Pay for Play?
Steve Patterson has done an excellent job covering the debate over a proposed McDonalds on South Grand that would lie almost right across the street from the existing establishment.
Patterson has been highly critical of the role played by 15th Ward Alderman Jennifer Florida, in whose ward the McDonald's falls. She has been a staunch advocate of the project even in the face of unprecedented opposition from neighboring Alderman Craig Schmid (20th Ward). Now he says there may be more to Florida's interest in the deal than just politics.
Pyramid Construction has plans for a project that would use the land the existing fast-food joint sits on. Patterson pulled Florida's quarterly reports from 2004. He believe that the numerous Pyramid-related donations to her campaign were designed to curry favor.
Encouraging favorable attention through donations is an age-old practice, but Patterson believes it is related to this project, specifically. That's a serious charge, but Paterson is one serious urbanist.
I have read some of what Steve has said about the McDonalds and can't really find out why McDonald's moving is such a big deal. And especially if some one is going to do something with the land that the McDonald's sits on. It seems like an upgrade to me.
Posted by Worried Citizen on Mon., Mar 27, 2006 at 8:36 AMWhere is the ethics line crossed between "A" and "B" below?
A: "Encouraging favorable attention through donations is an age-old practice"...
B. "...but Patterson believes it is related to this project, specifically"...(
Followed by: "That's a 'serious charge', but Patterson is one serious urbanist".
Why is "A" above okay, but "B" a "serious charge"?
Buying "access" with contributions is okay, but buying "access for a specific project" is not okay?
Sounds like a distinction without a difference.
Posted by anon on Mon., Mar 27, 2006 at 9:59 AM
The big deal about the move is that the redevelopment ordinance for the area prohibits drive-thru establishments.
Selling homes to people with the expectation a site will be developed in a certain way only to have it developed entirely different, despite an ordinance on the books, is a big deal.
Having an elected official receiving lots of contributions from the developer that has let Keystone Place sit nearly vacant for years and then lobby for a project over the objections of the immediate and adjacent neighborhoods is a big deal.
Having campaign finance reports that cannot be reconciled is a big deal.
Posted by Steve Patterson on Mon., Mar 27, 2006 at 10:46 AMIf you can't drink their booze, take their money, and sleep with their women, and then vote against them in the morning, you're in the wrong business. Or something like that. Is there anyone (besides Pyramid) that's happy with the Alderwoman from the 15th these days?
Posted by city beat on Mon., Mar 27, 2006 at 11:02 AMI'm not happy with her performance as an alderwoman.
But I love her hair!
Posted by I'm Lovin' It on Mon., Mar 27, 2006 at 11:18 AMCitizens are out distributing flyers to voters at the polling places in the 15th ward. The flyers talk about the proposed McDonald's and why the residents of the ward need to tell Florida to put a stop to it.
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