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Public-private partnerships scrutinized in wake of Dixon, developer probe
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Harbor East in downtown Baltimore includes projects that have received financial help from the city. Such public-private partnerships are commonplace across Baltimore, according to a study released this week. – Kristine Buls/Examiner
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The ongoing investigation of Mayor Sheila Dixon has delved into the relationship between local developers and the help they receive from the city. But in Baltimore, such public-private partnerships are commonplace on almost every major project.
Investigators are looking into whether prominent developer Ron Lipscomb used a personal relationship with then-City Council President Dixon to curry favor for projects his company brought before the city.
While that case carries serious ethical concerns, developers regularly seek financial assistance from the city for major projects.
In a study released this week, Loyola economics professor Stephen Walters traces public-private partnerships between top-flight developers and the city back to Charles Center in the late 1950s.
“For the last half-century, no large-scale private investment in or near downtown Baltimore has occurred without special subsidies or tax breaks,” Walters wrote in the study.
Those deals with the city are funneled through the Baltimore Development Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization charged with promoting economic development across the city. The BDC did not return calls for comment Thursday.
Among the projects that have received city assistance is Cityscape, a mixed-use development that was awarded a package of an undisclosed amount in April, and St. James Place, a $7.5 million Westside residential development that got a $1 million package from the city in 2006.
Ultimately, the city’s Board of Estimates is charged with approving those deals. But Walters said the BDC’s recommendations play an important role in the process.
“If you’re a developer in Baltimore City, you’ve got no choice but to cozy up to the BDC,” he said. “They do the negotiations and make the deals. That gives them power.”
There are a few exceptions. Ed Hale, developer of the Canton Crossing mixed-use project, said he did not seek financial help for his $150 million 1st Mariner Tower. But Hale said most other projects do.
“I’m an anomaly as a developer,” Hale said. “I don’t get any [city help], but it seems like everyone else does.”
There is no set formula the BDC applies in determining whether to provide breaks for a project, said Jon Cordish, vice president of retail and mixed-use developer The Cordish Co. While the company’s redevelopment of the Inner Harbor’s Power Plant included a profit-sharing deal with the city, its later Power Plant Live! project was a traditional land purchase.
“The question of whether a subsidy is warranted depends on the context of the proposed development,” Cordish said. “Each project has to be examined on its individual merits and economic impacts.”
Click to read Stephen Walters and Louis Miserendino's full report, "Baltimore's Flawed Renaissance."
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Examiner Reader said:
I don't think we've heard a peep on this story since Arnold Weiner came aboard. I'll bet he's going to try to make this very quietly go away, for sure he won't want her tried in the court of public opinion, she'd lose!
4 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
HA...Who is she going to sleep with to pay her new high power white lawyer? I just wonder why she didn't hire one of the local creepy defense attourney's like a Murphy or a Brown? The I'm black and proud only works in certain areas. What ever happened to miss holy rolys husband Thomas Hampton at the time she was lifting her skirt for the fur of murdered animals?
7 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Sheila Dixons is trying for Baltimore City, Baltimore has taken a hard hit. Baltimore a city that was so vibrate in the fifty and sixtys- I know I have been here. Gave the Mayor sometime to try and get this city back to the beautiful city that it was in the earlier years. Have faith--give Mayor Dixon some slack. We do give up early. Peace. J.T P.S---don't forget to do your part..........
4 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Ironic that Sheila Dixon has a white man respresenting her. She is going to get very white, very fast.
5 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Bad Girl Bad Girl, whutcha gonna do when they come for you Bad Girl Bad Girl...
4 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Do the taxpayers pay her legal bills? Too bad Johnny Cochran's dead or she could hire him too.
6 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I thought I was looking at a crack head the first time I saw her. I suspect some drug abuse there. I also found it ironic that one of her first "beautification projects" was the median on Edmondson Ave...the way she likely goes home to her single family home spitting distance away from Baltimore County.
5 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Dixon is on her way to jail.She can get all the lawyers she wants , but it is not going to work. You are on your way slowly to jail Sheila !
6 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
the new york post said it all.baltimore is trash run buy trash.dixon is a joke and all the rest wont speak up because they have there hand's out for there pay out.
10 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Sheila baby, you can run but you can not hide.
8 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Club Fed awaits 3 Hots and a Cot!!!!!!!!!!!!
7 agree | 8 disagree
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John Q Public said:
Quote Olesker in an earlier article this past week.... Dixon is an attractive woman, and she was involved with a man, developer Ronald Lipscomb, whose history is complicated ATTRACTIVE???...ATTRACTIVE??? Did you see todays front page edition? She should have used the gift cards for a makeover or to get her teeth fixed
7 agree | 7 disagree
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Cliff Williams said:
Menasha Brodie should be investigated as well.
