Not only are City "leaders" crippling the inner city, they are also doing damage to the business community in their on going efforts to do the Mariott deal. Business leaders have begun to speak out about their concerns, but the Mayor advises that they tend to their own business.
Business Leaders React to Latest Delay in Downtown Marriott Project
Some Peoria business leaders are sick of waiting for the downtown Marriott hotel project to get started. Some believe another delay could cost Peoria a lot of money. Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau say every month progress isn't made is "potentially dangerous" to attracting future business. Bob Marx, president of the Peoria's CVB, says multiple delays in the hotel project are costing the city millions of dollars. He says uncertainty behind the hotel deal is making it too difficult to land big conventions.
"We have hit a wall because we can only stall these people so much," said Marx. Marx says at least a dozen groups will not come to Peoria because the deal is not done. He says this could mean years of missed opportunities.
"We have hit a wall because we can only stall these people so much," said Marx. Marx says at least a dozen groups will not come to Peoria because the deal is not done. He says this could mean years of missed opportunities.
"Every month that its delayed groups are going to book somewhere else." "And when they book somewhere else, they usually book several years out. So what that's going to do for us is it's not going to allow us to talk to them until 2014, 2015, or 2016."
Bob Marx
The same is happening for Peoria's Convention Center. It says it can't just sit back and wait for the deal to happen. The economic impact of conventions is huge. But you know people are spending up to $150 per day," said Mark Burnett, marketing director for Peoria's Convention Center. "So we can't wait for that shovel to go into the ground."
Marx says time is running out.
"We can only romance them so long until they say you know what, we love you, but we gotta' move on."
"I would say [Peoria Area] Convention and Visitor's Bureau need to be more focused on doing their job and allowing us to get ours done," said Ardis. "So I'll just put that out there for Mr. Marx." Source
11 Speak on it...:
Except, Mayor, with all due respect, It IS NOT THE CITY COUNCIL'S JOB TO BE IN THE HOTEL BUSINESS. It is the city council's job to represent the people. The people are suffering from burdensome taxes, from crime, from decreased public safety, from poorly maintained infastructure, from unemployment (and no, creating low paying jobs does not solve unemployment), etc. The council should focus on budget issues which resolve the aforementioned, not shuffle tax payer funds from one campaign contributer to the next.
The Mayors power trip is to take over PCVB, Civic Center, and Chamber functions - then appoint friends and relatives to run them. Maybe if the Mayor was doing his job, others could do theirs - but he is to much of an egomaniac to look in a mirror and see where our cities problems start.
I don't think it is the Mayor. remember Spain works for Heartland Partnerships who oversees much of this. He gets paid to get funds for HP and subsidiary projects. OSF lawyers and upper crust were wearing his campaign badge. Warehouse District held a fundraiser for him. HP behind museum and hotel.
Another question...
Is Randy Ray and the City legal department savvy enough to do this deal, or are taxpayers giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to a local law firm to do overtime reviewing and revising a bunch of last minute documents?
So are you saying that Ryan Spain is running this town; and that he is the business man who is making all of these "business decisions"?
Is Big Al's in hotel perguatory too?
Randy Ray likes his job and does what he is told. Nothing more
Ryan Spain is best of friends with some people at PDC. He has had the new garbage totes, dropped at his house before PDC even took over the city contract and he got his totes for free. Yes, Spain is the front man for the HP and the HP is running things as far as money goes to their friends in the Warehouse, Hotel, and Museum projects.
This city is so into laying off long-time, high-profile people, it is losing site of what is right and good for Peoria. Alma Brown is good for Peoria. She made her job a passion, and was a great spokesperson for the city.
I wish her well at Caterpillar, but Peoria has lost a wonderful employee and friend. Big sigh here.
Absolutely correct. Watch the next council meeting and see his ego and powerbrokering at work. Bet Marx leaves or is reprimanded by the good 'ol boys who got the Mayors back
He's gone for speaking out about the truth over these "projects" the mayor and his boys are force-feeding the taxpayers.
Ardis opens his smart mouth and looks who's bolting.
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x132488185/Bob-Marx-head-of-Peoria-Area-Convention-and-Visitors-Bureau-resigns
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