Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Is Jackson becoming Cleveland?

The Jackson Redevelopment Authority managed to sell $9 million of bonds to finance the construction of a Westin Hotel in downtown Jackson.  The city was even nice enough to guarantee the bonds in a 2014 contribution agreement.  However, JRA is also seeking bids for the construction of a convention center hotel.  Everyone loves a construction party.  However, a former USA Today reporter pointed out in a recent Wall Street Journal column how Cleveland has gone down this path  and reaaaally put itself  on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars in debt. Dennis Cauchin writes:


This year’s Republican National Convention will be an all-you-can-eat irony buffet. In two weeks a putatively free-market-loving party seems set to nominate a protectionist candidate and former Democrat for president. An extra twist is where many delegates, party leaders and journalists will stay: a glimmering, new $276 million convention-center hotel owned and financed entirely by taxpayers.



The 32-story Hilton Cleveland Downtown, which opened June 1, boasts 600 rooms and 50,000 square feet of meeting space. A quick walk from the GOP’s main stage at Quicken Loans Arena, where LeBron and his championship Cavaliers play, the hotel is a grand, glass-faced skyscraper overlooking Lake Erie and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Yet despite its name, the Hilton hotel company doesn’t own the Hilton Cleveland Downtown. Instead, the hotelier is hired help, employed for its brand name and expertise. The true owner is Cuyahoga County, via a lease-purchase agreement with the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority. Taxpayers are 100% responsible for its $276 million cost and the financial risk attached to its general-obligation debt.

When Cleveland bid in 2014 for the Republican and Democratic conventions, taxpayers had already financed a mammoth expansion of the city’s convention center. But an attached hotel was urgently needed to close the deal, and helped elevate Cleveland over Dallas, the other finalist. After touring Cleveland for a final time in 2014, Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus praised the city’s “hunger, commitment and just the willingness to do whatever it takes to make this work.”

The county built the hotel because private firms weren’t interested. “Private developers,” the Plain Dealer reported, “expressed little interest in building anything but parking on the project site.”

Rejected in the marketplace, county officials recast the hotel proposal as a reflection of government’s “entrepreneurial spirit”—as the county’s top executive put it at the groundbreaking. In the old days, this might have been called socialism or a public-works project. Today, it’s called economic development.

Many cities subsidize convention centers, even attached hotels. But few places have been as systematic about a government-driven economy as Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. Seemingly every major building, business and institution in northern Ohio receives political favors—tax abatements, sales-tax forgiveness, direct subsidies, tax-exempt financing and so on—that benefit established interests at the expense of ordinary residents, workers and entrepreneurs.

The 20-block area surrounding the Downtown Cleveland Hilton should be called the “Government Subsidy District.” The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has received more than $125 million in support from state and local government since it opened in 1995, according to the free-market Buckeye Institute (where I once worked). The three professional sports stadiums—where the Cavs, Browns and Indians play—all were (and are) government projects. Next to the convention hall, the grandly named Global Center for Health Innovation—225,000 square feet of county-owned office space constructed with the same tax hike that built the Hilton—has failed to meet leasing or revenue projections since its 2013 opening.

What Cuyahoga County does have is lots of taxes, regulations and union rules designed to protect high-wage workers. Cleveland’s Democratic mayor, Frank Jackson, wants to raise the municipal income tax—paid even by commuters who work in the city but live elsewhere—to 2.5% from 2%. Unions are pushing for a city ballot initiative to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, far above Ohio’s $8.10. On top of all that, the total sales tax in Cuyahoga County, 8%, is Ohio’s highest.

Much of the money for convention projects comes from a specially designated quarter-cent sales tax passed in 2007, which brings in about $40 million annually. Yet that’s still not enough to cover the costs. The city is kicking in tax revenue from downtown’s Jack Cleveland Casino. The 5.5% county bed tax paid by Hilton guests will be diverted to hotel debt, as will the property taxes it pays, except those for public education.

To politicians’ credit, the hotel was completed on time, on budget and scandal-free. If all goes well, Cuyahoga County thinks it can pay off the debt after 30 years, let the sales-tax increase expire on schedule in 2027, and in the meantime make a small annual profit. What could possibly go wrong?

