Franchot's State Center stance political, says group
I agree with the community groups alleging that comptroller Peter Franchot's opposition to State Center is political, or at least has a political element. Franchot is expected to run for governor for the next term, and he's getting his ducks in a row. Here's Len Lazarick:
The State Center Neighborhood Alliance of a dozen community groups characterized Franchot’s change of heart as a “political move” designed to curry favor with the downtown landlords who are suing to block the project, according to the letter from John Kyle, president of the alliance.“The wealthy businessmen with whom you now side have dismissed this project and our working-class community as undeserving, and our very worthwhile project has been tossed around as a political convenience,” the letter says.
There are surely advantages to getting on the side of superlawyer and Orioles owner Peter Angelos, who is backing the opponents to state center. Angelos and other downtown landlords say a spiffy, new, taxpayer-backed development in midtown Baltimore would hurt downtown. But the bigger motivation for Franchot's move, I suspect, is to build a resume as a fiscally prudent Democrat who's not about to jump on the "subsidize Baltimore" bandwagon.
Comments
I'm shocked! Shocked that an elected official is making a political determination in what he will support.
Maybe the proponents of State Center should stop dismissing the concerns raised by the opponents, and start actually addressing them.
Such as the no-bid nature of the contract award.
Such as the concern about an office space glut.
Such as the use of a TIF (which will diminish the value of the development project to the city).
Address those concerns (and more) head-on, and see what happens.
Posted by: Gunpowder Chronicle | August 2, 2011 12:23 PM
His stance may be political, but it is correct.
Posted by: Bar | August 2, 2011 1:20 PM
As a small busines owner in the State Center redevelopment area I believe that this project is crucial. The center of the city has been dying a slow death for years while development around the waterfront has benefitied from state support for years.
Posted by: Christina Bittner | August 2, 2011 1:23 PM
We don't need another government funded fiasco like Rocky Gap, the Convention Center expansion and the Convention Center Hilton.
The city already gets more then enough welfare from the rest of the state and the city already has enough office and residential space.
Posted by: George | August 3, 2011 7:01 AM
Good point, Bar.
It is right to question motive, but not always to dismiss because of it.
Posted by: John J. Walters | August 3, 2011 10:28 AM
Right more tax money we do not have...keep spending tax money..
Posted by: fred nastri | August 8, 2011 8:30 AM