A Crucial Primary
June 03, 2007 |
Politics
It would be hard to overstate the importance of
tomorrow's primary election for Englewood's Second
Ward Council seat. On the one hand is challenger
Marvin Anhalt, who, as Chair of Englewood’s Planning
Board, presided over one of the greatest tax
giveaways in our history in the April decision
regarding the Flatrock Square development. On the
other hand is incumbent Charlotte Bennett Schoen,
who, as City Council President, successfully
negotiated with the developer to obtain significantly
more reasonable terms for Englewood taxpayers. The
irony is that Anhalt’s campaign literature portrays
him as the fiscal conservative and his opponent as
the spendthrift.
Expected to cost in excess of $200,000,000, the Flatrock Square development is the largest in the City’s history. Originally conceived as a major new tax ratable to relieve the pressure on our residential tax payers, its attractiveness in this regard was reduced when the Planning Board postponed indefinitely the office building requirement in 2005. In exchange, the Planning Board secured the developers' commitment to offer the residential units as condos instead of rental apartments. This year the Board dropped the latter requirement, essentially giving the developer, S. Hekemian Kasparian Troast LLC, what it asked for all along. Subsequently, the City Council was forced to step in to secure more favorable terms for Englewood taxpayers.
Under Englewood’s City Charter, the Mayor has sole power to appoint members of the Planning Board. Mayor Michael Wildes has used this power to appoint friends and donors, including Anhalt, who will do his bidding. Because four of the five current members of the City Council do not accept Wildes' leadership, the Planning Board by default has become his main power base. Schoen and her City Council allies have asserted independence from Wildes, especially since his alliance with County Democratic Boss Joe Ferriero last year. Because a mayoral veto can only be overridden by four of five council members, the election of Anhalt to the Council would effectively strengthen Wildes' political influence.
Expected to cost in excess of $200,000,000, the Flatrock Square development is the largest in the City’s history. Originally conceived as a major new tax ratable to relieve the pressure on our residential tax payers, its attractiveness in this regard was reduced when the Planning Board postponed indefinitely the office building requirement in 2005. In exchange, the Planning Board secured the developers' commitment to offer the residential units as condos instead of rental apartments. This year the Board dropped the latter requirement, essentially giving the developer, S. Hekemian Kasparian Troast LLC, what it asked for all along. Subsequently, the City Council was forced to step in to secure more favorable terms for Englewood taxpayers.
Under Englewood’s City Charter, the Mayor has sole power to appoint members of the Planning Board. Mayor Michael Wildes has used this power to appoint friends and donors, including Anhalt, who will do his bidding. Because four of the five current members of the City Council do not accept Wildes' leadership, the Planning Board by default has become his main power base. Schoen and her City Council allies have asserted independence from Wildes, especially since his alliance with County Democratic Boss Joe Ferriero last year. Because a mayoral veto can only be overridden by four of five council members, the election of Anhalt to the Council would effectively strengthen Wildes' political influence.
