In case you missed it, City Council members approved a special tax district last night by a 4-2 vote (as I had predicted earlier).
But what was most surprising was the fact that no one spoke against the tax district. The State’s opinion pages have published several editorials and letters to the editor opposing the tax district. And this week, FITSnews was advertising the date and time of the hearing and encouraging people to show up and speak out.
But that didn’t happen. Instead, it was a parade of the usual suspects at the City Hall microphone. According to the city clerk, here are the people who spoke in favor of the Innovista tax district:
- Neil McLean, EngenuitySC
- Bill Boyd, Waterfront Steering Committee
- John Lumpkin, Midlands Business Leadership Group
- Tommy Carter, Russell and Jeffcoat Realtors
Here are the folks who spoke in favor of the North/East Columbia tax district:
Mr. John Jones, Columbia College
Mr. Grant Jackson, Senior Vice President for the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Gene Green, NAI Avant
- John Jones, Columbia College
- Grant Jackson, Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce
- Gene Green, NAI Avant
- Ted Speth, Columbia Chamber of Commerce
- Joel Seel, Mashburn Construction
- Gail Baker, Hyatt Park Keenan Terrace Neighborhood
- Charles Young, president of Allen University
- Stacey Jones, Benedict College
- Robert Johnson Jr., North Columbia resident
Adam Beam covers the City of Columbia for
4 Comments
The opposition was working. Unlike some people, not all of us have jobs that are 9-5. It’s all irrelevant since the incoming mayor will not be for it, Kirkman Finlay’s replacement won’t be for it, and hopefully Devine will be voted out or in jail for fraud leaving the council to a 4-3 on it.
I was speaking at a Mayoral forum on Trenholm Road, along with all of the other candidates. Otherwise I would have certainly been there to protest.
Good point Aaron. I wonder if the debate, which was well attended, attracted away other protesters.
I wouldn’t be surprised. It was an unfortunate scheduling conflict, and wasn’t really fair to Kirkman, either, since he had to show up almost an hour late. I guess this is a busy time of year, but something as important as a TIF district that will affect Columbia for decades to come… You’d think they’d WANT as many people as possible to be able to attend without distractions.