BILLIONAIRE BAIL-OUT SLIPS THROUGH

Just for the record, folks, the Grand Rapids City Commission (with only Commissioner Jendrasiak dissenting) quietly caved into Amway-founder Rich DeVos and approved a $5 million tax subsidy for his new hotel project at the corner of Pearl and Campau downtown.  Instead of DeVos and his fellow developers picking up the tab for the public infrastructure changes and additions their project requires, we taxpayers through the Downtown Development Authority get to pay.  Plus this subsidy qualifies DeVos and crew for nearly $6 million in relief from the state's Single Business Tax.

Exactly what good any of this does for us the taxpayers is unclear.  As a business proposition a new hotel downtown is a shaky one with vacancy already running nearly 50% for existing lodging in and around downtown.  Indeed, DeVos's hacks admitted that the hotel project probably wouldn't be viable without the tax subsidies.  So that was our problem to fix for this alleged billionaire?  Because DeVos couldn't be sure to turn a profit on the deal, the City Commission felt obligated to pledge our hard-earned tax dollars in the middle of a budget crisis that threatens to shut down public pools and fire firemen to help this pyramid builder into the black?  This would be absurd were it not for the fact that important City services will be axed because of the mismanagement of existing tax dollars.

At least this should put to end once and for all the tripe that Rich DeVos is a great benefactor to Grand Rapids.  If he in fact has that $3 billion fortune Forbes magazine has attributed to him, how in good conscious could he lean on City taxpayers to subsidize a business deal?  That five million dollars in City tax subsidies will cost us a whole more than it would DeVos if he truly is a billionaire.

It should also highlight the Grand Rapids Press is little better than a flack for the players in town that publisher Danny Gaydou loves to suck up to.  The Press's editorial fawning over DeVos and his hotel project was bad enough, but did any of you even notice an article in that rag reporting the City Commission's approval of the tax subsidy?  Like the way the Press evaded reporting the deep opposition to the hotel subsidy, it gave us no word of the Commission's final vote other than the standard public record notice tucked in with all the other notices issued by the surrounding suburbs and townships.

Certainly a slippery way of doing business when our elected leaders fork over millions of our dollars to a billionaire and the town's watchdog doesn't let out a whimper when it happens.

Comments

[Dan Rockford]

What?! The PRESS failed to report on this? Who woulda thunk!!!! When I want news the Press is actually the last place I go to. I find its reporting weak to say the least. I have yet to read in the rag a description of the perps that killed the lady at Meijers...oh well thats another story...
As for 5 million for the amway/alticor towers? Let me say again...WHO WOULDA THUNK! Well I damn well knew they would pass it. Jendrasiak is again the only voice in the wilderness down there, three cheers for him!!!
Again, does anyone wonder why GRR is becoming a wastland of abandond buildings and rentals? I sure DO NOT.
We're going on the wreckless trail that Detroit and Flint have already blazed and have not learned a damn thing. Schools, infrastructure, fire and police protection crumble but downtown has nice buildings and some damn nice signs.
Dano in Rockford

[The Executive Director]

Amen, Dan. I wish I could dissuade you of your concern about Grand Rapids following the trail blazed by Detroit and Flint, but so long as General George is leading the charge, it's hard to be optimistic.

Regards,
Bill