Facts
Here’s what other people are saying:
The method of financing the hotel has continuously been described incorrectly throughout the campaign. The bonds necessary to pay for the hotel would not be based on property taxes.
Rather, the bonds would be repaid by the Hotel Occupancy Tax, in fact a city council memo states that saying, “Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) is pledged for the repayment of the bonds.” (Dallas City Council Briefing Memo, “Dallas Convention Center Hotel Debt Restructuring,” October 17,2008)
The Hotel Occupancy Tax is similar to a sales tax but paid only by people staying in any of the city’s hotels – presumably conventioneers and visitors from out of town.
“The city estimates that Dallas loses about $2.6 billion in overall economic impact each year because conventions that want a venue with an attached hotel pick another city.” (Editorial, Dallas Morning News, April 17, 2009)
“The construction and operation of the hotel would result in approximately $2.5 billion in economic activity within the city over the 30 year period… Over 3,000 temporary jobs from construction and over 800 permanent full time jobs from hotel operations would result.” (City of Dallas - Office of Economic Development, “The Impact of a Convention Center Hotel,” January 15, 2008)
“American Heart Association… has tentatively scheduled its event — which generates an estimated $86 million wherever it lands — for Dallas in 2013 and 2017. But the city must commit this year to building a hotel for its convention center, or the group will take its event to a city with a combined hotel-convention center…” (Dallas Business Journal, February 8, 2008)
“After the opening of Fort Worth’s Omni in the fall of 2008, Dallas will be the only major Texas city without a hotel connected to or adjacent to its convention center.” (HVS Consulting and Valuation Services, City of Dallas Market Study; April 4, 2008)
“The city is considering plans to bring a second convention center hotel to downtown, in an effort to take Houston one step closer to becoming a top convention destination.” (Houston Chronicle, January 21, 2008)
“The downtown hotel industry remains crippled due to the limited salability of the Dallas Convention Center, which lacks an adjacent headquarters hotel. A vibrant, highly-utilized convention center typically serves as a vital component to a major city’s downtown visitation and downtown hotel utilization levels.” (HVS Consulting and Valuation Services, City of Dallas Market Study; April 4, 2008.)
“If the convention center hotel would be a disaster for the local hotel business… why have more than 20 downtown-area hotels signed on as supporters?” (Editorial, Dallas Morning News, April 17, 2009)
“ATTACKS – Here’s what they are saying”:
Unprecedented ad spending across the country:
“Television viewers are being deluged by so-called issue ads paid for by corporations, unions, advocacy groups and individuals who have spent a whopping $270 million (since the beginning of the year)… according to data provided to POLITICO by the Campaign Media Analysis Group.” (POLITICO, April 13, 2009)
And in Dallas – the negative ads started back in March?
“The 30-second spot is sponsored by Citizens Against the Taxpayer-Owned Hotel… Group representatives said it will air widely and replace a previously aired ad.” (Ad Watch, Dallas Morning News, March 29, 2009)
And what are they saying about the ad campaign?
“…(T)he forces working to stop Dallas’ planned convention center hotel have gone out of their way to demonize the mayor…” (Editorial, Dallas Morning News, April 17, 2009)
“In case you haven’t noticed, the entire Yes on Proposition 1 campaign, which hopes to make it illegal for the city to own a hotel, is funded by a single man who has a direct business interest in killing the convention center hotel idea for good.” (Editorial, Dallas Morning News, April 17, 2009)
The Dallas Morning News also wrote one individual’s family, “alone accounts for about $2.7 million – more than 99 percent – of Citizens Against the Taxpayer-Owned Hotel’s funding through March 31.” (Dallas Morning News, April 19, 2009; Dallas City Secretary Website http://campfin.dallascityhall.com/, accessed April 19, 2009)
