Live Blogging from City Council: Mobility Fee Moratorium

[Cheshire Cat]

It is funny that every "jobs" bill I've ever heard off pays first for the jobs with no guarantees.  Wonder why no one suggests a jobs bill where the tax break/incentive takes place after results. 

You want a fee waived to create jobs?  Fine, pay the fee now, and upon completion of your work, you prove the jobs to us, and we'll refund your money at the safe market risk interest rate.  Of course, most of these requests aren't about jobs in the first place.

But that is all separate from the Mobility Plan, cause doing away with the fee is counterproductive to the plan and vision.

Bridges, this statement is bang on.  Why has this city not made any effort to make sure that all the improvements promised via waiving these fees manifest in the end product?  It is a good question. I will add to that the fact that the city has not done it's due diligence when it comes to other incentives given for projects throughout the city.  In many cases I have found there was never any real effort to insure that incentives given to some companies, developers or builders with specific requirements like employing small business in their development or requirements for minority participation in a project were actually fulfilled.  I spent a great deal off time over the years in city hall going through contracts, specifically in LaVilla where vast amounts of money and tax breaks were given as incentives, yet no effort what-so-ever was was made to make sure those receiving the money kept their end of the bargain.  I can tell you categorically that many did not.  Why the lack of oversight?  As Bridges pointed out, those wanting these benefits should do their thing and if they meet the criterion and promise behind the financial incentives, then they get the money and credit!