LA WEAKLY did a follow-up on my Grand Avenue Project story from last year. Most of the good stuff got cut out, but I posted it here on my own blog, last year. (My finest comedy script, ever!)From The Weakly: "The City Council is expected to give its final approval to $60 million in rebates on taxes that would typically have been charged to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, plus $6 million in parking tax rebates normally paid by developers.
One city source familiar with the negotiations insists that the project’s huge public subsidies are “not a true loss to the general fund. Yes, it’s money that is lost to the general fund — but it’s not money that would come if there wasn’t a hotel. ... We would not have those funds if the hotel was not there.” [ZD says...for the record, I don't know who the "one city source" is...but Zuma Dogg can tell you Related Co's Bill Witte used that one on me when he got frustrated trying to defend the subsidies to me last year.]
And that has been the argument all along — that without the city and county subsidy, nothing might be built on the land, so the city would lose out on property taxes and other income. (A similar tax forgiveness was granted to AEG, the developers of the L.A. Live concert hall and luxury hotel next to Staples Center.)"
Zuma Dogg says, "Yeah, without the hotel, no funds...except, this project is being constructed on public land and these decisions were made basically by Eli Broad and Bill Witte with the cahootsism of the CRA, Board of Supes and L.A. Shitty Council.
It makes perfect sense for Los Angeles City and County to be in a business deal with the Arab Emirates of Dubai, because they are kinda an autocratic body, just like City Council. (Don't look into how they treat people over there/human rights issues!)
AND THE ENTIRE GRAND AVENUE PROJECT IS ILLEGAL IN THE FIRST PLACE, Because the park is on STATE land. And Grand Ave Debacle Project is a JOINT VENTURE with CRA and L.A. City Council.
Los Angeles CITY Council is not legally allowed to make these State decisions being made regarding the park. AND NOW THE ARAB EMIRATE FAMILY OF DUBAI WILL HAVE A STAKE AND DECISION MAKING OVER CITY AND PUBLIC LAND!?!?!
AND JANICE HAHN AND JAN PERRY BRAGGED ABOUT HOW GREAT THIS PROJECT IS, because it will have low income, middle income and billionaires ALL LIVING IN PEACE AND HARMONY IN THE SAME CONDO BUILDING, since the developers are required to include affordable units of mixed ranges.
SO INSPECTOR GENERAL ZUMA DOGG WILL BE MAKING SURE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NOT MOVED OFF SITE AND OUT OF THE AREA!!!
AND, AND, AND...part of the agreement is that if the developer is late with the project, they have to pay the City a penalty fee. WELP, they have been late on two of these deadlines! The project has been pushed back a second time. And they OWE the City money as a result, AND YES...Inspector General Zuma Dogg will be making sure the City collects this fee from Related Co and the Royal Family of Dubai, because the city is in a budget crisis...and a luxury Mandarin Hotel and expensive "boutique shops" (as the plan proudly proclaims) obviously isn't feeling any financial hardships...OH YES THEY ARE...THEY CAN'T GET FINANCING, AND WHO IS TO SAY THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO IN TIME FOR THE NEXT DEADLINE.
ZUMA DOGG HAS SAID ALL ALONG, THIS THING IS A BIG PIPEDREAM, ONE NOTCH AHEAD OF "SUBWAY TO THE SEA". That's why my L.A. Weakly article was called, "Eli's Grand Illusion." (Eli must get the best Prop 215 medication to have come up with this one.)
AND TO TOP IT OFF...This was one of two projects Antonio was given to get done when Broad/Riordan backed him for his first (and only) term: LAUSD takeover and Grand Ave Project. THOSE ARE THE BIG TWO REASONS WE HAVE DOUCHARAIGOSA IN OFFICE.
AND HA, HA...both those fools lost their ASS on their investment, and now it's all gone down the drain. I would look for Broad/Riordan to back a second horse to cover their bet for the Mayoral election in '09.
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