The below petition continues to gather signatures around the Cape. Email if you want to sign and have not been able to locate a petition in one of your local stores.
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No Free Lunch for Gloucester Crossing
A Petition from the Citizens of Cape Ann
We the undersigned oppose the City of Gloucester granting any subsidies to Gloucester Crossing, a private venture, in this time of fiscal crisis. We oppose Tax Incentive Financing (TIF) and any request to our state legislature for approximately $3 million in subsidized infrastructure financing for this project. We look to the new Mayor of Gloucester to instead use our tax money and any financial assistance from state and federal governments to invest in our schools, water and waste water systems, roads, and sustainable economic development.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Petition for a Public Hearing
We need additional signatures on the petition for a public hearing. We got lots yesterday at the Gloucester Parade, despite the Rain. Once we get 150 signatures, and submit the petition, within 90 days the City will hold a public hearing on the subject.
Here's the text of the petition. Send an email if you want to sign and can't make it to the meeting on Weds.
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No Free Lunch for Gloucester Crossing
A Petition for a Public Hearing
from the Citizens of Cape Ann
We the undersigned request a Public Hearing about the full range of local and state subsidies planned, requested, or under discussion for Gloucester Crossing (including land), and justifications upon which any of these will be based, including impacts on our local economy, traffic, and infrastructure.
Here's the text of the petition. Send an email if you want to sign and can't make it to the meeting on Weds.
******
No Free Lunch for Gloucester Crossing
A Petition for a Public Hearing
from the Citizens of Cape Ann
We the undersigned request a Public Hearing about the full range of local and state subsidies planned, requested, or under discussion for Gloucester Crossing (including land), and justifications upon which any of these will be based, including impacts on our local economy, traffic, and infrastructure.
Next Steps: Meeting Weds. July 9
Meet and Discuss Next Steps
July 9, 6:15 PM
Pleasant St. Tea Company
7 Pleasant St.
Gloucester
July 9, 6:15 PM
Pleasant St. Tea Company
7 Pleasant St.
Gloucester
MORE Grant Award
PRESS RELEASE – 4:30 p.m. June 13, 2008
RESIDENTS OPPOSE GOVERNOR PATRICK’S ANNOUNCEMENT OF PUBLIC FINANCING OF GLOUCESTER CROSSING SHOPPING MALL
Governor Deval Patrick has announced a state $2.2 million MORE Jobs grant to Gloucester Crossing, a new shopping mall to be built in Gloucester by private developer, Sam Park. This grant is in direct violation of the guidelines of the MORE program established by the State legislature in 2007. The Governor’s office has not responded to multiple inquiries and questions from Gloucester residents about the inappropriateness of state funding for this private mall developer. A petition with over 600 signatures in opposition to grants or tax breaks for Gloucester Crossing has been submitted to the Governor’s Office of Housing and Economic Development.
Citizens have articulated their many reasons for opposition to public financing.
Gloucester Crossing does not meet the MORE grant criteria to generate substantial sales from outside the Commonwealth and create 100 new permanent full-time jobs.
Gloucester Crossing will not provide exceptional economic benefit to Gloucester. To the contrary, it is likely that this new shopping mall will lead to more and more stores closing in Gloucester’s downtown area and in the industrial parks. Any jobs created will be low-wage service jobs. Profits will head out of town as well. In effect, this grant will be a “reverse MORE” project, because revenues will flow out of rather than into Massachusetts.
There are far superior uses of MORE grant and other state support to Gloucester, such as:
-Wastewater pretreatment on the harbor – The Gloucester Harbor Committee has requested funding for years for wastewater pretreatment that would allow for substantially more value-added fish product development on the harbor. When the “dehyde” plant was closed years ago, much fish processing went elsewhere in the state. This is the kind of project that the MORE Jobs program has funded in the past.
-Parking garage in the downtown – Downtown development committees and other City plans have routinely recommended that additional parking be provided for shoppers. This will help Main Street businesses, rather than hurt them.
The City has not conducted a complete economic analysis of the impact of the project. Lost business on Main Street has not been considered nor the lost multiplier effect of sales circulating over and over within the local economy. The developer has announced his intentions of engaging corporate “box” stores and national/international hotel and assisted living chains.
RESIDENTS OPPOSE GOVERNOR PATRICK’S ANNOUNCEMENT OF PUBLIC FINANCING OF GLOUCESTER CROSSING SHOPPING MALL
Governor Deval Patrick has announced a state $2.2 million MORE Jobs grant to Gloucester Crossing, a new shopping mall to be built in Gloucester by private developer, Sam Park. This grant is in direct violation of the guidelines of the MORE program established by the State legislature in 2007. The Governor’s office has not responded to multiple inquiries and questions from Gloucester residents about the inappropriateness of state funding for this private mall developer. A petition with over 600 signatures in opposition to grants or tax breaks for Gloucester Crossing has been submitted to the Governor’s Office of Housing and Economic Development.
Citizens have articulated their many reasons for opposition to public financing.
Gloucester Crossing does not meet the MORE grant criteria to generate substantial sales from outside the Commonwealth and create 100 new permanent full-time jobs.
Gloucester Crossing will not provide exceptional economic benefit to Gloucester. To the contrary, it is likely that this new shopping mall will lead to more and more stores closing in Gloucester’s downtown area and in the industrial parks. Any jobs created will be low-wage service jobs. Profits will head out of town as well. In effect, this grant will be a “reverse MORE” project, because revenues will flow out of rather than into Massachusetts.
There are far superior uses of MORE grant and other state support to Gloucester, such as:
-Wastewater pretreatment on the harbor – The Gloucester Harbor Committee has requested funding for years for wastewater pretreatment that would allow for substantially more value-added fish product development on the harbor. When the “dehyde” plant was closed years ago, much fish processing went elsewhere in the state. This is the kind of project that the MORE Jobs program has funded in the past.
-Parking garage in the downtown – Downtown development committees and other City plans have routinely recommended that additional parking be provided for shoppers. This will help Main Street businesses, rather than hurt them.
The City has not conducted a complete economic analysis of the impact of the project. Lost business on Main Street has not been considered nor the lost multiplier effect of sales circulating over and over within the local economy. The developer has announced his intentions of engaging corporate “box” stores and national/international hotel and assisted living chains.
July 4 Parade Handout
NO FREE LUNCH FOR GLOUCESTER CROSSING
It’s a fact. Gloucester businesses
Don’t get state subsidies
Don’t get tax breaks
Don’t get free water and sewer systems.
Why should Gloucester Crossing get Millions of Dollars in your tax dollars to pay for its “free lunch”? It’s not fair.
Heed your head. Trust your gut. There’s no such thing as a “free lunch.”
http://nofreelunchforgloucestercrossing.blogspot.com/
Gloucester Crossing is a private shopping mall under construction at Blackburn Circle, already awarded millions in state and local subsidies, tax breaks and give-aways.
It’s a fact. Gloucester businesses
Don’t get state subsidies
Don’t get tax breaks
Don’t get free water and sewer systems.
Why should Gloucester Crossing get Millions of Dollars in your tax dollars to pay for its “free lunch”? It’s not fair.
Heed your head. Trust your gut. There’s no such thing as a “free lunch.”
http://nofreelunchforgloucestercrossing.blogspot.com/
Gloucester Crossing is a private shopping mall under construction at Blackburn Circle, already awarded millions in state and local subsidies, tax breaks and give-aways.
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