Civic Center

[cjsummers]

A lot of it goes to consultants who tell us we need to give the Civic Center more money and make the place bigger so we can attract more conferences. It never seems to work, but the consultants always get paid.

[RPlant]

$4 million for the Civic Center; $0 to keep fire departments open. Priorities.

I'm sorry, was the City loaning the Fire Department $4M? Here's why they made the loan. The Civic Center ticks off at least three of those boxes.

Round 2 Business Interruption Grants (BIG) were announced this week
https://www.wcia.com/news/round-two-of- ... -opens-up/

The funds will be divided among the following categories:

- Heavily-impacted industries have been allotted $60 million. That includes movie theaters, performing arts venues, concert venues, indoor recreation, and amusement parks.
- Disproportionally impacted areas (DIAs) can receive $70 million. They are defined by zip codes identified by the General Assembly for communities that are most economically distressed and vulnerable to COVID-19.
- Downstate communities will receive at least half of all funds, according to IDCEO. That amount will exceed $100 million.
- Priority businesses aside from heavily impacted industries will be prioritized for review for remaining funds. They include independently-owned retail, tourism, and hospitality-owned businesses, in addition to other companies directly affected by regional, state, or local government mitigations.
- Agriculture will receive $5 million, specifically for livestock production disruptions. The Illinois Department of Agriculture will make applications available in the coming weeks.

[cjsummers]

Loans aren't free money. Taxpayers are obligated to pay it back. The Civic Center is not making any money now. And it's not an essential service.

[kevwr1962]

Loans aren't free money. Taxpayers are obligated to pay it back. The Civic Center is not making any money now. And it's not an essential service.

@cjsummers on topic, but off topic. on another forum we were discussing the HRA tax and the Civic Center. Do you know how, after the HRA taxes are collected on a monthly basis, these funds are then distributed to the Civic Center? If the HRA monies go to the CC, how will those funds be used to pay back the bonds? Would HRA taxes first pay back the bonds with the remaining going to the CC? Next question, because I have a feeling you know this, too, do you know when the next vote comes up to extend the HRA tax? Isn't it every 10 years?

[Cornstar]

The Civic Center is as efficient as the Postal Service and both need to be privatized. The Theater is a mass casualty situation waiting to happen. How was a fire trap design like that allowed to be approved in the first place?

[RPlant]

Loans aren't free money. Taxpayers are obligated to pay it back. The Civic Center is not making any money now. And it's not an essential service.

Didn't say they were. The Civic Center is eligible for a Business Interruption Grant, The City is making a bridge loan between now and receipt of the grant.

CoP can bump your tax base or charge more per call out to cover FD's expenses. You are conflating two different issues,