Muleskinners and LWV

It has been an exciting and interesting week. I really enjoy the forums and I actually wish they would last longer. I feel that I have really distinguished myself at the forums with my confidence and clear responses. When I committed to running for office I made a pledge to be honest and never dodge a question. I feel the citizens should know where their elected representatives stand on issues. I was the candidate that spoke out against the use of eminent domain to acquire the downtown businesses. Let us be clear, those businesses are not blighted. While I am not a legal expert I have discussed the issue with a few lawyers. They all agree the city does not have a case. I want the historical society in Columbia. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to approach this. I believe the owners would be willing to sell at a premium. I think the city should step back and allow the Historical Society raise the funds for the property. The city and I both want a vibrant down town. In order to achieve this investors need to have the confidence that the city will not take their personal property if they locate to Columbia. I was the only candidate to speak out against the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) for the Tiger Hotel. I have done my homework on these projects. The Tiger Hotel failed to work when it first opened. Then the owner tried to turn it into a home for the elderly. He was given historical funds for renovation. That venture failed also. Now at an estimated cost of 1.7 million he wants to try and make it work as a hotel again. I say estimated because here is a quote from the tribune. “These numbers could change substantially,” Grimm cautioned commissioners about cost estimates in the applications. “A lot of the numbers will change, but the text won’t change, so look over that.” Now ask yourself should a candidate agree to fund this TIF project when the Tiger hotel doesn’t have a positive track record? Do you think it is a good decision to commit to any funding of any project when you do not know the total cost? Our schools are in a budgetary crisis. The impacts of these lost revenues will be devastating to our schools. We would be forced to make even more cuts. It is time to elect officials who will weigh the impacts of city decisions on our schools.