Only someone in a coma could miss this pattern
Kudos to Jenny Davis and Molly Parker for a spot-on perfect Word on the Street column today. They lead with details about the corrupt (my word, not theirs) Peoria Civic Center Authority are hell bent to force taxpayers to finance a new hotel right next to the Civic Center.
The first plan fell through because of the absolutely lack of support. I warned against assuming the effort was dead, and I was right. Now they want an even bigger hotel, costing “seven figures,” a few blocks up the road.
They authority is still talking to only one developer, who would arrange his financing through Busey Bank. Civic Center Commissioner Dan Daly — who pushed to start negotiations with this developer — is a local president of Busey Bank. You do the math.
Here is the money graph as far as I’m concerned:
We asked Mayor Jim Ardis if he felt this might warrant a reminder to those serving on city commissions to be wary of conflicts of interest. We were disappointed with his response.
“I don’t know if this one instance constitutes a pattern,” said Ardis, adding, “I don’t really think anyone needs me to remind them that the public really looks at this closely.”
With all due respect, Mr. Mayor, but what the Hell are you babbling about? “One instance?”
Was Mayor Ardis in a coma when ex-Mayor Dve Ransburg was getting absolutely hammered in the press and the Blogosphere for working behind the scenes to arrange a secret deal that would give the owners of the Pere Marquette guaranteed loans — at taxpayer expense — for a renovation project?
This kind of secret deal marking was one of many, many good reasons Ransburg was tossed to the curb by voters back in April.
Instead of waiting for the authority to come forward with another doomesday scenario about how the Civic Center will fail unless it’s allowed to dig deaper in taxpayer pockets, the council should take a proactive stance. First, pass a resolution stating that they have “no confidence” in the ability of the commissioner Dan Daly to serve the public’s interests, and then ask him to resign. Second, they should send a letter to the CCA telling them that the council does not support any additional public funding for the civic center, nor does it support creating another TIF.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
A Hilton(or comparable) large full servicehotel on the other side of Kumph Blvd. would be great, if dodne so without Daly or his Bank involved. Make the PCC put out bids, put no City or public money into it, and let the market choose. Who can compalin about that?
excuse the poor spelling in the above comment; just in a big hurry..
The new hotel issue is a little bothersome. The fact we are building this “tourist” town is a little stretch for the imagination. What are we going to do with these building if they fail? No tax revenues should pay for any of this. Lets’ try to pick up the broken glass, and garbage around the Civic Center before we build another Hotel by it. Oh, yea, and run Dan Daily out of town.
Let’s see, the Riverplex was built with taxpayer money to compete with private health clubs… MidTown Plaza was put in a TIF and ended up shuttering Sullivan’s and John Bee in the older neighborhoods… heck, why not put up a hotel at taxpayer expense so it can compete with the private hotels? Seems to fit the Peoria pattern.
Gosh, I wonder…. If a large scale hotel chain thought there was money to be made in Peoria, why they haven’t come calling? Maybe Hyatt has never heard of Peoria. Makes me wonder how Starbucks found us. Me thinks someone at City Hall must have sent Seattle a TIF and forgot to tell the rest of us….
What the hell do we need another hotel around this burg when we already have the Grandview Hotel, with rooms to offer?
I believe they’re razing the Grandview.