ABRAMSON AND THE DDC: A LOOK AT THE MACHINE

As many of you know there is now a new Downtown Development Corporation Executive Chairman. The DDC first hit my radar sometime ago considering that the rent from Slugger Field is given to them each year by our lovely Mayor who just happens to be on the Board of Directors there. I have done a couple of articles referring to this: Louisville News and Politics: ABRAMSON AND HIS CROWN, Louisville News and Politics: SHAME ON THE COUNCIL.

Now, to use the old Paul Harvey line, is the rest of the story.

The new DDC head is a man by the name of Alan DeLisle who comes from a very brief stay in Durham, NC. For more on Mr. DeLisle read here.

Durham economic development chief leaving for Louisville: Alan DeLisle: Moving out: News: Durham County: Independent Weekly: ..

The above story truly shows a great many interesting things in regards to what the DDC and Abramson do here when compared with Durham. Take for example the following.

Recently, Abramson, who sits on DDC's 25-member board of directors, approved a $250 million no-bid contract with Baltimore-based Cordish Companies—which DDC helped negotiate—to develop a four-block downtown district, the details of which are not yet available to the public. The Metro Council approved a $12 million land purchase associated with the deal, but it did not vote on the actual development agreement.

"In this instance, you had the Center City project, which the mayor did on his own, and then you had [DDC], which is funded by this money that the mayor diverted on his own, and they're cheerleading for the project," Courier-Journal reporter John David Dyche said.

Like Cordish, the Swedish construction firm Skanska USA Building was awarded a no-bid contract to build Durham's DPAC. However, unlike Louisville's Metro Council, the Durham City Council approved the contract, and all subsequent amendments, which DeLisle brought to council in the form of memoranda, after negotiating with developers.

Interestingly enough yet another no bid contract was approved. Think this will fit in with the Abramson regime here?

More interesting however is the fact that at least Durham City Council had to approve the contract.

Unlike here in Louisville where Abramson generally does whatever he wants with NO Council oversight. One more pathetic example of how much we lack in accountability with Abramson unlimited power. The article then goes on to state the obvious to us here:

In Louisville, where the mayor has greater executive power than in Durham, DeLisle will not have the same constraints."The mayor is driving the agenda, and has priorities and goals, and makes those very clear. There's really no guesswork about where the administration is headed," DeLisle said.

Very telling statement isn't it? Or consider the following.

Though Bonfield said he had been "incredibly impressed" with DeLisle's work pushing through downtown development, it often came at the expense of neighborhoods outside the downtown core, he said.

Another interesting thing is the fact that the last Executive Director according to this report made about $160,000 a year for 35 hours work a week! That is one heck of a salary for a private enterprise that we fund huh? For less than full time?

Here is a head to head comparison:

Old job, new job: Alan DeLisle's career move

From: Assistant city manager for economic and workforce development, City of Durham (six years)
To: Executive director, Downtown Development Corp., Louisville, Ky.
Pay: $124,500

Pay: According to 2006 tax filings, the previous director earned $160,477 for a 35-hour work week

Accomplishments: Durham Performing Arts Center, American Tobacco Campus, Durham Athletic Park, Durham Bulls Athletic Park, West Village, Parrish Street, Cultural Master Plan

Accomplishments: Fourth Street Live!, Downtown Development Plan Upcoming projects: Louisville Arena (22,000-seat basketball venue), Museum Plaza (a 61-story hotel/ apartments/ condos/ museum tower), Fleur-de-Lis on Main (condos/ retail)

It would seem to be fairly obvious there appears to be a serious question about the private entity known as the DDC. When we take legitimate money that should go to the City from Slugger Field rent and give to private enterprise there should be some sort of accounting for it.

But alas not with Abramson controlling the strings on both sides of the equation.

With the Slugger Field rent given to the DDC, which accounts for most of its funding, in the amount of $750,000 or so and $160,000 goes to the salary of one less than full time worker, should we not have questions and demand accountability?

The amount paid to the less than full time Executive Director is almost 25% of the total we send them. Who else is getting paid for a private enterprise business at our expense?

This is a simple scheme to pay money for Abramson's own field of dreams, Louisville News and Politics: Abramson and his Field of Dreams......, and a scheme that demands transparency where none exists today.

We are still awaiting the Attorney General decision on whether there has been a violation of anything, in regards to Slugger Field rent going to the DDC signed by Abramson, obviously creating a conflict of interest since Council had no say so and Abramson's role on the DDC Board.

Until then it would appear that Abramson has bought himself another yes man with our misdirected money. One who has no problems ignoring everyone for the Downtown area and one who would appear on the surface to have no problems following the Abramson regime with no oversight.

Stay tuned.