If you have been out north lately (Peoria) and haven't seen the old K's building of late, what a shock. OSF (yes the hospital) has revamped the whole building into a rather good looking building and are using it as their north professional campus or something all the while, the addition they are building downtown is huge and moving at lightning speed. Methodist is building something huge out on Allen Road while they too, are building onto their downtown hospital.
It looks like the medical business isn't hurting at all in this economical crisis has it? I mean, sans CAT, they are the biggest employers in the area but at least 75% of their employees make minimum wage.
Also take note that none of these hospitals has so much as picked up a twig along that great TIF known as RenPark. You know, Main Street where we paid to have utility poles moves, new sidewalks, ornamental lighting installed, and pay to have city workers water hanging flower baskets so the city could entice the medical profession to build labs and other buildings to support the hospitals. Even the sign that says something new is coming to the old Walgreen's on Main Street is starting to fade. It's only been there, what, 3 years?
And we trust our city leaders to manage and build this museum which is next to the Gateway Building, which bleeds money, which is next to the "pad" which has 2 restaurants and as many vacant buildings if you don't count Heartland Group in one of the buildings and already needs $$$ in repairs because the stairs are crumbling and because the parking deck floods every other year.
Now standby for the bestest of the best. Remember the Garbage Fee? Well that is about to become the 5% (if they don't change that) water usage fee. Yep another tax but this tax they will tell you is fair because now everyone that uses water will pay.
So, let's recap. A TIF that has failed (there's a surprise). A new tax for the museum. The HRA tax extended because of a remodel job on the Civic Center even though it didn't add one seat and oh, don't forget, the bond payment is due on Midtown Plaza which we will have to pay and restructuring of yet another new tax, the water usage fee and there is no word if this will even replace the Garbage Fee. By the way, what the fuck is a "water usage fee" anyway? Isn't that why we pay the water company? To use water?
And people had a tea bag party to voice concerns over taxation. Wow, where were you people the last 8 years or so?
6 comments:
You never fail to entertain!! LOL The truth hurts!!
I'll tell you where the "teabaggers" were. They were looking the other way while Bush and company were shoveling a bazillion dollars into an unnecessary war.
Iam Morrison writes
did you notice practically one side of sheridan village vacant.
shall we start a pool how long before sheridan village goes bankrupt
if they pass the clear coal act, everyone will go broke, bankrupt
Your 401 k is a risk with me handling it
This we were sold a bill of goods with todays information about caterpillar.
Build their visitor center for a company going to employ no one soon
Ian, that is vacant for the new Hy-Vee grocery store.
I guess these people were waiting for their marching orders from the righty talkers.
Seems things in the med district are changing. In addition to all the medical building downtown and the construction out north there is another medical facility fleeing the current medical district downtown. The Veterans Administration has announced that they will be building a new clinic for Peoria off Route 91. Certainly a convenient location for our veterans (read a touch of sarcasm in there please).
So is there another way to judge urban flight? Is there such a thing as Medical Flight? Peoria has the best medical care in downstate Illinois; let' make sure we keep it that way!
Did you remember the Airport Tax for all of Peoria County, ICC bonding, D150 raised their property tax levy, D150 has PBC bonds, the proposed D150 working cash fund bonds, the new downtown hotel, the 1% increase in sales tax for Downtown Hospitality Zone,
the dentists are lobbying the state to put a 5% increase on soda to fund healthcare for children,
there is a bill to raise the state motor fuel tax by 7 or 8 cents a gallon in July 2009
Bellwood is estimated at $38M, the Peoria County Jail needs a new roof and the jail is anticipating expansion which will work if Bellwood is relocated perhaps into the city....
and did you hear that President Obama wants to change from preferred to common stock in the TARP bailout government ownership rules
maybe we will need wheelbarrows to pay our bills once inflation rears its' ugly head.
Hello, anyone paying attention?
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