Many of our City Council members are throwing their hat into the Mayoral election and will be asking for your vote in 2019. Yet, you have been asking these same council members to stop giving tax breaks to large developers for luxury apartments in an area where market rates should easily justify the financial investment without incentives, to no avail. Sometime in mid-June, the Planning and Zoning committee will be discussing a not-yet-introduced resolution to grant Cordish Companies a property tax abatement for luxury apartments. The Kansas City Star Editorial Review board recently denounced the idea of giving Cordish incentives in their recent article, saying, “We still don’t see that Cordish needs the tax breaks for Three Light, which are given out far too freely in general.” http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article211854804.html Not only that, but so far, 347 of us have signed this petition, sending a direct message to City Council, the Mayor and the City Manager to vote “No” on subsidizing luxury. So far, nothing seems to be making an impact. Please send a personal email right away to cc1@kcmo.org and tell City Council and the Mayor that you do not support tax incentives for luxury apartments. Be sure to remind them that 2019 is right around the corner and you think it’s time to make some big changes to the way we do business at City Hall. If you are on Facebook, it would be great to start putting pressure on all of the City Council members who are running for Mayor since they are on listening mode leading into campaign season. Please be respectful but make sure you ask them where they stand on Three Light: https://www.facebook.com/taylorforkcmayor/ https://www.facebook.com/wagnerforkc https://www.facebook.com/JustusforKC https://www.facebook.com/JermaineReedforMayor/ If you are on Twitter, you can also tweet your comments and questions. Please include hashtags: #DontSubsidizeLuxury #KCTIFwatch @Taylor4KCMayor @JolieJustus @JermaineReed You can also “tag” David Cordish himself @DavidCordish Here are some example Social Media Posts: How can you justify approving $17.4 million to fund a parking garage and only $3.7 million for neighborhood services and then turn around and give that same company an even bigger break in tax incentives for luxury apartments I’ll never be able to afford to live in? Please vote no on tax incentives for Three Light, Four Light, Five Light and Six Light and any other luxury projects. After waiting for 25 years, my children’s children may finally see the benefit of these projects in their schools. Where is my incentive to stay in Kansas City Missouri if I’m the only one paying property taxes and developers get a pass? Please Vote No on tax incentives for luxury projects. What is your position on tax incentives for luxury projects? Specifically, how do you intend to vote on the Three Light project? As your constituent, I would ask you to stop these insane giveaways and take a stand against tax incentives for luxury projects. #DontSubsidizeLuxury Most people who use the services that are funded by property taxes such as Public Schools, Public Libraries and the Mental Health Fund, can never afford to live in any of the apartments being proposed by Cordish Companies. Why is it that these people have to pay property taxes and Cordish doesn’t? It seems like Cordish can afford to pay their share if our low-income voters can and I think most people get that. Please vote no on subsidies for luxury projects. Your vote regarding tax incentives for luxury apartments will have a direct affect on my vote in 2019. #DontSubsidizeLuxury #KCTIFwatch