AURA Board Chair Refuses to Face the Public
Arvada for All the People will present a public forum to discuss current issues facing the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority, especially in light of the Protect Arvada Taxpayers charter amendment initiative. The petition for the proposal is now being circulated for signatures.
The forum will be held ...
Sunday, October 1, 2017
at the Olde Town Jeffco Public Library
between 1:00 and 2:30 P.M.
Let's Talk Arvada - Urban Renewal: What You Need to Know is part of a series of informational public meetings Arvada for All the People has organized over the past three years.
Arvada for All the People is a grassroots advocacy group promoting more accountable, open, and representative government at City Hall. It's Action Agenda for Arvada can be viewed here.
WATCH: KDVR Channel 31
'$30 land deal for developer
in Arvada questioned'
The controversial $30 Land Deal has caused many of the city's taxpayers to question what has been going on at the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority (AURA). AURA and the City's recent spate of land and tax giveaways has totaled nearly $50 million.
The Protect Arvada Taxpayers charter amendment, if approved by the voters, would require that any sales and property tax subsidies over $2.5 million to private business and/or any sale of city-owned land valued over $1 million to private business be brought to the voters for a decision. The amendment does not take any economic development tools away from local government, it simply gives the taxpayers a voice in deals involving large amounts of public dollars.
Though an advocacy group, Arvada for All the People sought to have the perspective of the AURA board also presented at the October 1 public forum. The offer, however, was refused by AURA Board of Commissioners chair, Fred Jacobson. (Mr. Jacobson's refusal apparently based on a viewing of Facebook discussions at Let's Talk, Arvada ... yes, really ... read his letter below.)
Mr. Jacobson's rejection highlights why reform of AURA is so critical.
The chair of the AURA Board of Commissioners should be responsible to the citizens of Arvada, as well as the city council, especially when millions of dollars worth of land and taxes are being given away to a developer.
Accepting a public appointment as a trustee of the people means taking on certain duties and obligations -- one of which is certainly to be forthright with the citizens and taxpayers when making decisions involving millions and millions of dollars in land and taxes.
While Mr. Jacobson's history as a business leader in Arvada and his willingness to serve his community can be appreciated, as a public official, he should face his critics.
Or as President Harry Truman put it: If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
The forum has been rescheduled and Mr. Jacobson is still encouraged to participate.
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