IS IT TRUE that several years ago during the $20 Million ball fields at Roberts fiasco, the City County Observer opined that a downtown convention hotel should be a higher priority than any ball fields anywhere?…we even suggested that the $20 Million could be used as an investment in a downtown hotel that would clearly fit the requirement for room taxes of “bricks and mortar to help tourism?”…it must be pointed out that if wiser heads had prevailed and that money had been sequestered, Old National Bank’s reality moment on the value of the naming rights for The Centre would not have derailed this project?…the zeal to build something-anything, so long as dirt is flying has removed a viable Plan B for funding a downtown hotel?
IS IT TRUE to see the Director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau all sad eyed on mainstream media talking about the $11 Million a year that is lost by not having a convention hotel is comedic irony?…he is the guy who pulled the trigger on the ball fields project that consumed the dollars that could have filled the $6.5 Million gap in financing that is now ruining the martini crowd’s Christmas?…this is just another example of living for today without a plan in sight and without a care in the world other than the next staged media event?…it really does take insight to have suggested the hotel taxes as a backup funding source for a hotel 4 years ago?…we guess such insight and planning is above the pay grade of the Mayor of Evansville and his build fun and games at all cost minions?
The ball fields are a fiasco of their own, but “saving” a doomed hotel is not on them. When there is need for a downtown convention hotel, a private company will build it. I have doubts that there will EVER be need for that hotel, because the convention business is shrinking and Evansville does not have the climate or attractions to make it a desirable locale for most conventions.
LKB
before I forget, I had one thing I want to say to you
Merry Christmas LKB !!
Editor, you are spot on ! If ECVB had held on to their Cash and supported “the big prize” (Convention Hotel), we would not be mourning Round 4 defeat of the Downtown Hotel ! This is what happens when you don’t have a plan: ECVB wants to make a splash, and they go their own way (ballfields) while publicly backing the Downtown Hotel (after having spent their money).
Hotels over Ballfields . . . . someone’s new campaign slogan
Brownfields over Ballfields . . . tear em down before you build em up !
ECVB really blew it on this one. They sit around and talk about how important the Convention business is to the city, then they squander all their money on freakin’ baseball fields ! That shows a lack of a plan in coordinating with the City re: tourism projects.
Two things need to happen: 1) Bob Warren needs to resign immediately; and 2) Whatever is left in the treasury of ECVB needs to be spent on Opus One, to be consumed just before ECVB disbands for good !
As the mayor puts it DERP
municipalbonds.com
Moody’s downgrades from Aa2 to Aa3 Branson, MO’s issuer rating
Posted on: April 22, 2014, 8:44 pm
NEW YORK, April 22, 2014 –Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded to Aa3 from Aa2 the rating on the City of Branson’s (MO) long term issuer rating. Concurrently, Moody’s has downgraded to A3 from A2 the rating on the city’s outstanding lease revenue debt. This action concludes a review for possible downgrade that Moody’s initiated on January 15, 2014 in conjunction with our new local government general obligation (GO) methodology. The issuer rating is based on the city’s implicit general obligation security. The lease revenue rating is secured by an appropriation pledge of the city and secured by a mortgage interest on the properties financed by the issuances, including the city’s convention center and Branson Landing parking garage. The city has $110.3 million of Moody’s rated lease revenue debt outstanding… (more)
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