Comments on: Heads and tales: Making the scene http://wadeonbirmingham.com/2006/03/29/heads-and-tales-making-the-scene/ News, features and essays about Birmingham and Alabama Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:49:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Wade http://wadeonbirmingham.com/2006/03/29/heads-and-tales-making-the-scene/#comment-465 Wade Thu, 30 Mar 2006 07:27:05 +0000 http://wadeonbirmingham.com/?p=356#comment-465 It's one thing to put together a financial incentive package to lure a manufacturer here to the state. If they don't want it, they can go elsewhere (and often do). It's another thing to willingly take the lease deal from the city, then push through a special bill in the Legislature to skip out on taxes. Sorry, but I ain't gonna lose sleep if Mr. Barber has to continue to pay what he owes. If the boys in Montgomery want to give exempt me from taxes, too, sign me up. Considering the clout he wields with the powers that be, I'm surprised he can't work out a new deal with the city of Birmingham to help lure industry and turn a profit. It’s one thing to put together a financial incentive package to lure a manufacturer here to the state. If they don’t want it, they can go elsewhere (and often do).

It’s another thing to willingly take the lease deal from the city, then push through a special bill in the Legislature to skip out on taxes. Sorry, but I ain’t gonna lose sleep if Mr. Barber has to continue to pay what he owes. If the boys in Montgomery want to give exempt me from taxes, too, sign me up.

Considering the clout he wields with the powers that be, I’m surprised he can’t work out a new deal with the city of Birmingham to help lure industry and turn a profit.

]]> By: Curtis http://wadeonbirmingham.com/2006/03/29/heads-and-tales-making-the-scene/#comment-464 Curtis Thu, 30 Mar 2006 07:01:39 +0000 http://wadeonbirmingham.com/?p=356#comment-464 As long as the land is "leased" from the City, it can NOT be subdivided and sold for manufacturing concerns that would generate jobs because of the proximity to the track. The tax abatements that Kyle describes within the article are mostly statutory and would be granted under current law without the new legislation if the companies were to be locating in targeted zones anyway. 'Corporate Welfare' is how Mercedes was recruited to Alabama, setting off a wave of automotive jobs being created in the state. My understanding is that there are manufacturing concerns (like the recently relocated Birmingham Speed of America with their unique motorcycles) that wish to eventually co-locate near the track. The ability for the land to be bought from the City and resold makes good financial sense, IMHO. Think of it as one big industrial park focused on motorcycles and racing surrounding a front door to one of the world's greatest road tracks. But hey, that's just me dreamin'. As long as the land is “leased” from the City, it can NOT be subdivided and sold for manufacturing concerns that would generate jobs because of the proximity to the track. The tax abatements that Kyle describes within the article are mostly statutory and would be granted under current law without the new legislation if the companies were to be locating in targeted zones anyway.

‘Corporate Welfare’ is how Mercedes was recruited to Alabama, setting off a wave of automotive jobs being created in the state. My understanding is that there are manufacturing concerns (like the recently relocated Birmingham Speed of America with their unique motorcycles) that wish to eventually co-locate near the track.

The ability for the land to be bought from the City and resold makes good financial sense, IMHO. Think of it as one big industrial park focused on motorcycles and racing surrounding a front door to one of the world’s greatest road tracks. But hey, that’s just me dreamin’.

]]> By: Wade http://wadeonbirmingham.com/2006/03/29/heads-and-tales-making-the-scene/#comment-462 Wade Thu, 30 Mar 2006 04:01:29 +0000 http://wadeonbirmingham.com/?p=356#comment-462 Hmm: civic support, or <a href="http://www.bhamweekly.com/archived/pages/20060216_war on dumb.php" rel="nofollow">corporate welfare</a>? Hmm: civic support, or corporate welfare?

]]> By: Curtis http://wadeonbirmingham.com/2006/03/29/heads-and-tales-making-the-scene/#comment-461 Curtis Thu, 30 Mar 2006 03:45:26 +0000 http://wadeonbirmingham.com/?p=356#comment-461 FYI: the Barber facility needs our civic support... check out <a href="http://capwiz.com/birmingham/issues/alert/?alertid=8619321" rel="nofollow">this action alert</a> from the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce to support the "Barber Motorsports Bill" (HB309) in the state legislature. It's been passed by the House unanimously, but held up in the Senate. It'll take you a total of 2 minutes to blast an email supporting this bill to all of the right people. Give it consideration.... I did. FYI: the Barber facility needs our civic support… check out this action alert from the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce to support the “Barber Motorsports Bill” (HB309) in the state legislature. It’s been passed by the House unanimously, but held up in the Senate.

It’ll take you a total of 2 minutes to blast an email supporting this bill to all of the right people. Give it consideration…. I did.

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