Does The “C” in C.I.B. Stand for “Clusterf****”?
I spent a good chunk of yesterday watching the House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the Capital Improvement Board. As I Twittered the proceedings I was trying to imagine which was more painful? Watching the hearing or sliding down a long giant razor blade and into a pool of alcohol? Upon reflection, the alcohol would have been less painful.
First, City Controller Dave Reynolds, walking a high-wire act, tells the committee that they are working to make the Governor’s numbers work. He said they are close, but he told members that even with the current funding plan only gets them to 2011.
After that a number of amendments were offered, the one that sparked the most outrage was a Democratic proposal which would have mandated any hotel in the Professional Sports Development Area disclose how much they pay in salaries and benefits. When asked what would be done with the information, City-County Council Democratic Leader Joanne Sanders said it would be used to help “convince” the hotels to pay more living wages.
Cherish Pryor did offer an amendment that eliminated the Governor’s Facility Management Board, decreased the amount of state support for the plan and increased the food and beverage tax on users of the facilities. It also moved control tax abatements from the city’s Metropolitan Development Commission to the Council. Which is a whole nother story for a whole nother time.
The whole bill came collapsing down and State Rep Randy Borror called it a second rate presentation. And when there was no Republican support, Bill Crawford pulled the bill.
So where are we now? Let’s see. House Democrats are still mad at House Republicans. The Governor’s Office apparently isn’t too happy with the Mayor’s Office. We are no closer to getting this problem solved and the city could potentially lose the Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four because these people can’t get their act together.
Anyone have a giant razor blade?