Mr. Cauchon, a former national reporter for USA Today, lives in Granville, Ohio.

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

Temporary or time-specific taxes are NEVER temporary or time-specific.

Anonymous said...

Wasn't it just about five years ago they finally killed the tax levied to finance the Spanish-American War? Wasn't it a tax on that new-fangled doohickey "the telephone" from the late 19th century?

Anonymous said...

as a life long resident of Jackson, and one who recalls shopping downtown on a regular basis, and one who believes their is significantly more good people than bad in this city, but "oh boy" the bad people are really bad!!!! This is concerning b/c our elected officials (no need in using the term political leadership as we are devoid of leadership) show no signs of bearing these cautionary signs. The city of Jackson has no development plan, has no desire to use it's capabilities as a municipality to improve development, urge development, provide for proper coding and restrictions that allow proper development and protect neighborhoods. It is a shoot from the hip, screw the residential, build another gas station / cvs / walgreens / dollar general and lets get that 1/4 of a million in sales tax revenue, mentality. The property manager of the shopping center next to the Chic-Fil-A on County Line is in the process of putting in a Burlington's......the city has allowed all street trees to be cut down alongside County Line, ruining the street scape, even though from the street, no signage would have been blocked, and while they have re-landscaped all the parking islands, they are miniature plantings and it is now visually 2 football fields of parking, and what was once a nice thoroughfare is now obviously destined to take on the worn out and run down appearance of all the other old strip malls in the 3 county area (YES, they exist in all 3 counties). I simply can not help but wonder when they will realize that throwing everything at deterring crime in conjunction with deciding that they are a municipality with time and zoning on their side, will the city finally show signs of a true desire to be a legitimate place of business and residence.

Anonymous said...

At least Cleveland isn't Detroit, but it still stinks.

Anonymous said...

First--let me say that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should be in Memphis--not Cleveland.

I've been to Cleveland. There's only two reasons to go-the above mentioned Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is one of them. Watching the Cavaliers is the other.

It's like Detroit--brownfields, crime, pawn shops, payday loans, booze stores...AND it has a bunch of hipsters who live in a very sanitized downtown area who completely ignore the plight of the other 90% of the city.



Anonymous said...

9:58....Be honest now. You "ignore the plight of the other 90%" of Jackson don't you? Be honest...

Reed said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

If thie issue is whether governments should dole out cash for economic development that would not otherwise occur, is Jqckson becoming Pearll with its taxpayer-purchased stadium and outlet mall? Or Ridgeland, with it taxpayer-purchased "lifestyle center?"

No, taxpayers should not be footing this bill. Let the market decide, assuming capitalism is still okay.

Anonymous said...

Is the convention center still open?

Anonymous said...

@ 10:32.....I don't think anyone should blame you for moving, it is your choice and right to do what you feel is best for you and your family. You should never be judged on such.

concerning the racial make-up of Fondren, whatever it may be, "Fondren's First Thursday" always show a good mix of races that our out to support the area. I see the same when I shop @ McDades, Cups, Rooster's, Pig and Pint.......frankly, it is what it is, and will work itself out as long as the area has an appeal to people, and there is obviously a desire for a neighborhood in a urban setting that allows for certain amenities to be w/in a reasonable walking distance. Fondren, it's environment, it's commercial make-up and opportunities have proved themselves desirable and sustainable to many groups.

fondren garage is nothing more than a glaring example of the failure of this city to get up to speed on developmental codes / zoning / ordinances that work together wrong commercial and residential, allowing for proper "buffers" to exist b/w the 2. This is a total failure on the part of the city, and the result that played out the other week in the news and council meeting is a direct result of the cities deficiency in the areas of development

Anonymous said...

@ 9:39am

Well said.

Glad the discussion on this thread is productive compared to what you see on WLBT, WAPT Facebook posts in regards to all things Jackson.

Mississippi needs a strong Jackson to show the rest of the country we have evolved past the civil rights era.

Anonymous said...

I'm beginning to wonder if Jackson even matters to other areas in Mississippi. The coast could care less. North Mississippi could care less. In and out traffic is common place when folks have better choices to live. The rest of Mississippi seems to be doing just fine without Jackson.

Anonymous said...

