Wednesday, April 18, 2012 | 3:42 p.m.
If you want to see a great example of how local governments shovel away millions of tax dollars, give developers whatever they want (and more) and ignore the experts on the public payroll who tell them not to waste their constituents’ money, I urge you to watch today’s Las Vegas City Council meeting and the approval of the McHawk project.
I warn you: Do it before you eat anything. It is hard to stomach the rank phoniness, the choreographed softballs and the blithe taxpayer giveaway.
I have already given you the background: Two former Las Vegas city councilmen -- Michael McDonald and Frank Hawkins -- who left office in disgrace proposed a project just northwest of downtown that city redevelopment experts ripped apart in one of the more brutal staff reports I have ever seen, essentially saying the terms of the deal were an unprecedented giveaway to a developer. $4 million. 75 years on a lease for $1.
The argument presented for public consumption – this was a done deal from the git-go -- essentially was this: This is a blighted piece of property, so let’s let these fine fellows give it a shot.
Really?
Some highlights:
McDonald said very little, except to kid on the square that he is the developer “with no experience.” Where is the laugh track for council meetings?
Hawkins was confident (he has done some successful projects) and defensive, at one point obliquely attacking me for slanting coverage and at another fearing if a report were “leaked to the press” there might be “character assassination.” Seriously?
Redevelopment boss Bill Arent, his usual low-key self, made the case against the project, but, clearly seeing the done deal, tried to get conditions attached before the vote. When asked if the redevelopment funds would disappear if they didn’t give them away to the two former councilmen, Arent said there is “no deadline” and, “We’d love for good projects to invest in.”
And he clearly didn’t think this one was a good one.
Councilman Steve Ross was the most puffed up, essentially sounding liking a lobbyist for the project. “It bothers me that nothing is happening on this parcel…nothing is going to happen unless it comes from us…let’s move on.” And later: “We got a fish on the line here. We want to reel them in.”
Said the fish with the hook in his mouth to the fishermen.
Ross also claimed “there has been controversy over the fact that these men are previous city councilmen.” Um, no there hasn’t. There’s been controversy over two guys with questionable track records AS city councilmen are presenting a deal that looks like a taxpayer-draining joke.
More Ross: “If we don’t give them an opportunity to perform…we can cut our losses and we’ve got to move on…for this community, for our aging population, I’m willing to take that risk.”
With your money, taxpayers.
Thank God this man was not recalled.
Hawkins revealed that he intends to become a partner in future phases of the project – McDonald defaulted on a previous project on the site.
Gushed Goodman: “Your track record is hard to argue with.”
Really? Then why the $4 million handout?
But perhaps the most outrageous and patronizing performance came from Councilman Ricki Barlow, who began by asking Arent – I kid you not: “Can you explain for us the purpose of a redevelopment agency?”
Seriously? Gee, councilman, what are you getting at?
It continued like this for a few minutes as McDonald’s main lobbyist on the council tried to set the predicate for making the motion to approve the project by asking the most insipid and leading questions imaginable of poor Arent, whom he treated like a child.
Barlow then tried to show that he is better at math than the experts to try to make the subsidy sound less outrageous. (I have posted some staff documents at right to show how bad the deal is and what McDonald’s track record is.)
Barlow: “Someone leaked to the media…..information out in the media is inaccurate.” The only information in the media was generated by the city staff, and Barlow didn’t like it getting out because it didn’t make the case for his juiced-in project.
Pathetic.
Arent pointed out that Barlow was wrong – good for him – but he had to know that Barlow and company already had made up their minds to juice in the McHawk project.
(To her credit, City Manager Betsy Fretwell stood up for Arent.)
Barlow tried all kinds of misdirection and sophistry to change the subject from what it should have been: Whether this was a good deal for taxpayers.
Barlow: “I am very passionate when it comes to lifting up communities…I represent an area that is very (sic) unique.” Barlow answered “media and pundits” who criticized, saying “this is my community….if that means I have to spend a little bit more money in order to bring up a blighted site, then so be it.”
Anyone else getting a little teary?
Suddenly, though, the truth bug bit Barlow: “The question is not the redevelopment area and the dollars that we spend the question is that Michael McDonald hasn’t produced anything.” Um, yeah – after seven years!
But Barlow credited McDonald for getting Hawkins, who has a track record, and made the motion for approval.
Coffin chimed in: “I wonder if any other council persons are perplexed by the lack of information on this.”
Apparently not.
Oh, and what of the city’s newest fiscal conservative, Bob Beers. What did he say during the discussion toward the end? Nada.
Priceless Coffin rejoinder to Hawkins on not meeting him: “I talked to Michael and he couldn’t explain the project. He said you could.”
Nice byplay between Coffin and Goodman at the end, too:
Coffin: “May we speak on the motion, your honor, before we cast our votes?”
Goodman: “Just briefly, please.”
Coffin: “You’ve done this before. You’ve suggested I limit my remarks before I vote. And it’s inappropriate….”
Goodman: “No, no, no. I wasn’t being rude. It’s just you’ve had the opportunities before. I respect you and I respect your opinion…we have been here now an hour and a half.”
More Coffin: “I think the price is too high…The staff is correct. They’re the professionals. They think commercial is a better use…This hasn’t even gone out to bid.”
Goodman rhetorically patted Coffin on the head a few more times and then:
6-1. As it was preordained.
A McHawk on every corner!
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