The local progressive/socialist crowd has had near total control of Greensboro's municipal government for several years. And it is increasing its level of control very shortly courtesy of the election results earlier this month.
What are the results thus far? A record number of homicides. Rampant poverty. Massive underemployment, especially in minority communities. A white middle class that has been fleeing for greener pastures for years. An inability to compete for new or relocated corporate jobs.
What is the latest boondoggle advanced by the city of Greensboro?
The city is proposing to build two parking decks costing $56 million to facilitate the development of two hotels to be owned by ruling class political donors. One of these, Roy Carroll, is an establishment Republican. The other, Randall Kaplan, is a Democrat who has hosted Bill Clinton in his home during the most recent presidential campaign cycle.
Ethics, shmethics.
This is being proposed even though there is no documented, major increased need for hotel space downtown or in the city of Greensboro proper.
It is being advanced even though the city has been loathe to present and defend any data proving that parking revenues will cover the expense, and that other hotels will not be hurt by the new private hotels to be effectively funded by city government and the taxpayers.
Yes, this project very much serves the financial self-interest of those owning and promoting downtown real estate. But in a wider sense, it also is a reflection of the downtown idolatry we have been witnessing locally, at great expense, for more than a decade. The local political culture has assiduously created an idol, and demanded that we worship it. We were told it was going to lure business to Greensboro.
Has it worked as of yet?
Alas, it does not matter, because this is the Politically Virtuous City.
"It is being advanced even though the city has been loathe to present and defend any data proving that parking revenues will cover the expense...".
Yes and no. Economic impact studies, based on an econometric study, which are funded by the same author of the project (parking deck in this example), are the quintessential home of confirmation bias.
It is few and far between where one would see an economic impact study, sponsored by the author of the project, stating: Oh no! Don't do it!
Then again, in hindsight, the gazillion boondoggles imagined by politicos over the years and across the nation, that in the end lose money year after year at taxpayer expense, were in the main and upon normal occasion, accompanied by an economic impact study that painted the rosiest of pictures.
Posted by: William Heasley | 11/29/2017 at 11:33 PM
I agree, Bill. You are absolutely right.
Posted by: Triad Conservative | 11/30/2017 at 07:02 AM
"Economic impact studies, based on an econometric study, which are funded by the same author of the project (parking deck in this example), are the quintessential home of confirmation bias."
And that's the way "business as usual" is always practiced in Greensboro, Our Fair City.
Posted by: Bob Grenier | 12/03/2017 at 05:05 PM
Yep.
Posted by: Triad Conservative | 12/03/2017 at 05:28 PM