Recently, the issue of public comment and debate to fully-inform the public has been on my mind. A related term is "transparency", which might be thought of as openly discussing public issues and making those decisions after full debate in the light of public view.
Or so I thought. Apparently my opponent does not agree. Last week, after a comment of mine on the "Fishers Indiana Government" Facebook page was deleted by the town's PR person who runs that page, I challenged why they did that. Apparently it was because it linked to this blog. So it seems that candidates for public office in Fishers have fewer First Amendment rights than do other citizens. And the comments were in support of the Sun King Brewery expansion to Fishers, save for my serious reservations about the TIF financing, so that was even odder. But they allowed the comments without the link to the blog.
That seemed silly to me, even though annoying. But the hits kept coming. It was reported to me that comments by others on my opponents Facebook page were deleted, because he did not feel that Facebook was an appropriate place for discussion of issues. It is public, accessed by thousands of Fishers residents, so why not? If not there, then where? And now ALL comments on his page seem to be gone.
Also last week, I publicly challenged my opponent to a series of debates prior to the November 4th election. I even emailed him. Nearly a week went by, and no response. So I called John. Despite our political and policy differences, we personally are on good terms. His reply essentially was no debates, except for those which might be hosted by the Hamilton County League of Women Voters and/or the Fishers Chamber of Commerce. So I reached out to those groups. Per Dan Canan, President of the Fishers Chamber, they are NOT planning on any candidate debates, despite a record number of council seats being contested in a general election (four). I have not heard from the League yet.
SO. No discussion of issues on my opponent's Facebook page. Candidate censorship on the Town's Facebook page. Either zero or ONE debate for the 4 council seats among 10 candidates running.
Democracy depends on an open and vigorous discussion and debate of issues. My opponent seems determined not to defend his record before the public. Perhaps he realizes just how many errors of judgment he has made on the council, and hopes the public will remain ignorant.
SO. I will do my best to spread the word. I ask every resident of Fishers to share this blog with your friends and neighbors, so that there will be at least SOME open discussion of issues. And contact my opponent and let him know that hiding behind a curtain of silence is bad politics and worse for democracy.
Official blog of Greg Purvis, candidate for City Council at large in Fishers, Indiana. Authorized and paid for by Purvis for Fishers Committee
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Sun King Brewery Comes to Fishers
At the August 18, 2014 meeting of the Fishers Town Council, they approved a $2.5 million economic development proposal to induce craft brewer Sun King, which is based in downtown Indianapolis, to expand its brewing operations to Fishers, along with a tasting room. The location would be a currently-vacant parcel of land just north of 96th St. and east of I-69 on Kincaid Drive, near Fry's Electronics and Roche.
The proposal involves the town's customary use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to borrow the $2.5 million, most of which then goes apparently to infrastructure, although details were not apparent in the meeting. But the proposal would also bring additional jobs and an industry not already present in the community. Sun King is presently Indiana's second-largest craft brewer. A consultant hired by Sun King projected an economic impact on the area of this expansion of as much as $19.5 million.
Details of the TIF financing were not presented during the meeting, so afterwards, I approached Town Manager (and mayor-elect) Scott Fadness for details. According to Fadness, the plan is for the new taxes for this project (as opposed to the downtown projects) to actually pay for the debt service in full, that is, that the new taxes will equal or exceed the future principal and interest payments on the bonds. And more, if for some reason they do not, then guarantees will be given by Sun King to cover the shortfall, so that the taxpayers are not on the hook for the difference.
Generally speaking, I do NOT like TIF districts. They usually do not bring in enough new tax money to cover their own debt payments. The "Depot" and "Switch" projects in Downtown Fishers are hundreds of thousands of dollars in the red (per year) this way. The Sun King deal seems to avoid that problem. But the other problem is that use of TIF financing prevents the new tax money from going into the general property tax fund, which is the main source of funding for both Fishers, HSE Schools, and the Hamilton East Public Library. All TIF projects suffer from that problem.
Nevertheless, I am cautiously optimistic about the Sun King deal. If the consultant's estimates are anywhere near accurate, then this will be a huge boost for the Fishers and northeast Indy economy, and a nice fit for an industrial park with lots of vacant land. New jobs will be created, a minimum of 20 are required and more projected. Assuming this project succeeds (failure might leave Fishers holding the bag on the debt), then it will cost the taxpayers nothing.
