Carl Brewer

Wichita city budget savings

August 2, 2011

There are many ways the City of Wichita can save money, ranging from embracing outsourcing to closing entire departments.

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Job creation at young firms declines

August 1, 2011

A new report by the Kauffman Foundation holds unsettling information for the future of job growth in the United States.

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For Wichita, Save-A-Lot teaches a lesson

June 6, 2011

The announcement that a Save-A-Lot grocery store will proceed — contrary to the claims of developers and city staff who rely on their information — should provide a lesson that yes, economic development in Wichita can and will happen without public assistance.

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Hawker Beechcraft to receive subsidy from Wichita City Council

May 16, 2011

The decision by Kansas and Wichita to grant subsidy to Hawker Beechcraft in order to retain existing jobs is not a cause for celebration, as the state moves away from creating a dynamic economy.

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Wichita elections a blow for economic freedom

April 6, 2011

The victory by Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer and other city council members means a win for crony capitalism and a loss for economic freedom in Wichita.

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Education gap on Wichita City Council

April 1, 2011

Before January, none of the four men serving on the Wichita City Council had completed a college degree. The three women serving on the council set a better example, with all three holding college degrees.

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TIF, a Wichita ‘tool,’ might be on the way out in California

March 13, 2011

Tax increment financing (TIF), a key component for the financing of the revitalization of downtown Wichita, might be on the way out in California.

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Wichita Eagle endorsements out of step with Wichita

March 2, 2011

Yesterday’s primary election for Wichita city and school board races revealed a Wichita Eagle editorial board increasingly out of step with voters, who followed several of the board’s recommendations but also voted strongly against several Eagle-endorsed candidates.

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Monday February 21, 2011

February 21, 2011

Today: Kansas legislature website; legislators on governor’s plan; Wisconsin demonstrations come to Kansas?; Wichita trash; Wichita mayoral forum didn’t go well; Wichita City Council this week; Sedgwick County commission this week.

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Kansas governor releases economic development plan

February 11, 2011

Kansas governor Sam Brownback has released an economic development plan that draws on free market principles and relies less on government intervention. The plan calls for a departure from present practices, especially the heavy-handed methods cities like Wichita use.

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In Wichita, two large community improvement districts proposed

January 7, 2011

More Community Improvement Districts in Wichita indicate a sales tax increase spreading across the city, and a city government captured by special interests.

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North Dakota TIF video reminiscent of Wichita

December 27, 2010

Tax increment financing (TIF) is the subject of a video presentation that is eerily cognizant of the situation in Wichita.

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Wind power: a wise investment for Wichita and Kansas?

December 23, 2010

The economics of wind power should cause us to question the wisdom of Kansas and Wichita pursuing it as an economic development strategy.

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Eminent domain reserved for use in Wichita

December 16, 2010

As part of the plan for the future of downtown Wichita, the city council was asked to formally disavow the use of eminent domain to take private property for the purpose of economic development. The council would not agree to this restriction.

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Friday November 26, 2010

November 26, 2010

Today: Education, Sam Brownback, Economic development, School choice, Privatization

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Sedgwick County Republicans elect leadership

November 12, 2010

The Sedgwick County Republican Party met to elect its leadership, and while the party has made improvements in inclusiveness, some still feel left out.

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Wednesday November 3, 2010

November 3, 2010

Today: Elections, Dave Unruh, Jim Skelton, Gwen Welshimer, Republican Party, Wichita Pachyderm Club, Paul Gray, Jeff Longwell, Rhonda Holman, Sue Schlapp, Carl Brewer.

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Sunday October 31, 2010

October 31, 2010

Today: Carl Brewer, Corporate welfare, Economic development, Elections, Free markets, Politics, Tea Party, Wichita city council, Wichita city government, Wichita and Kansas schools.

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Sunday October 17, 2010

October 17, 2010

Today: Carl Brewer, Corporate welfare, Downtown Wichita revitalization, Sue Schlapp, Tea Party, Politics, Free markets

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Thursday October 14, 2010

October 14, 2010

Today: Kansas fourth district, Carl Brewer, Economic development, Education, Eminent domain, Kansas legislature, Mark Parkinson, Mike Pompeo, Raj Goyle, Elections.

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In Wichita Planeview neighborhood: Yes, we have!

October 6, 2010

Developers of a proposed Save-A-Lot grocery store in Wichita’s Planeview neighborhood have made the case that without two forms of subsidy, the store won’t be profitable and won’t be built. There is a counterexample, however.

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Drury request for more Broadview Hotel subsidy should be rejected

October 4, 2010

Tomorrow’s meeting of the Wichita City Council features a public hearing on the creation of a Community Improvement District to benefit Drury Southwest, developer of the Broadview Hotel in downtown Wichita.

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Wichita, other city elections on horizon

June 28, 2010

Next spring Wichita and other cities in Kansas will hold elections for city council members, school board members, and perhaps mayor.

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Letters on Wichita Bowllagio

June 14, 2010

Letters from two friends recently appeared in the Wichita Eagle regarding the proposed Bowllagio project, a west side entertainment destination. Bowllagio is planned to have a bowling and entertainment center, a boutique hotel, and a restaurant owned by a celebrity television chef.

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Wichita Bowllagio hearing produces only delay

June 9, 2010

Yesterday’s meeting of the Wichita City Council featured a lengthy public hearing for a proposed west-side entertainment development known as Bowllagio. Bowllagio is planned to have a bowling and entertainment center, a boutique hotel, and a restaurant owned by a celebrity television chef.

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Wichita Warren Theater groundbreaking raises policy issues

June 7, 2010

Friday’s groundbreaking of a new Warren Theater and renovation of the existing theater in west Wichita provide an opportunity to revisit some of the public policy issues surrounding Wichita city government and its intervention in the economy in the name of economic development.

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Wichita’s Jeff Longwell on TIF districts, tax abatements

April 23, 2010

Is a tax increment financing (TIF) district a tax abatement? Wichita city council member Jeff Longwell, now Wichita’s vice-mayor, doesn’t think so. During this week’s city council meeting, Longwell said this in explaining his support of a TIF district created for the benefit of Real Development: “One of the things that people I think need to understand is that this is not a tax abatement.”

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Wichita city hall silent on handling of ethics issue

April 11, 2010

On Tuesday the Wichita city council will hold a public hearing regarding a request by Real Development for a $2.5 million increase in tax increment district financing. While this proposal should be opposed on its merits, there is reason to give extra scrutiny to this matter. That’s because Real Development employs the services of Wichita public relations executive Beth King. What matters to public policy is that last year she and Wichita City Manager Robert Layton began a dating relationship which continues to the present.

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Wichita economic development incentives discussed

April 6, 2010

At today’s meeting of the Wichita city council, economic development incentives were a topic of discussion.

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Wichita Warren Theater IRB a TIF district in disguise

April 4, 2010

On Tuesday the Wichita City Council will consider an economic development incentive for a local business. The process the city is using to grant this incentive bypasses the scrutiny that accompanies the formation of TIF districts while providing essentially the same benefit.

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Detroit, corporate welfare and Wichita’s future

February 28, 2010

Recently The Eagle printed an article by Molly McMillin, a well-respected aviation and business reporter.

The question asked throughout the article is one that Wichita leaders and citizens have been asking for some time: What can we do to prevent Wichita from falling into the hole that is Detroit?

A simple answer is to continue throwing money and other goodies to keep the aviation companies. A better answer is we need to get rid of the notion that our elected officials and others have so much forethought to know what will or won’t be successful in 20 or 50 years. They don’t.

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