Voice For Liberty

Tag: Wichita city council

  • Remarks to Wichita City Council, April 1, 2008

    By asking for the TIF financing, developers are sending us a signal that without the special tax favor, their project would not be economically feasible. They evidently have judged that it would not be profitable. They must feel that they will not be able to sell or rent at prices that will cover their costs…

  • Testimony on the Wichita New Communities initiative

    I am a Wichita area real estate broker and developer, and I am here to speak as a private citizen. I speak in opposition to the city’s $250,000 Funding proposal for the current New Communities Initiative Area, because I believe this program in reality, represents the resurrection of the failed government Urban Renewal housing programs…

  • Tax increment financing in Wichita benefits few

    How does a TIF district work? The Wichita Eagle reported: “A TIF district doesn’t cost local governments any existing tax money. It takes property taxes paid on new construction that would ordinarily go into government coffers and redirects it to the bond holders who are financing the project.”

  • Consider carefully costs of a new Wichita airport terminal

    As Wichita considers building a new terminal at its airport, we should pause to consider the effect an expensive new terminal would have on the cost of traveling to and from Wichita, and by extension, the economic health and vitality of our town.

  • Wichita City Council Meeting, April 19, 2005

    I was startled to hear this information, that the new contract has no dollar cap, as this has not been, in my memory, reported. It has been reported that AirTran sought a no-cap contract, but that Wichita would not agree to that. But it turns out that the city has agreed to what, in effect,…

  • Poetry: Welcome New Council Members

    WELCOME NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS I AM OLD AND SICK AND GETTING GRAYI DON’T KNOW WHERE I WILL GET THE MONEY THAT THE CITY WANTS ME TO PAY

  • Open letter to Wichita City Council regarding AirTran subsidy

    I am writing to express my concern about the upcoming renewal of the subsidy being paid to AirTran Airways. You may recall that I appeared before the Council last May and spoke in opposition to the subsidy. Since then I have learned more about the Fair Fares program.

  • Remarks to City Council, May 11, 2004, Regarding AirTran Airways Subsidy

    I delivered these remarks to the Wichita City Council as they were preparing to vote on extending AirTran Airway’s subsidy for another two years. The extension passed with only one dissenting vote. Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council: I speak today in opposition to the continuation of the subsidy the City is paying to AirTran…