Booming Business Moves to West Bend - Liberals Gripe
The liberals writing in the Daily News today are in full froth over a thriving business moving to West Bend, filling a vacant building, paying taxes, and adding jobs.
Oh… I get it. It’s because that business is Delta Defense and it supports private citizens exercising their right to keep and bear arms. I’m sure if it was a company that bred unicorns that shat glitter, they’d be fine with it.
I guess I won’t belive the tripe that those folks spew when they talk about business development. They don’t want business in West Bend. They want businesses that they like. That drastically limits the field of possibilities.
And for the record, yes, I would applaud a lefty business moving to West Bend. Bring ‘em all here, I say.
And for the record, yes, I would applaud a lefty business moving to West Bend. Bring ‘em all here, I say.
Would an abortion clinic be considered a “lefty business”? ‘cause it seems that the GOP is trying to destroy that entire industry….
Posted by purplepenquin on February 09, 2013 at 1134 hrs
Would an abortion clinic be considered a “lefty business”? ‘cause it seems that the GOP is trying to destroy that entire industry
Destroying 54 million taxpayers before their first paycheck and their ability to pay social security taxes…yes, that is a “lefty industry” that should be destroyed.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 09, 2013 at 1213 hrs
Website master does not mention the complainant’s rationale for revisiting the approval of the loans to the business in question:
1) how the loan approval process was conducted
2) the location of the business
3) expansion plansWebsite master does not mention tax break business will receive.
Website master does not mention the donation the business in question made to public schools foundation immediately after receiving taxpayer subsidized low interest loan. Did business really need that large of a taxpayer subsidized low interest loan?
“They want businesses that they like. That drastically limits the field of possibilities.” Website master does not support this accusation with any examples.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 09, 2013 at 1633 hrs
C’mon Owen, you know glitter-shitting unicorns would be a huge hit. Little girls everywhere would want one.
Posted by Recess Supervisor on February 09, 2013 at 1746 hrs
PP beat me to it. But seriously, what would be considered a “lefty” business?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 09, 2013 at 1823 hrs
BTW
...I was scoping firearms today, and…
I refuse to believe the aldermen and the mayor (formally or informally) did not discuss the controversy of bringing the business in question to settle in the (W—- B—-) Museum of W————Art. I cannot consider the idea that they are that f*cking stupid after witnessing the past five years of W—- B—- appearing in local and national news because of controversial issue being peacefully debated by citizens this webmaster reduces to forces of the left and right (A consistent business marketing approach and a subtle means to threaten with calling out any protestors).
The particular media coverage over controversial issues this fair city has received is not becoming unless, perhaps, a group is deliberately trying to drive out a certain group and attract more of a specific group - I doubt that sells houses and rents apartments. At the same time, I would not put it past the aldermen, the mayor, the business owner, the firearms industry, the NEA, and the [ . . . ] party to use this particular controversy to recruit (much like the local school district annual meetings in the recent past).
We’ll see if when anyone attempts to put up a taxpayer subsidized museum dedicated to the uber-talented super tri-sexual (I’ll try anything) Freddy Mercury of Queen if our dear webmaster is out pounding the pavement defending government subsidized job creation.
Weapons manufacturing stock is over-priced now.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 09, 2013 at 1953 hrs
This is the second post by Owen on the subject but. I return to Kevin’s ( yes, I know what that means ) post about picking winners and losers.
Conservatives are against this practice in general but the irony of picking this particular business in that particular location with that history is too delicious even for our knuckle dragging councilmen to ignore.
Picking Delta Defense to be housed with tax payer money in the arts area of West Bend is an additional stick in the eye to residents who objected to their priority of having library board members who supported guns in the library across the street.
While they must feel quite powerful in the abstract , putting the item on the agenda at the last minute was a craven act of cowardice by all involved.
This is arrogant local politics at its worst . More big tough actions in support of guns from men who are penile challenged.
Now you can add ” political candy asses “to their resume.
PS - this action was not lost on the monied elderly in West Bend who contributed to both the old museum and built the new one. The same ones who fund any and all projects dreamed up in the community . But they aren’t Concerned Citizens members so they aren’t consulted. Brilliant boys, just Brilliant .
