In a sign of the interest our little Proposition 2 – the Stop Domain Subsidies charter amendment – is generating, the folks at Texans for Public Justice have written a report on the amendment and the arguments surrounding it. It’s a pretty sound write-up of the history of the Domain agreement and the SDS campaign – although personally, I’m dismayed that the author agrees with the argument that what Simon Properties tells another municipality on another project has fuck-all to do with the Domain agreement. Besides, for the Hustle at least, whether Simon is dishonest, greasy, a bad-actor, etc., isn’t really at issue: what is is potentially handcuffing incentives that could be used to further affordable housing and other benefits in mixed-use, urban infill projects, for really no more reason than aligning the city ideologically with the likes of Wes Benedict, Linda Curtis, and Brian Rodgers.
This article appears in October 17 • 2008.