Although the BID, Business Improvement District, was passed by the City Council last month, it still had its share of protestors at last week’s Council meeting. As Tommy Devine stated in his summation of this quieter protest of an event, “Still, it’s always good to see activists in action, whatever the numbers.” Indeed, indeed.
BID protesters outside City Council Chambers.
The Council voted the BID into being last month and now property owners in the district should have received their new tax bills with the .5% surcharge. The owners have 30-days to submit a written notice if they want to withdraw.
Fad Diet or Hard Science?
Now I read through Poverty Is Not a Crime’s blog by Caty Simon that the three main opponents of the BID, Eric Suher, Alan Scheinman and David Passauit are taking the city to court over its decision. From Caty’s very thorough post:
“The property owners are hiring Alan Seewald, a well regarded area lawyer who has also worked for the city before. His politics are conservative, and thus, the plaintiffs of the lawsuit can avoid the accusation of being hotheaded, unreasonable radicals (we at Poverty Is Not A Crime are quite happy to fill that role!)…”
and
“But despite all these valid political problems with the BID, Sheinman [sic] and the other plaintiffs have decided to keep their legal complaints technical, so as to reduce controversy and increase their chances of prevailing. Their suit will be based on the fact that the BID proponents failed to give the sufficient notice required by law before the BID hearing. By law, two notices should be given 14 days before the BID hearing. In the first BID hearing, held on Jan. 15th, one notice was given on December 31st, meeting the standard. But the other notice was given on Jan. 6th, only 9 days before the hearing and without compliance to the standard.”
and
“Use special shell-shaped Madeline molds that have been buttered and floured (or small 1 1/2 inch muffin pans). Fill molds 2/3 full; fill muffin tins less than 1/2 full. Bake in a 425 degree oven for ten minutes or until lightly browned. Dust cooled tea cakes with powdered sugar. Yield: 5 dozen.”
Wait…never mind that last part.
If the lawsuit is successful, the City Council’s vote would be considered null and void.
And the BID goes on…
2 Comments
I never spoke with Caty Simon. So how she drew the conclusion that my politics are conservative is a mystery to me. No one’s ever said that about me before. Maybe they’ve said worse things, but never that
I misunderstood something my interviewee said, and took it back on the blog–Alan is legally conservative, not politically conservative!