Posts Tagged Med Mart
Medical Mart Money Piling Up at County
Posted by Roldo Bartimole in Economic Development, Politicians on April 3, 2010
April 3, 2010… Cuyahoga County taxpayers in these depression-like times have paid $91 million into the fund for the Medical Mart deal. Does anyone notice?
The Plain Dealer, our news media of record, appears to have forgotten that we have a near – or more – $1 billion project. The Med Mart has slipped off its radar apparently. Coverage seems to be much more interested in who is running for county council in who knows where and who cares less.
How about telling us something about the biggest money project since Gateway, PD. Hundreds of millions of dollars to be spent. All public dough. Or is it going to be the same old story – we’ll tell you when the overrun is drowning us.
Also, where ARE those candidates for new County offices on this issue?
As of the end of March, the extra tax burden on county residents here has produced $91,310,921.10. It comes in dribbles. But that’s a lot of money.
Where is the Tea party? Where is our public money watchdog Kevin O’Brien?
So far this year the quarter-percent sales tax increase by our County Commissioners – Tim Hagan, Jimmy Dimora and Peter Lawson Jones – has produced $10.6 million.
That appears to be at a rate to produce some $42.4 million a year. The tax originally had a duration of 20 years. At this quarter’s rate of $42.4 million it would produce $848 million. One can expect prices and sales tax receipts to go up over 20 years. The tax commenced at the beginning of the year 2008.
So with the economy picking up slightly it appears the sales tax will be bringing in much more than first predicted.
Cimperman Jumps Out on Cuyahoga County Executive Quest
Posted by Roldo Bartimole in Economic Development, Politicians on November 27, 2009
November 27, 2009… Joe Cimperman started his campaign to be the first Cuyahoga County Executive today. If you don’t think so, you don’t know the ambitious Joe Cimperman.
Cimperman at a meeting with MMPI’s Mark Falanga a week ago asked Falanga if he would commit to having four meeting on the Medical Mart and Convention Center. Cimperman asked at a Council meeting. It appeared to me that he meant Falanga would appear before Council for more questioning. Of course, Falanga – holding on to a deal valued at $425 million – said, why sure, Mr. Councilman.
It was a mutual admiration society.
Anyone listening would have considered the offer and acceptance meant a meeting before City Council members. It was at such a meeting that the two exchanged agreement. And it made some sense since Falanga had determined the shortness of the meeting by scheduling an early flight back to Chicago.
Now, however, the scheduling of the four meetings appears to be outside the boundaries of City Council. The structure of four meetings has one each on planning, economic impact, architecture and the Mall site. Each meeting will have an already chosen facilitator, none Council members.
So Council is left OUT. Cimperman’s campaign, however, is indeed very much IN.
Cimperman has four meeting in which Cimperman can play the leading part. Council has been iced out.
The County Executive job opening was created by the vote for Issue 6, a constitutional amendment that calls for Cuyahoga County to dump its three commissioners for an elected chief and 11-member elected district county council.
Cimperman came to Council in 1997, playing a young sincere activist with energy to make change. He quickly became a young man on the make, taking as much money as he could from downtown movers and shakers.
“This project has to move forward. It’s too critical for the region, for the economy. We just gotta put our heads down and get this thing done,” Cimperman told The Plain Dealer.
And I need a platform from which to run for higher office, something I’ve always wanted. Cimperman didn’t have to utter those words.
You may remember that Cimperman’s ambitions caused him to run against the sitting Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich in 2007. Cimperman got some 35 percent of the vote in the 10th Congressional District race. Kucinich got 52 percent.
Cimperman would like to be Mayor but that seems out of the question. He likely would have run for County Commissioner had Issue 6 failed. Now, he’s left with the one opening.
So Cimperman is about to scratch that ambition itch again. Never too early to start. The $175,000 position begins in January 2011. Here we go!