Upon first read, the article in The Blade makes a very valid point: No business plan yet, and nothing coming soon for the Erie Street Market. So take a look at the article, http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080112/NEWS16/801120...
Then take a look at the sentiments I sent to Council.
http://youcantbe1st.blogspot.com/2008/01/letter-to-city-council.html
Lets take this example and put it into the debate about having the ESM be run privately, or through the Government.
If a private businessman went to the bank or to a group of investors, and asked for Tens to Hundreds of thousands of dollars to put into a business venture, but had no viable business plan, how far would he get.
But our local government can do that with no problem because they dont need to ask anyone - they just take our money and go blindly ahead with no plan.
Scenario 1: the private businessman would get no funding because the investors would see that it would be a failing investment.
Scenario 2: It already happened here in Toledo. The result?
... Scenario #1 actually has two sub-scenarios:
Sub-scenario 1-1: Private businessman has no political connections, hence the loan is decided purely on economic basis, hence it's turned down, and the private businessman is propelled out the door of the bank by howls of laughter.
Sub-scenario 1-2: Private businessman is the brother-in-law of some councilman, legislator or banker VP, hence the loan is judged on the merits of who he knows. The loan is likely approved.
In other words, Scenario #1 has a hidden form of Scenario #2 inside it already.
Sub-scenario 1-2: In business, don't matter how you got the loan, you must generate positive cash flow after a defined time period. Otherwise the business is toast, along with the networking that got you approved.
Same old business story, networking might open doors, but you are the one that ultimately must walk through them.
that elected officials are competent to manage a business entity. My belief about the ability of government to run a successful business is somewhat like the old saw about teachers -those who can do and those who can't teach-applies here. Those that can run successful businesses do and those who can't run for office.