Where is the Happy Middle with PILOTS?

I know some of you think my ideas on public policy may be on the extreme left even though you creep to the edge agreeing with some of them.  (LOL) What I appreciate about you is that we never fall out of love over an issue.

I am not opposed to the use of PILOTS. I know some don’t think I understand what a PILOT is but I know that it is “an agreement, generally, an agreement that is used to transfer a public or local government’s tax exempt status to a private entity. The property is not on the local government’s tax rolls because it belongs to a tax exempt entity, even though the property is being leased to and used by a private entity, and the private entity receives the benefit of this tax abatement. These agreements are typically used by local governments as an incentive to induce the relocation of a new business or the expansion of an existing business in the community.” (Tennessee Real Estate Law- Legal Commentary by David Wicker) I was an appointed member of the Tennessee Board of Equalization. Don’t play me “small”, I understand what’s going on.

In 2004 the State General Assembly commissioned a study from Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to determine the impact of loss revenue for public education as a result of PILOTs and found that abatements resulted in a loss of at least $33 million in Tennessee’s county school systems revenue.  Since that time, the use of PILOTs’ in Shelby has almost doubled, not declined. (The report is interesting and I will attach.)

I am opposed to taking funds needed to educate a workforce and then use the phrase, “We need to lure low waged jobs because our people are under skilled and unemployable”.

I am opposed to:

·        PILOTS without job/employment residency requirements (Why would you use my taxes to subsidize the services of a corporation who does not hire 75% of their employees from Memphis?)

·        PILOTS without independent audits and reviews (Why can corporations give employees performance appraisals but taxpayers can’t have contract appraisals?)

·        PILOTS and Incentives without penalties for violating or failing to meet contract expectations? (Why should Pinnacle Airlines get incentives and then belly up, close shop and somebody walks away with a building renovated and a $3 million dollar government grant for a downtown garage paid for with taxpayer money? Remember, we did not take them to court or even pick a fight in the court of public opinion. Instead, we rewarded them by making the former CEO of Pinnacle our Chamber of Commerce President.  Ouch, that hurts, I know.   Do I need to list the others  companies that left without fulfilling their PILOT commitments. who have done the same?

Sidebar:  The funds to pay for the $3 million garage came from money the City received for the sale of the Depot and was to be used for Small and Minority Businesses.  Instead, they got hijacked for Pinnacle. And there was nothing small or minority about that company. And this media said nothing...

But, I know that it does not make EDGE and PILOTS bad words. What I don’t understand is why we have had PILOTS since 2005 and ten years later our unemployment rate is 7.9%.

The national unemployment rate as of November 2014 was 5.8%, Tennessee’s rate was 6.8% and Memphis’ rate was 7.9%. (http://www.deptofnumbers.com/unemployment/tennessee/memphis/)

For once, I wish we would examine the existing small businesses and be the kind of City that cares enough to help them grow by improving infrastructure and public safety.  Sweetie Pies Restaurant on Beale Street may have be a marketing tool for Beale Street, but after listening to the show on YouTube and the way some family members trashed Memphis, forget them.  Truth is, I would put up Southern Hands, Kountry Kitchen,The Four-Way Grill, Peggy’s and Stein’s to them any day. St. Louis found their jewel and helped them grow.  Let’s find ours.

Why can’t we see a great new opportunity in Whitehaven, O’Taste and See at 2045 East Brooks Road and get Housing and Community Development to help make them the Café Palladio in this area? 

Why can’t we get excited about a 25 year old young man who has opened The Dizzy Bird Jazz Lounge in the Edge District? This business will attract older locals to the area and support live music in our city.  If we want to revitalize the music industry we need to work those investing in the music.

Why can’t we find a way to lend support to Hubbard’s Hardware on Millbranch who did not cut and run when economic climate and clientele changed?  Who helps them grow?

Who rolls out the red carpet for Bogen Communications, a corporate entity that chose Memphis and did not ask for a tax break and will hire 25 people in their distribution center? Why have we not heard from the Chamber and Memphis about this company who chose us because we are the Distribution Hub of America?  Bogen Communications provide audio-Visual Equipment and Accessories. I am loving those who love me and saying to other who snubbed me, " The doors of the Church is still open for new members". 

