The University Inn flap

I want to make clear how I stand on the flap about granting Jerry Franklin tax credits to redevelop the site of the old University Inn. As a Libertarian, I oppose any action by the government to pick winners and losers in the marketplace, whether by subsidies (incentives) or by regulatory favoritism. At the local level, if the subsidized establishment is not to hurt existing stores, it must attract new customers not doing business in town. If all it does is change the way the existing pie is cut, then there is no gain for the town and will hurt current firms.

That said, if Jerry Franklin presented a proposal for a TIF, his request should be considered by the TIF commission and reasons given for the rejection. If TIF is never to be considered, the city ordinance establishing a commission should be repealed. It's something called "due process."