[Electronic-lan] Info on Lawrence Opportunity Zones + Crisis of democracy in Lawrence
Paradigm Design
paradigm at ixks.com
Wed Jan 16 12:56:51 CST 2019
Thank you, Eric, for requesting a L.A.N. discussion on City staff lack
of transparency, and their usurping major policy decisions away from the
Commission. The public seems to be with us on this, judging by the
comment section in the J-W article you cited: _City officials explain
why Lawrence didn’t take Westar’s offer of wind energy
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.ljworld.com%2Fnews%2Fcity-government%2F2019%2Fjan%2F15%2Fcity-officials-explain-why-lawrence-didnt-take-westars-offer-of-wind-energy%2F&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C1f30f73dd2324f55a76c08d67be462ae%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636832618174330611&sdata=TjRBMJOx8nuJiOsCN7Pacc1WTY7%2FLf%2BoPCpciVudBJs%3D&reserved=0>_.
Read Travis Robinett's comments. He's the person who brought it to my
attention.
Michael
On 1/16/19 11:08 AM, Eric Kirkendall via Electronic-lan wrote:
> Hi, I would like to share a few thoughts re our agenda item, "Identify
> Issues we expect to address this year", and background for the
> "Opportunity Zone" agenda item. Thanks, Eric
>
> _A crisis of democracy_
> _
> _
> Regarding our agenda item, "Identify Issues we expect to address this
> year", I think we are facing a _crisis of democracy_ in Lawrence, and
> should address it.
>
> In spite of having a great City Commission which should be making key
> decisions with neighborhood and resident input, city employees have
> taken over decisionmaking on many key issues, with no public notice
> until the decision is a fait accompli.
>
> Three examples:
>
> 1, The city started dumping nitrates into the Kansas River without a
> vote by the City Commission. The City Commission did not know it was
> underway until a citizen asked about it at a City Commission meeting
>
> 2, City employees decided not to accept an opportunity for the city to
> use all-renewable wind energy and save huge amounts of money,
> apparently without even notifying the City Commission of the option.
> _City officials explain why Lawrence didn’t take Westar’s offer of
> wind energy,
> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.ljworld.com%2Fnews%2Fcity-government%2F2019%2Fjan%2F15%2Fcity-officials-explain-why-lawrence-didnt-take-westars-offer-of-wind-energy%2F&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C1f30f73dd2324f55a76c08d67be462ae%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636832618174330611&sdata=TjRBMJOx8nuJiOsCN7Pacc1WTY7%2FLf%2BoPCpciVudBJs%3D&reserved=0>_
> LJW
>
> 3, Without notice to or a vote of the City Commission, or any
> involvement with landowners and residents, but in coordination with
> non-resident "economic development partners", city employees caused
> all of East Lawrence, all of Brook Creek, and part of the Barker
> neighborhood to become part of an Opportunity Zone.
>
> To me, there are /at least /two key issues here, _sharing information
> with residents,_ and _providing opportunities for input._ In many
> cases, we are getting neither. I think the LAN should consider taking
> the lead on addressing this issue, and demanding that the City
> Commission make key decisions, with input by residents and
> neighborhood organizations.
>
> *_Opportunity Zone references and resources_*
> *_
> _*
> As background for our Opportunity Zone agenda item, I pasted a few
> references below.
>
> The Lawrence Opportunity Zones
> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flawrenceks.org%2Fed%2Fopportunity-zones%2F&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C1f30f73dd2324f55a76c08d67be462ae%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636832618174330611&sdata=8R2IrCSmX83oSJaqshF82M%2F29sMnJtQ1ktJbmCW1USg%3D&reserved=0>,
> as designated by the Governor
>
> _Discussion of the East Lawrence, Brook Creek, & Barker "Opportunity
> Zone"
> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fgroups%2F321045395173629%2F&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C1f30f73dd2324f55a76c08d67be462ae%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636832618174330611&sdata=8zbx0MwbVL6Iyc3YF%2FHWpBPyJAULwMFE7%2FD5fc2VnrI%3D&reserved=0>_(Public
> Facebook Group)
>
> _Will Opportunity Zones help distressed residents or be a tax cut for
> gentrification?
> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brookings.edu%2Fblog%2Fup-front%2F2018%2F02%2F26%2Fwill-opportunity-zones-help-distressed-residents-or-be-a-tax-cut-for-gentrification%2F&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C1f30f73dd2324f55a76c08d67be462ae%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636832618174330611&sdata=WQNFUcTpCVWuHtj0kgW68n2bIaOihkWzv4PvjtcSKaU%3D&reserved=0>_,
> Brookings Institute
> "Supporters say this will help revitalize distressed communities, but
> there is a risk that instead of helping residents of poor
> neighborhoods, the tax break will end up displacing them or simply
> provide benefits to developers investing in already-gentrifying areas."
>
> _How Opportunity Zones Benefit Investors and Promote Displacement,
> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fitep.org%2Fhow-opportunity-zones-benefit-investors-and-promote-displacement%2F&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C1f30f73dd2324f55a76c08d67be462ae%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636832618174330611&sdata=OgfV4nhMWy9vVHAoK1A1Z5OphUajoIV%2FtFqPiclKq%2FI%3D&reserved=0>_ Institute
> on Taxation and Economic Policy
> “... additional investment driven by opportunity zones could have the
> unintended effect of fueling higher real estate prices that serve to
> displace low-income citizens and businesses rather than benefit them."
> _
> Opportunity zones: vital community development tool or tax windfall
> for the rich?
> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.curbed.com%2F2018%2F10%2F3%2F17898370%2Fopportunity-zones-tax-bill-community-development-capital-gains&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C1f30f73dd2324f55a76c08d67be462ae%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636832618174340620&sdata=840RA3PsWbEGdzrE%2Fri2ht9MjhL3DnafybILUAUPTvY%3D&reserved=0>_, Curbed
> "...some policy analysts call it a loophole-riddled windfall for the
> ultra-rich that won’t lead to additional development but just make
> developments already in progress that much more profitable for investors."
>
> _Opportunity Zones: What We Know and What We Don’t,
> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftaxfoundation.org%2Fopportunity-zones-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont%2F&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C1f30f73dd2324f55a76c08d67be462ae%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636832618174340620&sdata=pSLZkvxX%2BdN%2B60L%2Bbrj1hNgRwW3eYTSV3fEpWtHub9I%3D&reserved=0>_
> Tax Foundation
> 'Research suggests place-based incentive programs redistribute rather
> than generate new economic activity, subsidize investments that would
> have occurred anyway, and displace low-income residents by increasing
> property values and encouraging higher skilled workers to relocate to
> the area.'
>
> 'While opportunity zones present certain budgetary and economic costs,
> it is unclear whether opportunity zone tax preferences used to attract
> investment will actually benefit distressed communities.'
>
> _An Unlikely Group Of Billionaires And Politicians Has Created The
> Most Unbelievable Tax Break Ever,
> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fforbesdigitalcovers%2F2018%2F07%2F17%2Fan-unlikely-group-of-billionaires-and-politicians-has-created-the-most-unbelievable-tax-break-ever%2F%237b1774f41485&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C1f30f73dd2324f55a76c08d67be462ae%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636832618174340620&sdata=8wMLPvP3nsaiPU7wdgGM%2BVz3zUBrTmFUlpR3MWP%2FNLY%3D&reserved=0>_
> Forbes
> “If everything goes right, a big slice of the estimated $6.1 trillion
> of paper profits currently resting on American balance sheets is about
> to go to work to revitalize America’s depressed communities. If all
> goes wrong, however, it will prove to be one of the biggest tax
> giveaways in American history, all in service of gentrifying
> neighborhoods and expelling local residents.”
>
> _New tax breaks could lift distressed areas — or become a big,
> gentrifying tax giveaway
> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.twincities.com%2F2018%2F12%2F15%2Ffrom-15-story-buildings-to-tiny-apartments-opportunity-zones-mean-promise-and-risk%2F%27&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C1f30f73dd2324f55a76c08d67be462ae%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636832618174340620&sdata=607t8YUfwJcrNqorwZTnLLBVRVMoh%2Bvdy0RnL71DqeQ%3D&reserved=0>_,
> Twincities.com
> "Cities such as Minneapolis have signaled to the investment community
> that they’re seeking O-Zone projects that deliver a social good, such
> as affordable housing, rather than upscale housing."
