Citizen D

What still concerns me, however, is the fact that a majority of the Council voted to override STAFF's recommendation to deny this developer's request for over $6M in tax assistance for affordable housing. We do have "very qualified" staff with excellent educations and work experience.

Personally, I don't think it is the state's role to bankroll developer's projects at all -- let alone to the tune of $6M! Heaven only knows what this deal will ultimately end up costing us. Why are developers dealing directly with council members anyway? This is a major conflict of interest! Council members should not be reviewing plans and handing out permits! Projects should pass or fail on their own merits, not on Council favors!

I guess I would feel differently if the developers had a track record in Dallas and in that part of the city and were willing to show us their books and figures. To my knowlege, no developers have ever been able or willing to do that. This is not BRAIN SUGERY! A few very simple questions that have very simple answers were never asked by the Council. That is a major reason why we keep coming up on the short end of most deals.

Even though some may disagree, the City has no business trying to bankroll the Mercantile project to the tune of $70M when the payback is so far in the future -- IF AT ALL!

Developers over the years have seen Dallas' City Councils make excellent business partners!

Citizens have seen (or should have seen) that these partnerships have left us holding the bag time and time again!