Go back to your dark basement, 4:38. Are you also 11:10? Yes, of course, the Convention Center is wide open for business.
1:27 is absolutely right. We must have a strong Jackson.

Anonymous said...

The coast would really like to split off from Ms. Anything north of I10 is completely different than the coast.

Anonymous said...

Jackson doesn't matter. Jackson is lost.

Anonymous said...

The city of Shreveport has a Hilton and a convention center. Big money losers

/look west, Jackson....see you financial destiny.

/who the hell would ever come to Jackson for a convention?

Anonymous said...

Can someone name a convention that has come to Jackson? I don't mean some state agency that is using the facility. I'm talking about a private company or trade organization that reaches beyond the borders of the state.

Has a regional organization chosen Jackson over New Orleans, Memphis, Destin, etc. for a major, week-long event yet? Have we scored a single big event for a concern not based in Mississippi?

This is not a rhetorical question. I seriously am unaware of a single big convention that has picked Jackson as its destination over other cities. I'd be interested to know if the CVB has pulled anyone into the city.

It's been open for seven years. Isn't it about time we see at least one big convention in our "convention" center?

Anonymous said...

4:38: Mississippi is Jackson. It's the only state in the region with a shrinking population and a stagnant economy. You're welcome for Jackson and it's ability to provide a smokescreen.

Anonymous said...

10:51 pm There is an event's calendar posted each month.
In August, it will host some of the Rhythm and Blues Festival.
The Mississippi Marathon uses the Convention Center as do some of our larger businesses and organizations.
The fact is that there is only one other Convention Center large enough to hold some events and that is in Biloxi which is not centrally located.
I have been involved with events for some regional and national organizations who want to consider Jackson ( often because the head of their organization is involved in the leadership) and aside from the casinos, none of Mississippi's large event spaces have sufficient adjacent hotel accommodations. People coming to large events want to be able to walk to the meetings/ activities. They do NOT want to park and drive after travelling.
The entire State needs this Convention Center to work because it's the most feasible spot to pull off adequate hotel room space to compete for bidding on large conventions.

Anonymous said...

@ 5:26pm

You really are telling the truth. The Mississippi Gulf Coast has better restaurants, the shopping is a little better - its seems like its the most progressive part of the state. Makes you wonder how the hell they elected Palazzo?

North Mississippi ala Shelby County is cheaper shopping for the Memphis residents and is the suburbs of Memphis, that's why they are sufficient.

However, the state operates out of Jackson - so go Jackson - so goes the rest of the state. Southaven, Biloxi, and Gulfport can only offset so much. They are not the largest municipalities the main draw will be Jackson, until one of those aforementioned municipalities can grow into a major attraction. Which none of them will considering the social politics of this state.

But the thing with Jackson, Southaven, Gulfport and Biloxi - they are pushing to make this state progressive, not regressive.

Anonymous said...

@ 8:06am

Well said. Conventions come to cities that can host and entertain to large numbers of people.

People scream they want businesses to thrive in Mississippi, but we can't survive at the rate the state is going.

We are losing people, that's sales revenues that go into businesses, that's tax revenues that go into educating our residents and maintaining our infrastructure.

The unnecessary self-imposed austerity measures taken by the legislature in the last 2 years, add in the lost of residents
to the state - will be detrimental to our short term fiscal future.

If we do not have another special session by September, because the state is short on revenues, will be a surprise?

Anonymous said...

In seven years all we have is some regional and national organizations who want to consider Jackson? Have there been any that actually used the convention center?

Anonymous said...

I agree with 8:06 on the statement that "people coming to large events want to be able to walk to the meetings/activities". So - lets say someone comes to downtown Jackson to scout out the place for a convention and meet with the convention staff. They would probably stay at one of the downtown hotels - the Hilton or the Marriott. What would their experience be today when they depart their hotel and walk around downtown? On Capital Street they would see the new beds along the sidewalk with weeds growing up in them. Then they would have to deal with their 2nd or 3rd panhandler asking for money. If they make the choice to walk under the rail line towards the Iron Horse at night they would have to run the gauntlet of the underpass with its darkness due to non-working wall pack lights, trash, broken glass, spray painted walls, pigeon crap and the over whelming smell of urine. Arriving via Amtrak would showcase the deplorable condition of the grounds and sidewalks at Union Station. Not a good first impression and possibly key to making a decision NOT to host a convention in downtown Jackson. The exact opposite experience is needed in order for the revitalization of downtown to succeed.

