by: Diane Benjamin
Mayor Transparency Renner has no clue how capitalism works. He prefers the crony kind. Businesses he wants to exist will, the others can survive on their own, or just die.
Renner wants a downtown hotel. He thinks people will want to rent rooms in a downtown that has to be power-washed every weekend. The Coliseum has very few events booked. Renner must think citizens will travel long distances, necessitating an over night stay, to see non-existent events. Somehow having a downtown hotel and convention center will support the Coliseum? Seriously?
Can we require a basic economics course for all elected officials?
It gets worse. Normal is now building their second hotel. The hotel that did exist at the corner of College and Veterans Parkway was demolished. The hotel on the access road east of Veterans at Route 9 was also demolished. The hotel on Route 51 north is still standing empty (I think-update me if I’m wrong). The City of Bloomington has a payment plan with the old Jumers because they got behind on taxes. Any more? I’m losing track.
Renner wants to give a developer tax breaks to build downtown. That plan gives the new hotel an unfair advantage over every other hotel that didn’t get tax breaks. The downtown hotel will have a lower cost of doing business than their competitors. This is the definition of crony capitalism. How many more hotels will close, first after Normal opens their second one, and then when Renner’s gets his way?
Crony capitalism is why America is in decline. Government approved businesses don’t have to compete – just stick out their hand for your money. Does anybody believe if the hotel built downtown starts to fail (like the Coliseum) it won’t be asking the City for some help? You think Renner will allow it to fail? Of course, the potted plants on the Council will comply with all requests.
Has any media asked Eastland Suites, the Double Tree, The Chateau, or any of the other dozens of hotels what effect building ANOTHER hotel will have on their business?
Renner’s taxpayer paid for study revealed a downtown hotel was not feasible. He wants to use government to make it feasible.
Should we just admit we don’t practice capitalism anymore?
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Let’s not forget the Coachman motel on E. Washington St., that ended up being a haven for crack heads. And let’s all remember the Hamilton Hotel located at 300 E. Front St., razed 25+ years ago, thinking maybe that was an 8-10 story structure that ended up housing a lot of folks down on their luck as well. The only two downtown hotels that I can remember in recent times that didn’t make it due to the fact that the downtown business hub was moved to the east side, never coming back. The pursuit of another hotel in downtown Bloomington will prove to be a massive waste of taxpayer sacrifices. But of course a mayor that has been placed to follow an agenda hasn’t a care in the world concerning the needs of his constituents as they are mere pawns for his masters quest.
And still nobody is running against Painter or Sage. Bloomington residents deserve whatever happens to them.
State Farm USED TO bring in thousands of students every year just for claim schools. Those THOUSANDS of students ate all of their meals in our local resturants and bars, patronized the shops and mall, went to the theaters and provided lots of full flights in and out of Bloomington. State Farm isn’t training many employees here anymore, and ALL auto claims training in Bloomington will come to an end in December. If a private developer wants to build a hotel and use his own money to fund it, great. Soccer and the ball tournaments do bring in a number of people, during the summer months.
A hotel full of people in town over the winter months to skate at the Pepsi rink? I don’t think so.
What is their reason for wanting a hotel again? Do they think people are going to come from far away for events at the Coliseum? Sure there are a few conventions there but only a few nights worth. Are they thinking people are going to come for our quaint downtown stores maybe?