Ed Morrison · Roldo on the convention center tax

November 8th, 2008

The quarter-percent sales tax passed by Tim Hagan and Jimmy Dimora without a public vote now totals $35,233,319.51 as of the end of October, according to County Auditor’s records.

$113-Million extra sales taxes paid by Cuyahoga County taxpayers for Regional Venues

And the market continues to decline…

The National Business Travel Association polled corporate travel managers in September and October and found that 51 percent were sending fewer employees to conferences, 48 percent were encouraging Web-based meetings…[T]he Travel Industry Association…forecasts a 3.7 percent decline in business travel for 2008 and predicts a 2.7 percent decline in 2009.

Corporate travel downgraded to coach

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Category: BFD
8 Comments »

8 Responses to “Roldo on the convention center tax”

  1. Ray Dice Says:
    November 9th, 2008 at 6:07 pm

    We must support the convention center despite the downturn. Why buy into a high market? Developers will be more willing to provide discounts now and Med Mart management company should be strong armed into making a larger investment at a lower percent fee.

    Even though I couldn’t vote for the tax, I expect the finances to be managed ethically. We have the money; prices are low in the weak market. It’s time to act.

  2. Ed Morrison Says:
    November 11th, 2008 at 11:17 am

    “We must support the convention center”?

    I don’t think so.

    This deal was goofy from the start. It only gets worse as the market tanks.

    It would be nice, though, if the promoters would put out a business plan that included some sensitivity analysis. Then we would at least be able to estimate the downside.

  3. Mark W. "Some Guy on Bridge" Schumann Says:
    November 11th, 2008 at 1:22 pm

    It would be nice if the promoters would put out a business plan. Period.

    (Speaking of business plans, how’s Amanda Marko doing these days?)

  4. Douglas Craver Says:
    November 12th, 2008 at 5:28 am

    I’d like to have my money back. Every little bit helps during these tough times. Oh, and our county executives can’t be trusted.

  5. Ed Morrison Says:
    November 12th, 2008 at 10:51 am

    What if the County Commissioners put the money here: http://snurl.com/5cqyh

  6. roldo bartimole Says:
    November 12th, 2008 at 2:42 pm

    When I asked Fred Nance how much of the Higbee building would be used for the Medical mart he said two floors. Actually, the basement and part of the first floor of the old department store.If the medical mart  is so important and so crucial to reviving downtown, or a part of the regional economy,why don’t they simply set up the medical mart NOW.Because, I believe, the medical mart idea is simply the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s (and all the corporate interest it represents) way of getting $800 million in sales taxes to pay for a convention center at Tower City.

    It’s not an economic venture, it’s a political one for Forest City Enterprises.

    Let’s cut the cord.

  7. Ed Morrison Says:
    November 12th, 2008 at 7:02 pm

    Roldo:

    I agree.

    When you take the bark off this deal, it’s the convention center to rescue Tower City. FCE has been at it for about a decade, but they cannot put the deal together.

    Don’t you feel for Sam and Albert, though? Just when they got their best deal all greased up, the economy tanks.

  8. roldo bartimole Says:
    November 12th, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    I don’t have any sympathy at all for Sam and Al because I don’t think they’ve given up yet and the PD is still cheerleading the game. And the money is rolling in.