7 agree | 8 disagree
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John Q Public said:
Where is the "Teflon Leprechan" in all of this??
6 agree | 6 disagree
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AMERICA CALLING said:
most of the entire maryland goverment cities and state judges and who ever workes for them need to go to jail they all need to be looked into case by case
10 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Sheila Dixon said, " I'm going to survive this". Well, if a lenghty stay in prison is surviving, you go girl!
10 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Surprise surprise. Sheila blames the media and RACISM. This just in: Five more shot in Baltimore City; Sheila blames RACISM. Baltimore streets filthy:Sheila blames RACISM. City "students" score worse in state: Sheila blames RACISM. Sheila has a bad hair day: Sheila blames RACISM. City Hall needs new paint job: Sheila blames RACISM. Baltimore City is a dead and decaying city: Sheila blames RACISM. O'Malley blames Ehrlich for all the ills in the world, Sheila blames RACISM. yada yada yada.
14 agree | 10 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
shame on you all. dixon,gov, city coun, and all of you who wont tell all that you know. SHAME ON YOU.
9 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The problem is that many of the elected politicians in Baltimore, like Sheila Dixon, etc., are just not very sophisticated even if they have an academic education(which is Dixon's case is suspect). So, well-heeled, smart talking, developers, contractors, and foundations, befriend them, finance them, and get anything they want. This keeps Baltimore behind. The needs of the majority people of the larger community are never met.
10 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
it's sad i think you will make it. there is no light at the end. all of the city has a hand in this. dixon you are a crook.gov o,maley you are a crook.city coun, you are all crooks. so yes i think you will make it there are to many of you watching and hideing the truth. BALTIMORE WILL NEVER CHANGE.
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Examiner Reader said:
“What really bothers me is I can’t talk about any of this, because it’s under investigation, but certain media people are getting information through the prosecutor’s office,” Dixon said. “That really bothers me, because there’s a process. I think that’s more disturbing than anything.” That is a lie. She is free to say anything she wants to about the case. There is not a "gag" order issued by a judge. An outright lie, to gain sympathy, I guess.
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Examiner Reader said:
I would rather stay with Sheila Dixon than get the chic that runs the city council...She is lazy and eats way too much. She looks like a cow that has grazed too much on hormone rich corn, and then had 3 packs of hair put on top of it!
11 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Well well well. She STOPPED once the investigation began. How brave of you Sheila! I guess that makes everything right! Do the honorable thing and resign. IF you are honorable. Many doubts about that. Can you say political prostitute?
11 agree | 11 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
typical examiner reporting -- a two-decade-old civics textbook lead. what of the contracts and the promises and the realities of economic return on publicly financed projects. they always fall way short of even the written promises in contracts, let alone oral ones and the fur coats and trips and such
9 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Lowering the property tax in one area to equal that in the county for a period of 10 years would be a GREAT way to see if that theory holds water. City Hall would still have plenty of tax money to collect from the remainder of the city, so it wouldnt kill the budget, if it works the tax base in the "test" area would grow quickly. We must do something to save this city. High property taxes are holding back growth. As it stands now nothing gets built without special tax breaks and special city loans. Other citys have done this with much success. Boston and San Francisco lowered its property tax rates to make the city competitive with surrounding suburbs, and after an initial shock to the budget, were able to increase the city budget because of the growth each city experienced. To Baltimore City Council Memebers -- feel free to steal this idea from me and use it as your own. Except for Rikki Spector- retire you louse -you've havent made 1 positive change in your entire career
9 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The report this article mentions is titled" Baltimores Failed Renaissance" and points out just how devistating the citys use of "Eminent Domain" has been. It is an eye opening article for anyone who has wondered, "where did the city of Baltimore go wrong"? It shows why lowering property taxes is the best way to encourage widespread investment throughout the city. Eminent Domain only improves small areas and actually hurts the city as a whole. I propose our so called leaders in City Hall lower the property tax rate in only one neighborhood of the city to equal that of the countys to see if that spurns public investment in that area. The area bordered by Greenmount Av, to Lanvale St, to 33rd to the Jones Falls is one area that lower property tax rates would encourage widespread investment, expanding the tax base. No tax breaks, or city loans would be needed-the lower property tax rate and the areas ammenities would attract investment. A Must READ --Baltimores Failed Renaissance
8 agree | 10 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
the woman is without ethics. she's not worthy of the position. black or white, green or yellow, surely you agree with this.
12 agree | 11 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
It doesn't matter if Dixon's vote was needed or not...the unethical part is that she voted at all. There is just way too many issues associated with Dixon,,,,her sister having a no-show job, the whole Utech issue, the computer guy getting $500,000 in city work without a contract, now all of this....this woman is crooked, period!