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 10, 2013 at 1038 hrs
Owen,
So answer the concerns that have been raised.
1) No public discussion on this spending of taxpayer funds.
2) Members of the County group who approved the spending of county funds also sit on the board of the WMA who will benefit finacially from the deal—how is that not a conflict of interest?
3) The property sits in the middle of an area designated by the City of West Bend as a Cultural Arts District—how does this business fulfill that purpose especially when anyone can see that they plan to put in an indoor shooting range?
4) Can you honestly say that if an abortion clinic wanted to move to WB, bring 20 full time jobs and do this using taxpayer money that was not debated in public, you would be ok with it?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 10, 2013 at 1951 hrs
No answer from Owen or the other conservatives to my post. I guess that is an answer—back room politics clouded in secrecy are good when it works for you side, but not the other.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 11, 2013 at 1216 hrs
AV,
I’ve been accused of being conservative.
For what it’s worth, I perceive this as corporate pork. And just like the Obama bailouts of auto industry and automaker unions, this “economic development” should be denounced in terms of taxpayer dollars.
With that said, I still welcome the business and its job expansion. I just wish it could have been done without Washington Co. government pork.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 11, 2013 at 1243 hrs
Kevin,
You are conservative—not meant to be offensive, just a stating of the facts—what about all of the secrecy and lack of transparency? Do you also perceive this as a problem?
On some levels, for me, that is a much bigger issue—that and the same people who voted to award the money sit on the WMA Board that will benefit from the money.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 11, 2013 at 1643 hrs
AV,
I’m not insulted by Conservative, Tea Party, Or Libertarian label.
Secrecy is a problem. The pork is a problem. Those conservatives that criticize Obama for the same secrecy and corporate pork loans, grants, and bailouts should do the same here.
In my view, good conservatives support the job creation, but do not support the corporate welfare (aka “economic development”) aspect of this story.
If there is a good reason private financing could not be gotten here, (vs. government subsidized loans) I’d sure like to know it.
Chances are, its probably the loan that would over-leverage the deal for a private sector financier. If that is the case, it is a “risky” government loan.
But I did get my Finance degree from UW-Milwaukee, the “Midwest branch of the Kremlin”, I may be “generous” in describing the government risk here…I suspect this deal is probably more risky than I imagine.
In my experience, those that want to get the loan deal done, severely downplay the true risk. It’s human nature to do that.
I always thought the hard core, anti-corporate welfare liberals, and Tea Party Conservatives always shared common ground on corporate welfare—-being against it.
I have to admit, the reactions to this story has been very, very, interesting.
I’ll admit, I detest government corporate pork, where government body picks winners and losers for private investment projects, neary 100% of the time.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 11, 2013 at 1756 hrs
Good response Kevin, Thanks.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 11, 2013 at 2125 hrs
As long as silly simple minded folk use terms to divide and conquer the real problems will never get solved. High School bullshit never grows old.
Oh and by the way…if 9 new jobs is considered ‘job growth’ in this city I’ll franchise another Jimmy Johns.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 12, 2013 at 0930 hrs
if 9 new jobs is considered ‘job growth’ in this city I’ll franchise another Jimmy Johns
The reall question is: Can you get Wash. Co. economic development largesse to do it?
If you do, let me know, I want in on the pork.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 12, 2013 at 0941 hrs
Was this business going to move out of Washington county? If not then this is really ridiculous. All that is being done is moving a few jobs 8 miles up the road. I doubt that the employees are going to move to WB if they do not already live there. So, where is the great return on investment?
The secrecy or lack of commenting ability for the public is in this case the real issue. Defending this makes conservatives look like hypocrites
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 12, 2013 at 1602 hrs
Kevin, in answer to 15, no—not unless you find a way to have people who will benefit from the grant—ie people who voted from the pork that also sit on the WMA Board—to also financially benefit from the pork.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 13, 2013 at 1002 hrs
Av,
So would your Jimmy John’s franchise idea get some Washington Co. economic development pork if you had the political connections?