I wish the financing were done differently, but it is revenue-neutral, it is NOT apartments with the potential to put more stress on the schools, and it is not competing with already-existing local businesses. If this deal is done right, and much remains to be done, I will give a cautious thumbs-up on this project, and a hearty "Welcome to Fishers" to Sun King.
I also wish this process had been more transparent. This item was not even available on the online agenda until a few hours before the meeting. The Council neither allowed or solicited comments or questions from citizens. And yet, they apparently DID heed the sharp criticism I and others had made about the downtown project's "red ink" (a term they REALLY hate), and tried to make this revenue-neutral. I would have preferred to make a low-interest loan to Sun King secured by a lien on the real estate, not a gift, or some other like financing, but in the end, even with the way it was done, I tend to approve. I hope time proves me right.
The proposal involves the town's customary use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to borrow the $2.5 million, most of which then goes apparently to infrastructure, although details were not apparent in the meeting. But the proposal would also bring additional jobs and an industry not already present in the community. Sun King is presently Indiana's second-largest craft brewer. A consultant hired by Sun King projected an economic impact on the area of this expansion of as much as $19.5 million.
Details of the TIF financing were not presented during the meeting, so afterwards, I approached Town Manager (and mayor-elect) Scott Fadness for details. According to Fadness, the plan is for the new taxes for this project (as opposed to the downtown projects) to actually pay for the debt service in full, that is, that the new taxes will equal or exceed the future principal and interest payments on the bonds. And more, if for some reason they do not, then guarantees will be given by Sun King to cover the shortfall, so that the taxpayers are not on the hook for the difference.
Generally speaking, I do NOT like TIF districts. They usually do not bring in enough new tax money to cover their own debt payments. The "Depot" and "Switch" projects in Downtown Fishers are hundreds of thousands of dollars in the red (per year) this way. The Sun King deal seems to avoid that problem. But the other problem is that use of TIF financing prevents the new tax money from going into the general property tax fund, which is the main source of funding for both Fishers, HSE Schools, and the Hamilton East Public Library. All TIF projects suffer from that problem.
Nevertheless, I am cautiously optimistic about the Sun King deal. If the consultant's estimates are anywhere near accurate, then this will be a huge boost for the Fishers and northeast Indy economy, and a nice fit for an industrial park with lots of vacant land. New jobs will be created, a minimum of 20 are required and more projected. Assuming this project succeeds (failure might leave Fishers holding the bag on the debt), then it will cost the taxpayers nothing.
I wish the financing were done differently, but it is revenue-neutral, it is NOT apartments with the potential to put more stress on the schools, and it is not competing with already-existing local businesses. If this deal is done right, and much remains to be done, I will give a cautious thumbs-up on this project, and a hearty "Welcome to Fishers" to Sun King.
I also wish this process had been more transparent. This item was not even available on the online agenda until a few hours before the meeting. The Council neither allowed or solicited comments or questions from citizens. And yet, they apparently DID heed the sharp criticism I and others had made about the downtown project's "red ink" (a term they REALLY hate), and tried to make this revenue-neutral. I would have preferred to make a low-interest loan to Sun King secured by a lien on the real estate, not a gift, or some other like financing, but in the end, even with the way it was done, I tend to approve. I hope time proves me right.
Monday, August 11, 2014
Welcome to my new campaign blog
I would like to welcome the readers of "Hamilton County Politics" and others to my new campaign blog, supporting my run for Fishers City Council. I will devote this blog to issues surrounding this first race for the Fishers CITY Council, the things I like, as well as the things I disagree with.
My webpage is www.GregPurvis.com, and you can sign up for my email list, contact me, or even donate at that website. I also comment extensively on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/PurvisforFishers, and my posts there and here will be also posted on Twitter (@GregPurvis).
I make no secrets about my views. I am open and outspoken, and not at all shy about sharing my thoughts and opinions. I see this as admirable and desirable in a candidate for office. I hope you enjoy my posts, and recommend them to your friends and neighbors.
Greg Purvis
Candidate for Fishers City Council,
South-Central District
My webpage is www.GregPurvis.com, and you can sign up for my email list, contact me, or even donate at that website. I also comment extensively on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/PurvisforFishers, and my posts there and here will be also posted on Twitter (@GregPurvis).
I make no secrets about my views. I am open and outspoken, and not at all shy about sharing my thoughts and opinions. I see this as admirable and desirable in a candidate for office. I hope you enjoy my posts, and recommend them to your friends and neighbors.
Greg Purvis
Candidate for Fishers City Council,
South-Central District
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