10 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Go figure. The unethical behavior stopped as the Feds started looking. Why stop the behavior if there is not a problem? Stopping is a clear admission of guilt on her part. Sheila is just another petty politcal crook that needs to go.
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Examiner Reader said:
Keiffer was on the council that confirmed all these shady deals. Run again, Jill, Run!!!
8 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Ya coulda voted for Keiffer instead!
9 agree | 10 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Dixon's vote was not neded. These projects were pushed by O'Malley who controlled the three votes necessary. Had O'Malley needed her vote, she would not have abstained whether or not she was gettin a little somthin somthin from Lipscombe on the side.
11 agree | 9 disagree
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johnn said:
caught with your hands in the tax payers jar,not yet in jail, so far,looking like your not guility,hoping this will end quickly. spent money out on a fling,bought dimonds,pearls and fur things,didnt think they would notice,made it to mayor when they voted.gift cards were met for the neady,gave to my friends cause im greedy,im the queen,the princess the leader,dont need you,dont want you,dont care.im the great mayor, shelia dixson,leave me alone ,or ill get martin to fix yeah...this poem is dedicated to all those great felons before her,Edward norrrs,jacky mclain,govenor mandel,and my one,and only,one time favorate richard milhouse nixson,rythems with dixson...will be seeing you soon shelia ...ps unless martin gets me out of this mess,or im telling, love shelia....i am not a crook.....where have i heard that before
10 agree | 10 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
When Dixon did every corrupt thing the old boys do, she became part of the old boy network. I hope for the sake of the city's future that she does not survive this, and I hope she brings the others down with her. That is the only way to end the corruption.
18 agree | 10 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Even if the Dixon leave office which is doubtful, the city just gets Rawlings-Blake, more of the same or worse. Dixon's removal would mean nothingunder that scenario. Blake is owned by O'Malley too.
14 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Dixon appointed the so-called Ethics board. They would never find a violation or else they would be removed, duh.
9 agree | 10 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The "Teflon Leprechaun" Gov. Martinez O'Malley is being very quiet right now. But rest assure he has his henchmen working under cover of darkness to protect himself first and She-Lie Dixon. As the mayor of the city he knew what was going on. And now things are coming to the surface for all to see just how shady he was as the mayor and he just as shady and crooked as the Governor.
13 agree | 12 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Corruption such as this will continue in the Baltimore City government as well as the State of Maryland government as long as it is the current one party rule. Socialism is alive and well in both the state and the city and, frankly, in most of our metropolitan counties. If this is what the voters want, this is what the voters get.
11 agree | 10 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
people we have got to fight for change. call, e mail send letters she must go.if we let this slide its our fault... it is time NOW.
10 agree | 10 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Sheila, you seem to be ethically challenged. You clearly acted unethically when you voted on tax benefits for Doracon. Ethically you were compelled to declare your relationship, the gifts received, and then recuse yourself from voting. Listen up Sheila, the rules made you ethically disqualified from participation in a decision on tax benefits for Doracon on your personal involvement alone, the gifts exacerbate your prejudice. If Baltimore City ethics allow something less, their ethics policy is a joke. That you don’t get Ethics 001 is all the voters need to know about your moral and ethical character. Sheila, you shall be sanctioned, and hopefully prosecuted, for ethics and conflict-of-interest violations.
17 agree | 11 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
yes, life seems to be imitating art in the fictional corruption in the wire.
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Examiner Reader said:
What arrogance these people have!
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The Conservative Brotherhood said:
Mayor Dixon should be a ashamed of herself selling her city, soul, and body to a high end developer. Ron Lipscomb has heavy pockets in political donations to key figures in the Democratic Party even Obama. After watching the last season of "The Wire" her character is coming to light.
20 agree | 10 disagree
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johnn said:
for the frist time i hear panic and despiration in dixsons voice and she named martin omalley for the frist time,as if it was his doing,thats a sure sigh she is in a panic mode,,,if she panics more maybe she will tell us more about matins dealings,when he was mayor
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Examiner Reader said:
Lokk at that picture the two thieves!!!!!!!!!
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Examiner Reader said:
It seems to me the Govenor, than Mayor has a part in this somewhere. You all notice how this is my back for your back. They all take care of one another until one gets caught. None of these players give a damm about the taxpayer. They will get there justice eventually.
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Examiner Reader said:
And a FOX would not be right now, would it ?
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richard f said:
Maybe the democrats logo should be a RABBIT !!!!!!!!!!
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Examiner Reader said:
Martin, Martin, Martin ... you startin' to sweat a little?
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Examiner Reader said:
Mayor Sheila Dixon ,what do you know? and when did you know it!
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