5 comments:

• Doug Chaney posted at 11:27 am on Tue, Jan 25, 2011.

  Posts: 1232

  Mr. Bitz, worse yet, the treatment plant was originally to be funded by developer fees. Now that Hnsen, Johnson and Katzakian pushed it through early, we citizens are stuck with that $40,000,000+ bill and the developers, like Mr. Gillespie, Doucette, Munson, Kim Family Properies, Katzakian and Browman, among others, will pocket that $40,000,000 for themselves in pure profit.

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• roy bitz posted at 9:55 pm on Mon, Jan 24, 2011.

  Posts: 479

  Enterprise zones---redevelopment projects---these are "tools" that empower our three city council gentlemen to spend tax dollars as they wish. No public voting---no accountability.
  There is an excellent article in the print issue of the Sentinel today regarding redevelopment agencies. Not exactly the same as enterprise zones but not so different either. It is relevant and loaded with enlightening comments on the issue of waste.
  We will soon have a "bridge to nowhere" here in Lodi--thanks to our three gentle councilmen. It will be know as the "treat and drink" water treatment plant. It will drain tens of millions from rate payers over the years---for not good reason.

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• Doug Chaney posted at 5:02 pm on Sun, Jan 23, 2011.

  Posts: 1232

  Mr. Bitz, the enterprise zone was just "tweaked" here in Lodi to accomodate the Lodi Nut Co., therefore giving them tax breaks from the fed government pig trough and the perks provided by the city, usually massive electric rate cuts, utility rate breaks,ssome even subsidizing their rents for at least the first year , and maybe even courtesy concierge service?

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• Darrell Baumbach posted at 5:36 am on Sun, Jan 23, 2011.

  Posts: 9403

  01. Should businesses succeed or fail based on their own efforts or should some get a "hand up" from tax payers via favorable tax rules
  • Response… In theory, businesses should succeed or fail based on their own efforts… unfortunately, there are variables that influence the outcome of success/failure independent of effort. Government regulations, mandates, red tape, political interference, laws and regulations that hamstring entities, and other considerations that businesses cannot control or have a say so in, influence the outcome… so should tax payers have to pay… I do not think so… unless the people paying the taxes think it’s a good idea.

  
  • 02. Is it the job of government---local--state-- or federal-- to decide which businesses will be awarded tax dollars?
  I think it is the governments job… but if it is, the criteria it uses should somehow be based on merit and not politics.
  

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• roy bitz posted at 8:52 pm on Sat, Jan 22, 2011.

  Posts: 479

  Are enterprise zones good for all businesses or just those our politicians favor?

  Should businesses succeed or fail based on their own efforts or should some get a "hand up" from tax payers via favorable tax rules?

  Is it the job of government---local--state-- or federal-- to decide which businesses will be awarded tax dollars?

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