AND in my city, as the older strip centers start to look ratty, the owners plead hardship to the city council and get them to pass CID's - a 1% sales tax on all purchases made in the center, where the money goes into a fund to fix up the property. And yet the city keeps incentivizing developments with EVEN MORE retail. It's hard to find places that don't have the added tax at this point. This is an issue state-wide.
A handful of our city council reps are starting to push back on this, but developers are BIG campaign contributors, and campaigns are expensive. Too few people donate - have friends running at all levels - local, state and even for congress, who are trying to not take PAC or special interest money but they are at a huge disadvantage to those who are flush with cash.
AND in my city, as the older strip centers start to look ratty, the owners plead hardship to the city council and get them to pass CID's - a 1% sales tax on all purchases made in the center, where the money goes into a fund to fix up the property. And yet the city keeps incentivizing developments with EVEN MORE retail. It's hard to find places that don't have the added tax at this point. This is an issue state-wide.
A handful of our city council reps are starting to push back on this, but developers are BIG campaign contributors, and campaigns are expensive. Too few people donate - have friends running at all levels - local, state and even for congress, who are trying to not take PAC or special interest money but they are at a huge disadvantage to those who are flush with cash.