But is the sales tax hike the only option? Fred Nance, who’s helping mart officials negotiate with local developers, says it is.

Should you pay to bring a medical mart here?

How does Mr. Nance know this before completing a business plan for the project?

On July 6, less than two weeks ago, the GPC announced:

The GCP will help complete the business plan for the project, including costs estimates, revenue assumptions and optimal site selection of the facilities…

Greater Cleveland Partnership to Champion Medical Mart

Cool Community Forum 7.12

Originally uploaded by GeorgeNemeth

After intros, one person asks about port authority. Joe Marinucci says port authority can’t issue debt for this type of project. One commenter points out the conflict of interest of Tim Hagan that’s detailed on wikipedia.

“The vision isn’t big enough”.

One question is about the viability of a convention center. “Centers are loss leaders”. Joe Eckerle “You can’t shove a tax increase and the demolition of the Breuer Building down the public’s throat at the same time.” Applause for regional solution from Carla.

Obviously, I’m not nearly as good a notetaker as Roger Bundy:

12:46 Mr. Mulready relates that Mr. Peter Lawson Jones was interviewed and stated his biggest issue is timing as well. See the Cool Cleveland interview for more information.

12:47 - Anastasia ? — reporter for Free Times, but not here in that capacity. Rosy figures thrown out about the benefits. We haven’t been given any of the research to support the rosy figures that have been touted to support the basis for the tax increase. Where so these numbers come from. Would like to see a lot more research, esp on the relationship between conferences/conventions and a medical mart.

Answer from Dir. of Comm. CVB — she does believe there is support for the numbers. Referred people to Medical Mart web-site. Kelly Brewer talks about research CVB has done regard with lost convention business. He can get us this research. Can we post any of this research — Tom Mulready — CVB states

Jeff Buster — wouldn’t trust anyone from the Downtown Cleveland Alliance. A bit of ranting/raving here. Not sure of the points.

12:55 - Daryl Davis — as a resident of the City of Cleveland, has two big concerns in general -p safety and education. This sales tax increase does not address any of these issues. The sales tax proposal makes no effort to address any of these issues. Do we think that bringing in a bunch of out of towners 50 weekends of the year to spend money is going to fix these issues.

Mark Schumann — some guy on Mapledale (his quote) — comment on dishonesty of this. 331 million dollars is a pipe dream, a lie. Recalls this sounding similary to Gateway and Weapons of mass distruction. Response from CVB — this a direct spending number 331 mil of direct spending from Medical Mart. There is no cost cap guarantee, whatever happend to the all the money that was supposed to be leftover from Gateway for Economic Development. **I caught Hunter Morrison smiling at this comment — not sure why**…

One of the things that Roger didn’t capture was the question that he asked. The thought had passed thru my mind prior to his turn at the mic, and I’m glad he brought it up. He asked (I’m paraphrasing), “Has anyone bothered to study the economic impact of raising the sales tax?” Maybe it’s a good thing they opened Steelyard Commons were they did. Pretty soon, everyone who lives within a short distance of an adjacent county will do all their shopping outside of Cuyahoga County, where the sales tax is lower. Probably why so many suburban mayors support the plan.

Cleveland Equanimous Philosopher: Live Blogging from Cool Cleveland / Meet the Bloggers Community Forum on County Sales Tax Increase

The folks trying to sell Cleveland on the value of a Medical Mart are trying to use the Internet to tell their story.

They have launched a web site which, according to the PD “includes information about the company, details on how a mart would operate and the potential economic benefit.”

When you go to the site, this is what you confront before you can access any information:

See for yourself. (It’s a little odd, this heavy hand, considering they are looking for the citizens of Cuyahoga County to fund their project.)

A little background on Internet civility is in order:

1. The Internet is our first interactive mass medium. The economic model is based off networks and the “gift economy”. Reciprocity matters. Trust matters. To a Western audience, it’s a little like doing business in Asia. Spend time to build relationships first before you get down to business.

2. Asking people for personal information upfront is just plain rude. It’s a little like encountering a stranger and asking them if you can see their driver’s license before you talk to them. If you tried that on the street, most people would walk away. So, too, with the Internet.

It’s a little discouraging that the Medical Mart folks seem so lost about Internet etiquette. Perhaps we can attribute the lapse to bad breeding: The parents may have not been learning their lessons from their children.

For a more civil exploration of the Medical Mart, come to CoolCleveland’s community forum tomorrow.

Here’s a novel idea.

Voters to get direct say on local spending

Cool Community Forums — CC, MTB, BFD, you — are in step with broader, global trends.

City leaders are finally moving forward on a Medical Mart that could attract 6000 visitors for 50+ medical trade shows per year, generating $331M annually. Hooray, and it’s about time. But there are questions:

• Why has the lid been clamped on this story, instead of a collaborative effort to woo the project to town?
• Why has Forest City been the only developer involved to date?
• Why, if the project generates so much profit for the businesses involved, are County Commissioners considering adding 1/4 to 1/8 of a cent to the County sales tax to help pay for the Medical Mart and an attached convention center.