"I love you, Bogen Communication for choosing MEMPHIS!"  I'll tell your story about how you provide microphones, microphone mixers, amplifiers, loudspeakers, receivers/tuners and other audio-visual accessories for the world.  They chose us, and will pay a living wage. I really love you for caring that your employees will be able to provide for their families.

Now, we have retailers asking for PILOTS and if we are not careful, only homeowners will be left to pay the bills for providing government services.  That’s scary because our tax base is declining, not growing and in the ten year history of PILOTs’, they haven’t helped either. 

There must be a Happy Middle for PILOTS and I hope government will address it soon.  And, please, stop giving away all your power that we voted for you to have.  We did not vote for EDGE to make those decisions?  What's wrong with a two step process like the Land Use Control Board?

I know I reside on the left of most issues, but I will be happy with a middle approach.  Are we there, yet?  Can we at least talk about it?  Can the voices include more than EDGE's?

#OSCARS So White

After seeing SELMA and understanding the unique circumstances in producing a film without the dismantled King Family's authorization, I was almost speechless over the talent of the film's director, Ava Duvernay.

In fact, the only word that came to mind was the title of the movie's Academy Award Nominated song, "Glory".  

I did not see all the films that are nominated for best picture.  Therefore, I feel awkward commenting on who should have been nominated and who should not.  But, what I find odd is how SELMA was nominated for Best Picture and received no nomination for Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenwriter or Best Cinematography. How are you included in the "Best Picture" category when all the individual parts are snubbed and none are label extraordinary?  Somebody needs to address this question or I am left to feel that this snubbed shows some validity in the hashtag #Oscars So White.  

I am not a trained journalist, but I am an opinion guru.  According to a little known source called "Wikipedia The Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director have been very closely linked throughout their history. Of the 86 films that have been awarded Best Picture, 62 have also been awarded Best Director. Only four films have won Best Picture without their directors being nominated: Wings (1927/28), Grand Hotel (1931/32),Driving Miss Daisy (1989), and Argo (2012). The only two Best Director winners to win for films which did not receive a Best Picture nomination are distinctly during the early years: Lewis Milestone for Two Arabian Knights (1927/28), and Frank Lloyd for The Divine Lady (1928/29).

My next question is directed to the African American community.  Why would this movie nationally open with a $11 million in ticket sales? Now, that's on us and, not racism. 

According to the http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2011/12/the-10-highest-grossing-black-films-of-all-time are as follows:

10.  Are We There Yet?                   $97 Million

  9.  Little Man                               $101 Million 

  8.  Ray                                         $125 Million

  7.  Boomerang                             $131 Million

  6.  Big Momma's House              $137 Million

  5.  Bad Boys                                $144 Million

  4.  DreamGirls                             $154 Million

  3.  Big Momma's House 2000     $173 Million

  2.  Bad Boys 2                             $272 Million

  1.  Coming to America                $288 Million

There is a commentary for this list that shows our Top Ten, but I won't bother giving it because you were read my mind. What we are allowing to consume us?  I like many of those films and went to see all of them.  Well, except, Little Man and Big Momma's House. I could not do that to myself and waited for the HBO showing of  them.  But, I also value films with storytelling like Akleelah and the Bee, Twelve Years a Slave, Antwone Fisher, The Princess & the Frog, and yes, SELMA.

So, I have two questions one for the Academy and one for the African American community.  I am looking forward to reading the answer that I am sure they Academy will address. And, I want us to answer the second question with our surge of ticket sales. As I was writing this blog, my daughter called and said the Academy Awards addressed my question that was echoed from thousands. Can't wait to read the response.

P.S.Well, I just read the response from the (African American) Academy Awards' President.  She does not address the merits of the craft or art being critiqued, and its parts ignored.  But, in my opinion she verifies a flawed system, directors nominate directors, actors nominate actors, etc.  It is a peer review concept and the body that is in that that "peer review" lacks diversity.  Therefore the system itself is flawed.  All I can say, after that, is SistahGirl, you have some work to do.