Without further public input, our Council has quietly voted again to subsidize the Silverstone housing project. Despite significant public opposition and without ever conducting a single study, the Council (except for one lone voice of reason from Alderperson Koch) gave preferential treatment for one private developer claiming the project is needed for economic development. How many businesses will prosper from the additional shopping done by individuals on fixed incomes? The Monroe Times later told us that the City's own Housing Authority shows an excess of senior housing already exits.

TIF monies are not free; they come from costly municipal borrowing or bond issues. Alderperson Hanson indicated the city will recoup $1 million in tax revenue from this project. He didn't mention that this tax revenue will be spread over the 20 (plus) year life of the TIF district (meaning less than $50,000 per year.) Taxpayers are already subsidizing an initial quarter of a million dollars. What will it cost to add 60 additional residences to our wastewater treatment and water utilities? What impact will we feel from lost parking?

Why is our Council so motivated to provide such unprecedented favoritism for one individual, privat, for-profit developer who stand to make millions from this generous gift of our money and land for an unnecessary TIF project? Why didn't the Council give the same preferential treatment to Menard's or Walmart? Why is our Council determined to force this on us whether needed or not and whether wanted or not?