Anonymous said...

Mississippi is not losing population. That is false.

Anonymous said...

Mississippi may not be losing population, but, Jackson most certainly is.
Still waiting for 8:06 to name ONE private, regional organization to hold a convention in Jackson in the seven years the Convention Center has been open. Just name ONE.

Anonymous said...

10:51pm here. Looks like others want to know about the events just as I do, and I'm not seeing an answer.

A decade ago we were told we NEEDED a convention center to make Jackson a competitive city, so we built one. Now we're told we need a hotel. Once that's built, will we see a major convention hosted here?

And one big convention is a pretty damn low bar for success, in all honesty. If the American Bar Association chose Jackson as its destination and brought people in from around the country for a week and it was a big deal, but no one else came, would that make it a success? I know the CVB and DJP and the mayor's office would say so, but our standards should be higher.

One big win (which I don't believe we even have yet) is not a record of success. You can pull in one convention in ten years and then go back to roller derby and Dept of Education luncheons and be deemed a success. One big win in a decade is a record of failure, and we aren't even to that level yet.

So, I'm waiting along with others...what's the biggest score the CC has had in its seven year history?

Anonymous said...

I seems to recall a car show early on, but not much else at the CC. I know I went a Cisco training session, but it was in the smaller rooms upstairs. Only other thing I can recall is Top of the Hops, but it's been 2-3 years since it's come to Jackson. It still goes to the Biloxi though.

Anonymous said...

Mississippi has lost 25,000 more people than it has attracted since 2010. 90% are under 35. A vast majority of those have college degrees.

But MS is doing big well.

Anonymous said...

Of course the City of Jackson is losing population. That fact has been thoroughly documented here on JJ for nearly a decade. Nobody said otherwise.

Anonymous said...

No population loss huh?

Migration totals for 2014-15, per 1000:
National: 3.6
GA: 6.2
AL: 0.7
LA: 0.2
AR: 0.9
TN: 4.9
MS: -3.2

Anonymous said...

The Jackson convention center will never be a success. Jackson is a dirty, ill kept, and dangerous City and this is obvious to all visitors. Jackson should cut its losses, board up the convention center, and just let the bums live there like they do with so many other buildings downtown.

Anonymous said...

Jackson should cut its losses, board up the convention center, and just let the bums live there like they do with so many other buildings downtown.

But...but...but we have Parlor Market!

And great restaurants out the ass!

And a planetarium!

And waiting lists at the King Edward!

And Parlor Market!

And Smith Park!

And Roller Derby!

And Farish Street with BB King's coming!

And robots!

And...um...well...er...PARLOR MARKET!

Anonymous said...

@July 27, 2016 at 12:06 PM can't find their way out of statistical bag.

Anonymous said...

4:28: Are you saying the statistics are wrong? Need sources? We have those. I'll leave the interpretation to you whiz-kids who think the state is great while Jackson is the exception.

http://www.governing.com/topics/mgmt/gov-states-losing-population-census.html

Anonymous said...

@ 9:26am

Deny deny deny until you believe you are right? That's the problem with this state now, too many people deny the facts and supportive data of those facts. Its like people enjoy ignoring real issues in this state.

Anonymous said...

Mississippi is not losing population. Net migration offset by childbirths. Please go back to school and take a statistics course and also a course on reading comprehension.

Anonymous said...

6:58 We lost a Congressman after the last US Census. Please go back to school and learn to count.

Idiot.

PS As in most things, Mississippi ranks 50th. We MAY be adding population, but 49 other states are growing faster.

Anonymous said...

Anyone have any idea why Ms. would want to increase the population of the state? We are already a welfare state. Adding new people to the roles will not help the state.

Anonymous said...

6:58 We lost a Congressman after the last US Census.

You've disqualified yourself numbskull.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for clarifying that the fleeing educated are being replaced by babies. Very reassuring.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for clarifying @3:52 your idiocy.

Anonymous said...

9:44: You claim to be right, but you don't explain yourself because that would expose your faulty assertions. So, you call names, like some 14-year old playing Call of Duty. You're famous around here.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.