Story Created:
Jun 15, 2009
Story Updated:
Jun 15, 2009
It's good to be rich. Even better to be politically well connected. The Racine Post commits a flagrant act of journalism:
Former Mayor Gary Becker traded away at least $190,000 a year in local property tax payments for money to pay for his vision of an arts district in Uptown.
The city issued SC Johnson a $39 million building permit on May 12, 2008, to build the 60,345-square-foot "Project Honor" on its Racine campus. The project is made up of two buildings: Fortaleza Hall, designed to honor Sam Johnson, and the Community Building, which will include a cafeteria, company store and other employee amenities.
Under an executive order Gov. Jim Doyle signed Jan. 10, 2008, Fortaleza Hall will be exempt from property taxes as an educational and tourist center. The same goes for SCJ's Administration Building and Research Tower, which paid about $40,000 in property taxes last year. (To get an idea of how rare the executive order was, Doyle's order was the only executive order signed by a Wisconsin governor between January 1965 and Dec. 12, 2008 to involve Racine. It was also only the second time a governor made a building tax-exempt for architectural significance.)
Read the whole thing.
Tuesday, May 19 at 4:15 PM Ollie Green wrote ...
The bottom line is that if you want favors from Diamond Jim Doyle and you're a business you'd better contribute "something". Otherwise he'll throw you under the bus.
23796402 Flag for moderationTuesday, May 19 at 11:51 AM jeffw wrote ...
Hank, thanks for the correction. I must have missed that part of his discussion.
23796397 Flag for moderationTuesday, May 19 at 11:39 AM Hank wrote ...
jeffw, Belling did discuss this, but he credited the Racine Post for breaking the story.
23796392 Flag for moderationTuesday, May 19 at 9:27 AM jeffw wrote ...
Charlie, sorry to say that the Racine Post is a little behind. Belling discussed this a couple of weeks ago. The real investigation needs to whether the Johnson family has donated a chunk of money to the Doyle re-election campaign. Connection?
23796387 Flag for moderationMonday, May 18 at 9:50 PM Hank wrote ...
Question for the libs trying to justify this: If this designation wasn't made, and SC Johnson had to pay property taxes like they've done all along, would they have had to demolish the building because they couldn't afford to keep it? If not, then this whole thing is nothing more than political backscratching. The intent of the law is to save buildings that might not otherwise survive - not to reward selected organizations for their actions or promises as a political favor.
23796382 Flag for moderationMonday, May 18 at 8:43 PM Phil wrote ...
Bigcat dosen't let the facts get in the way,it's only about what he wants to present as " FACTS "to bash what he dosen't understand. We belive in saving the FLW building ,however the other 150000 thousand we will not bring into the conversation and what about taxing EVIL BUSINESS they have the money. Please Bigcat be consistent on your view big business and "their fair share".
23796377 Flag for moderationMonday, May 18 at 7:36 PM News2Use wrote ...
This is way-off-topic, sorry, and I don't know if this has been said before, but isn't Obama the big SHAM-WOW? - just asking
23796372 Flag for moderationMonday, May 18 at 6:15 PM racine native wrote ...
Bigcat - read the article. The FLW buildings are a very small part (about $40,000) of the tax exemption. The tower has little practical value anymore since it can't be used and apparently can't be brought up to code. Most people in Racine don't seem to have a problem with that exemption. The bulk, however, (estimated at $150,000-$200,000) is for a new, multi-million dollar building/museum honoring Sam Johnson and the Carnauba plane - no FLW design there.
23796367 Flag for moderationMonday, May 18 at 4:32 PM ijeff wrote ...
Democrats like Doyle and Obama have become very adept at buying support from big corporations and screwing the taxpayers and the little guy (small business). They know who has the money.
23796362 Flag for moderationMonday, May 18 at 3:47 PM Jay Pee wrote ...
Whether anyone wants to admit it or not this is how system works. SC Johnson is the largest employer in Racine, perhaps this part of the state, and the Governor outreaching is what I thought he was suppose to do. It would help alot of you neo cons would be consistent. However you do know how to complain constantly even when you contradict what you supposedly believe.
23796357 Flag for moderationMonday, May 18 at 12:48 PM engineer wrote ...
FRANKY BUDDY BANKRUPT MANY A Building OWNER WITH HIS OVER THE TOP DESIGNS. HE ALSO RARELY PAID HIS BILLS FROM CONTRACTORS....SO BIGCAT HE AIN"T SO SWEET.
23796352 Flag for moderationMonday, May 18 at 10:34 AM Bill wrote ...
But wait won't those tax breaks translate in to more Wisconsin jobs?
23796347 Flag for moderationMonday, May 18 at 10:29 AM BIGCAT wrote ...
WHAT FAVORS?What did SC Johnson donate?The reality is that it makes good business sense for Wisconsin to honor one of its great companies by making its landmarks tourist attractions.The SC Johnson buildings from Wright have for years drawn thousands of visitors. The hypocrisy of this post is blinding.Doyle is damned when companies leave; he is damned when he helps companies. As the GOP fumbles around trying to get Scott Walker elected in 2010, it better be careful not to shoot itself in the foot
23796342 Flag for moderationMonday, May 18 at 9:42 AM Hank wrote ...
So bigcat, is the landmark architectural designation meant to keep wealthy (ergo evil) corporations from paying property taxes that they could very well afford? Or was it meant to protect buildings that might not survive intact due to normal market conditions and the expense of taxes on small organizations or individuals? This isn't business outreach - it's rewarding a connected business in exchange for favors. I think the left calls that "crony capitalism" when they accuse republicans of it.
23796337 Flag for moderationMonday, May 18 at 9:29 AM BIGCAT wrote ...
You mean the SC Johnson tower/admin. building built by Frank Lloyd Wright, don't you Charlie? You conveniently left out that fact. This is one of the landmark architectural designs of the 2oth century done by a WI artist for a Wisconsin business. SO an extremely rare place deserves this special consideration. BUT WHY DID YOU POST THIS? This seems to be the kind of outreach to business that you constantly call upon the Gov. to make. Charlie, Have you become the 2010 reelect Doyle headquarters?
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