Leonard

Yes, I'm sure a lot of people think handicapped people falling over is funny, but what Red said is still not sarcasm even if you think it's funny. I don't speak for "all" (no idea where you got that), whether something is funny or not is clearly an opinion. For example, I think samagon's rant about the sidewalks and crosswalks is hilarious: "And then they only put in crosswalks where there are sidewalks? I'm shocked I tell you! Shocked! I am shocked and outraged! I am outraged and shocked! I am outraged!!!! This is preposterous!!! I am preposterously outraged! I am preposterously outraged and shocked!" It's funny (to me) because they didn't put the crosswalks where the sidewalks were, the crosswalks meet at a corner where there are no sidewalks. Hahahhahaha!!!!!

It wasn't sarcasm and it wasn't funny. Just mean-spirited hate.

How does Walmart have nothing to do with this? Because the Mayor said so?

Actually, the crosswalks meet at a corner with no sidewalks. So there are crosswalks where there are no sidewalks. Go take a look. The City/Ainbinder/Walmart should have bought/eminent domain the land to build the sidewalk or not widened the road. The approved plans show the sidewalk. Ainbinder's own marketing materials show the sidewalk. You pretty much don't understand it.

Saying you enjoy seeing handicapped people struggle isn't sarcasm. It does, however, expose your character.

The approved plan shows a sidewalk there, and one of the trees also. If you look closely at the link sm3h provided, you can see both the sidewalk and the tree - as Ainbinder is advertising it.

Ross, is your point that the City did a better job of oversight at HEB's Montrose store than the Walmart that they poured over 6 million dollars into?

Ross, of course it's mostly the City's fault - I certainly don't disagree with that. Mayor Parker proposed the 380. Mayor Parker lied about the 380 being interest free and limited to 10 years of tax rebates on the radio less than a week before the 380 first went to Council. She also lied about it not being taggable again because the 380 would be rendered "moot" due to financing issues with Ainbinder's tenant. Duckworth of Ainbinder said there were no financing issues. Andy Icken lied in the Request for Council Action for the 380 - the summary that Council Members use to inform their votes. The City still seems to fail to grasp the interest rate if they pay over time instead of a lump sum in January. It's 10%. The City seems to think it's 4.25%. The City's lawyers did an awful job on this contract. PWE failed to inspect the project as it went along, and apparently gave them occupancy permits even though Ainbinder says they aren't finished yet - and why is it Ainbinder saying whether or not they are finished - isn't that the City's job? The Walmart has been open for over 6 months. What is the itemized list and schedule for completion? Ainbinder and Walmart are responsible too. Who puts a fire hydrant in the middle of a ADA ramp? Who builds a sidewalk to nowhere? Ainbinder and Walmart, on the City's dime, that's who. Maybe if it had been their own money they would have been a little more careful. If it had been their own money, I think it's a safe bet they wouldn't have spent over $140K on cosmetic work on a bridge that is scheduled to be demolished. A bridge that can't support the weight of Walmart's trucks. You brought up HEB - have you seen the Montrose HEB? The trees and the outdoor area? Compare that to the Washington Heights Walmart. Remember, HEB didn't get a dime of public assistance for that HEB. Also, remember HEB was also interested in the Washington Heights Walmart spot. Was the 380 only offered to Ainbinder if Walmart was the retailer?

If you're talking about the video before you click it, then the picture is a picture of where the trees and sidewalk used to be. You can't see them any more because they are gone. They were demolished to widen the road for the Ainbinder development. It's relevant.

It seems unlikely that baseless accusations will be backed up, but hopefully this will lead to full disclosure.

And many of the improvements would have been required. Walmart can't operate with out hooking up to sewer or water.

I don't get why everyone is so entranced with the not putting any cash up front thing. You can say that about a lot of loans. You can go out to dinner tonight on a credit card - no cash up front! No cash up front in and of itself doesn't make it a good deal. The City borrowed money from Ainbinder to pay for stuff that Ainbinder or Walmart would have been required to pay for. The City is paying interest - the rate will be somewhere between 4.25% and 10% depending on when they pay it off.

I've emailed the Mayor a lot. For the expenditures, I'm pretty sure it was emailed to me. It's just one page. The City hasn't verified/approved it all yet. Edited to put in the word "hasn't".

Email the Mayor. Put Public Information Request in the subject and a short description and ask for what you want. You may have to go and pick up documents and pay for the copies. If it's just a few pages they might just email it to you.

Ask the Mayor. They spent it all and then some. Even though they didn't do the detention or the traffic signal at Heights/Koehler.

They spent it all.

How is it their money?

It's not a misrepresentation. The infrastructure mostly benefits Walmart.

The City is reimbursing Ainbinder for money Ainbinder spent. The money spent primarily benefits Walmart, however Walmart did not agree to spend any money under the 380. Walmart is not a party to the 380, they just benefit from it. Whether or not Ainbinder will be reimbursed in a lump sum or over time has yet to be determined. I stand by my statement that the money benefits Walmart.

I never thought I could change your mind about anything. I know you like the development, and I know you think it's great for the City to pay for a sidewalk that goes from nowhere to nowhere. I know you think it's great that the City paid over $140K to paint and put lights on a bridge that can't carry commercial traffic and is slated for demolition. I know you think the jogging trail to nowhere and the crosswalks to nowhere are sound infrastructure decisions. I know you think 10% interest is a good deal. I thought people might want to see the video.

They said they would have built it with or without spending $6M of taxpayer's money. We did not get anything of value for the money.

The real enemy is the administration that gave $6M to benefit Walmart.

It saves a lot of time having an opinion of the video without watching it.

Here's Peter Brown's, aka Pedestrian Pete, take on the Walmart: http://pedestrianpete.com/2013/05/20/development-in-the-heights-full-video/ "absolute squandering of public monies!" exactly right, Pedestrian Pete.

They were supposed to start putting the carbon strips on the Yale Street Bridge. Anyone know if they've started yet?