>
> Regards,
>
> Eric Kirkendall
> 785-550-3408
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> > On Jan 14, 2019, at 1:50 PM, Courtney Shipley via Electronic-lan
> <electronic-lan at lists.ku.edu <mailto:electronic-lan at lists.ku.edu>>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hello, Everyone!
> >
> > Join us Wednesday evening for the first LAN meeting of 2019.
> REMEMBER TO PAY YOUR DUES FOR THE YEAR. It is $25 for
> neighborhoods and $5 for individuals.
> >
> > Please take a moment to tell us if you'd like the regular
> meeting time to change by taking this Doodle poll. Several people
> have had conflicts with the third Wednesday of the month. Click
> the link below and tick the days of the month that work for you.
> >
> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdoodle.com%2Fpoll%2F2wxrbx95ddzyqfe9&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C1f30f73dd2324f55a76c08d67be462ae%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636832618174340620&sdata=JZoAInCPg87%2BLlYrOh%2Fk5CVZe2YLefG7Ao6Jdd1SvJ8%3D&reserved=0
> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdoodle.com%2Fpoll%2F2wxrbx95ddzyqfe9&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C1f30f73dd2324f55a76c08d67be462ae%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636832618174340620&sdata=JZoAInCPg87%2BLlYrOh%2Fk5CVZe2YLefG7Ao6Jdd1SvJ8%3D&reserved=0>
> >
> > Please also take a moment to review the LAN Mission Statement.
> >
> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flawrenceneighborhoods.wordpress.com%2F&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C1f30f73dd2324f55a76c08d67be462ae%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636832618174340620&sdata=nfZGLIu1aijm7oIkeBb2%2FZT55IMqRgQmxp1pWmfmQGo%3D&reserved=0
> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flawrenceneighborhoods.wordpress.com%2F&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C1f30f73dd2324f55a76c08d67be462ae%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636832618174340620&sdata=nfZGLIu1aijm7oIkeBb2%2FZT55IMqRgQmxp1pWmfmQGo%3D&reserved=0>
>
> >
> > Also review the Policy Document.
> >
> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flawrenceneighborhoods.wordpress.com%2Flan-policy-document%2F&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C1f30f73dd2324f55a76c08d67be462ae%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636832618174340620&sdata=uub15rIK86ef3hLqR0%2FnUYxdGttKBftzajk4tX1X%2Bi0%3D&reserved=0
> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flawrenceneighborhoods.wordpress.com%2Flan-policy-document%2F&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C1f30f73dd2324f55a76c08d67be462ae%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636832618174350620&sdata=%2Fu3dnLRZOsuLXKFgxxiqgi4eLbgC0EaVlKcaeHL6rmc%3D&reserved=0>
> ?
> >
> > As well as The Constitution and By-Laws for discussion.
> >
> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flawrenceneighborhoods.wordpress.com%2Flan-constitution-by-laws%2F&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C1f30f73dd2324f55a76c08d67be462ae%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636832618174350620&sdata=kxluoVTAyYDWA8Lg%2B65FhdUqiokvov%2Bt4biTKcbPYbE%3D&reserved=0
> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flawrenceneighborhoods.wordpress.com%2Flan-constitution-by-laws%2F&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C1f30f73dd2324f55a76c08d67be462ae%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C636832618174350620&sdata=kxluoVTAyYDWA8Lg%2B65FhdUqiokvov%2Bt4biTKcbPYbE%3D&reserved=0>
> >
> > See you all soon!
> > Courtney Shipley, Chair
> >
> >
> > Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods Agenda
> > Lawrence Public Library
> > January 16th, 2019 7:00 p.m.
> >
> > Introductions
> >
> > Accept minutes from December
> >
> > Treasurer?s Report: Cindy Suenram/Edna Mosher
> > Don?t forget to pay your dues for 2019
> >
> > Update from City Planning Department: Becky Pepper, city planner
> >
> > Neighborhood reports
> >
> > Discussion of possible Opportunity Zones in Brook Creek, East
> Lawrence, and Barker neighborhoods.
> >
> > Identify Issues we expect to address this year
> >
> > Review the LAN Mission Statement, Policy Document, and Bylaws.
> > Discuss whether updates are needed.
> >
> > <Jan 2019 LAN Agenda.pdf>
> >
> ***************************************
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Electronic-lan mailing list
> Electronic-lan at lists.ku.edu
> https://lists.ku.edu/listinfo/electronic-lan
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