Ouch. That's got to hurt. I speak of the enormous chip on City Council's shoulder. Said chip apparently requires ten members of City Council to bend over and give Caterpillar whatever it wants whenever it wants it. Hey, Guys (and Gal) ask yourselves, "If the City were to have a referendum asking Joe and Joan Blow Taxpayer to help chip in for a museum- let alone a hoity underground city owned but not operated parking garage, would such a measure pass?" NO! IT WOULD NOT! WHY WOULD WE GIVE A TIF TO CAT, OF ALL COMPANIES?! It's not like CAT is going down the toilet with GM, Delphi, or most airlines.
You know the only guaranteed profitable, crowd pleasing, major draw and attraction of the museum will be? The CAT center. You know why? Very few people would be motivated to turn off a re-run of Saved By The Bell in order to take an in depth tour about Peoria. Might be sad, but it is true. Now, getting one off his or her lard ass to take little Junior down to the CAT center to play with virtual tractors... Now, that's a good time! Get to use my new camcorder too! In fact, I would like to book Junior's tenth birthday party now, thanks. Lil Junior will be the envy of Peoria Academy, I tell you. Er... but I digress.
Why can't we build what we can afford ("we" defined as the very profitable company that is CATERPILLAR), and then and if it turns out to be the overnight, stunning sensation/success everyone ("everyone" defined as a handful of CAT executives and local politicians) says it will be, add on to it?
If CAT wants a friggin visitor's Center, and frankly I don't blame them- big tractors and dump trucks are really cool, plus John Deere has a "pavilion"- why do they need tax money/TIFs to do it? They don't. But what the hell, why not ask?
When I turned sixteen I asked my parents for a new car. What warm, happy memories I had of that conversation as I rode my bike to my job at McDonald's for the next two years. Nothing wrong with asking. Can't hurt, right? My parents still have a chuckle at my expense now and then. "Remember that time when Pol asked for a new car? Just because she was 16 and wanted one? What a crazy kid. Thought she was dropping acid for sure."
It does hurt when CAT asks for fluff because the City gives and taxpayers fund this unnecessary crap while schools and sidewalks crumble and Peoria's most dangerous neighborhoods continue to spiral downward. After tonight, does anyone really think we won't be subsidizing a swank hotel?
I'm thinking most of City Council must be toking it up with the majority of the School Board. Did you ever wonder what became of the Stoners at your high school? Now you know. They "grew up," got elected, and for some bizarre reason they are still desperately trying to please/suck up to the popular/rich kids. Puke.
Did everyone remember to renew their memberships at the Riverplex? Yeah, that's what I thought.
4 comments:
You speak many words of wisdom Polly. Your theory that our city council is on dope could be applicable. But it begs the question for all elected officials nowdays; are any of these guys on the take (with Cat)?
I certainly hope not. Just thought I'd throw that out.
dude,
I'm beginning to wonder the same thing. I didn't post that theory because such a possiblity is even uglier and more disappointing than the thought of the entire city council having a bong party with the entire school board.
How much did the Riverplex cost again? Oh yea, a small 30 million. Hey, Cat Exec's do need a place to work out Polly. Good Article.
All that money spent at the riverplex and they rufused to entertain the thought of making the pool a legal competition pool. They said at the time that the club would be too exclusive to host swim meets as the members would not tolerate not having access to the pool during a weekend meet. Well they built it so that it would not be legal depth to avoid the question of rental as a premier venue for these type of activities. Now they rent the place for garage sales and every other type of tournament, A swim meeet usually generates 12 to 16 thousand dollars in a weekend, talk about being short-sighted. Just one example of bad planing leading to the current negative cash flow situation. I know it is is just one example and limited to swimming but I was involved in the process at the time and was floored by the lack of foresight on the part of the park district.
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