INC NEWS - Letter: Capitol Broadcasting not following Development Agreement

[John Schelp]

Letter: Where are the new jobs?
Herald-Sun, 10 August 2005

The justification for $43 million in taxpayer dollars
to Capitol Broadcasting's American Tobacco Campus was
job creation and economic development. Yet, where are
many of these "new jobs" coming from at Capitol's
project?

GlaxoSmithKline moved its employees from existing
offices on Meridian Parkway (in the City of Durham).
Duke moved from existing offices at Erwin Square (in
the City of Durham). Chambers Trophy moved from Guess
Road (in the City of Durham). Now, Motricity is moving
from existing offices on Meridian Parkway (in the City
of Durham).

Page 2 of the Development Agreement between Capitol
Broadcasting and the City of Durham states: "Whereas,
the promotion of the economic development to be
accomplished pursuant to this Agreement will assist in
the creation of a more stable economy by providing
workers with continuing employment opportunities,
attracting better paying and more highly skilled jobs,
diversifying the local economy, and creating a broader
tax base from which the City can draw funding for
programs benefiting the general health, safety and
welfare of the citizens."

Perhaps, Capitol can explain to Durham taxpayers how
moving existing jobs from other parts of the city is
"creating a broader tax base."

Perhaps, Capitol can explain how moving (or trying to
move) existing businesses from other parts of the city
(i.e. Whole Foods, Magnolia Grill and Chambers Trophy)
is "diversifying the local economy."

Motricity could have expanded into vacant office space
near its current operations. The owners of Meridian
Business Campus must be asking themselves why their
tax dollars are going to a Raleigh company to
undermine their office campus in Durham.

With office vacancies in southeast Durham at 20
percent, why are we spending local taxes to move
offices from one part of the city to another?

John Schelp, Larry Holt
Durham

The length rule was waived.