=1#comment-1157 A2GOP Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:11:17 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700#comment-1157 Looks like someone is saying it out loud, and it is about time. Economic development is too important to leave to the people who back SPARK. Looks like someone is saying it out loud, and it is about time. Economic development is too important to leave to the people who back SPARK.

]]> By: digs http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700&cpage=1#comment-1156 digs Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:25:06 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700#comment-1156 Yep, those in the know share the belief that SPARK is a freeloading outfit that does, well, put on events and nothing more. But no one can say it out loud because the panhandler you bite today might be your streetcorner buddy tomorrow. Yep, those in the know share the belief that SPARK is a freeloading outfit that does, well, put on events and nothing more. But no one can say it out loud because the panhandler you bite today might be your streetcorner buddy tomorrow.

]]> By: SBean http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700&cpage=1#comment-1153 SBean Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:01:52 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700#comment-1153 Interesting. I commented today on a related thread on Arbor Update regarding the city's tax abatement policy. We seem to have (at least) two types of carrots for attracting new businesses. The focus of SPARK seems to be on job creation, but are business success and job retention more valuable metrics? And does SPARK provide services to improve those? This current request for additional funds doesn't sound like it's targeted at them, but I haven't read the source text yet. Interesting. I commented today on a related thread on Arbor Update regarding the city’s tax abatement policy. We seem to have (at least) two types of carrots for attracting new businesses.

The focus of SPARK seems to be on job creation, but are business success and job retention more valuable metrics? And does SPARK provide services to improve those? This current request for additional funds doesn’t sound like it’s targeted at them, but I haven’t read the source text yet.

]]> By: Janelle Baranowski http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700&cpage=1#comment-1152 Janelle Baranowski Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:59:36 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=1700#comment-1152 The more I research about Spark the angrier I get. I attended one of the programs about marketing. It consisted of three or four reps from marketing/advertising firms basically trying to sell their services. The more I research about Spark the angrier I get. I attended one of the programs about marketing. It consisted of three or four reps from marketing/advertising firms basically trying to sell their services.

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