CIB - legal theft - only in America

Here we go again, the CIB, which plays a central role in the Downtown Ponzi scheme, needs a cash infusion from taxes and fees to keep the scheme going. Even before other elements of the scheme are fully realized (Convention Center expansion, J.W. Marriot), consideration is being given to sucking every forecasted dollar that can be shaken loose from these entities, by diverting any potential revenue to again prop up the financial machinations of the CIB and this Ponzi scheme. When will the insanity stop? Every dollar sucked into this bottomless pit for the amusement of some and the wealth of others is money diverted from either true needs of the public sector or potential growth and expansion of the “real economy” of the private sector. Tourism is a minor part of the overall economy. The idea that 66,000 jobs, as stated by some, will be severely impacted or disappear if we stop propping up the endless downtown boondoggle is ludicrous. First of all, those 66,000 jobs can not be and are not dependent on the downtown Ponzi scheme. In 2006, according to Stats Indiana (U.S Bureau of Economic Analysis), there are approximately 50,000 workers in Accommodations and Food Service in Marion County and 12,000 in Arts and Entertainment and Recreation, representing only 4% of the earnings of the Marion County workforce and 9% of the employees. The only result that would occur from not continuing to prop up the CIB would be the redistribution of any discretionary recreational dollars to other unsubsidized entities like our privately funded zoo.

While for some strange reason, the zoo can survive without tax dollars and continue to expand; supposedly it is unthinkable for the downtown convention and tourism industry to build its own facilities for this minor segment of the economy. If a convention center is necessary to facilitate meetings within a city, there is no reason that a consortium of hotels could not build, own and manage such a facility. Taxes should play no role in creating such a facility. And, of course, the same applies to sports facilities whose prime purpose is to enrich the wealthy team owners and leagues who have held our cities and our elected officials hostage for decades. This is particularly important since every reputable study (not the propaganda offered by the entities stealing your money) indicates that pro sports have little or not economic impact because for many reasons, including the substitution effect (people just spend their discretionary recreational dollars elsewhere). If their business model supports building a facility to enhance their revenue, then they should do it, with the help of their respective monopolistic leagues; it should not occur by extorting money from taxpayers. When taxes rise to increase the amount of public funds used for non-essential items, there is a decrease in the amount of public money available for essential services (basic infrastructure) and a reduction of private money to invest or spend in other ways that strengthen the economy. What results is the never-ending funding of a slew of projects that becomes accepted as standard operating procedure instead of clear evidence of misplaced priorities. If a city really wants to attract people to its city (to live and visit), it has to become a better city, but to become a better city it has to know what it is and what it wants to be and what it can be. It can not pretend to be something it is not without forever paying the costs.