That’s the crux problem with economic development. It’s not about convincing the market to finance you, it’s about how well the political connections can be navigated—-as we see with Obama’s green energy disaster’s, over and over again.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 13, 2013 at 1006 hrs
That should read, “So would Jeff’s Jimmy John’s franchise idea…
ugh.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 13, 2013 at 1008 hrs
Uh Oh! It is published that Delta Defense will received a $100,000 low interest loan from Economic Development Washington County (EDWC) funded with County sales tax money, City of West Bend, $167,000 low interest loan and a 50 percent, five-year tax re-investment program incentive for the project and is after $124,000 in tax credits from Wisconsin Economic Development Corp (WEDC). EDWC also has an Impact Attraction Grant of $500,000 (also funded with County sales tax money) that has burning a hole in their pocket for several years.
Delta Defense presently has 16 employees and, for a mere $391,000, pledges to create 9 new full time jobs. Might be $43K or $29K PER JOB depending on how you slice it but that is a lot of money. If EDWC persuades the County to cut loose some or all of the $500K grant (bureaucrat speak for free gift), the price goes up.
This does not pass the smell test for me.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 13, 2013 at 1334 hrs
Kevin, yes my argument is that if you got the right connections you get the cash.
Bill, if it passed the smell test all of the meeting would have been done in the light of day.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 13, 2013 at 1414 hrs
Wow, now that the numbers are exposed properly, I’m going from being annoyed to downright outrage.
Let’s give this to every business!
If its a great move for Delta defense, why not for all businesses????
I hate uneven government treatment of citizens.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 13, 2013 at 1625 hrs
Per the West Bend News I see the West Bend School Foundation received a large check written By Delta Defense.
Solid work Mark.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDAmPIq29ro
Remain calm people all is well.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 14, 2013 at 1040 hrs
Per the West Bend News I see the West Bend School Foundation received a large check written By Delta Defense.
Shaking down the taxpayer shakedown…very impressive.
The rest of us suckers…I mean taxpayers, need in the action.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 14, 2013 at 1152 hrs
On the bright side, at least Delta Defense is productive.
Obama purely wasted this $150 million in “economic development” stimulus money.
I want a $150 million grant.
I could at least find productive use for it.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 14, 2013 at 1219 hrs
liberals ... in full froth
Apparently not just the liberals.
But folks, let’s remember what this is. It is not a gift, it is a loan and the interest rate while attractive is not a gift either.
Kevin, Bill - you are free to avail yourselves of these opportunities. You certainly know how very difficult it is to get a bank loan, particularly for a new age information business.
I pay plenty of taxes. I like that my City and County are using them for economic development. We need to attract and retain good businesses.Posted by Charlie Hillman on February 15, 2013 at 0914 hrs
Charlie,
This may be my finance degree talking, but:
If it is hard/impossible to get a traditional bank loan on the issue…there is a market solution:
Equity Investors.
Equity investing is always more risky. With that risk carries a possibility of great reward, OR complete bust.
It comes with some unpleasant side effects for existing owners: they may have to yield some control of the company.
Are you saying that government is taking on risk the bank would not take?
It is proper for government to debt finance, so existing owners do not have to yield any control of their company?
What a sweet deal!
Given the stupidity of big bank lending the last 10 years, to imply this company could not get a private loan is really saying something about the tremendous risk here.
What are qualifications for “economic development” largesse? Can I just belly up for stimulus, like the Obama story above, with no real business plan, or intent to make anything and get the money?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 15, 2013 at 1007 hrs
I don’t have one of those fancy finance degrees but I can say with relative certainty that I have spent more time than anyone else on this blog talking with equity guys.
The stupidity of the banks was a direct result of breaking down the walls between traditional banking and investment banking.
If the equity market was really free and working efficiently, there would not have been the 2008 recession.
We have already turned down money from investors and government because it would have required that we move out of town. While it would be easy for a software company to relocate, we like West Bend and want to grow here.
The City and the County wisely use their resources to attract and retain businesses that have the potential to create wealth and jobs. That’s what an industrial park is all about. Would you consider that largesse? Police protect business assets. Is that largesse?
The lack of action by previous City administrations and governance resulted in many jobs going to Hartford and elsewhere.
I think Kraig, TJ, and Christian have a very good handle on ROI. If you really think it’s about just showing up without a plan and getting money, I urge you to give it a shot. Keep us informed as to your progress.Posted by Charlie Hillman on February 15, 2013 at 1618 hrs
The lack of action by previous City administrations and governance resulted in many jobs going to Hartford and elsewhere.
I know that we lost Surak Electric to Hartford; what others? The real damage to West Bend was the closings of Amity, Enger-Kress and the West Bend Company, the loss of manufacturing at Gehl’s, and the relocation of B.C. Ziegler. I don’t know what previous administrations could have done to counter the market forces that caused those to happen.
The combined value increase for the industrial parks and corporate center is $110 million, according to Wisconsin DOR. This doesn’t include the economic impact of the jobs.
Seventy five acres of industrial land was recently touted for being certified by the state as “shovel ready”. Everyone has forgotten that the Plan Commission rejected the developer’s request to rezone it to residential to take advantage of the housing boom. Land that will have factories on it someday could be littered with vacant houses, instead.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 16, 2013 at 1414 hrs
I urge you to give it a shot. Keep us informed as to your progress
.
I flunked political schmoozing 101.
Bellying up to government for venture capital is sort of like asking Bill Clinton for lessons on marital fidelity.
The clever packaging may be believable, but we all know its completely rotten at the moral center.
There I go again…flunking that political schmoozing thing again.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 16, 2013 at 2201 hrs
“Bellying up to government for venture capital is [...] The clever packaging may be believable, but we all know its completely rotten at the moral center.”
That is an idealistic and impractical statement.
I was out west and saw the huge hole in Northern Arizona near Winslow: Meteor Crater: “one mile across, 2.4 miles in circumference and more than 550 feet deep.”
In 2000, the NASA (U.S. Gov built the NEAT system “to complete a comprehensive search of the sky for near-Earth asteroids and comets” Jul 5, 2005: NASA completed comet-impact mission. One reason these projects were done was to possibly bump a future asteroid from again hitting earth (You saw the meteorite that injured a 1,000 with broken glass from the sonic boom in Siberia this week).
U.S. government venture capital used to fund businesses’ inventions and ideas that prevent or alleviate disasters is not completely rotten at the moral center.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 16, 2013 at 2239 hrs
U.S. government venture capital used to fund businesses’ inventions and ideas that prevent or alleviate disasters is not completely rotten at the moral center.
Let me know when Washington County is doing this.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 17, 2013 at 1038 hrs
Charlie, I appreciate your perspective, but what about the fact that the deal was done with no public hearings….it ended up on a City Council agenda at the last possible legal minute and the public was prohibited from commenting at the meeting. The person who did comment was ordered removed by the police.
On the County level, from what I have read, some of the people on the economic development group that voted for the money also sit on the Wisconsin Art Museum Board—so they voted to give money to a group that will in turn give money to the WAM. Again, no public hearing and a significant conflict of interest.
If this is so good, why the secrecy?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 17, 2013 at 1659 hrs
...because some of the people who were doing much of the smearing about government cost and transparency are now in charge?
Delta Defense had to have the property super fast to prevent the area from turning into a unproductive dead zone (See Alderman in 2.16.13 west bend daily news counter arguing John Torinus’s column critiquing the delta defense loan decision.The dead zone argument is worth a guffaw. The former wets bend company building next to the adult YMCA would have provided a better shooting range. You could shoot skeet in the building on level one and have go-carts bumper cars, a carousel and a water slide on floor number 2.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 17, 2013 at 2212 hrs
I want a $150 million grant. - holy Moses. That is a lot!!
Trevor
My blog / icometsale.comPosted by icometsale on February 22, 2013 at 0936 hrs
This is arrogant local politics at its worst . More big tough actions in support of guns from men who are penile challenged.
Now you can add ” political candy asses “to their resume.
Great words out of the mouth of a man who coaches one of our local sports teams. I would expect you had a little more class than that but then again you are Mark Maley.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 23, 2013 at 1300 hrs
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